Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake

About Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake

The Headwaters Lakes Project is located in Minnesota?s lake country. Campfires and sunsets and the peacefulness of the water make each day a special event. The dams were originally constructed of native materials (earthen embankments filled with puddled clay, and timber control structures) in the early 1880s, except Gull Lake, which was constructed in 1912, using concrete. Sandy Lake Dam had the northernmost navigational lock on the Mississippi River and was the site of an early trading post.

Plan Your Visit to Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake

Heading to Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)