Sandy Lake

The Sandy Lake Dam and Recreation Area is situated at the outlet of Big Sandy Lake in northern Minnesota, 13 miles north of McGregor. The dam is part of the Mississippi Headwaters Project, one of the first reservoir systems in the country, and the Sandy Lake Dam structure dates back to 1895. Today the grounds have been developed into a park and campground noted for its clean, family-friendly environment and access to fishing and boating on both the lake and the nearby Mississippi River. It offers the only public campground and beach on Big Sandy Lake, and the area is also part of the historic canoe route that connected the Mississippi River to Lake Superior and the major fur trading companies. Sandy Lake offers camping, boating, swimming, picnicking, birding and hiking. Anglers enjoy fishing the lake and river for northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie and even catfish. Playgrounds are located on both sides of the dam, near the beach and visitor museum areas. The old lock house has been converted into a free small museum containing historical artifacts from the area, and educational programs are offered seasonally and open to the public. The campground features 43 single family sites, five double family sites and two group sites, all with electric hookups. Eight primitive walk-to tent sites (four of which have electrical hookups), a camper cabin with bunk beds and a day-use group picnic shelter are also available. Amenities include flush and vault restrooms, showers, drinking water, laundry facilities and a dump station. Day use facilities are intertwined within the campground and contain two lake boat ramps, one river boat ramp, docks, a fishing pier, beach, playgrounds and a short hiking trail. The campground is divided by the Sandy Lake Dam into a north and south side, each with separate vehicle access roads; only pedestrian traffic is permitted across the dam. Campsites 1-21, tent sites 1-4 and the south group campsite are accessed via the South Entrance, while campsites 22-49, tent sites 5-8, the north group campsite and the camper cabin are accessed via the North Entrance. Big Sandy Lake is a reservoir that was created in the late nineteenth century from the waters of a naturally existing lake and the Sandy River. A forest of mixed hardwoods and towering red and white pine covers the area, and an abundance of wildlife can be found including bald eagles, white-tail deer, black bears, chipmunks, loons, mink and river otters. Wild rice is harvested from the lake seasonally and wild berries are occasionally found. Nearby are golf courses, shopping and dining venues, Savannah Portage State Park, Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and many acres of state and county forest land.