Looking for recreation and entertainment? You’ll find what you’re looking for in Jackson. Enjoy camping, canoeing, fishing, tennis, golf, swimming, hiking, boating, snowmobiling, ice skating and much more.
City Parks
There are 10 parks throughout the city with playgrounds and picnic areas.
Ashley Park is located on the beautiful Des Moines River.
State and County Parks
There are 6 county parks around the area: for information on each of the parks, contact the Jackson County Park Office at 507-847-2525 ext. 7250 or email jcp@co.jackson.mn.us
Kilen Woods State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Jackson. The park has 228 acres of nature trails and scenic spots. For more information visit: Kilen Woods State Park
Sports, Athletic/Fitness Courts and Leagues
- Indoor Olympic Size Swimming Pool at JCC High school. There is also a sauna, whirlpool, and wading pool at this facility and is open to the public. Click here for more information on the pool/public swimming: Swimming Pool
- 3 Public Golf Courses: Jackson Golf Club, Loon Lake Golf Club and Emerald Valley Golf Club
- Football Fields
- Softball/Baseball Fields
- Tennis Courts
- Basketball Courts
- Billiards/Dart League
- Sand & Volleyball Courts
- 2 Fitness Centers: JCC High school, Prairie Rehab & Fitness
- Disc Golf Course ~Benes Recreational Area
- Skate Park – located by city Hall
Sports, Athletic/Fitness Courts and Leagues
- Indoor Olympic Size Swimming Pool at JCC High school. There is also a sauna, whirlpool, and wading pool at this facility and is open to the public. Click here for more information on the pool/public swimming: Swimming Pool
- 3 Public Golf Courses: Jackson Golf Club, Loon Lake Golf Club and Emerald Valley Golf Club
- Football Fields
- Softball/Baseball Fields
- Tennis Courts
- Basketball Courts
- Billiards/Dart League
- Sand & Volleyball Courts
- 2 Fitness Centers: JCC High school, Prairie Rehab & Fitness
- Disc Golf Course ~Benes Recreational Area
- Skate Park – located by city Hall
Golf
There are three golf courses in the area:
- Jackson Golf Club
- Loon Lake Golf Club, located 8 ½ miles southwest of Jackson
- Emerald Valley Golf Course in Lakefield, MN
Recreational Trails
The Des Moines River valley plays into many amenities Jackson has to offer for recreation and entertainment! Beautiful rolling hills, trees and parks with spectacular scenery. The newest addition is the construction of a 4.05 mile non-motorized (biking and walking) trail around the city of Jackson.
For a map of the trails around Jackson: Click Here
There are a number of trials in the county and state parks. Visit the Jackson County Web site for additional information on the County Park Trails.
Camping
Jackson has a number of campground sites in the area.
The Jackson KOA Kampground is just north of Interstate 90, exit 73. Jackson KOA has 70 campsites, with 29 hookups for sewer, electrical (50 AMP service) and water, LP fill, a dumping station, swimming pool and laundry facilities. They are open April 15th to October 15th. Call 1-800-KOA-5670 or 507-847-3825 to make reservations.
The Jackson County Park System has camping available at all of its six parks with 75 developed campsites at the Loon Lake Campground. Other facilities include shelters with electrical outlets, restrooms, pressured water, playground equipment, trails, observation decks and dump stations. Camping, boating, fishing and hiking are popular activities at the parks. Parks that have full camping facilities include: Anderson, Brown, Brown Park South, Robertson, and Sandy Point. For more information, call the Jackson County Park Office at 507-847-2525 ext. 7250 or e-mail jcp@co.jackson.mn.us
Kilen Woods State Park, located 12 miles northwest of Jackson, has 33 semi-modern campsites with tables, water, showers, toilets, and fire rings; a trailer dump station, 11 electrical sites, four walk-in campsites, picnic area, shelter house, canoe and group campsites; hiking and public access to the Des Moines River. The park has 228 acres of nature trails and scenic spots. For more information click: Kilen Woods State Park.
Boating & Fishing
Lakes in Jackson County
Clear Lake - 5 mi. W. of Jackson
Loon Lake* - 10 mi. S.W. of Jackson
Rush Lake* - 12 mi. S.W. of Jackson
Pearl Lake* - 12 mi. S.W. of Jackson
Heron Lake - N.W. corner Jackson Co.
Round Lake - S.W. corner of Jackson Co.
* These three lakes are located close together.
TYPES OF FISH FOUND IN THESE LAKES:
Walleye, Northern Pike, Bullheads, Perch, Crappie
Hunting
- Jackson Archery/Gun Club
- Jackson Sportsmen’s Club
- County Parks Office: (507) 847-2525 ext. 7250 or www.co.jackson.mn.us
Walk-In Access (WIA) provides public hunting on private land in Minnesota and pays landowners to allow that access. Through WIA, more than 23,000 acres of private land is open for public hunting from September 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017. An Atlas of hunting parcels is available at retailers within the WIA area, at the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, by calling the MN DNR at 888-646-6367, or online by clicking the logo below.
Winter Sports
Ice fishing, ice skating, snowmobile trails, and cross country skiing on the river, lakes and parks throughout the County.
Play Clean and Go is a new program whose goal is to disrupt the link between the spread of terrestrial invasive species and outdoor recreation. Help Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks!