Lake Bronson State Park is a Minnesota state park near Lake Bronson, covering 4,375 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.
- 4,375acres
- Lake Bronsonmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Historic WPA structures
- Playground
- Visitor center
- Camping and hiking
- Largest observation tower in a Minnesota state park
- Excellent prairie and aspen habitat
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: From the observation tower in the park, view the prairie and aspen-oak forests or watch for deer, sharp-tailed grouse, and sandhill cranes. The South Branch of the Two Rivers fills Lake Bronson. The lake, which is actually a reservoir, offers visitors swimming, fishing, boating, great camping, and a tranquil backdrop for the picnic grounds.
Wildlife. Deer, black bear, and occasionally wild elk from local herds can be observed on a trail hike. The park has a sizeable bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian population with deer and sharp-tailed grouse among the most abundant.
History. The fact that the town of Bronson was renamed Lake Bronson attests to the important role the park lake played in local history. When the region was without lakes, the drought of the 1930s caused wells to dry up in the area.
Geology. Thousands of years ago, glacial lake Agassiz covered the northwest corner of the state and extended into North Dakota and Canada. It was formed by glacial ice that blocked drainage to the north.
Visit Facts
- Address3793 230th Street, Box 9 Lake Bronson, MN 56734
- Phone218-754-2200
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursMonday-Friday 9am-3pm. Weekends 10am-2pm. Office may be closed due to seasonal staffing. If you need to meet with staff, please leave a message, 218-754-2200.
- Emaillakebronson.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point48.73146, -96.63468 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Lake Bronson State Park
- Entry noteLake and lakebed closed during dam reconstruction (completion by July 2027); all lake accesses closed
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 2 miles | Trail begins at Lakeside Campground and connects to the picnic grounds, beach, and visitor center. |
| Summer | Self-Guided | 1.5 miles | An interpretive trail with marked signposts runs through the prairie and aspen parkland regions of the park, as well as along the lake. Trail begins and ends in the east boat launch parking lot. |
| Summer | Hiking | 14 miles | These are easy trails that take you through prairie and aspen parklands. Some of the trails wind along the lake. Hard-packed gravel on the lakeside trail makes it suitable for strollers. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | 2 miles | — |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | 5 miles | Trail starts just north of the beach area parking lot. |
| Summer | Horse | 8 miles | Horse trailer parking available at East boat landing parking lot. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | About 8 miles | A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers age 16 and up. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 3 miles | Groomed trail connects to much larger system of trails outside the park. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in park | Snowshoers must stay off groomed ski and snowmobile trails. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 152 Sites | Three campgrounds offer wooded to open prairie sites. ALERT: The Lakeside and Lakeside Extension Campgrounds are closed while the Lake Bronson Dam is under reconstruction. The Two Rivers Campground will remain open during the construction project. |
| Pull-Through Sites | 6 Sites | Located in the Lakeside Extension Campground. Sites are 90' minimum length. ALERT: The Lakeside and Lakeside Extension Campgrounds are closed while the Lake Bronson Dam is under reconstruction. |
| Electric Sites | 67 Sites | Sites are in all three campgrounds. Sites in Lakeside and Lakeside Extension offer 20/30/50 amp service. Sites at Two Rivers Campground offer 30 amp service. ALERT: The Lakeside and Lakeside Extension Campgrounds are closed while the Lake Bronson Dam is under reconstruction. |
| RV Length Limit | 50 Feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. RV length limit does not apply to the pull-through sites. |
| Backpack Sites | 3 Sites | These wooded, secluded sites are located along the river that runs through the center of the park. Sites are 1/2 mile to 1-1/2 miles from special parking area. |
| Canoe-in Sites | 1 Sites | Located on Moose Island on Lake Bronson. Reserve site through Reservation system. Call park several days in advance if you wish to rent a park canoe. ALERT: These campsites are currently closed while the Lake Bronson Dam is under reconstruction. |
| Group Camp | 1 Site – Accommodates up to 100 people | Enclosed shelter that serves as a dining hall is available on site. Pop-up campers and tents are permitted. Hand pump for water and vault toilets are available. Reserve Now –> |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing | Not available at this time | PLEASE NOTE: Lake Bronson is drawn down due to the Lake Bronson Dam reconstruction project. Fishing is not available at this time. |
| Fishing Pier | — | Two piers available for fishing use. PLEASE NOTE: Lake Bronson is drawn down due to the Lake Bronson Dam reconstruction project. Fishing is not available at this time. Fishing piers have been removed during the construction. |
| Swimming Beach | Within the park | NOTE: Lake Bronson is drawn down due to the Lake Bronson Dam reconstruction project. The swimming beach is closed until the completion of the dam reconstruction project. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Lake Bronson | Picnic area is located on the shores of Lake Bronson and includes picnic tables, pedestal grills, picnic shelter and volleyball court. |
| Picnic Shelter | Open Shelter and Enclosed Shelter | Shelter in picnic area is an enclosed shelter and includes running water, electricity, fireplaces, and picnic tables. The other shelter at the beach is an open shelter that has electricity and picnic tables. |
| Playground | Near Visitor Center, Lakeside and Two Rivers Campgrounds | The new playground is located near the Visitor Center. The two play areas at the campgrounds include swings. |
| Volleyball | Beach | Pick up equipment at park office. |
| Horseshoes | — | Pick up equipment at park office. |
| Warming House | Visitor Center | The visitor center is used in winter as a warming house and is a heated building. |
| Other | Ice Fishing | Walleye Pike, Northern Pike, Large & Small Mouth Bass and Perch ice fishing are popular in Lake Bronson. PLEASE NOTE: Lake Bronson is currently drawn down while the Lake Bronson Dam is under reconstruction. There is no water recreation available in the park at the current time. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Stop at the park office for campground registration, vehicle permits, maps and to visit the park's Nature Store. |
| Visitor Center | — | Open year-round. Available to rent for events. Part of the center is open 24 hours a day. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | Exhibits in the visitor center focus on the aspen parkland, the history of buildings in the park built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the services and recreational opportunities available in the surrounding area. |
| Historic Site | — | Numerous historic sites, including the WPA-built Camp Bronson and Pioneer Cemetery. |
| Gift Shop | — | A small Nature Store is inside the park office. |
| Firewood | — | Available year-round at park office. |
| Public Phones | — | Pay phones are located at the park office and the visitor center. |
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
Located 2 miles east of the town of Lake Bronson, the park access is on County Highway 28.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Old Mill State ParkState Park, about 26 miles away in a straight line
- Hayes Lake State ParkState Park, about 50 miles away in a straight line
- Red River 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 Red River Valley
- Buffalo River State Park
- Old Mill State Park
- Red River State Recreation Area
- Events in Red River Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lake Bronson State Park?
It is near Lake Bronson, Minnesota. The DNR address is 3793 230th Street, Box 9 Lake Bronson, MN 56734.
How much does it cost to visit Lake Bronson 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 Lake Bronson 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
- Lake Bronson 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.