Sakatah Lake State Park is a Minnesota state park near Waterville, covering 820 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.
- 820acres
- Watervillemailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Maple and Basswood Forests
- Hiking
- Biking – Access to Sakatah State Trail
- Camping
- Wildlife
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: Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail runs through Sakatah Lake State Park and stretches 39 miles from Mankato to Faribault. The paved trail offers hikers, bikers, skiers, and snowmobilers beautiful scenery through Minnesota's hardwoods.
Wildlife. Open fields, wetlands, upland forests, lakes, and forest edges provide the perfect habitat for many southern Minnesota wildlife species. Deer, squirrel, raccoon, mink, rabbit, and coyote are animals commonly seen in the park.
History. Members of the Dakota Nation, the Wahpekute (Wah-pay-coo-tay) tribe inhabited the area that is now the park. They named the area Sakatah, which translates to "the sights and sounds of children playing on the hill," or loosely translated as.
Geology. Glacial activity 14,000 years ago shaped this landscape. The park sits on a moraine, a large mound of rock and mineral debris deposits. In some areas of the park, these moraine deposits are up to 400 feet deep.
Visit Facts
- Address50499 Sakatah Lake State Park Road Waterville, MN 56096
- Phone507-698-7851
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursMonday-Friday: Closed Saturday-Sunday: 12pm-3pm Office hours are subject to change based on available staffing. If you need assistance during the week, please call the park office and we can assist you.
- Emailsakatahlake.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point44.21784, -93.53233 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Sakatah Lake State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 1/4 mile | — |
| Summer | Hiking | 5 Miles | Hiking trails are moderate to challenging. The State Trail provides a level walking surface. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | 3 Miles | Three miles of the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail passes through the park boundaries. This former rail bed is paved from Faribault to Mankato. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 3 miles | Snowmobiles are allowed only on the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail that runs from Faribault to Mankato through the state park. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in Park | — |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 62 Sites | Sites are located in a shaded area with heavy canopy woods. Majority of the sites are well spaced, most with good privacy. |
| Electric Sites | 14 Sites | Sites are located in two of the four camping loops. |
| RV Length Limit | 55 Feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 | The campground has two accessible drive-in sites. One has electric hookup. |
| Bike-in Sites | 5 Sites | Sites are available only people who bike into the park without motorized vehicles. There are no vehicle parking spots near these sites. Drinking water and toilet facilities are located nearby in the park's upper group camp. |
| Group Camp | 2 Sites – Each accommodates up to 50 people | Parking spaces limited in both sites. Upper Camp – located on Upper Sakatah Lake. Spigot for drinking water and vault toilet available. Lower Camp – located on Lower Sakatah Lake. Hand pump for water and vault toilet available. Reserve Now –> |
| Accessible Lodging | 1 accessible camper cabin | — |
| Camper Cabins | 1 Cabin | Sleeps 5 (wheelchair accessible). Cabin has a screened porch and electricity. No indoor plumbing. Available April through October. No pets 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 | Upper Sakatah Lake | The pier is accessible. |
| Boat Access | Upper Sakatah Lake | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Along Lakeshore | Picnic area is alongside fishing pier on Upper Sakatah Lake, and includes picnic tables, some standing grills, and regular fire rings. There is a hand pump for water when the regular drinking fountains have been shut off for the season. Vault toilet building with sinks and running water (in season) available nearby. One vault toilet available year-round. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | At park entrance | Stop here to purchase vehicle permits and for park information. |
| Gift Shop | At ranger station | The Nature Store (located in the ranger station) carries a line of gift items, t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps and books. |
| Rentals | Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards | Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at 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 ranger station | Firewood is available year-round. |
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: No pets allowed.
Directions
Park entrance is located on State Highway 60, 14 miles west of Faribault, or one mile east of State Highways 13 and 60 in Waterville.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Nerstrand Big Woods State ParkState Park, about 23 miles away in a straight line
- Rice Lake State ParkState Park, about 25 miles away in a straight line
- Minneopa State ParkState Park, about 28 miles away in a straight line
- Minnesota Valley State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 31 miles away in a straight line
- Myre-Big Island State ParkState Park, about 41 miles away in a straight line
- Flandrau State ParkState Park, about 46 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 Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
- Pipestone National Monument
- Big Stone Lake State Park
- Blue Mounds State Park
- Camden State Park
- Flandrau State Park
- Fort Ridgely State Park
- Kilen Woods State Park
- Lac Qui Parle State Park
- Lake Shetek State Park
- Minneopa State Park
- Events in Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sakatah Lake State Park?
It is near Waterville, Minnesota. The DNR address is 50499 Sakatah Lake State Park Road Waterville, MN 56096.
How much does it cost to visit Sakatah Lake 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 Sakatah Lake 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
- Sakatah Lake 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.