Zippel Bay State Park is a Minnesota state park near Williams, covering 3,054 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.
- 3,054acres
- Williamsmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing
- Sandy beach
- Bird watching
- Winter recreation
- Lake of the Woods
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: After visiting Zippel Bay, you'll remember the sunsets and the miles of white sand beach. The park is located on Lake of the Woods, one of the largest lakes in the United States.
Wildlife. The park's location on the northern border of the state affords opportunities to observe an interesting variety of wildlife not common elsewhere in the state. Park wildlife includes coyote, black bear, mink, fisher, otter and pine marten.
History. Evidence of prehistoric people has been found along the Rainy River, east of Zippel Bay and at other sites in the vicinity of Lake of the Woods giving indication of a long and varied history of human habitation of this region.
Geology. The area in which the park is located was once covered by Glacial Lake Agassiz. The area includes extensive peatlands and sandy, mineral soil.
Visit Facts
- Address3684 54th Avenue Northwest Williams, MN 56686
- Phone218-635-0410
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursThere are no regularly scheduled ranger station hours in the winter. For information, contact Big Bog State Recreation Area.
- Emailzippelbay.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point48.84439, -94.85000 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Zippel Bay State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hiking | — | The park has nearly nine miles of hiking trails |
| Summer | Horse | — | Two miles of trails inside the park connect to additional trails outside the park. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | — | The park has 3 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Ten miles from the park, snowmobilers can access over 300 miles of trails. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in the park, except on groomed snowmobile trails. |
| Winter | Other | — | The park has seven miles of ungroomed cross-country skiing trails. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | There are 57 drive-in sites. There are no electric sites. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The RV length limit is 50 feet. Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. Due to small sites and lack of turnarounds, large fifth wheels and RVs are advised not to travel past Ridge Campground. |
| Group Camp | — | This rustic site accommodates 45 people and has a vault toilet. Tents, small trailers, and campers are permitted. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Pier | — | The park's fishing pier is accessible. Our fish cleaning house is available at the marina. |
| Swimming Beach | — | The park has over two miles of white sand beach to enjoy! |
| Boat Access | — | Drive-in boat access is located at the marina. Carry-in boat access is located at the small beach. |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
| Canoe Access | — | Our marina has canoe access and great wildlife viewing. Ask about our self-guided canoe tour around the bay! |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The park has an accessible picnic area. |
| Accessible Picnic Shelter | — | The park has an accessible open shelter. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Visit our nature store in the ranger station! |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | There are kiosks and signs throughout the park. |
| Historic Site | — | The original Zippel homestead site is nearby. Stop at the ranger station for directions. The old structures are gone but the area clearly shows signs of human habitation and offers a different perspective on the park. |
| Rentals | — | Canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available from the ranger station during the summer and fall months. Ask about the self-guided canoe tour around the bay! Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, GPS units, and kids' discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are free to check out from the ranger station. |
| Firewood | — | Firewood is available for sale at the ranger station. |
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 west end of Baudette, take Highway 172, 10 miles north to County Road 8. Go west on 8 for 6 miles to the park entrance.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Garden Island State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 23 miles away in a straight line
- Hayes Lake State ParkState Park, about 35 miles away in a straight line
- Franz Jevne State ParkState Park, about 39 miles away in a straight line
- Big Bog State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 49 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 North Lakes
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
- Leech Lake
- Big Bog State Recreation Area
- Garden Island State Recreation Area
- Hayes Lake State Park
- Itasca State Park
- La Salle Lake State Recreation Area
- Lake Bemidji State Park
- Events in North Lakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Zippel Bay State Park?
It is near Williams, Minnesota. The DNR address is 3684 54th Avenue Northwest Williams, MN 56686.
How much does it cost to visit Zippel Bay 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 Zippel Bay 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
- Zippel Bay 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.