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Garden Island State Recreation Area is a Minnesota state recreation area near Williams, covering 562 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It has no overnight camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 562acres
- Williamsmailing town
- Noovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Picnicking
- Walleye fishing
- Snowmobiling
- Sandy beach
- Lake of the Woods
- Minnesota's most remote state recreation area
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: Remote and virtually undeveloped, Garden Island State Recreation Area is the northernmost unit of the Minnesota State Park system. Part of its attraction is the challenge of getting there: as you leave the south shore of Lake of the Woods, the island is 23 miles away and not yet visible on the horizon. But once you arrive, the island itself will charm you.
Wildlife. Shorebirds of all kinds stop to rest and feed on the sand beaches of this island during their annual migrations. Pelicans, cormorants, gulls and terns are all commonly seen on the sand spit stretching out to the island's eastern tip.
History. The state recreation area is named Garden Island because people raised food on the island for hundreds of years. Garden Island State Recreation Area was established in 1998, and is a popular picnic spot for sports fishermen.
Visit Facts
- AddressWrite c/o Zippel Bay State Park 3684 – 54th Ave. NW Williams, MN 56686
- Phone218-635-0410
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursThis location does not have office hours. For information, contact Zippel Bay State Park.
- Emailzippelbay.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point49.17572, -94.83492 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Garden Island State Recreation Area
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hiking | No hiking trails | — |
| Winter | Snowmobile | — | Garden Island lies along the Ballard snowmobile trail, about 35 miles from Baudette. This snowmobile trail continues up to Oak Island and the Angle Inlet. A ride across the open expanse of snow-covered ice will leave a lasting impression, with a feeling of crossing the Arctic tundra. |
Camping and Lodging
The DNR lists no camping or lodging here. This is a day-use park.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming Beach | — | Sandy beach great for swimming or boat docking. |
| Boat Docks | — | Available during the summer/fall seasons only. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Tables and fire rings available | Several picnic tables are available for shore lunches. |
| Picnic Shelter | One enclosed picnic shelter | — |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | There is no park office at this state recreation area, and no services are available on the island. |
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.
Directions
The island is 23 nautical miles from Zippel Bay State Park.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Zippel Bay State ParkState Park, about 23 miles away in a straight line
- Hayes Lake State ParkState Park, about 49 miles away in a straight line
- Franz Jevne State ParkState Park, about 51 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
- Hayes Lake State Park
- 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 Garden Island State Recreation Area?
It is near Williams, Minnesota. The DNR address is Write c/o Zippel Bay State Park 3684 – 54th Ave. NW Williams, MN 56686.
How much does it cost to visit Garden Island State Recreation Area?
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 Garden Island State Recreation Area?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- Garden Island State Recreation Area (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.