歪歪漫画

WINDOM, Minn. -- The scientists at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will tell you that the state includes . There are coniferous forests (think: pines) in the northeast, prairie grasslands in the west, and two kinds of deciduous forests (think: trees with leaves) running down a swath in the middle of the state.

Some of the most interesting landscapes in Minnesota occur where examples of two of those biomes meet -- where pine forests meet hardwood forests, or where prairie meets woods. That last example of natural wonders is part of what has been drawing visitors to since it was first established by the DNR in 1945.

This state park in southwest Minnesota, is our 18th stop on our tour of 20 Minnesota State Parks in our series called Minnesota's Backyard.

鈥淜ilen Woods is pretty much known as a diamond in the rough,鈥� said Jason Honkomp, the park manager who has been there for more than a decade. 鈥淲e鈥檙e stationed out here in the middle of southwest Minnesota and people come out for peace and quiet. It鈥檚 a very small park with lower traffic compared to some of the bigger parks, and it would be considered a rustic park within the state park system.鈥�

Situated near the Des Moines River, which flows southeast across all of Iowa and into the Mississippi, eventually, the park includes roughly four miles of hiking trails, split between the woods and the prairie. And this being Minnesota, there are opportunities to get out on the water, with the caveat that in low water years like this one, the river can be treacherous.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a fast-flowing rapids, but in low water it can be an obstacle course with some large rocks within the rapids,鈥� Honkomp said. 鈥淒uring normal flow it鈥檚 navigable, but even with the recent rains, the river has a way to come up before it鈥檚 navigable with canoes.鈥�

This stretch of the Des Moines River is designated as a state water trail, but the park does not have rental watercraft or any kind of pick-up and drop-off service for those who bring their own canoes and kayaks. Instead, the most-viewed visitors to the park arrive by air.

鈥淲e tend to get more bird-watchers than anything,鈥� said Honkomp, who noted that they had record visitorship in 2020 and are on that pace again in 2021. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a migratory bird flyway, and they use the Des Moines River to navigate south, so we see more birders each year.鈥�

The rustic campground is also a popular place to spend the night, and they encourage reservations in advance if you plan to camp on a weekend. Once settled in, near where the woods meet the prairie, the opportunities are seemingly endless.

鈥淧eople come here primarily for hiking and camping,鈥� Honkomp said. 鈥淐amping is the main attraction and hiking the trails out in the park. Kilen Woods also has a natural tract of prairie hidden inside of it and it has a scientific and natural area inside the park, which is home to a protected plant, the prairie bush clover.鈥�

In this part of the state where chasing the elusive prairie rooster draws countless visitors, and their dogs, each fall, many towns can lay claim to the title of pheasant hunting capital of Minnesota. But roughly 20 minutes north of Kilen Woods in Windom sits the , one of the rare pheasant hunting-themed bars and eateries in the region. Home to classic small-town burgers and pizzas, as well as a full range of beverages, the Phat Pheasant is a popular and friendly meeting place. Just don鈥檛 expect to get a table there on Oct. 9, the night before the Minnesota pheasant opener.

1/12: A bumblebee takes flight from a thistle along the Connector Trail on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

2/12: Hikers enjoy a late summer stroll through Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

3/12: The Prairie Bush Clover Scientific and Natural Area is one of the features to be found at Kilen Woods State Park in Jackson County. This view was seen along the Sioux Trail Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

4/12: Shower and restroom facilities are available at the campgrounds at Kilen Woods State Park. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

5/12: A goldfinch perches atop a wildflower in the Prairie Bush Clover Scientific and Natural Area inside Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. This view was seen from the Connector Trail. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

6/12: A fishing jig dangles from a tree branch along the Des Moines River, as seen from the Riverside Trail in Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

7/12: A spider built an elaborate web on a picnic table along the Ox Cart Trail at Kilen Woods State Park, as seen on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

8/12: A view of the Ox Cart Trail inside Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

9/12: The Rock Creek Trail at Kilen Woods State Park is shown from the picnic area on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

10/12: A view of the Des Moines River from the Meadow Trail inside Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

11/12: Visitors are welcome to use the main shelter house in the Kilen Woods State Park picnic area. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

12/12: The sign at the main gate to Kilen Woods State Park welcomes visitors to quaintness of this state park along the Des Moines River in Jackson County. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

1/12: A bumblebee takes flight from a thistle along the Connector Trail on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

2/12: Hikers enjoy a late summer stroll through Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

3/12: The Prairie Bush Clover Scientific and Natural Area is one of the features to be found at Kilen Woods State Park in Jackson County. This view was seen along the Sioux Trail Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

4/12: Shower and restroom facilities are available at the campgrounds at Kilen Woods State Park. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

5/12: A goldfinch perches atop a wildflower in the Prairie Bush Clover Scientific and Natural Area inside Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. This view was seen from the Connector Trail. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

6/12: A fishing jig dangles from a tree branch along the Des Moines River, as seen from the Riverside Trail in Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

7/12: A spider built an elaborate web on a picnic table along the Ox Cart Trail at Kilen Woods State Park, as seen on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

8/12: A view of the Ox Cart Trail inside Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

9/12: The Rock Creek Trail at Kilen Woods State Park is shown from the picnic area on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

10/12: A view of the Des Moines River from the Meadow Trail inside Kilen Woods State Park on Aug. 31, 2021. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

11/12: Visitors are welcome to use the main shelter house in the Kilen Woods State Park picnic area. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)

12/12: The sign at the main gate to Kilen Woods State Park welcomes visitors to quaintness of this state park along the Des Moines River in Jackson County. (Tim Middagh / The Globe)