PARK BOUNDARY
NO BRIDGE
Hu
2.
4
rW
alk
nte
ing
nd T
rail
grou
1.0
Cam
p
Tra
il
Clearline Road
Mississippi Headwaters State Forest
SRA/SNA BOUNDARY
M
l
A/S
SR
NA
pi
iss
iss
ip
DA
UN
BO
La S
RY
alle
Creek
Rive
r
HUBBARD CO.
CLEARWATER CO.
LA SALLE LAKE STATE
RECREATION AREA
.5
.25
La Salle
Lake
La Salle Lake Scientific & Natural Area
6
ok
35
Parking
ad
Ro
Chall
NO BRIDGE
Scale in Miles
La Salle Lake State Recreation Area and
Scientific & Natural Area are open to hunting
SRA BOUNDARY
K
527
st
Fore
0
MN Great River Road
0.3
Canoe Access
il
Tra
Intersection Markers
Picnic Shelter
Maintenance
Shed
ok
Information
Challenge Trail
Difficult Trail
(use caution)
All other trails are
classified as “easy”
Campground Trail
I
J
PARK BOUNDARY
9
rlo
Ove
Picnic Area
Fish Cleaning Shelter
F
P
FACILITIES AND FEATURES:
• 39 campsites with full hook-ups
• Shower and flush toilets
• 2 seasonal rental cabins
• 1 picnic shelter (in development)
• Fishing pier (in development)
• Fish cleaning house
• Boat ramp
• Canoe/kayak access (in development)
• 11.5 miles of hiking trails
• Deepest lake entirely within Minnesota
• Snowmobile trail access
River
7
2.
Hunter Walking Trail
VISITOR FAVORITES
• Fishing
• Nature viewing (birding/wildflowers)
• Swimming
• Boating/kayaking
• Hiking the River Overlook Trail
(Hiking Club route)
• Hiking the Challenge Trail
• Hunting and trapping
• Observing tunnel valley land feature
Trail
Primitive Toilet
River Overlook Trail
La Salle Lake
Scientific & Natural Area
NORTH
Restroom/Showers
Challenge Trail
r
Rive
L
Road
Drinking Water
CO.
CLEARWATER
Overlook
Campground Trail
0.1
Campground
Cabins
HIKING TRAILS
Watercraft Camping
HUBBARD CO.
Snowmobile Trail
Fishing Pier
OTHER TRAILS
Boat Access
Spur Trail
A
FACILITIES
Map Legend
l
Lake
Tra
i
ge
en
all
Ch
0.4
loop
6
0.
D
La Salle Lake State
Recreation Area and
Scientific & Natural Area
are open to hunting
M
N
9
Picnic Area
(see inset
above right)
0.1
H
LaSalle
0.3
0.3
A
0.3
Cr
eek
enge
Firepit
Tra
i
Nature
Play
Area
LaS
alle
0.7 Ov
erl
o
D
River Overlook Trail is
a Hiking Club Trail
G
O
0.8
E
0.3
0.8
40
AREA RECREATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES:
Great River Road
Mississippi River Trail bike route
Mississippi River State Water Trail
Schoolcraft ATV/OHM Trail
Forest Riders ATV Trails
Becida-Itasca Snowmobile Trail
Mississippi Headwaters State Forest
Rockwood WMA
Birch Creek WMA
Lower Rice WMA
Robinson WMA
Mallard WMA
DID YOU KNOW:
LaSalle or La Salle? Why is it spelled two
different ways?
LaSalle Lake and LaSalle Creek (without a space)
were named by explorer Willard Glazier during
his 1881 search for the Mississippi headwaters.
He named the lake and creek after the French
explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle,
who explored the mid-section of the Mississippi
River in1682. The lack of space in the lake and
creek names was a typographical error recorded in
official documents for many years. The recreation
area is spelled La Salle (with a space) as is the
proper spelling of the surname (last name) La
Salle.
© 1/2017 by State of Minnesota,
Department of Natural Resources
st
C
B
Coffeepot
Landing
PICNIC AREA
360
Road
Fore
0.5
Department of Natural Resources
Information Center
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4040
651-296-6157 (Metro Area)
1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free)
mndnr.gov/parks
LA SALLE LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA
(SRA) is located in the northwest corner of Hubbard
County in north central Minnesota eight miles north of
Itasca State Park and six miles west of Becida. The
main entrance to the park is located on Hubbard County
Road 9. Minnesota state highway map index: F-8.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Discover the deepest
lake (at over 213-feet) found entirely within the borders
of Minnesota! The La Salle Lake SRA includes nearly
990 acres of land and surrounds the 240 acre lake
LaSalle Lake. The SRA also includes a portion of
HISTORY: Unique cultural resources have been
identified in the SRA. Artifacts have been located that
date back as early as 2,800 years ago to the Early
Woodland cultures. The archaeological evidence
includes some of the oldest pottery, known as LaSalle
Creek Ware, found in Minnesota.
The white and red pine forest attracted logging
operations during the early 1900s. Remnants of a
logging dam are still visible along LaSalle Creek. Logs
floating on LaSalle Lake were sluiced through the dam,
down the creek and into the Mississippi River as they
made their way to market.
Homesteaders established a farm along the northwest
corner of the lake. The abandoned fields are being
converted back to the natural landscape.
A small resort was established on the northeast corner
of the lake, offering a summer retreat for tourists
throughout the 1930s. Visitors renting Black Bear and
Lone Wolf cabins can share in the experience of
vacationing along the shores of LaSalle Lake.
FISHING: Bluegill, black crappie, northern pike,
largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, cisco, rock
bass and white sucker found in LaSalle Lake.
REGULATIONS: Vehicle Permits: A state park permit
is required on vehicles that enter, use, or park in a
developed campground, overnight, or day-use area.
Hunting and Trapping: Outdoor Heritage funds
generated from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy
Amendment were used to purchase portions of the La
Salle Lake SRA. As a result, hunting, fishing and
e
Tr
a
il
Black
Bear
E
Lone
Wolf
LaSalle
Lake
0
200
400
F
10
12
13
600
Scale in Feet
SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK . . .
• The park belongs to all Minnesotans. Please treat it
with respect and help us to protect it by following
the rules.
• The park is open year-round. On a daily basis, the park
is closed from 10:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. the following
morning except to registered campers.
• Camp only in designated locations.
• The use of firearms, explosives, air guns, slingshots,
traps, seines, nets, bows and arrows and all other
weapons is prohibited in state parks.
• Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer than six
feet. Pets are not allowed in park buildings.
• Park in designated areas only.
• Enjoy park wildlife and plants, but please respect
them. Do not pick or dig up plants, disturb or feed
animals, or scavenge dead wood.
• Build fires only in designated locations-fire rings or
fireplaces. Wood is available for purchase from park
staff. Portable stoves or grills are permitted.
PARK BOUNDARY
ng
15
17
19
20
22
24
26
28
30
31
33
6 5
7
8
9
11
14
16
18
21
23
25
27
29
32
34
35
36
37
38
39
4 3 2 1
G
Trail
le
und
al
pgro
Itasca State Park
36750 Main Park Drive
Park Rapids, MN 56470
(218) 699-7251
e-mail: [email protected]
Ch
9
Cam
FOR MORE INFORMATION
PARK BOUNDARY
e Trail
LA SALLE LAKE
STATE RECREATION
AREA
TRAILS : Campground Trail: Pass through a mixed
forest of maple, birch, oak and aspen on this 1.3 mile
trail. For an overlook on the south-east shore of LaSalle
Lake, continue on the Challenge / Spur Trails, where a
steep descent leads you to a grassy clearing along the
shoreline of the lake.
Challenge Trail: This primitive 5.6 mile trail lives up to
its name as it traverses steep ridges before dropping
down to the lake shore. Hikers will have to cross two
creeks along the southern portion of the trail. For a
complete loop around the lake, hikers will also follow
portions of the Hunter Walking Trail for a total distance
of 6.5 miles. To complete this loop, expect hiking times
of 4 to 6 hours. Safety Concerns: remoteness of this trail
makes advance planning important; river crossings with
seasonal high water levels; steep ascents and descents.
Hunter Walking Trails: Three miles of looped trails
lead you through reclaimed fields and hardwood forest.
The trail connects with the Challenge Trail and the Spur
Trails.
River Overlook Trail: This one mile trail is one of the
most popular, offering a beautiful view of the
Mississippi River Valley. Located in the Scientific and
Natural Area, this trail passes through regenerating
forest of pine and aspen. This is the Hiking Club route.
Spur Trails: Two spurs, totaling 0.45 miles, give hikers
access to overlooks of LaSalle Lake. Be aware of steep
ascents and descents.
La Salle Lake Scientific
& Natural Area
d Trail
Campgroun
Minneapolis/
St. Paul •
WILDLIFE AND PLANT COMMUNITIES: A
variety of wildlife exists on the property. Mammals
include: white-tailed deer, eastern timber wolf,
American black bear, river otter, long-tailed weasel and
beaver.
La Salle Lake SRA is known for its diverse plant
communities. The Minnesota County Biological Survey
in 2008 identified areas of outstanding biological
significance. With varied habitats which include
lowland conifer forest, mature and young deciduous
forest, medium-aged mixed hardwood/conifer forest,
field and lake, there is the potential for over 75 species
of birds to breed on site. Bird life that relies on boreal
forests includes such species as: ruffed grouse, bald
eagle, northern goshawk, a variety of warblers including
yellow-rumped, palm, mourning and chestnut-sided.
Numerous sparrow species include; song, savannah,
chipping and vesper.
trapping are permitted activities
on the site (including the
Scientific & Natural Area)
unless posted no hunting.
Waterfowl hunting will be
allowed on LaSalle Lake,
LaSalle Creek watershed and
the Mississippi River. All small
and big game hunting will be
allowed on the SRA during the
appropriate season to include
trapping.
During hunting and trapping
seasons there are restrictions in
the high use areas including the
picnic area, campground, and
cabin area.
LaSalle Lake: The speed limit
for watercraft is 10 m.p.h.
Fishing regulations require the
immediate release of large or
smallmouth bass. Possession
limits for crappie and sunfish
are 5 each, walleye is 2 and
yellow perch is 10. Check the
Minnesota Fishing Regulations
book for most current special
regulations.
Challeng
Duluth •
GEOLOGY: Noted for its steep and rugged valley
slopes the LaSalle Creek drainage is classified as a
tunnel valley formed nearly 2.5 million years ago
during the Quaternary period. The soil materials and
landscape have been formed by the advance and retreat
effects of glaciers. Dramatic ridges and tributary valleys
are present along these slopes. The steep terrain and
sandy soils make many portions of this area very
susceptible to erosion.
LaSalle C
r.
LA SALLE LAKE
STATE RECREATION
AREA
LaSalle Creek that provides frontage on the Mississippi
River. The northern portion of the SRA has been
designated as a Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) and
is recognized for the presence of high quality white
cedar swamp and regenerating jack pine woodland with
rare plants and animals. La Salle Lake State Recreation
Area was established in 2011 to help preserve these
unique features.
•
Daily or annual permits are required for all vehicles
entering a state park. They may be purchased at the
park headquarters or the Information Center in St.
Paul.
• Observe designated trail use signs.
• Motor bikes and other licensed
vehicles are allowed only on park roads, not on
trails.
This information is available in
alternative format upon request.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is an
Equal Opportunity Employer
© 1/2017 by State of Minnesota,
Department of Natural Resources