Hidden Minnesota Gem Named One of Best U.S. Swim Spots

Tucked away in the North Star State is a swimming hole so stunning, it’s turning heads nationwide. Whether you're diving in or just soaking up the views, this Minnesota gem is making serious waves.

Keeping your cool in the summer here in Minnesota should be easy. I mean, we aren't known as the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' for nothing, right? However, sometimes our lakes DO take a decidedly evil turn, like the time a few years ago when 60 people WERE sickened after swimming at Schulze Lake in Dakota County.

And, of course, hitting the lakes can be tougher in southeast Minnesota, especially in Olmsted County, which is one of only four Minnesota counties that do not have any naturally occurring lakes. (That's also the case for folks living in Mower, Pipestone, and Rock counties, too.)

READ MORE: Two MN Spots Named 'Best Places To Visit in U.S.' in 2025

Of course, the largest city in southeast Minnesota, Rochester, DOES have several places you can swim, like Cascade Lake, Foster Arend Park, and the new Aquatic Center at Soldiers Field Park. But if you're up for a quick road trip, did you know that one of the Best Swimming Holes in the entire country is right here in the North Star State?

It's true. And according to this Travel Channel survey of the Best Swimming Holes in America, the swimming hole at Quarry Park & Nature Preserve near St. Cloud is one of the best in the country-- and it's the only swimming hole in Minnesota to land a spot on their list.

Get our free mobile app

The Travel Channel survey had this to say about Quarry Park:

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 – recently 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!

According to Google Maps, a trip from the Twin Cities metro to Quarry Park in St. Cloud is about 70 miles (depending on where you live) and will take you just over an hour to get there. So, it's definitely an easy day trip if you're going to check it out. And the park DOES look pretty cool. (You can get more info on it HERE.)

Of course, maybe you'd rather just chill out in a pool in your own backyard. But you don't have a pool at your house? You don't? Well, did you know you can *rent* a pool here in Minnesota? Keep scrolling to check out some places that are available right now.

Listen to Curt St. John & Samm Adams
Weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5