Pine County is not only attuned to the Great Outdoors, it boasts clear lakes and trout streams, wild and scenic rivers, towering pine forests, and teeming wildlife that remain as they were when the first fur trading voyageur ventured to the region in the mid-Eighteenth Century. The totals alone are impressive: 635,000 acres of wildlife area, five state forests, two state parks, twenty trout streams, and almost 100 lakes!
Banning State Park was established in 1963 with 5,246 acres. In 1971, the acreage increased to 5,877 and in 1986, the park boundary was expanded to include a total of 6,237 acres. A 10-mile stretch of the Kettle River, designated as a state Wild and Scenic River, bisects the park. The park's water resources include the Kettle River, Wolf Creek, Log Creek, six streams and three springs. The scenic Kettle River includes Big Spring Falls, Sandstone Rapids, Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, Dragon's Tooth, Little Banning and Hell's Gate. These rapids provide one of the states most challenging whitewater experiences for canoe and kayak enthusiasts.
A closely knit area of cooperative small towns, Pine County provides a full range of modern conveniences for visitors and residents. An indoor Olympic swimming pool, a roller rink, Minnesota's largest indoor archery range, two golf courses, numerous tennis courts and community parks offer facilities for most popular activities.
An accredited hospital with 24-hour doctor's care offers a complete list of services; surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, emergency, radiology, more.
The educational districts of Chisago Lakes, East Central, Hinckley-Finlayson, Pine City and Rush City work together. The Office of Rural Health & Primary Care
works to develop public and private partnerships to address the health care
needs of people across Minnesota. Area communities maintain their own school districts; over three dozen public schools plus private education and vo-tech training serve students of all ages.
The city of Finlayson features such annual events as the Big Pine Lake Ice Fishing Contest, St. Urho's Day Celebration and Parade, 4th of July Celebration, Parade, Queen Coronation and Fireworks as well as the 4th of July Boat Parade on Big Pine Lake. September brings the White Pine Logging and Thrashing Show and the Sportsman's Picnic. December is highlighted by Santa Day.
Recreation destinations in Pine County run the gamut from sports and scenic to
cultural and historic. Pine County boasts the largest gambling casino, north of
Las Vegas. The casino itself is 100,000 sq ft and will have hotel, motels, RV
park, restaurants, entertainment and much more.
St. Croix State Park, 33,000 acres of forest, meadow, marsh, and stream including a swimming lake and campsites, also has miles of specially groomed trails for hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and horseback riding as well as paved bike trails plus canoeing rivers. Banning State Park, at 6,000 acres, adds to the trails and camping and includes the famous Hell's Gate Rapids of the Kettle River. Perhaps the fastest growing sport on Pine County's rivers are whitewater canoeing and kayaking.
Beautiful Big Pine Lake offers a variety of fish species. Studies have shown
that 2 to 3 times the state average population of walleyes and bass reside here!
In addition, pan fish and northern pike populations also thrive, as well as
black crappies.