McCarthy Beach State Park RV & Campground Guide
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McCarthy Beach State Park in northern Minnesota was established in 1945 with 135 acres of stunning pine forests. Today, the park encompasses 2,471 acres, including the acclaimed Sturgeon Lake. Spend your trip boating on the peaceful waters or hiking the scenic trails through the birch and aspen trees. The half-mile of sandy shoreline and swimming beach are family favorites during the summer. While some of the amenities are limited during the off-season, you're still welcome to reserve a camping spot and try your hand at snowshoeing or snowmobiling. The park office near the entrance has a gift shop and an interpretative exhibit that explores the area's history and geology.
Spring 13-64 F
Summer 50-78 F
Fall 20-67 F
Winter -2-22 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in McCarthy Beach State Park
McCarthy Beach State Park has 86 drive-in sites and 21 spots with electrical hookups. Many of the sites have 30-amp service, but there are a few with 50-amp connections. The maximum RV length is 40 feet. The flush toilets and showers are wheelchair accessible and open seasonally. The RV dump station is also only open during the warmer months and typically re-opens at the end of May. RV enthusiasts should be aware that the campground has narrow roads with sharp turns that may be difficult to traverse in larger rigs.
What to Do at
McCarthy Beach State Park
This park has 12 miles of equestrian trails, five miles of groomed cross-country trails, and seven miles of snowmobile trails. Snowshoeing is allowed everywhere except on the cross-country system. Seasonal rentals include all-terrain track chairs, watercraft, and adaptive floating wheelchairs.
Fishing
This state park has a total of seven lakes that offer anglers opportunities to fish for pike, panfish, walleye, bass, and various trout. Lake Sturgeon is the park's largest water source and is best known for its northern pike and exceptional shoreline fishing. The smaller Pickerel Lake to the northeast is the best option for trout anglers.
Geocaching
McCarthy Beach State Park was one of the many Minnesota State Parks Geocaching History Challenge participants. This multi-cache hunt includes ammo containers of various sizes with special history cards and treasures. Contact the park office for updates about active caches in the area.
Nature Watching
Watch the lakes for graceful loons gliding down or majestic great blue herons searching for fish. Foraging between the trees, you may spot chipmunks, red squirrels, white-tailed deer, raccoons, and timber wolves.
Flora and Fauna
Wildlife enthusiasts can find upwards of 175 bird species and 33 mammal species in this park. Additionally, the park offers a richly varied terrain with plenty of rolling hills, flat, sandy beaches, and charming forests. Many of the trails run under towering red and white pines, birches, aspens, and spruce lowland trees. In the spring, you can't miss the countless blooming milkweeds, waterleaves, marigolds, and goldenrods.
Hiking
Hikers are welcome to trek the more than 18 miles of nature trails. The short and sweet Pickerel Lake Trail is a visitor favorite. For more great lake views, be sure to check out the mostly flat, 1.2-mile Lake Shore Trail. The longer Ridge Trail to the north ventures away from the water into the woods. The park's trails connect to the impressive 165-mile Taconite State Trail as well as the Tim Corey Trail.
Boating
There are several boat ramps situated around the edges of Sturgeon Lake and Side Lake. The park office seasonally rents boats, paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and more. These rentals are available between May and September.
Swimming
Sturgeon Lake has a large area of knee-deep water perfect for family swimming. You'll find modern restrooms, a shower area, and changing rooms nearby. The picnic shelter close to the swimming beach has a large fireplace, tables, and electric outlets.
Biking
Most of the paths in the park permit mountain biking. You can also ride along the low-maintenance county roads within the park's boundaries. Remember to always wear a safety helmet and yield to horseback riders.
How to Get to
McCarthy Beach State Park
From Grand Rapids, travel along US-189 N for about 33 miles. After exiting onto County Highway 5, keep driving for a little over 15 miles until you can turn onto McCarthy Beach Road. Follow the signs to the park.
Entering McCarthy Beach State Park
There are parking lots near the park office, Beatrice Lake Campground, Pickerel Lake, and Side Lake Campground. Even if you're camping overnight, you still require a parking permit to use any of the lots. From May 23 to September 22, the park office is open daily during regular business hours. These hours are shortened between September and October, and there are no regular office hours during the winter.
McCarthy Beach State Park Parking Pass (daily) : $7.0
McCarthy Beach State Park Parking Pass (annual) : $35.0
Frequently Asked Questions About McCarthy Beach State Park
To make the most of the park's features, you should visit during the summer. The warm season promises exceptional hiking, wildlife viewing, geocaching, swimming, and watersports opportunities.
Keep an eye out for ducks, geese, deer, raccoons, opossums, and loons. While it's rare, visitors have also been known to spot the occasional black bear.
The park has 86 RV drive-in sites with 23 of them offering electrical hookups. Side Lake Campground, the biggest camping area in the park, also boasts picnic tables, modern restrooms, and boat ramps.
All Minnesota state parks require campers to reserve their spot ahead of their visit. If there are spots available, you may be able to make a same-day reservation at no additional cost. A non-refundable $7 fee will be added to your total if you reserve online more than 24 hours in advance.
Pets are welcome and should be kept on a lead no longer than six feet. Be sure to clean up after your pet and refrain from bringing them inside any park buildings or to the beach.