“When Translated: Pelican Lake!”
The word "Shetek" is Ojibwe for "pelican," a bird which visits Lake Shetek during the summer and fall.The park contains the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota, which forms the headwaters of the Des Moines River. Expect great fishing for walleye, northern, crappie, and bullheads. Loon Island, a 45-acre island on Lake Shetek, is accessible on foot via a causeway and includes an interpretive trail. Visit the Koch Cabin and monument memorializing pioneer settlers. The park includes a swimming beach, boat launch, campgrounds and a scenic six-mile loop bicycle trail into the town of Currie. Boat, canoe, and kayak rentals are available. Long before European and American settlers appeared in the area, native people were in the Lake Shetek area in pursuit of bison. In the mid 1830s, European and American explorers such as Catlin, Nicollet, Prescot and Fremont explored the area associated with Lake Shetek. The first white settlement occurred in 1856. Although its population varied, it probably numbered no more than 40 people at any one time. The settlement was located from Lake Fremont to Beauty Lake along the eastern side of Lake Shetek. Most of those who came during the 1856-1862 years did so because of Governor Ramsey's lenient land regulations. Settlers were permitted to claim land after seven year's occupation if they cleared sufficient land for a farm. In 1862, the U.S.-Dakota Conflict occurred in the area where both settlers and Dakota Indians died. Lake Shetek lies in the Coteau des Prairie ("highlands of the prairie") region of Minnesota, a geological area which separates the Minnesota River from the Missouri River watershed. Glaciers moved across this Coteau region many years ago. During the last stage of glaciation, this area was covered with deep deposits of rock debris called glacial till. Glacial till, which accumulated at the margins of the glacier, formed irregular hills and depressions called moraines. Lake Shetek lies in the Altamont Moraine complex. Eventually, the climate warmed and the glaciers receded, producing swift rivers of meltwater which sculpted channels and formed outwash plains. Small landslides dammed meltwater channels and depressions which backed up water and eventually created Lake Shetek.
Reviews of Lake Shetek State Park
4 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G
Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on August 19, 2019AT&T 4G
Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on August 18, 2022Reviews
We stayed in a motorbike. There are different camping areas. Some full hook ups that are in an open area as it's a newer campsite, so minimal shade but large spaces p, far apart. Others in shaded large spaces for RVs or tents with just water and then some primitive sites. Swimming , canoe and other rentals, huge park on a big lake in SW MN with bike and hiking trails. Hosts were great and brought information on area events (Laura Ingalls Wilder museum was one) Staff came and fixed our electric. Came back to make sure it was working. Full showers and flush and pit toilets. Very clean. We will be back.
Nightly Rate: $32.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 66
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
Great views, great trails and nice facilities. This campground impressed us and seems like a hidden gem. We arrived on memorial day weekend and had many sites to choose from including several with good views of the lake.
The park is heavily wooded so bring big spray.
Has since small beach and lots of good trails.
Showers/ bathrooms were nice and clean.
You can also make same day reservations for MN state parks if this is a last minute thing as ours was.
Nightly Rate: $30.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 24
RV Length: 22 ft
RV Type: Class B
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
I made a reservation for the Oak Woods campground online so that I would have a guaranteed place to stay the first night after picking up my Escapade camper in Litchfield, MN. There is an office at the park entrance to check in when you arrive. In addition to the nightly fee(s), a vehicle pass is required ($7 per night or $35 for an annual pass). The park office has a gift shop and also sells ice (May-September) and firewood. The campground has flush toilets, pit toilets, hot showers and drinking water available. Most campsites are electric and all campsites have a picnic table and a fire pit/grill. I stayed in early August and the bugs were not too bad but I did apply bug spray.
My favorite campsites are:
-Site 10: This was my favorite non-electric campsite and the 2nd most private site. I stayed here and added photos to the gallery. It has a lake view, light shade, and is aback in.
-Site 33: This was my favorite electric site and the most private site but is not a good option if you need solar. It has no lake view, heavy shade, and is a back in.
-Site 30: This is a good electric site if you want to be close to the bathrooms but is a little less private. It has no lake view, full shade, and is aback in.
Nightly Rate: $23.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 10
RV Length: 15 ft
RV Type: Teardrop Trailer
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
There are 2 campgrounds at Lake Shetek - Sunrise and Oakwood -they are across the road from each other. Sunrise is the full hook-up campground. Yes, it's mostly an open field with a few small trees. Sites on the west side back up to trees. The sites are really big - plenty of privacy even though there is no tree buffer between sites. Since it's full hookup, there are no showers (they are across the street in the Oakwood campground). However there is a small/clean toilet building.
The circles have central picnic shelters. Voltage and water pressure was good.
The campground roads are newer asphalt. Pads are gravel. In Sunrise they are all VERY level - some slope in some of the Oakwood sites.
We walked the Oakwood campground several times. A mix of electric and non-electric. Bigger sites with good privacy.
The campground host was around a lot. Unlike most MN state parks, they wanted you to check in when arriving.
About 1/2 mile from the campground is a bike trail to the small town of Currie. It's 3 miles. A little gem - End of the Line Railroad Museum at the end of the trail. Worth the $7 fee for a guided tour.
Nightly Rate: $41.00
Days Stayed: 5
Site Number: 64
RV Length: 25 ft
RV Type: Travel Trailer
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Be the first to add a review to the Lake Shetek State Park.
Lake Shetek State Park
Hours
Problem with this listing? Let us know.
Has RV parking changed? Let us know.
-
Parking
-
Pets Allowed
-
Restrooms
-
Wifi
-
Wheelchair Accessible
-
Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 10
- Last Nightly Rate
- 41.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 25 ft
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 23.0
- Max Stay
- 14
- Pull Through RV Sites Count
- 1
- Season End
- Year Round
- Season Start
- Year Round
- Sites Count
- 66
-
Paved Sites
-
Fifty Amp
-
Full Hookup
-
Rec Facilities
-
Pull Through
-
Tent Sites
-
Dump Station
-
Big Rigs
-
Open Seasonally
-
Age Restricted
-
Back In RV Sites
-
Boondock
-
Cabin Sites
-
Dispersed Sites
-
Firewood
-
Fulltime Residents
-
Group Tent Sites
-
Laundry
-
Mobile Homes
-
Permit Required
-
Potable Water
-
Propane
-
Public Water
-
Pull Through RV Sites
-
Reservations
-
Sewer Hookup
-
Showers
-
Sites
-
Standard Tent Sites
-
Vehicle Wash Permitted
-
Water Hookup
Campground, Restrooms
Nearby Hotels
Related Trip Guides
The Great Northern is a 3,600 mile, cross-country odyssey
- 57 Places
- 69:15
- 3,565 mi
A road trip along the Great River Road
- 35 Places
- 37:29
- 1,907 mi