This site is the web version of a completed 116-park review project: 66 Minnesota state parks and 50 Wisconsin state parks, all personally visited.
Most visits took place between April and October, usually in fair weather, and many visits were a few hours rather than multi-day stays. The reviews describe the experience actually had on those visits rather than trying to catalogue every trail, campsite, or facility.
The project covers designated state parks only. It does not attempt to include state forests, recreation areas, natural areas, or national lands.
The pine score is meant to reflect how well a park delivers the experience it offers. A lower-rated small or specialized park is not automatically “worse” than a large destination park. That is why the site emphasizes trip fit, Ideal Trip, collections, and the original review instead of a single ranked list.
The reviews are historical first-hand impressions. Closures, reservations, ferries, facilities, water access, and other operating details should be checked with the relevant state DNR before a trip.