Caledonia Argus

Beaver Creek Valley State Park is ëalive, well, and healthyí

Posted: 1/27/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

If you need a shot of something green and growing in the midst of winter, take a trip to Beaver Creek Valley State Park.

At the headwaters of East Beaver Creek there is fresh water flowing, topped with bright green watercress. It bubbles out of a jumble of limestone rocks at the foot of a nearby hill.

ìIf you sneak down there a little bit, youíll probably see some brook trout,î Roger Heimgartner, the park manager, said on January 13.

Itís a gorgeous spot in a corner of the beautiful valley that contains the 617-acre state park.

Heimgartnerís kids used to call the spot paradise. They werenít the only ones -- the spring and nearby meadow have been a favorite place for gatherings and picnics for decades, in fact, long before the park was formed in 1936.

ìTrout streams donít freeze,î Heimgartner said over the sound of gurgling water. ìSometimes we forget what a phenomenal area we are blessed with.î

Heimgartner took this reporter on a tour of the park that afternoon. Even in the winter, itís an intriguing place.

For example, itís noticeably colder there than in many other spots in the county. The ground was covered with ice that hadnít melted, despite temperatures above freezing that had occurred in recent weeks. It felt colder too.

The valley and the trout stream are interconnected, Heimgartner said. ìYou cannot separate one from the other.î

The trees and vegetation have energy that is transferred into the stream, he explained. For example, leaves that go into the stream are eaten by insects which turn into larva for the fish. ìItís a living stream, itís not just a stream of water,î Heimgartner said. The forest and hills that rise 250 feet above the valley protect it.

History books state that Native Americans used the Big Spring, and had a village site on the north end of the park. It was known as the Big Spring. In the 1890s, a local farmer named Oseth built a wooden tank at the spring to keep his milk and cream cool. In the early part of the 20th century a Caledonia businessman would bring campers to the meadow in his big wagon.

In many winters, the park gate would be down and the road unplowed, and people would have to don their skis or snow shoes to get around. This year, there is no snow to plow and a pair of hiking books works fine. You can even drive in quite far. But watch out for the ice on the road.

Heimgartner pointed out the camper cabin and some of the 48 different campsites, from the ones that accommodate cars to the more rugged walk-in variety that require a hike or even a cart for your gear.

Heimgartner eased his truck through six inches of Beaver Creek water that flowed over a concrete spillway. Itís a slippery but popular spot in the heat of summer, but it will be replaced this summer.

Another icon of the park is its swinging bridge.

So thereís lots to see at Beaver Creek Valley State Park this time of year. ìWeíre alive, open, well, and healthy,î Heimgartner said.

Come spring, it will come to life with other icons. You might see a rattlesnake -- thereís a warning sign for them posted on the outside of the park building.

Itís better known for its fantastic population of wildflowers and birds, Heimgartner said.

Heimgartner took over as head of the park in 2002 after manager Bill Bellman retired, and he likes the park a lot.

ìI think itís under-recognized by a lot of people,î he said. ìThis is a tremendous asset in terms of the resources that are here, the natural resources and the recreational opportunities.î

He feels it has a big economic impact that it has too, because about half of the parkís annual campers come from the Twin Cities. ìWeíre nearly full every weekend,î he said. Last year it had 5,517 overnight campers.

The park is off the beaten track, so it doesnít pick up passing traffic. ìWhen people come to Beaver Creek Valley State Park to camp, most of the time itís a destination for them,î Heimgartner said.

He also likes its proximity to things like golf courses, the Mississippi River, and even the Houston County Fair. Adjacent to the park on the north end is Schechís Mill, a historic mill owned by Ivan Krugmire that is still in operation.

Thereís something the park doesnít have that is also an asset, Heimgartner added -- mosquitoes.

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