Баннинг штатының саябағы: Кеттл өзенінің тамашасы

State park in Pine County, Minnesota

Banning State Park is a state park in Pine County, Minnesota, United States, stretched along 10 mile (16 km) of the Kettle River near the town of Sandstone. The centerpiece of the park is 1.5 mile (2 km) of churning rapids, some up to Class IV. The daring kayakers and canoeists who shoot Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, Dragon's Tooth, Little Banning, and Hell's Gate each spring attract spectators to the park. Landbound visitors can hike along the state's first Wild and Scenic River amid dramatic sandstone rock formations, large potholes carved by the river, and the remains of a historic quarry. Other features are Wolf Creek Falls and Robinson Ice Cave. The park is located directly off Interstate 35. Banning State Park is open daily from 8am until 10pm. Each vehicle entering the park requires an up to date permit which can be purchased online or at the park office.

The park lies in a shallow, narrow valley worn by the Kettle River. The topsoil is very thin and in the center of the park the river has cut down through Precambrian sandstone known as the Hinckley Formation and on into the bedrock, resulting in a gorge—up to 40 feet (12 m) tall at Hell's Gate—and 1.5 mile (2 km) of rapids.

The vegetation in this part of the Mille Lacs Uplands is still recovering from 19th century human industry and forest fires. The forest was logged, and around the quarry the ground was stripped bare. Today middle successional species like birch and aspen are more prevalent than the Norway and eastern white pines that would have originally dominated the area. In 1995 a dam at the southern tip of the park was removed, restoring a waterfall and another series of rapids. Fishing is also available along the Kettle River, which has held and produced state record sturgeon. Banning State Park's drive in campground has 33 sites (11 with electrical hookups), a camper cabin, and showers. There are four canoe campsites spaced along the river. Banning State Park staff also manage a campground within nearby General C. C. Andrews State Forest that boasts 38 drive in sites, 2 walk in sites, and a group tent camp.