Photo by Jim Muchlinski The Camden River Trail has many river area views, such as this one near the starting point.

LYND — Some of Camden State Park’s most scenic river views are being preserved thanks to erosion control efforts.

Park staff, in conjunction with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources specialists, have installed erosion control structures on the scenic River Trail, located near the South Picnic Ground. The projects have taken place since the 1990s on an as needed basis.

“It’s an ongoing process,” said Camden State Park Manager Bill Dinesen. “We expect that it will need more maintenance in future years. The timing will probably depend on weather events. A season with substantial rain is more likely to damage the trail.”

Some of the projects involve boardwalks that travel through washed out locations. In other cases culverts are installed under the trail to allow runoff to pass through.

In one location a wall of rock covered in fabric protects a section of the trail, preventing damage from rain-related erosion.

“Ideally we want water to pass under the trail or over it without washing it away,” Dinesen said. “With structures in place we might lose the gravel on the surface, but the underlying trail base should be preserved.”

He said the erosion control projects carry costs, but that the benefits of having the River Trail are worth an extra expense.

The River Trail begins at the South Picnic Ground and travels south toward the south end of the park. It passes under a railroad underpass and then makes a loop in a section of the river valley.

“It’s an important connecting point for our overall trail system,” Dinesen said. “The other advantage is that it’s scenic. People like the river views. Some of our visitors consider it their favorite trail.”

Other highlights of the Camden trail system include the Prairie Bluff Trail with many prairie and hillside views. The North Side of the park is highlighted by the Dakota Valley lookout trail and the Camden Village historic trail.

Dinesen said the trail system serves a combination of hikers, horseback riders, mountain bike riders and snowmobilers.

“They get widely used,” he said. “It’s especially busy in the summer and fall. We have steady usage, but not so much that it causes maintenance issues. Most of the maintenance depends on what Mother Nature gives us.”