Big Bog State Recreation Area is a Minnesota state recreation area near Waskish, covering 9,121 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.
- 9,121acres
- Waskishmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Great fishing
- Year-round camping
- Swimming and water recreation
- Rare birds
- orchids and carnivorous plants
- Mile-long boardwalk into the bog
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: Big Bog State Recreation Area has been called Minnesota's last true wilderness. This two-part recreation area includes a northern unit and a southern unit. The 500-square-mile peat bog, the largest in the lower 48 states, is located in the northern unit.
Wildlife. This largely wilderness area is home to moose, white-tailed deer, black bear, gray wolves, fox, bobcat and other mammals. The bog also provides habitat for more than 300 species of birds.
History. Big Bog State Recreation Area was established in 2000. It was the result of a grassroots effort to create a sustainable tourist attraction in Waskish, whose economy was devastated when the Red Lake walleye population crashed in the 1990s.
Geology. The underlying bedrock of Big Bog State Recreation Area is Precambrian (Late Archean) in age, and includes gneiss, amphibolite, undifferentiated granite and metamorphosed mafic to intermediate volcanic and sedimentary rocks.
Visit Facts
- AddressP.O. Box 428 55716 Highway 72 NE Waskish, MN 56685
- Phone218-888-7310
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursMonday – Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday CLOSED
- Emailbigbog.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point48.17081, -94.51269 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Big Bog State Recreation Area
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 1 mile | The one-mile boardwalk is accessible. |
| Summer | Hiking | 4.5 miles | Trails begin in the picnic areas in both units of the park. |
| Summer | Boardwalk | Accessible | One mile long through the peat bog, located in the Northern Unit. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 10 miles | Part of the state grant-in-aid trail system. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in the park and along the Big Bog Boardwalk. Snowshoes are available to rent from the ranger station. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 31 sites | The campground is located along the Tamarac River, just a short distance from Upper Red Lake. There are many docks located in the campground area, available on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Pull-Through Sites | 1 site | — |
| Electric Sites | 26 sites | All sites are within 100 yards of the Tamarac River. |
| RV Length Limit | 60 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | Two accessible sites, both electric | — |
| Accessible Lodging | 1 accessible camper cabin | — |
| Camper Cabins | Six camper cabins available year-round | Six rustic camper cabins are available year-round in the southern unit. Camper cabin #1 is accessible. Electricity, propane heat. Bring your own bedding. No indoor plumbing; cabins are near vault toilets that are open all year, and a family-style modern shower/restroom is available year-round at the visitor center. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | Tamarac River and Upper Red Lake | — |
| Fishing | Upper Red Lake | Fishing is excellent year-round, but especially good in the spring. Walleye and trophy northern pike are plentiful on Upper Red Lake and the Tamarac River. Shorefishing for panfish is also available at Ludlow Pond in the North Unit. |
| Fishing Pier | Southern unit on Tamarac River | The pier is accessible. |
| Swimming Beach | — | Sandy, shallow beach just west of the campground on Upper Red Lake. Ideal for children. |
| Boat Access | Drive-in access | Located in the campground on the Tamarac River. |
| Boat Docks | On the Tamarac River | Multiple docks are located in the campground area and available on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Canoe Access | Seven access points on the Tamarac River | Great canoeing with good wildlife viewing. |
| Other | Accessible | A fish cleaning house is located in the campground. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Located at the beach on Upper Red Lake | Picnic tables and fire rings available. |
| Picnic Shelter | Accessible | Two open-sided shelters. One is in the picnic area on Upper Red Lake just a few hundred yards from the campground, and the other is in the Northern Unit near the Big Bog Boardwalk. |
| Playground | — | — |
| Horseshoes | — | — |
| Warming House | Located in visitor center | — |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | Just off park entrance road in Southern Unit | — |
| Visitor Center | — | Accessible restrooms, interpretive exhibits, and a Nature Store. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | Interpretive displays are present along the entire mile of the Big Bog Boardwalk. Additional interpretive panels are located throughout the park. |
| Historic Site | Observation tower | Climb the stairs of the 100-foot fire tower anytime the visitor center is open. Prefer not to climb? Check out the live webcam feed online, or watch it in the visitor center. |
| Gift Shop | — | — |
| Rentals | — | Canoe, kayak, paddleboard and boat rentals are available at the visitor center. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, sensory kits (headphones, fidget toys, calming toys), GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the visitor center. |
| Firewood | — | — |
| Electric Vehicle Charging Station | — | Two fee-based charging stations in the visitor center parking lot. Map of all Minnesota state parks with EV charging stations. |
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
Located on Highway 72, just north of the town of Waskish.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Franz Jevne State ParkState Park, about 39 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Bemidji State ParkState Park, about 46 miles away in a straight line
- Zippel Bay State ParkState Park, about 49 miles away in a straight line
- Scenic State ParkState Park, about 54 miles away in a straight line
- Hayes Lake State ParkState Park, 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
- Garden Island 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 Big Bog State Recreation Area?
It is near Waskish, Minnesota. The DNR address is P.O. Box 428 55716 Highway 72 NE Waskish, MN 56685.
How much does it cost to visit Big Bog 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 Big Bog 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. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Big Bog 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.