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Glacial Lakes State Park is a Minnesota state park near Starbuck, covering 2,466 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 2,466acres
- Starbuckmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing
- Native prairie
- Signalness Lake
- Wildflowers
- Horseback riding trails
Plan It in Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Stand on top of the scenic glacial hills and experience the vast, open prairie which once dominated Minnesota. Wildflowers and prairie grasses blanket the landscape from spring through fall. Swim, fish or boat (electric motors only) in the fresh, clear waters of 56-acre Signalness Lake. Canoe rental is available.
Wildlife. Many species of prairie and woodland birds make their home at Glacial Lakes. Take the Prairie-Woodland Interpretive Trail or visit marshland areas to see a variety of bird and mammal life.
History. Glacial Lakes was established as a state park in 1963 to preserve the rolling prairies of the area, the comparatively pristine condition of the land, and its rich prairie flora.
Geology. Glacial Lakes State Park is located in western Minnesota in a geological area commonly known as the Leaf Hills. This region, a 10- to 19-mile-wide band of glacial hills unlike any other in the state, extends from Detroit Lakes to Willmar.
Visit Facts
- Address25022 County Road 41 Starbuck, MN 56381
- Phone320-239-2860
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursOffice hours are limited- Please call the park office
- Emailglaciallakes.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point45.54167, -95.53347 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Glacial Lakes State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | One-half mile | — |
| Summer | Hiking | 16 miles | — |
| Summer | Paved Bike | Five miles | Trail runs from the park entrance to the city of Starbuck. |
| Summer | Horse | 11 miles | — |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 11 miles | — |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in park | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on groomed trails. |
| Winter | Other | Ungroomed ski trails | The state park has six miles of ungroomed trails for cross-country skiing. |
Camping and Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 37 sites | — |
| Pull-Through Sites | Site #39 is the only pull-through site in the campground | — |
| Electric Sites | 14 sites | — |
| RV Length Limit | 45 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Backpack Sites | Four sites | — |
| Horse Camp | Eight sites accommodate up to 45 people | — |
| Group Camp | Accommodates up to 50 people | Group campground is located near Singalness Lake and includes a small open picnic shelter with fireplace. Tents, small trailers and campers are permitted. Showers are not included with the group camp rental – call the park office to purchase a shower ticket. |
| Accessible Lodging | 2 camper cabins | Esker and Coneflower camper cabins are accessible. |
| Camper Cabins | Two seasonal cabins and four year-round cabins | Year-round cabins have heat, electricity and a porch. Available daily from April through October, and Thursday- Sunday in the winter. Kettle, Kame, and Glacial Erratic Cabins all sleep six. Esker Cabin is accessible and sleeps five. Seasonal cabins are available April-Labor Day. Friends Cabin sleeps six. Coneflower Cabin is accessible and sleeps five. No pets allowed. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | Lake | — |
| Fishing | — | — |
| Fishing Pier | Signalness (Mountain) Lake | The pier is accessible. |
| Swimming Beach | — | — |
| Boat Access | Drive-in | — |
| Boating Restrictions | Electric motors only | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Accessible | — |
| Picnic Shelter | Accessible open shelter | — |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | — |
| Interpretive Exhibit | At the park office | — |
| Naturalist Programs | — | Offered occasionally throughout the year. |
| Gift Shop | At the park office | — |
| Rentals | — | Canoe, kayak, boat and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available at the ranger station. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | Available year-round at park office | — |
Pets and Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Park-specific: No pets allowed.
Directions
From the town of Starbuck, go 3 miles south on Highway 29, then 2 miles south on County Road 41.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Monson Lake State ParkState Park, about 20 miles away in a straight line
- Sibley State ParkState Park, about 30 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Carlos State ParkState Park, about 33 miles away in a straight line
- Lac Qui Parle State ParkState Park, about 40 miles away in a straight line
- Big Stone Lake State ParkState Park, about 49 miles away in a straight line
- Glendalough State ParkState Park, about 54 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More in Central Lakes & St. Cloud
- Mille Lacs Lake
- Charles A. Lindbergh State Park
- Crow Wing State Park
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
- Father Hennepin State Park
- Glendalough State Park
- Lake Carlos State Park
- Lake Maria State Park
- Maplewood State Park
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
- Events in Central Lakes & St. Cloud
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Glacial Lakes State Park?
It is near Starbuck, Minnesota. The DNR address is 25022 County Road 41 Starbuck, MN 56381.
How much does it cost to visit Glacial Lakes State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Glacial Lakes State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Glacial Lakes State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.