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Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake

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Directions and Factoids
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.

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.

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/

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Services Status
The list below includes Recreation Services Status of USACE managed areas (lines that contain the Corps Castle icon). Others, such as state or private marina operators, run additional parks. Please contact those agencies or individuals for information on the areas they manage.

Open    Partially Open    Closed    Status Unknown

	Area Status
Sandy Lake Recreation Area   $				X			D C	A GS	X		I
Reserve Sandy Lake Recreation Area
Corps Managed Managed by Others in Italics $ Corps Fees Collected