Lake Elmo Park Reserve is 2,165 acres (3 ½ square miles) with 80 percent of its acreage set aside for preservation and protection. This portion will eventually resemble the land as it was prior to the arrival of the settlers in the mid-1800s. This park reserve offers gently rolling hills with a variety of landscape types, including forest and prairie. Watch for pheasants, weasels, red fox, woodpeckers, cardinals, cottontail rabbits, squirrels and white-tailed deer.
Park Hours are 7 a.m. until one-half hour after sunset.
Vehicle Permits are required on all vehicles entering the park.
Directions to Lake Elmo Park Reserve:
Park facilities and activities include...
Boat Launch
The boat launch is open from 6 a.m. to half-hour after sunset, and it accesses Lake Elmo. The launch is closed in the winter. There are 20 parking spaces for vehicles with boat trailers. You must have a parking space to launch your boat, so if the parking lot is full, you may not launch your boat.
Lake Elmo is a slow, no-wake speed every day until noon.
MN DNR Lake Information
Modern Campground
Features include:
- Eighty spacious campsites, suited for tents, trailers, or motor homes.
- Electrical hook-ups at all sites.
- Picnic table and fire ring/grill provided at each site.
- Modern bathroom facilities with flush toilets and hot showers.
- Trailer / RV dump station.
- Play area.
- Firewood is available.
- Handicap accessible.
- Pets are not allowed.
Campground Map
Camping Fees
Reservations
Fishing Pier
Lake Elmo Park Reserve has a fishing pier on the southwest side of Lake Elmo. The pier is along the paved trail that runs near the lake between the campground and boat launch. Accessible parking is available nearby, while drinking water and restrooms are available at the play area just a short distance away.
Minnesota DNR Lake Information
Picnic Shelters
There are two reservable picnic shelters available: North and South Shelter
- Pets are not allowed.
- All vehicles must display a valid Washington County Parks vehicle permit.
- Water may not be available after Oct. 1.
- A 100-gallon beverage cooling tank may be rented when you rent a shelter (ice is NOT included).
- A Picnic Kit may be rented when you rent a shelter. The kit contains bocce ball set, Frisbee™®, horseshoes, softball equipment, and volleyball.
Shelter amenities include:
- Each shelter is 4,000 square feet.
- Adjacent parking can accommodate up to 168 vehicles.
- Two electric hot plates.
- Two 36-inch by 36-inch grills.
- Four electric outlets.
- Two six-foot serving counters.
- Water.
- Sink.
- Picnic tables.
- Handicapped-accessible rest rooms.
Picnic Shelter Information
Play Area
There are several play areas located throughout Lake Elmo Park Reserve. The largest "destination" play area is actually four separate play areas installed in one general location. There are slides, swings, tunnels, and more!
Each of the two reservation picnic areas also has a play area, and the campground has one, too.
Swimming Pond
The swimming pond includes one-fifth mile of sandy beach. The gradually sloping, sandy bottom makes the pond ideally suited for young waders, as well as serious swimmers. The pond is six feet at its deepest point. In addition, the pond is filtered and disinfected for protection. Clean rest rooms, changing rooms, and a food stand are available in a nearby beach building. A grassy area provides picnicking with tables and grills.
Beach Rules
- Organized groups require a special permit for use of the swimming facilities (links below).
- Children 6 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult while in the water.
- Swimmers are responsible for their own health and safety.
- Parents or guardians have a responsibility for children under their care.
- Children must be directly supervised by an adult.
- Swimmers are requested to stay away from floating buoys that mark water inlets beneath the surface.
- Swimmers may not stand or climb on steel skimmer covers located above the water.
- Visitors may not use the beach during non-operating hours.
- Alcoholic beverages, including 3.2 beer, are prohibited.
- Pets are not allowed.
- The use of tobacco products is not allowed within 100 feet of the beach.
- Glass containers are not permitted.
- Coast Guard approved Types I, II, III, or V personal flotation devices are allowed in designated area only.
- Parking is allowed in designated lots only.
- Diapers must be covered with rubber/plastic pants.
Management reserves the right to ask a park patron to leave the beach area when rules are violated.
Swim Facility Group Information
Beach Hours
Orienteering Course
NOTICE: Due to construction of the lighted ski trails in 2011, several control points have been re-positioned. New maps are available at the Contact Station for a small fee.
The orienteering course in Lake Elmo Park Reserve is appropriate for people of all orienteering abilities, and is actually designed as three separate courses, each one set up for a different skill level. It starts at the South parking lot (about 400 yards north of the main park office) and is set in a mix of rolling hills, woods, open prairie and small lakes. The course may be done in summer or winter, but please stay off the ski trails if not on skis in winter.
Control points and the start/finish area are marked with brown fiberglass posts identified with the control letter, red and white stripes, and a "code" number. There is an example post at the park office and also in the start/finish area (by the large map/sign on the edge of the parking lot).
Orienteering involves the use of a map and compass to find control points (posts), which are scattered throughout the southern portion of the park. When a control point is found, a "code" number on the post is recorded on the scorecard (available at the office) to verify that the post was visited. A pen or pencil is required to write down the "code" number. Posts on the easier course are typically close to a trail and posts on the advanced course are typically difficult to find. Competition may occur if you time how long it takes to return to the finish area with a completed scorecard.
The beginner course is the easiest, and runs from the start to posts A, B, C, D, E, F, and on to the finish (same location as the start). It is approximately 1.5 km long and is very close to trails.
The intermediate course is harder, and runs from the start to posts G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and on to the finish (same location as the start). It is 2.6 km (as the crow flies) and consists of controls typically about 50 to 150 meters off the trails. Use of typical orienteering techniques such as "handrails" and "attack points" with good map reading and compass will be useful. Long pants and/or good leg protection is advised because of brambles and the occasional patch of poison ivy.
The advanced course is the hardest, and runs from the start to posts P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z and on to the finish (same location as the start). It is 4.5 km (as the crow flies) and provides some advanced route choice and precision navigation challenges Good leg protection is advised because of brambles and some poison ivy (particularly just to the east of point Z).
Other course options may be designed by the user to meet their needs. One option is to do a score O (for example, visit as many points as possible in 45 minutes with penalty for lateness), or another option is a course with easy controls at the beginning leading up to some harder controls (for example B, C, H, L, X, Y)
Laminated maps of the course are available at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve Office for a fee (please see fees page for amount). A vehicle permit is required for all vehicles entering the park.
Cross-Country Ski Trails
Twelve miles of the park's 20-mile trail system have been designated for cross-country ski use. Lake Elmo Park Reserve's gently rolling hills allow skiers to enjoy a variety of ski experiences and challenges. The trails are suitable for those with beginner to intermediate cross-country skiing skills. All ski trails are groomed for classic and skate-skiing. A Minnesota Ski Pass is required for those skiers age 16 and older, and may be purchased at the park office.
New for the 2011-12 ski season are the addition of over 200 LED light fixtures along 8.7 kilometers (5.4 miles) of ski trails on the east side of the main road. The light fixtures are on five-foot poles and are aimed down the trail corridors to minimize light escaping into the night sky. The lights will come on at dusk and start turning off at 9:15 p.m. The outer trail lights on the Lake Elmo and Brown's Pond loops will turn off at 9:15 p.m. to encourage skiers to head back to the trailhead. The lights on the Northern Lights loop will turn off at 9:45 p.m. The trail lights will "blink" 15 minutes before they shut-off. The park closes at 10 p.m.
A ski shelter with wood-burning stove and firewood are also available. Check the programs and events page to find out about upcoming cross-country ski events!
For the safety and enjoyment of all park visitors, follow all park regulations and use basic trail etiquette.
- Be courteous to other trail users.
- Trail Hours: 7 a.m. - 1/2 hour after sunset.
- Lighted ski trails are open until 10 p.m. (when in use).
- Minnesota State Ski Pass is required for skiing.
- Groomed trails are for cross-country skiing only.
- Hiking/Biking/Pets are not allowed on ski trails
- Ski trails are one-way; please observe arrows.
- Both classic and ski skating are allowed.
- Hiking/Snowshoeing/Leased Pets are allowed; but only on designated trails (Big Bluestem).
Ski Trail Map (12M)
Snowshoe/Winter Walking Trails
The Big Bluestem trail on the west side of the main road will not be groomed for skiing. Walkers, dogs on leashes and snowshoes will be allowed on this 4 kilometer trail. It is accessible from the Eagle Point Trailhead and the group site parking lot.
Paved Trail
The paved trail starting at the Eagle Point Trail head will be plowed to the "T" intersection and left to the boat launch. Walkers may continue along to the fishing pier and back to the "T" but that section will not be packed or plowed.
Mountain Bike Trails
Eight miles of the park's 20-mile trail system have been designated for mountain bike use. The trails are easy to intermediate difficulty, and are suitable for those with beginner to intermediate mountain bike skills. Equestrians and hikers also use these trails.
For the safety and enjoyment of all park visitors, follow all park regulations and use basic trail etiquette.
- Be courteous to other trail users.
- Avoid blocking the trail and allow other users to pass.
- Stay alert.
- Always yield to equestrians and hikers.
- Horses and hikers may be startled by faster moving trail users - stop and wait for them to pass or to signal you through.
- Announce your presence, especially when approaching from behind.
- Ride only on trails designated for mountain bike use.
- Control your speed and approach turns in anticipation of other trail users and obstacles.
- Yield to other bicyclists traveling uphill.
- Racing and reckless riding are strictly prohibited.
- Respect the environment and other users.
Mountain bikers are requested to check at the Park Office or information kiosks located throughout the park before a trail ride begins. Information on trail conditions and closures will be posted. Trails cannot be used when they are designated closed by park staff.
Code for Responsible Biking
- Wear a helmet for your own safety.
- Stay on designated bike trails.
- Yield to equestrians and pedestrians (announce your intentions).
- Respect rights of others.
- Control your speed.
- Pass with care.
- Maintain a safe distance when following another bike.
- Keep environmental impacts to a minimum.
Directions
Located 1 mile north of Interstate 94 and 2.5 miles east of Interstate 694 at the intersection of County Road 19 (Keats Avenue North) and County Road 10 (10th Street North) in the City of Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
- From Interstate 94, exit at County Road 19. Follow County Road 19 to the north for one mile to County Road 10. Cross County Road 10 and proceed into the park.
- From Interstate 694, exit at County Road 10 (10th Street North). Follow County Road 10 east for 2.6 miles. Turn left (north) into the park.
- From State Highway 5 in downtown Lake Elmo, follow County Road 17 south for 2.5 miles to County Road 10 (10th Street North). Turn right (west) on County Road 10 for one mile. Turn right (north) into the park.
