Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia preserves a steep, wooded valley in Minnesota’s Driftless Area, where East Beaver Creek has cut deep through sandstone and dolomite laid down by ancient inland seas. Springs flowing through these porous rocks feed a trout stream that supports native brook trout and wild brown trout, while the valley also shelters hardwood forests, prairie remnants, rare plants, and uncommon birds. The area’s human history includes a Native American village, prehistoric tools, nineteenth-century settlement, and the 1876 gristmill now known as Schech Mill. Established in the 1930s, the park became known for trout fishing, hiking, and its blend of natural and working landscapes.