Lake Shetek State Park

Trip Notes

Lake Shetek State Park is a beautiful park with a large lake and lots and lots of trails. We spent part of three days here and walked every day without having to repeat a trail. There was a small oak forest bordering the lake, and praire further from the lake shore. There were fish ponds that unfortunately weren’t ponds due to the drought, but still plenty green and full of wildlife.

We saw hawks playing near our campsite. We also saw deer, a mink, chipmonks, squirrels, and eagles.

There were a few docks where you could sit or fish. And there were canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards to rent.

Besides taking walks, I took the opportunity to relax by the lake or in the campsite to just enjoy the beauty of the place. I sat on the fishing dock and spent a long time watching a swallow surf on the wind. I also had the luxury of reading a book.

Photos from our Stay at Lake Shetek State Park

The dock was making haunted noises as it bobbed up and down on the waves

There were hundreds of oak trees in the campground. They make a beautify canopy over the trail.

On the otherside of the oak trees was a praire full of flowers. Lots of food for the bees.

I’ve never seen a white thistle flower before.

This is a public access boat landing and the place where you can rent a canoe, kayak, paddle board, or peddle boat. This is also where the causeway to Loon Island is. It’s about a 1.5 mile walk to and around the island and back to this point.

This causeway and 2 others, plus a few buildings including the beach house were built as part of the WPA works in the late 1930’s.

Monument and burial site to the settlers who were killed here in the Dakota War of 1862.

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• van
• camping
• minnesota
• state park
• dakota war 1862