Maplewood State Park is a Minnesota state park near Pelican Rapids, covering 10,279 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.
- 10,279acres
- Pelican Rapidsmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback trails
- Spectacular prairie restoration
- Hallaway Hill overlook
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: The maple forest turns brilliant shades of orange, gold, and red in the fall. Eight major lakes and many ponds offer water lovers places to swim, fish, boat, and simply relax. Lake Lida has a sandy beach and large picnic areas for visitors. Drive along the scenic route to observe the wildlife: the park is host to 150 bird species and 50 species of mammals.
Wildlife. The park drive at dawn and dusk is a great time to see deer. Beaver are active in some lakes and racoons, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks can be seen frequently.
History. Human habitation in the area dates back at least 6,000 years. Artifacts found in the park give evidence of both prairie and woodland cultures.
Geology. Maplewood lies on a series of hills in the Leaf Hills Landscape Region near the eastern edge of the level Red River Valley. These hills, part of the Alexandria Glacial Moraine, were deposited during the last ice age.
Visit Facts
- Address39721 Park Entrance Road Pelican Rapids, MN 56572
- Phone218-560-5530
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursFall Hours: After October 18th, office will be open intermittently when staff are available.
- Emailmaplewood.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point46.54998, -95.95418 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Maplewood State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | 2.2 miles | — |
| Summer | Hiking | 25 miles | The park also contains a five and one-half mile segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT), a footpath that extends 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont. Look for blue blazes and the NCT emblem on signposts. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | — | The paved Heart of the Lakes Trail runs 3.8 miles through the park. |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | 9 miles | Bring your mountain bike. Nine miles of trail along gravel township roads and trail tread-ways give you a variety of views. |
| Summer | Horse | 20 miles | — |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 5 miles | A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers age 16 and up. There are also five miles of ungroomed backcountry ski trails. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 21 miles of groomed trails | — |
| Winter | Snowshoe | 1/2 mile groomed | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on groomed ski or snowmobile trails. Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 71 sites | — |
| Electric Sites | 32 sites | — |
| RV Length Limit | — | 50 foot length limit, as measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Backpack Sites | 3 sites | — |
| Horse Camp | — | 23 sites, including several that accommodate two or three horse trailers. Most sites have a highline, and three sites have corrals. |
| Group Camp | — | The group camp is in a remote, semi-wooded area between Bass and Beers Lakes, and accommodates up to 30 people in tents, small trailers or campers. Primitive toilets. |
| Accessible Lodging | — | One accessible camper cabin. |
| Camper Cabins | 5 cabins | Three camper cabins are heated with electricity and are available Thursday through Sunday in winter, and daily the rest of the year. One is wheelchair accessible. Two more camper cabins are available daily from April through October, one with electricity and one without. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Pier | Beers Lake | The fishing pier is accessible. |
| Swimming Beach | Within the park | — |
| Boat Access | 2 in the park | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
| Canoe Access | Twenty-one Lake | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | with picnic shelter | — |
| Picnic Shelter | Open Shelter | Available for rent. |
| Warming House | trail center | — |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | — |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | — |
| Gift Shop | — | — |
| Rentals | — | Boat and canoe rentals are available from the ranger station. Snowshoe rentals are available in the winter. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | — | Firewood is available from the park office when it is open, or from vendors in nearby Pelican Rapids. |
| Ice Sales | — | — |
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 are not allowed in any of the camper cabins.
Directions
The park entrance is located 7 miles east of Pelican Rapids on State Highway 108.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Glendalough State ParkState Park, about 21 miles away in a straight line
- Buffalo River State ParkState Park, about 33 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Carlos State ParkState Park, about 48 miles away in a straight line
- Itasca State ParkState Park, about 60 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 Carlos State Park
- Lake Maria State Park
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
- Events in Central Lakes & St. Cloud
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maplewood State Park?
It is near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. The DNR address is 39721 Park Entrance Road Pelican Rapids, MN 56572.
How much does it cost to visit Maplewood 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 Maplewood 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
- Maplewood 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.