Old Mill State Park is a Minnesota state park near Argyle, covering 408 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.
- 408acres
- Argylemailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Wildlife
- Historic Site
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: A log cabin and a steam-powered flour mill at Old Mill State Park are bold landmarks from the past. The grist mill still gets fired up once a year to grind flour. The Middle River meanders through the park and visitors can see deer, beaver, and ruffed grouse. Enjoy the prairie and the ever-changing parade of wildflowers along wooded trails.
Wildlife. The river valley that runs through the park acts as an access corridor for many species. Beaver and raccoon are common as are white-tailed jackrabbit and snowshoe hare.
History. The historic site area in the park was originally homesteaded in 1882 by the Larson family. Beginning in 1886, a series of mills were built in and around the park. The original mill was water powered.
Geology. At one time, this entire northwest corner of the state was covered by a vast freshwater lake. Although the area was left fairly level by glacial activity before the lake formed, the lake is responsible for the large level areas found here.
Visit Facts
- Address33489 240th Avenue Northwest Argyle, MN 56713
- Phonec/o Lake Bronson State Park at 218-754-2200
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursThere are no regular office hours at this park. For information, contact Lake Bronson State Park.
- Emaillakebronson.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point48.36141, -96.56557 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Old Mill State Park
- Entry noteOffice no longer staffed; buy vehicle permits via self-service QR codes outside office or online before arriving
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | — | The park has a mile of self-guided trails. |
| Summer | Hiking | — | The park has seven miles of hiking trails. |
| Summer | Horse | — | The park has a mile of horse trails that connect to additional trails outside the park. Horses may use designated snowmobile trails between March 16 and November 30. Stay off groomed snowmobile trails. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | — | The park has 1.5 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on groomed snowmobile trails. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The park has 25 drive-in sites. |
| Electric Sites | — | The park has 10 electric site. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The max RV length is 67 feet. Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming Beach | — | The park has a swimming beach. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The park has a picnic area. |
| Picnic Shelter | — | The park has an enclosed picnic shelter. |
| Playground | — | The park has a playground. |
| Warming House | — | The warming house is not plowed in winter |
| Sliding Hill | — | The park has a sliding hill. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Site | — | The Larson Mill, Pioneer Cabin, and WPA Era structures are located throughout the park. |
| Firewood | — | Purchase firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel. Prevent the spread of tree-killing insects by burning only approved firewood. Gathering firewood in state parks is not allowed. |
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 Newfolden, go 11 miles west on County Road 4. From Argyle, go 12 miles east on County Road 4, then 1 mile north on County Road 4 to County Road 39.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Lake Bronson State ParkState Park, about 26 miles away in a straight line
- Red River State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 37 miles away in a straight line
- Hayes Lake State ParkState Park, about 51 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
- Lake Bronson State Park
- Red River State Recreation Area
- Events in Red River Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Old Mill State Park?
It is near Argyle, Minnesota. The DNR address is 33489 240th Avenue Northwest Argyle, MN 56713.
How much does it cost to visit Old Mill 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 Old Mill 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
- Old Mill 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.