Father Hennepin State Park is a Minnesota state park near Isle, covering 325 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.
- 325acres
- Islemailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing
- Accessible fishing piers
- Sandy beach
- Albino deer
- Conifer bogs
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: Father Hennepin State Park is located on the southeast shore of Mille Lacs Lake. Visitors enjoy a large sandy beach for swimming, two boat accesses, accessible fishing piers and picnic sites with a panoramic view of the lake. The park's 344 acres include two campgrounds and two group camps.
Wildlife. Father Hennepin State Park is home to a variety of wildlife. Hawks, ospreys, owls, and eagles are common. The tracks of beaver, raccoon, mink and deer are often seen in the soft earth or snow.
History. Indigenous people lived in this region for thousands of years before Europeans came here. The park is named after Father Louis Hennepin, a priest who visited the area in 1680 and stayed with the Dakota for six months.
Geology. The park's geological history is a story of immense natural forces at work over thousands of years. The small but abrupt hills are part of a terminal moraine, that was formed approximately 10,000 years ago when a major glacier stopped its.
Visit Facts
- AddressMailing P.O. Box 397 Isle, MN 56342 Shipping 41294 Father Hennepin Park Road Isle, MN 56342
- Phone320-676-8763
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursSummer Monday through Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Spring and fall Daily from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Winter The ranger station is closed and roads are unplowed. The park is open to foot travel only.
- Emailfatherhennepin.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point46.13805, -93.48054 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Father Hennepin State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 0.75 miles | — |
| Summer | Hiking | — | The park has four and a half miles of hiking trails. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The park has two campgrounds totaling 103 wooded drive-in sites. |
| Electric Sites | — | The park has 51 electric sites. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The max RV length is 60 feet. Length is measured from the front of the tow vehicle to the rear of the vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 accessible sites | The Lakeview Campground has two accessible drive-in sites with electric hookup. |
| Group Camp | — | The park has six seasonal group sites. All group campsites are located 75' to 450' from parking and close at the end of October. Sites #3 and #6 accommodate up to 25 people. Site #2 accommodates up to 20 people. Sites #1 and #5 accommodate up to 15 people. Site #4 accommodates up to 12 people. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | — | The park sits along the shore of Mille Lacs Lake |
| Fishing Pier | — | The park has two accessible fishing piers. |
| Swimming Beach | — | The park has a swimming beach along Mille Lacs Lake. |
| Boat Access | — | The park has drive-in boat access to Mille Lacs Lake. |
| Boat Docks | — | Docks are located in the Lakeview Campground and are for camper use only. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The park has two picnic areas, Lakeview and Beach. |
| Picnic Shelter | — | The Beach Picnic Area has an accessible open shelter. The Lakeview picnic area has an accessible enclosed shelter with a fireplace, electricity and a deck overlooking the lake. Call the park to reserve. |
| Playground | — | The playground is on the beach. |
| Volleyball | — | Volleyball courts are on the beach. Pick up equipment at the ranger station. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Visit the ranger station for campground registration. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | There are signs, kiosks and bulletin boards describing the natural and cultural history of the area throughout the park. |
| Gift Shop | — | Shop at the nature store in the ranger station. |
| Rentals | — | Birding kits and kids discovery kits (activities and stories for ages 5-12) are available to check out for free from the ranger station. |
| Firewood | — | Buy firewood through Yodel or at the ranger station. Gathering firewood can spread tree-killing insects and is against state park rules. Protect our trees by burning only approved firewood! |
| Ice Sales | — | Ice is available seasonally. Buy ice at the ranger station. |
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
From the town of Isle, go one mile west on Highway 27 to the park entrance.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkState Park, about 12 miles away in a straight line
- Banning State ParkState Park, about 30 miles away in a straight line
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 34 miles away in a straight line
- Crow Wing State ParkState Park, about 41 miles away in a straight line
- Moose Lake State ParkState Park, about 41 miles away in a straight line
- St. Croix State ParkState Park, about 42 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
- Glacial Lakes 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 Father Hennepin State Park?
It is near Isle, Minnesota. The DNR address is Mailing P.O. Box 397 Isle, MN 56342 Shipping 41294 Father Hennepin Park Road Isle, MN 56342.
How much does it cost to visit Father Hennepin 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 Father Hennepin State Park?
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
- Father Hennepin 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.