NOTICE: Many states are discouraging or banning movement of firewood to control spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Not bringing wood from home to your campsite and not taking unused wood you procure while camping home with you is recommended -- required in some states. Check the following website to learn more: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/
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See the Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake website for additional information. Primary recreational opportunities are listed below.
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Visitor Center
Sandy Lake Visitor Center (218) 426-3482
Directions & Lake History/Factoid
Directions: From McGregor, MN travel 13 miles north on State Highway 65. The Sandy Lake Dam &
Recreation Area has 2 access roads, a South Entrance and North Entrance, which are 1/2 a
mile apart and accessed off of State Highway 65.
South Entrance facilities: Park office, beach, boat ramps, picnic shelter, and campsites
1-21, tent sites 1-4, and the south group campsite.
North Entrance facilities: North boat ramp, small visitor museum, campsites 22-49, tent
sites 5-8, the north group campsite, and the camper cabin.
Note: Only pedestrian traffic is permitted across the dam.
Lake History
Factoid: The Sandy Lake Dam and Recreation Area is situated at the outlet of Big Sandy Lake in
northern Minnesota, 13 miles north of McGregor, MN. The dam is a part of the Mississippi
Headwaters Project, one of the first reservoir systems in the country. "The Sandy Lake
Dam structure dates back to 1895. Today the grounds have been developed into a park and
campground that is noted for its clean, family-friendly environment and access to fishing
and boating on both Big Sandy Lake and nearby Mississippi River. It offers the only public
campground and beach on the lake. The area is also a part of the historic canoe
route that connected the Mississippi River to Lake Superior and major fur trading
companies. Artifacts from the area's long history are kept in a small museum located near
the dam.
Age & Disability Discount Passes
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Services Status
Please see the list below for USACE managed areas. Other parks run by state or private marinas are not included in the list below. Please contact the state or private marina for additional information.
Open
Partially Open
Closed
Status Unknown
1 Recreation areas at Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake
Sandy Lake Recreation Area
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X |
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D C |
A GS
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X |
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I
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Corps Managed
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Managed by Others in Italics |
$ Corps Fees Collected
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Print Friendly Version
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Camping |
E | Electric Campsites |
N | Non-electric Campsites |
P | Primitive Campsites |
G | Group Camping |
D | Dump Station |
Fishing |
C | Fish Cleaning Stations |
D | Fishing Docks |
P | Fishing Piers |
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Picnic |
A | Picnic Area |
G | Group Picnic |
GS | Group Picnic Shelter |
Swimming |
BE | Beach |
P | Swimming Pool |
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Trails |
B | Bike Trails |
Q | Equestrian Trails |
H | Hiking Trails |
I | Hiking Trails - Interpretive |
R | Off Road Vehicle Trails |
F | Fitness Trails |
W | Water Trails |
S | Snow Mobile Trails |
CC | Cross Country Skiing Trails |
M | Multipurpose Trails |
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The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army of the Web site or the information, products or services contained therein.