9

Mississ

ippi

Rive

r

La Salle Lake Scientific & Natural Area

Forest

Road

Road

356

360

LaSalle

Lake

Clea

rline

Roa

d

Challenge Trail

0.3

0.5

0.80.3

0.8

0.3

2.7

0.12.4

Hunter

Walk

ing Tr

ail

Picnic Area(see inset

above right)

Campground Trail

LaSalle

Creek

Mis

siss

ipp

i H

ead

wat

ers

Sta

te

Fore

st

Forest Road 527

River

Overlook

0.7

Trail

Challenge Trail

0.1

1.0

0.3

0.6

Cam

pgro

und

Trai

l

CLEARWATER CO.

HUBBARD CO.

CoffeepotLanding

0.3

0.4loop

PARK BOUNDARY

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AR

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F

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SRA BOUNDARY

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DARY

NO BRIDGE

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0 .25 .5

Scale in Miles

FACILITIES

Parking

Cabins Campground

Overlook

Restroom/Showers

Primitive Toilet

Fish Cleaning Shelter

Information

Picnic Shelter Picnic Area

Boat Access

Canoe Access

Fishing Pier

Watercraft Camping

Drinking Water

MN Great River Road

La Salle LakeScientific & Natural Area

Difficult Trail(use caution)All other trails are classified as “easy”

Intersection MarkersA

Campground Trail

Challenge Trail

River Overlook Trail

Hunter Walking Trail

Spur Trail

HIKING TRAILS

Map Legend

Snowmobile Trail

La Salle Lake State Recreation Area and Scientific & Natural Area are open to hunting

NORTH

OTHER TRAILS

PICNIC AREA

Firepit

La SalleLake

La S

alle

Cree

k

River

Challenge

Trail

OverlookTrail

9

D

MaintenanceShed

NaturePlayArea

40

LA

SAL

LE

LA

KE

STATE

R

EC

RE

ATIO

N A

RE

A

FAC

ILIT

IES A

ND

FEAT

UR

ES:

• 39 campsites w

ith full hook-ups• Show

er and flush toilets• 2 seasonal rental cabins• 1 picnic shelter (in developm

ent)• Fishing pier (in developm

ent)• Fish cleaning house• B

oat ramp

• Canoe/kayak access (in developm

ent)• 11.5 m

iles of hiking trails• D

eepest lake entirely within M

innesota• Snow

mobile trail access

VISITO

R FAV

OR

ITE

S• Fishing• N

ature viewing (birding/w

ildflowers)

• Swim

ming

• Boating/kayaking

• Hiking the R

iver Overlook Trail

(Hiking C

lub route)• H

iking the Challenge Trail

• Hunting and trapping

• Observing tunnel valley land feature

AR

EA

RE

CR

EAT

ION

AL

OPPO

RT

UN

ITIE

S:G

reat River R

oadM

ississippi River Trail bike route

Mississippi R

iver State Water Trail

Schoolcraft ATV/O

HM

TrailForest R

iders ATV Trails

Becida-Itasca Snow

mobile Trail

Mississippi H

eadwaters State Forest

Rockw

ood WM

AB

irch Creek W

MA

Lower R

ice WM

AR

obinson WM

AM

allard WM

A

© 1/2017 by State of M

innesota, D

epartment of N

atural Resources

DID

YO

U K

NO

W:

LaSalle or La Salle? Why is it spelled tw

o different w

ays?LaSalle Lake and LaSalle C

reek (without a space)

were nam

ed by explorer Willard G

lazier during his 1881 search for the M

ississippi headwaters.

He nam

ed the lake and creek after the French explorer R

ené-Robert C

avelier, Sieur de La Salle, w

ho explored the mid-section of the M

ississippi R

iver in1682. The lack of space in the lake and creek nam

es was a typographical error recorded in

official documents for m

any years. The recreation area is spelled La Salle (w

ith a space) as is the proper spelling of the surnam

e (last name) La

Salle.

La Salle Lake State Recreation Area and

Scientific & Natural Area are open to hunting

River Overlook Trail is a Hiking Club Trail

9

E

F

G

LaSalle

LaSa

lleCr

.

La Salle Lake Scientific& Natural Area

1234567

8

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34

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12

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28

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31

Chal

leng

e Tr

ail

Campground Trail

Cam

pgro

und

Trai

l

Challenge Trail

Lake9

11

1614

18

PARK

BOU

NDAR

Y

PARK BOUNDARY

BlackBear

LoneWolf

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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 inalternative format upon request.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is anEqual Opportunity Employer

LA SALLE LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA

Duluth •

Minneapolis/St. Paul •

© 1/2017 by State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources

LA SALLE LAKESTATE RECREATION AREAFOR MORE INFORMATIONItasca State Park36750 Main Park DrivePark Rapids, MN 56470(218) 699-7251e-mail: itasca.statepark@state.mn.us

Department of Natural ResourcesInformation Center500 Lafayette RoadSt. Paul, MN 55155-4040

651-296-6157 (Metro Area)1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free)

mndnr.gov/parks

400 6000 200

Scale in Feet