McCarthy Beach State Park is a Minnesota state park near Side Lake, covering 2,356 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.
- 2,356acres
- Side Lakemailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Swimming beach
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horse trails
- Picnicking
- Snowshoeing/snowmobiling
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: Come to McCarthy Beach State Park and you’ll remember the lakes. The sandy beach on Sturgeon Lake was rated one of the top 17 beaches in North America by Highway’s Magazine. Walk along the half-mile of shoreline, or venture out into the shallow water that extends hundreds of feet into the lake.
Wildlife. The park's hills and trails allow for excellent opportunities to watch birds and animals. More than 175 species of birds visit the area, and visitors are treated to sights of loons gliding on the lakes and great blue herons stalking small.
History. Archaeologists have found artifacts in the park that help tell the early history of the area. A well-crafted stone spear point made of Jasper Taconite, and later reworked into a drill, was recovered in an archaeological excavation near the.
Geology. The hilly topography and lakes of McCarthy Beach State Park were shaped during the retreat of the last continental glacier around 12,000 years ago.
Visit Facts
- Address7622 McCarthy Beach Road Side Lake, MN 55781
- Phone218-274-7200
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursPark is open 8am-10pm daily Winter office hours are by arrangement only. You may call the park office with inquires or to arrange a time to visit the office or nature store. 218-274-7200
- Emailmccarthybeach.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point47.66890, -93.03154 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for McCarthy Beach State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hiking | 18 miles | Wooded trails access the interior of the park. The rolling terrain is covered with mixed stands of pine, aspen and birch. The Pickerel Lake trail is a visitor favorite. |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | 17 miles | A choice of nice rides is available on the park trails and the low maintenance St. Louis County roads inside the park boundary. Bikers can venture out of the park on the Taconite State Trail. |
| Summer | Horse | 16 miles | Spring and fall are the best times to ride the park trails on a horse. The sandy soils are well drained. Park trails connect to the Stony Brook Horse campground and its trail system via the Taconite State Trail. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 5 miles | Visitors can enjoy 5 miles of groomed ski trails. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers age 16 and up. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 7 miles | Trails in the park connect to the Taconite State Trail and the Tim Corey Trail. Two rustic shelters are available on the snowmobile trails. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in the park, except on trails groomed for skiing or snowmobiling. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The park has 86 drive-in sites across two campgrounds. |
| Electric Sites | — | The park has 44 electric sites across two campgrounds. |
| RV Length Limit | 40 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 4 | There are four accessible drive-in sites in the Side Lake Campground. All sites have electric hookup. |
| Walk-in Sites | Three sites in the Beatrice Lake Campground | — |
| Horse Camp | Located in George Washington State Forest, Stony Brook Horse Campground. Not located in the park. | Although the horse campground is not located in McCarthy Beach State Park, they are managed by the park. The Stony Brook Horse Campground is located 9 miles from the park office. Trails connect the park to the horse camp. |
| Group Camp | 1 Site – Accommodate up to 40 people | Site located on wooded bluff overlooking Big Sturgeon Lake, nestled between the picnic area and boat landing. Spigot for water and vault toilets available. May accommodate a few small camping trailers, but is primarily a tenting area. Reserve Now –> |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing | — | Seven lakes with trout, walleye, bass, pike and panfish. |
| Fishing Pier | Side Lake | The pier is wheelchair accessible. |
| Swimming Beach | Within the park | Extended area of knee-deep water makes this a great beach for kids. One of the best beaches in Minnesota. Located on Sturgeon Lake. |
| Boat Access | Beatric, Side, Sturgeon lakes | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
| Canoe Access | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Adjacent to beach | Picnic area includes tables, fire rings and vault toilets. Shaded area with a nice view of Sturgeon Lake. |
| Picnic Shelter | Enclosed Shelter | Located overlooking Sturgeon Lake; close to the beach area and the group camp. The shelter has tables, electric outlets and a large fireplace. The shelter may be reserved by calling the park. |
| Playground | Within 2 miles of park | Located at the Side Lake Community Center. Available to the general public. |
| Horseshoes | Campground Area | Pick up equipment at the park office. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | Park Entrance | Stop here for park and area information, permits and registration. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | Park Office | A small exhibit features park history, geology, and flora. |
| Gift Shop | Park Office | Nature Store stocks gift items, books, souvenirs and apparel. |
| Rentals | Boats, Canoes, Paddleboards, and Kayaks | Boat, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available from the ranger station. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | At Park Office | — |
| Other | At Park Office | Battery charging available, $5 a charge. |
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 Hibbing, take U.S. Highway 169 north to 73 in Chisholm. Follow Hwy 5 in Chisholm 16 miles to the park.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Scenic State ParkState Park, about 25 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State ParkState Park, about 38 miles away in a straight line
- Bear Head Lake State ParkState Park, about 47 miles away in a straight line
- Schoolcraft State ParkState Park, about 48 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 Iron Range & Voyageurs
- Lake Vermilion
- Voyageurs National Park
- Bear Head Lake State Park
- Franz Jevne State Park
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
- Scenic State Park
- Schoolcraft State Park
- Events in Iron Range & Voyageurs
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is McCarthy Beach State Park?
It is near Side Lake, Minnesota. The DNR address is 7622 McCarthy Beach Road Side Lake, MN 55781.
How much does it cost to visit McCarthy Beach 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 McCarthy Beach 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
- McCarthy Beach 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.