Epic Minnesota Swimming Hole Now One of the Best in America

The heat and humidity have been relentless. Doesn't a dip sound ridiculously refreshing? With over 10,000 lakes, Minnesota offers endless spots for a swim.

Believe it or not, the best spot to swim in the state isn't one of our many fantastic lakes, but I guarantee after seeing it, you'll want to add to your bucket list. It's not only being called the absolute best swimming hole in all of Minnesota, but also one of greatest in America!

This is actually not the first time the swimming hole has received national recognition. It was also the one and only Minnesota spot to land on the Travel Channel survey of the Best Swimming Holes in America.

Now, Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park is making a splash as USA Today's must-visit destination in Minnesota.

In the summer, the park is a hotspot for families and thrill seekers alike. It's a 684 acre park with 20 former granite mining quarries. Two of which are open for swimming AND jumping!

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Quarry 11 features a sandy beach at one end and shorter jumping cliffs. Quarry 2 includes rocky high cliffs that many use for jumping off and great areas around for lounging with friends, according to the Visit St. Cloud website. 

The park is actually open and gorgeous year round!

Plus, there's so much more to Quarry Park than just the swimming holes. You'll also find granite reflecting pools, mountain bike paths over bedrock, excellent trout fishing, geocaching, rock climbing, winter snowshoeing, and so much more.

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According to the Visit St. Cloud website, at the entrance of the woods, you’ll find the Liberty Derrick and Derrick House, which pay homage to the history of the granite mining industry. There, you can check out some of the tools and techniques that were used for mining granite in the early 1900s.

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