Lake Carlos State Park is a Minnesota state park near Carlos, covering 1,214 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.
- 1,214acres
- Carlosmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing on Chain of Lakes
- Birdwatching
- Trails through old growth forest
- Swimming/Boating
- Water recreation
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: Sculpted by ancient glaciers, Lake Carlos State Park contains a tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds, and lakes. A variety of recreational activities revolve around the lake. Clear and deep, Lake Carlos offers visitors a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, boating, camping, hiking and horseback riding. In the winter, ski from the tamarack bog to a maple-basswood forest.
Wildlife. One third of Minnesota's 80 mammals and over 150 species of birds inhabit the park seasonally or year around. Visitors often see beaver, deer, loons, grebes, ducks and heron.
History. During the Great Depression, the state purchased the land that became Lake Carlos State Park in 1937.
Geology. Receding glaciers left most of Douglas County blanketed with layers of gravel and sand. This "drift"contains pebbles and round stones of all sizes. Retreating glaciers also left huge chunks of broken ice.
Visit Facts
- Address2601 County Road 38 Northeast Carlos, MN 56319
- Phone320-993-3750
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursMonday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Intermittently depending on office staffing. Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Emaillakecarlos.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point46.00044, -95.33295 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Lake Carlos State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 0.5 miles | — |
| Summer | Self-Guided | 3 miles | Two trails, the Maple-Basswood Interpretive and the Wetland Overlook. |
| Summer | Hiking | 14 miles | Rolling hills. Takes you through forested areas, mature hardwoods, and restored prairie. Great for fall hiking. |
| Summer | Horse | 9 miles | At times, trails may be too wet for riding. Call park before visiting for trail conditions. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 6 miles | Moderate trails on rolling terrain. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required to ski on the state park's groomed trails. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 9 miles | Groomed trails connect to the 500-mile Douglas Area Trail Association trail system. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in park except on groomed ski trails | Please stay off all groomed ski trails. Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 121 Sites | Lower campground is near the lake. Upper campground is more secluded and wooded. Only one camping unit is allowed per site in the lower campground. This is strictly enforced. |
| Electric Sites | 81 Sites | 59 sites in lower campground and 22 electric sites in the upper campground. |
| RV Length Limit | 50 Feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 Sites | The park has two accessible drive-in campsites, one in the Lower Campground and one in the Upper Campground. Both are electric sites. |
| Horse Camp | 7 Sites | Camp can accommodate a total of 30 people. Campers can use shower building and flush toilets available in the park's upper campground. |
| Group Camp | 2 Sites | Campers will need to walk a short distance from the parking area to campsites. Each site includes an open-sided picnic shelter with electricity and water source at or nearby the shelter. Both sites have vault toilets available. No showers available at either site. Pioneer site – Accommodates up to 35 people. One electrical camping hook-up available. |
| Group Center | Hidden Lake Group Center | Accommodates up to 60 people. Learn more. |
| Accessible Lodging | — | The park has one accessible camper cabin. At Hidden Lakes Group Center, the staff building and shower building have accessible entrances. The staff building also has an accessible restroom. |
| Camper Cabins | 4 year-round cabins, available Thursday – Sunday during winter season, available daily Apr – Oct | Located in upper campground. 1 cabin sleeps 5 (wheelchair accessible), the other 3 cabins sleep 6 each. All cabins have electricity, heat and a screened porch. All are available year-round, Thursday – Sunday during winter season, available daily Apr – Oct. Pets not allowed. More information on camper cabins. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Pier | Lake Carlos | — |
| Swimming Beach | Within the park | — |
| Boat Access | 2 on Lake Carlos | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Near the Beach | Includes tables and fire rings. |
| Picnic Shelter | Open Shelter | — |
| Volleyball | Beach Area | Pick up equipment at park office. |
| Golf Course | Within 10 Miles | There are several public golf courses within 10 miles of the park. |
| Warming House | Picnic Area | The picnic shelter is partially enclosed in winter and heated by a wood stove. Wood is supplied by the park. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | 500 Feet from Park Entrance | Includes the park Nature Store. |
| Visitor Center | Near the Campground | The visitor center is open to the public seasonally from May-October. Please call the park office for updated hours. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | Visitor Center | Exhibits are available inside the visitor center. Interpretive signs are also displayed along the Maple-Basswood and Wetland Overlook trails. |
| Naturalist Programs | — | A variety of interpretive programs are available year-round. See the park's Programs and Activities page for an updated schedule. |
| Historic Site | WPA-Built Buildings | A number of buildings in the park were built during the WPA era and are on the National Register of Historic Places. |
| Gift Shop | Park Office | Come visit our Nature Store located in the park office. |
| Rentals | — | Canoe, paddleboat, life jacket and paddle rentals are available from the ranger station during office hours. Snowshoe rentals are available in the winter. |
| Firewood | At Park Office | Wood is available year-round at the park office. |
| Ice Sales | At Park Office | Ice is available at the park office. |
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: Pets not allowed.
Directions
The park entrance is located 10 miles north of Alexandria on State Highway 29, then 2 miles west on Highway 38.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Glendalough State ParkState Park, about 27 miles away in a straight line
- Glacial Lakes State ParkState Park, about 33 miles away in a straight line
- Charles A. Lindbergh State ParkState Park, about 45 miles away in a straight line
- Monson Lake State ParkState Park, about 47 miles away in a straight line
- Maplewood State ParkState Park, about 48 miles away in a straight line
- Sibley State ParkState Park, about 50 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
- Father Hennepin State Park
- Glacial Lakes State Park
- Glendalough 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 Lake Carlos State Park?
It is near Carlos, Minnesota. The DNR address is 2601 County Road 38 Northeast Carlos, MN 56319.
How much does it cost to visit Lake Carlos 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 Carlos 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
- Lake Carlos 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.