Welcome to the next installment of my new series–State Recreation Areas! Like I said, I want to talk about the areas I am unlikely to go since they aren’t geared toward me. You might enjoy them though! So if they’re your thing, please check them out and let me know how you like it. Next up is Garden Island State Recreation Area!
Now, this is one I am interested in seeing and tried to when I went to Zippel Bay State Park (future post), but I didn’t have access to a boat aside from my kayak. I am not a strong enough kayaker to go the distance there and back. If another boat comes along, I’ll jump on the opportunity.
Garden Island State Recreation Area Information
Garden Island State Recreation Area (SRA) the northernmost part of the Minnesota state parks system, located 23 miles off the south shore of Lake of The Woods. The island is low and sandy with some gorgeous looking beaches, dense woods, and marshy areas. It’s the most remote SRA in the state and essentially undeveloped, only accessible by boat. That being said, Garden Island is day use only. There are no camp sites/overnight facilities and no park office.
However, if you are looking to visit during daylight hours, you can find picnic areas with tables and fire rings, a picnic shelter, swimming beach for swimming and boat docking on the eastern tip, birding and wildlife spotting, and snowmobiling during the winter months.
Fun fact: Garden Island got it’s name because people raised food here for hundreds of years, as well as being a popular picnic spot for sports fisherman.
Activities
Wildlife Spotting
This is a popular area for birds, like pelicans, cormorants, gulls, and terns to rest and feed during migration. You also have the chance to see deer, bear, beaver, mink, otter, fox, and snowshoe hares. Even some bald eagles and grey wolves.
Snowmobiling
Garden Island is on the Ballard snowmobile trail (about 35 miles from Baudette). From here you can get to Oak Island and the Angle Inlet. If you’re heading up from Warroad to Angle Inlet, you will pass the western tip of the island.
According to MN DNR,
A ride across the open expanse of snow-covered ice will leave a lasting impression, with a feeling of crossing the Arctic tundra. Escape the winter wind in the shelter on the island.
Sounds like fun to me. I’m not a snowmobiler though, so it isn’t likely that I’ll get to see it.
Accessibility of Garden Island State Recreation Area
Parking
There is no parking lot, as the SRA is only accessible by boat. However, there are docks you can park your boat.
Bathrooms
There are vault toilets here.
Other thoughts
This is another short and sweet post, but I feel like it’s important to shine light on the lesser known areas. I’ve lived here my entire life and I hadn’t heard of this one. If you’ve been here before, you know that I feel it’s so important to keep areas like this the way they are. Sure, the remoteness of Garden Island is a little inconvenient, but that’s keeps it pristine and there for people and animals to appreciate it.
All of this info came from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website, so credit where credit is due. Click here to view the original source.
I’ve visited other SRAs, if you missed those, check them out: LaSalle, Minnesota Valley, Iron Range, Greenleaf, and Cuyuna Country.
Be safe out there! REMEMBER YOUR MAPS AND PASSPORT STAMPS!! Seeyalaterbye <3
Also, if you feel called to help a sista out with her travels, check this out!
English 