Zippel Bay State Park
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After visiting Zippel Bay, you’ll remember the sunsets and the miles of white sand beach. The park is located on Lake of the Woods, one of the world’s largest lakes. The mood of the lake is always changing, from approaching storms that bring three-foot-high crashing waves and lightning flashes to an eerie stillness, broken only by the faint calls of a thousand raucous gulls, out of sight in the lake’s interior. In summer, the 3,000-acre park offers a swimming beach and picnic area on the big lake, drive-in campsites and a group camp, a marina on Zippel Bay and a stone jetty providing protected access to Lake of the Woods.
Birding is excellent—be sure to watch for sandhill cranes and piping plovers. In the winter, three miles of snowmobile trail provide access to the lake, which snowmobilers will find dotted with fish houses making virtual towns on the ice. Seven miles of groomed cross-country trails wind to the lakeshore through jack pine, birch, and open fields.
Tell me more about this park's wildlife, history, geology and landscape.
Visitor Alert!The logging project to remove old and degrading jack pine from the center of the park has been completed. Be aware that campsites in Ridge and the Group campsite will look significantly different than in previous years. Please drive slowly, as workers continue to be out cleaning up the park. |
Park NotesDigital PhotographyJoin us Saturday, June 8th and explore the park through a camera lens. We will have a short tutorial, then venture out to discover the hidden jewels of the park. The park will provide a limited number of cameras - but feel free to bring your own! Meet at the contact station at 2:00 p.m. Group Camp:Reservations for the group camp can be made from three to 365 days in advance. Virtual Tour:Take a virtual tour. It's a great tool to help you plan your next trip to the park! Change in Hiking Club Trail:Please Note! Changes have been made to the Hiking Club trail - please be sure you have a current edition of the Hiking Club Trail booklet. The correct trail description should read: The trail begins and ends near the northwest corner of the beach parking lot. From that location, follow the shoreline of Lake of the Woods west-northwest to the jetties that protect the entrance to Zippel Bay. The password sign is located just south of the east jetty. Hikers may return to the beach parking area to complete their hike by either retracing their walk along the beach or taking the parallel trail just south of the beach sand ridge. The two routes intersect and lead you back to the point of origin. Approximate overall length of the hike is 1 mile. Forestry Campgrounds:Zippel Bay State Park also manages two DNR Forestry Campgrounds - Blueberry Hill and Faunce campgrounds in the Beltrami Island State Forest. Camping is first-come, first-served at these areas. These campgrounds are currently open and accessible. Birders:Bird Checklist Gift Cards:Purchase a Minnesota State Parks Gift Card. Firewood Restrictions Information:Minnesota has enacted legislation that restricts firewood being brought to or used on DNR lands. Learn more and review vendor lists. |
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Hours
Best time to contact the park:
Fall & Winter: Office hours vary. If no one is available, please leave a message.
Spring & Summer:The office will be staffed most weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Contact
3684 54th Avenue Northwest
Williams, MN 56686
tel: 218-783-6252
email: zippelbay.statepark@state.mn.us
Getting There
From the west end of Baudette, take Highway 172, 10 miles north to County Road 8. Go west on 8 for 6 miles to the park entrance.