Lake Shetek State Park

Snapshot virtual tour

Welcome to the Lake Shetek State Park virtual tour! Get ready for a day of adventure as you explore a swimming beach, hiking trails, fishing pier, and a boat landing. Stay awhile and take advantage of rental cabins, campsites near the lake, a group camp, or the Zuya Group Center. We hope it prompts you to visit the park in person sometime soon.

Photo of the beach on the park's swimming area.

 

Swimming Beach

The park's swimming area has a nice, sandy bottom and is overlooked by a historic beach house built by the Works Progress Administration.

Photo of the park’s picnic grounds, offering picnic shelters that may be reserved.

 

Picnic Grounds

The park’s picnic grounds offer both sun and shade, as well as lovely views of Lake Shetek. Two nearby picnic shelters may be reserved (contact the park office for details). The picnic grounds also offer horseshoe pits and a games field for an afternoon of fun with family and friends.

Photo of anglers fishing on the wooden fishing pier.

 

Fishing Pier

Anglers can try for walleye, northern pike, crappies, perch, catfish, and bullheads from this long, wooden fishing pier. The pier offers views of Keely Island and Loon Island in the distance.

Photo of the park’s boat landing, a place to rent row boats, canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards.

 

Boat Landing

Launch your own boat from the park’s boat landing, or rent one of the park’s row boats, canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards. Contact the park office for more information.

Photo of a causeway that connects Loon Island to the mainland.

 

Loon Island Causeway

Built by the Works Progress Administration, this causeway connects Loon Island to the mainland, near the park boat access. The rock causeway is an excellent place to catch fish.

Photo of a view Loon Island.

 

Loon Island

Explore Loon Island by walking across the causeway and hiking on the one mile loop trail. Take in stunning views of the lake along your way.

Photo of a stretch of shoreline where boaters use to enjoy picnics.

 

Sandy Beach

A short hike down the Lakeside Trail from the boat landing will bring you to this undeveloped stretch of shoreline. Boaters use this location to enjoy picnics and breaks from the water.

Photo of a camper using the Park Lake Campsite.

 

Park Lake Campsite

For a private camping experience on a quiet lake, rent the Park Lake Campsite. A cart is provided to transport camping gear down the 300 foot trail from the parking lot. This site offers a picnic table and fire ring, as well as beautiful views of Park Lake.

Photo of the facilities at the rustic group camp.

 

Wilderness Group Camp

This rustic group camp provides tent camping opportunities for family reunions, scouts, and other groups. Up to 30 people can use this facility on Park Lake. Picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet are conveniently interspersed throughout the site.

Photo of a view from Webster Island trail.

 

Webster Island

Take a hike on the Webster Island Trail to enjoy the view from this bench. Webster Marsh is a great location to spot pelicans and other water birds.

Photo of an observation deck with views of Eastlick Marsh and the surrounding prairie.

 

Eastlick Marsh

This observation deck provides excellent views of Eastlick Marsh and the surrounding prairie. Use the provided spotting scope to view waterfowl and shorebirds.

Photo of a prairie path called Bluebird Trail.

 

Bluebird Trail

 

Hike the Bluebird Trail to experience a tall grass prairie and gain an idea of the landscape seen day-to-day by Lake Shetek settlers.

Photo of a segment of the paved Currie Loop of the Casey Jones State Trail under blue skies.

 

Smith Lake Savannah

Pioneer Watt Smith was the first European to make a home on Lake Shetek. He chose this savannah overlooking Smith Lake. As you bike on the Currie Loop of the Casey Jones State Trail, stop and read the interpretive signs about Watt and his family and spend some time under the widespread prairie oaks.

Photo of visitors enjoying the water access on Smith Lake.

 

Smith Lake Canoe Access

A short portage from Lake Shetek will take you to this access on Smith Lake. Paddle from here to the southwest corner of the lake, then portage back into Lake Shetek to complete the canoe route. Anglers often try for walleye, perch, crappies, and bullheads from the short dock.

Photo of a stone monument to settlers killed during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

 

Lake Shetek Monument

A stone monument marks the grave of settlers killed during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

Photo of campers using one of the cart-in sites in Oak Woods Campground.

 

Oak Woods Cart-in Sites

For lakeside camping, rent one of seven cart-in sites in Oak Woods Campground. Use one of the provided carts to transport your tent and other gear to your campsite. Each site contains a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad.

Photo of one of the camper cabins available to rent in Oak Woods Campground.

 

Camper Cabins

There are four camper cabins available to rent in Oak Woods Campground. Relax on the cabin’s small porch, eat a meal at the outdoor picnic table, or gather around a fire ring for an evening with family and friends.

Photo of the interior of one of the cozy cabins with wood interiors, bunk beds and numerous windows.

 

Camper Cabin Interior

For a more modern camping experience, rent one of four camper cabins in the Oak Woods Campground. These cozy cabins have glowing, wood interiors with numerous windows. Most cabins sleep up to six.

Photo of a campground shaded by an old-growth oak canopy with views of Lake Shetek.

 

Oak Woods Campground 1

Oak Woods Campground offers campers 32 electric sites with 50 amp service, six non-electric sites, seven cart-in sites, and four camper cabins, all shaded by an old-growth oak canopy with views of Lake Shetek.

Photo of a camper parked in a campsite shaded by oak canopy.

 

Oak Woods Campground 2

Oak Woods Campground offers campers a variety of options, including: electric sites, non-electric sites, cart-in sites, and four camper cabins. Sites are shaded beneath the canopy of tall oak trees.

Photo of the historic Koch Cabin, one of the original buildings from the Lake Shetek settlement.

 

Koch Cabin

Koch Cabin is the only remaining cabin from the original Lake Shetek settlement. Interpretive signs and period furnishings tell the story of the occupants of Lake Shetek during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

Photo of a picnic shelter, outfitted with a solar panel on the roof located in the Sunrise Campground.

 

Sunrise Campground

Sunrise Campground provides 32 campsites with full hookups (sewer, water, and 50 amp electricity). The campground has two picnic shelters, each with a solar panel on the roof to reduce the park’s carbon footprint and lower electric costs.

Photo of tent campers using rustic Prairie Campground.

 

Prairie Campground

Prairie Campground has 12 rustic sites for tents and small campers. This large, grassy area is bordered by shade trees.

Photo of the Zuya Group Center. shaded and offering many amenities.

 

Zuya Group Center

The Zuya Group Center provides lodging for up to 80 people and comes with a kitchen/dining hall, recreation hall, shower building, and three bunkhouses. The grounds are shaded by an old-growth oak canopy and contain a basketball hoop, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, fire council ring, and beautiful views of Lake Shetek.

 

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