Hayes Lake State Park is a Minnesota state park near Roseau, covering 2,966 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.
- 2,966acres
- Roseaumailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- History trail
- Bog boardwalk
- Excellent fishing and other water recreation
- Grefthen Bay overlook and Hayes Dam
- Great wildlife and shorebird observation
- Horseback
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: Some days it's just you, loons, and moose, while you traverse around Hayes Lake. Fed by the north fork of the Roseau River, the lake supports crappie, sunfish, large mouth bass, and northern. Birdwatchers have spotted over 200 species in or near the park. The summer is perfect to look for orchids, gentians, and blueberries (you can pick the berries, but not the flowers).
Wildlife. Black bears are residents of the northern forest and are seen occasionally in the park. Moose, fisher, otter, bobcat, pine martin, lynx, and timber wolf can be seen in and around the park.
History. Hayes Lake officially became a state park in 1967. Water-based recreation was a priority for the area, so one of the first things to be developed for the park was a lake, formed by building a dam on the river.
Geology. When Glacial Lake Agassiz receded from large areas of northwestern Minnesota approximately 10,000 years ago, it left behind a flat landscape.
Visit Facts
- Address48990 County Road 4 Roseau, MN 56751
- Phone218-425-7504
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursTuesday through Saturday 9-12 and 1-3. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
- Emailhayeslake.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point48.64387, -95.54525 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Hayes Lake State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | Two trails totalling two and one-half miles | Pine Ridge Interpretive Trail goes from the campground to the main picnic area. The History Trail starts at Hayes Dam. |
| Summer | Hiking | 13 miles | Wooded trails run along lakeshore and river. |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | Five miles | Trail starts at Hayes Dam. |
| Summer | Boardwalk | — | Short bogwalk from the "A" loop in the campground into a northern cedar bog. |
| Summer | Horse | Seven miles | — |
| Winter | Snowmobile | Six miles | Connects to many miles of snowmobile trails in Beltrami Island State Forest. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in the park | — |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 35 well-screened, wooded sites | — |
| Electric Sites | 18 sites | Good space between sites. |
| RV Length Limit | 40 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 1 | The campground has one drive-in electric site. |
| Backpack Sites | Two sites | Sites overlook the lake. Located about one block from parking. |
| Accessible Lodging | 1 accessible camper cabin | The Timberline camper cabin is accessible. |
| Camper Cabins | Two camper cabins | No pets. Camp Three sleeps six. Timberline is accessible and sleeps five. More information on camper cabins. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | Hayes Lake | — |
| Fishing | — | — |
| Fishing Pier | Accessible, near the boat landing | — |
| Swimming Beach | — | — |
| Boat Access | Near Hayes Lake Dam | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Two picnic areas | Main picnic area is near the swimming beach. |
| Picnic Shelter | Enclosed shelter, accommodates 50 people | Shelter is located in the main picnic area and includes electricity. Call the park to reserve. |
| Horseshoes | At the main picnic area | Pick up equipment at park office. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | — |
| Interpretive Exhibit | Signs and kiosks throughout the park | — |
| Naturalist Programs | Seasonal | — |
| Historic Site | Civil War Veteran grave | Located along the two-mile History Trail, which starts at Hayes Dam. |
| Rentals | — | Canoe, kayak and boat rentals are available from the ranger station. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories for ages 5-12) are free to check out at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | Available year-round at the park office | — |
| Other | Boardwalk | — |
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.
Directions
Entrance to the park is 15 miles south of the town of Roseau on State Highway 89, then 9 miles east on Roseau County Road 4.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Zippel Bay State ParkState Park, about 35 miles away in a straight line
- Garden Island State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 49 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Bronson State ParkState Park, about 50 miles away in a straight line
- Old Mill State ParkState Park, about 51 miles away in a straight line
- Big Bog State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 58 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 North Lakes
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
- Leech Lake
- Big Bog State Recreation Area
- Garden Island State Recreation Area
- Itasca State Park
- La Salle Lake State Recreation Area
- Lake Bemidji State Park
- Zippel Bay State Park
- Events in North Lakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hayes Lake State Park?
It is near Roseau, Minnesota. The DNR address is 48990 County Road 4 Roseau, MN 56751.
How much does it cost to visit Hayes Lake 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 Hayes Lake 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
- Hayes Lake 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.