Whitewater State Park Goat Prairies

A goat prairie is a fragile, sun-drenched bluff ecosystem characterized by steep, rocky terrain and very thin soils. They are named "goat prairies" because the incline is so severe that it sometimes seems only a mountain goat could navigate it safely.

These prairies host rare, specialized plant and animal species that are uniquely adapted to surviving in harsh, dry, and rocky conditions. They represent some of the last remaining untouched fragments of Minnesota's original native bluff prairies.

Whitewater State Park is located in southeastern Minnesota, nestled within the scenic blufflands region of the state. The park spans the Whitewater River Valley and is surrounded by towering limestone bluffs.

While visitors can view the prairies from designated bordering trails, hikers are heavily discouraged from walking directly through these delicate environments. Walking off-trail easily destroys the thin topsoil and threatens the rare prairie specialist species that live there.