Glacial Lakes State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Camping
- 51 campsitesAlso cabins, glamping or camper cabins
- Official site
- dnr.state.mn.us(320) 239-2860
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Water quality Park alertWater is off for the season. The only potable water is located across from the office. Ranger station hours are currently limited. Please call the… (more)
Water is off for the season. The only potable water is located across from the office. Ranger station hours are currently limited. Please call the ranger station for current hours of operation. Special Permit Firearms Deer Hunt Our deer hunt is Thursday, November 12 through Sunday, November 15, 2026. Wear blaze orange or other bright colored clothing. Park office will be open- Please stop in for more information.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
In Pope County, about 5 miles south of Starbuck, Glacial Lakes State Park covers about 1,929 acres.
The park supports horseback riding, swimming, boating, fishing, and wildlife watching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a fishing pier. For overnight stays there are 51 campsites across 6 camping areas (RV sites with electric hookups, tent sites, group camping, equestrian camping, and showers). There are also cabins and camper cabins or similar shelters for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. | — |
| Park | Drinking water: Water is Off for the season. Trails: Hiking trails are open year round. Dump station: Dump/Fill Station is closed for the season. Water: Water is off for the season. Showers: Shower building is closed for the season. RVs: No electric sites are available in the Oakridge campground. Bathrooms: Bathroom buildings in the campground and day use area are closed for the season. Vault toilets are available. Electric sites: The Park has 14 electric sites in the lower campground, all with 50 and 30 amp service. Campgrounds: Lower and Oak Ridge Campgrounds are open for the season. Reservations can be made online at mndnr.gov/reservations or by calling toll free to 866-857-2757. Reservations can be made 120 days prior to arrival date. Rentals: Water rentals are done for the season. | ||
Official wording
Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Office hours are limited- Please call the park office
Lower and Oak Ridge Campgrounds are open for the season. Reservations can be made online at mndnr.gov/reservations or by calling toll free to 866-857-2757. Reservations can be made 120 days prior to arrival date.
Drinking water: Water is Off for the season. Trails: Hiking trails are open year round. Dump station: Dump/Fill Station is closed for the season. Water: Water is off for the season. Showers: Shower building is closed for the season. RVs: No electric sites are available in the Oakridge campground. Bathrooms: Bathroom buildings in the campground and day use area are closed for the season. Vault toilets are available. Electric sites: The Park has 14 electric sites in the lower campground, all with 50 and 30 amp service. Campgrounds: Lower and Oak Ridge Campgrounds are open for the season. Reservations can be made online at mndnr.gov/reservations or by calling toll free to 866-857-2757. Reservations can be made 120 days prior to arrival date. Rentals: Water rentals are done for the season.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Fees and passes
Per vehicle: a state park vehicle permit (one-day $7 or year-round $35) is required for every vehicle; same price for residents and nonresidents. Four free park days per year. Iron Range OHV SRA states 'There is no entrance fee'.
Statewide fee rule from Minnesota's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Minnesota park passes
- Year-round vehicle permit — $35. Unlimited visits to every Minnesota state park and recreation area for 12 months from the month of purchase Details
- One-day vehicle permit — $7. One day, one vehicle Details
- Additional year-round vehicle permit — $26. Additional vehicles owned by a year-round permit holder Details
- Year-round motorcycle permit — $30. Motorcycle, 12 months Details
- One-day group permit — $5. Group vehicles, one day Details
From the Minnesota state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Reserve MN (US eDirect)
- Phone
- 866-857-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
No dogs
No pets allowed. Pets are not allowed.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites 37 sites | 37 | ShowersRVs up to 45 feet | — |
| Pull-Through Sites Site #39 is the only pull-through site in the campground | — | Showers | — |
| Electric Sites 14 sites | 14 | ElectricShowersRVs up to 45 feet | — |
| Backpack Sites Four sites | — | Showers | — |
| Horse Camp Eight sites accommodate up to 45 people | — | Showers | — |
| Group Camp Accommodates up to 50 people — Group campground is located near Singalness Lake and includes a small open picnic shelter with fireplace. Tents, small trailers and campers are permitted. Showers are not included with the group camp rental - call the park office to purchase a shower ticket. | — | Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
Drive-in Sites — 37 sites
Pull-Through Sites — Site #39 is the only pull-through site in the campground
Electric Sites — 14 sites
RV Length Limit — 45 feet: Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed.
Backpack Sites — Four sites
Horse Camp — Eight sites accommodate up to 45 people
Group Camp — Accommodates up to 50 people: Group campground is located near Singalness Lake and includes a small open picnic shelter with fireplace. Tents, small trailers and campers are permitted. Showers are not included with the group camp rental - call the park office to purchase a shower ticket.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Camper CabinsTwo seasonal cabins and four year-round cabins — Year-round cabins have heat, electricity and a porch. Available daily from April through October, and Thursday- Sunday in the winter. Kettle, Kame, and Glacial Erratic Cabins all sleep six. Esker Cabin is accessible and sleeps five. Seasonal cabins are available April-Labor Day. Friends Cabin sleeps six. Coneflower Cabin is accessible and sleeps five. No pets allowed. More information on camper cabins.
Accessible Lodging — 2 camper cabins: Esker and Coneflower camper cabins are accessible.
Camper Cabins — Two seasonal cabins and four year-round cabins: Year-round cabins have heat, electricity and a porch. Available daily from April through October, and Thursday- Sunday in the winter. Kettle, Kame, and Glacial Erratic Cabins all sleep six. Esker Cabin is accessible and sleeps five.
Seasonal cabins are available April-Labor Day. Friends Cabin sleeps six. Coneflower Cabin is accessible and sleeps five. No pets allowed. More information on camper cabins.
Things to do
CampingFishingWildlife viewing and birdingHikingHorseback ridingRanger and interpretive programsPicnickingSwimmingBoating
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowmobile (winter) | 11 mi | — | 11 milesSnowmobile |
| Snowshoe (winter) | — | — | Anywhere in park — Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on groomed trails.Snowshoe |
| Other (winter) | — | — | Ungroomed ski trails — The state park has six miles of ungroomed trails for cross-country skiing.Other |
| Self-Guided (summer) | 0.5 mi | — | One-half mileSelf-Guided |
| Hiking (summer) | 16 mi | — | 16 milesHiking |
| Paved Bike (summer) | 5 mi | — | Five miles — Trail runs from the park entrance to the city of Starbuck.Paved Bike |
| Horse (summer) | 11 mi | — | 11 milesHorse |
Trail descriptions from the park
Winter — Snowmobile — 11 miles
Winter — Snowshoe — Anywhere in park: Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on groomed trails.
Winter — Other — Ungroomed ski trails: The state park has six miles of ungroomed trails for cross-country skiing.
Summer — Self-Guided — One-half mile
Summer — Hiking — 16 miles
Summer — Paved Bike — Five miles: Trail runs from the park entrance to the city of Starbuck.
Summer — Horse — 11 miles
Trail conditions: Hiking trails are open year round.
Swimming
Swimming Beach
Boating and paddling
Boat Access — Drive-in
Boating Restrictions — Electric motors only
Boat Docks
Fishing
Fishing
Fishing Pier — Signalness (Mountain) Lake: The pier is accessible.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
- Marina or boat slips
- Fishing pier
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Group camping
- Equestrian camping
Lodging
- Cabins
- Glamping or camper cabins
Recreation
- Horse trails
Accessibility
- Accessible cabins or lodging
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible cabins or lodging
Accessible Lodging — 2 camper cabins: Esker and Coneflower camper cabins are accessible.
Camper Cabins — Two seasonal cabins and four year-round cabins: Year-round cabins have heat, electricity and a porch. Available daily from April through October, and Thursday- Sunday in the winter. Kettle, Kame, and Glacial Erratic Cabins all sleep six. Esker Cabin is accessible and sleeps five.
Seasonal cabins are available April-Labor Day. Friends Cabin sleeps six. Coneflower Cabin is accessible and sleeps five. No pets allowed. More information on camper cabins.
Showers — Accessible, available seasonally
Flush Toilets — Accessible, available seasonally
Fishing Pier — Signalness (Mountain) Lake: The pier is accessible.
Picnic Area — Accessible
Picnic Shelter — Accessible open shelter
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 25022 County Road 41
Starbuck, MN 56381 - Nearest town
- Starbuck — about 5 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 45.5417, -95.5335
- Phone
- (320) 239-2860
- glaciallakes.statepark@state.mn.us
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
From the town of Starbuck, go 3 miles south on Highway 29, then 2 miles south on County Road 41.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Minnesota State Parks and Trails — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- MN DNR A-Z list of state parks and recreation areas (park IDs in server-rendered <noscript> links) + state waysides page; details from the compass feature_detail JSON API used by park.html
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Glaciallakes.JPG — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Archbob
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology