St. Cloud's Quarry Park, Named Among 'Top Swimming Holes' in U.S.

The Travel Channel rolled off its list of the 'Top Swimming Holes in America' -- and look what's on the Top-10 the list: Quarry Park, the only spot in Minnesota to make the cut. Of course it's no secret to us here in Central Minnesota.

Last season the summer fun was scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic, limiting the number of cars and visitors on a daily basis, but 2021 is off to a fun-filled start thanks to our hot early June. Quarry park is open daily from 8:00 am 'til sunset.

Google Maps

The Travel Channel had this to say about Quarry Park:

Just outside of St. Cloud, Minn., Quarry Park Nature Preserve has the highest concentration of quarries anywhere in the United States. The quarries' red granite, approximately 1.8 billion years old, has been used in famous buildings around the country, such as the FDR monument in Washington, D.C. Now, the red granite cliffs encompass two fun-filled swimming holes. Quarry 11 – opened in the summer of 2015 – has its own unique sandy beach, while Quarry 2 – 116 feet deep – features jumps that range from 10 to 24 feet!

Abbey Minke

Get our free mobile app

Top 10 Swimming Holes in America

Bingham Falls, Vermont
Enders Falls, Connecticut
Ginnie Springs, Florida
Little River Falls, Alabama
McKinney Falls, Texas
Opal Pool, Oregon
Quarry Park, Minnesota
Seven Teacups, California
Slide Rock, Arizona
Waioka Pond, Hawaii

Quarry Park & Nature Preserve daily parking permits are $5, but the nest deal is an annual permit for just $20.

Now go jump in a ~~lake~~ quarry.

The 25 Best Places to Live in Minnesota

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Minnesota using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.