Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is a state park in Rice County. It was established in 1945. 8 graded lakes are within 15 miles of the park, including Byllesby Lake, Fox Lake, Roberds Lake.
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park State Park spans an unrecorded acreage acres in Minnesota — a designated recreation destination with the full set of facilities the state park system provides. The park is paired with 8 graded lakes nearby — enough for a multi-lake visit. Average grade among them: D.
For visitors planning around water quality, the nearby-lakes list below is the practical tool: a park is only as good as the lake you intend to use it from, and the LakeGrade for that lake gives you the water-clarity, nutrient, and algal-pressure context you need.
Official Resources
Nearby Graded Lakes (within 15 mi)
Lakes closest to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, weighted by size. Click a lake for its full water quality grade, fish species, and depth.
| Lake | County | Grade | Surface Area | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byllesby Lake | Dakota | F | 1.4K acres | 13.5 mi |
| Fox Lake | Rice | D | - | 11.3 mi |
| Roberds Lake | Rice | F | - | 11.9 mi |
| Wells Lake | Rice | F | - | 12 mi |
| Circle Lake | Rice | F | - | 12.1 mi |
| Dudley Lake | Rice | C | - | 12.6 mi |
| Union Lake | Rice | F | - | 12.9 mi |
| Kelly Lake | Rice | B | - | 13 mi |
Other Parks in the Area
- Rice Lake State Park— State Park, 17.9 mi
- Sakatah Lake State Park— State Park, 22.9 mi
- Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area— State Recreation Area, 36.6 mi
- Fort Snelling State Park— State Park, 37.5 mi
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.