303 photo locations in Minnesota — 83 state parks, 52 fire lookouts, 48 waterfalls, 45 lakes and more — plus 6 National Park Service sites and golden hour times for 63 cities. Milky Way core season runs April–August (best in June). Aurora needs about Kp 3.5+ in central Minnesota. Wildflowers peak around May.
Photo locations
303
NPS sites
6
Milky Way season
Apr–Aug
Peak bloom
May
Aurora
Kp 3.5+
Top photo locations in Minnesota
Dark Sky PlaceVoyageurs National Park
WaterfallSaint Anthony Falls
LakeRainy Lake
LakeLake of the Woods
LakeMille Lacs Lake
Mountain PeakEagle Mountain
LighthouseSplit Rock Lighthouse
National ForestChippewa National Forest
LighthouseTwo Harbors Lighthouse
LakeLake Pepin
Botanical GardenUniversity of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
LakeLake Minnetonka
Browse by type
State Parks83Fire Lookouts52Waterfalls48Lakes45Scenic Viewpoints24National Wildlife Refuges13Lighthouses8Ghost Towns7Botanical Gardens6Caves4Wilderness Areas3Mountain Peaks2National Forests2Natural Arches2Dark Sky Places1Rock Formations1Covered Bridges1Beaches1
National Park Service sites in Minnesota
MNVoyageurs National Park
MNGrand Portage National Monument
MNPipestone National Monument
MI/MNNorth Country National Scenic Trail
MNMississippi National River & Recreation Area
WI/MNSaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Golden hour in Minnesota cities
Minneapolis, MN
Saint Paul, MN
Rochester, MN
BLBloomington, MN
Duluth, MN
Brooklyn Park, MN
Plymouth, MN
MGMaple Grove, MN
Woodbury, MN
Eagan, MN
SCSaint Cloud, MN
EPEden Prairie, MN
Night sky
Darkest skies in Minnesota
Dark Sky PlaceVoyageurs National Park
State ParkItasca State Park
State ParkJudge C. R. Magney State Park
State ParkBear Head Lake State Park
State ParkLake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
State ParkSplit Rock Lighthouse State Park