Rice Lake State Park
🏆 Official Guide: Rice Lake State Park — a quiet waterfowl park just east of Owatonna in southern Minnesota: a 700-acre shallow lake at the headwaters of the Zumbro River, restored oak savanna and prairie, almost five miles of trails, and a campground that ranges from 50-amp electric sites to canoe-in sites on the far shore. Vehicle permit $7/day or $35/year. Verified with the Minnesota DNR as of August 2026.
Rice Lake is only three to five feet deep on average, and that is the whole point. Shallow water and marshy edges make it a magnet for migrating ducks, geese and shorebirds every spring and fall, and the waterfowl observation area in the picnic grounds gives you an unobstructed view across the lake without a boat. This was once part of Minnesota’s southern oak barrens — a sea of prairie grass scattered with bur oaks — and American Indians harvested wild rice from the lake that gives the park its name. Farm fields from the mid-1900s have been turned back into prairie and wetland over more than 15 years of restoration work, so a walk on the east prairie trail now passes bobolinks and dickcissels singing from the flower stalks in early summer.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | 8485 Rose Street, Owatonna, MN 55060 — Steele and Dodge counties |
| Hours | 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily |
| Vehicle permit | $7 one-day · $35 year-round (valid at every Minnesota state park for a year from month of purchase) · $5 one-day group permit · buy at the ranger station, entrance kiosk or online |
| Phone | 507-414-6191 · Reservations 866-857-2757 |
| Pets | Welcome on a leash of 6 feet or less; not allowed in buildings |
| Official site | Minnesota DNR — Rice Lake State Park |
Trails
| Trail | Length | Surface | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking Club Trail | 2.4-mile loop | Mowed grass, packed dirt, mostly flat | Lakeshore, prairie and hardwood biomes in one loop — starts at the picnic area |
| Lake Trail | 1.3 miles one-way | Packed dirt | Wooded shoreline with waterfowl viewing spots; extend 0.7 miles on the East Prairie Trails |
| West Trails | 1-mile double loop | Mowed grass, packed dirt | Towering oaks, a lake overlook, then prairie — trailhead near the boat ramp |
An Adirondack-style trail shelter east of the group camp, built as an Eagle Scout project in 2005, is a good turnaround point for hikers and, in winter, for snowmobilers. The ranger station lends birding kits, GPS units and kids’ activity kits, and naturalist programs typically run May through September.
On the Water
The boat ramp gives public access to the lake and is busiest with canoes and kayaks in spring and summer and waterfowl hunters in fall. There are no motor restrictions, but with an average depth of 3–5 feet the park advises against launching large boats. Canoe and kayak rentals are available seasonally from the ranger station — an hour of paddling the 700-acre lake while watching waterfowl is the park’s own “only have an hour?” suggestion.
Camping
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Loop A | 21 non-electric sites, one accessible; restroom/shower building for both loops; path to the lakeshore trail |
| Loop B | 19 sites, all but one with 50-amp electric hookups, two accessible; wooded on the west side, open and grassy on the east |
| Walk-in sites | 25 yards or less from the parking lot; picnic table, fire ring, vault toilet |
| Cart-in sites (4) | Along the lakeshore trail, 200 yards or less from the lot, carts provided; three north of the trail, one right on the lake |
| Canoe-in sites (5) | Remote wooded sites on the south shore, 20–30 minutes’ paddle from the ramp |
| Group camp | Rustic walk-in site for up to 60 people, under 60 yards from parking |
| Reservations | mndnr.gov/reservations or 866-857-2757 · quiet hours 10 p.m.–8 a.m. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit Rice Lake State Park?
A Minnesota state park vehicle permit is required: $7 for one day or $35 for a year-round permit good at every state park in Minnesota (as of August 2026).
Are there electric campsites?
Yes. In Loop B, all but one of the 19 sites have 50-amp electric hookups. Loop A’s 21 sites are non-electric.
When is the best time for birding?
Spring and fall migrations, when the shallow lake fills with waterfowl. The observation area in the picnic grounds has interpretive signs to help you identify them.
More parks nearby: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park to the north protects a remnant of the Big Woods maple-basswood forest, Sakatah Lake State Park lies to the west on the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail, and Minneopa State Park near Mankato has the bison herd and waterfall.
Editorial note: Details come from the Minnesota DNR park map and guide (2026), the DNR virtual tour and the DNR vehicle-permit page, checked August 2026. Campsite counts are as published by the DNR; confirm current availability on Reserve MN.
⛺ Camping at Rice Lake State Park: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | Loop A: 21 non-electric sites (1 accessible); Loop B: 19 sites, all but one with 50-amp electric (2 accessible); plus walk-in sites (25 yards or less from parking), 4 cart-in sites (200 yards or less, carts provided) and 5 canoe-in sites on the south shore |
|---|---|
| Pets | Pets welcome on a 6-foot or shorter leash; not allowed in buildings |
| Reservations | mndnr.gov/reservations (Reserve MN) or 866-857-2757 |
| Special sites | Group campsite for up to 60 people (walk-in, under 60 yards); restroom/shower building in Loop A serves both loops; canoe-in sites are a 20–30 minute paddle from the boat ramp |
| Season notes | Quiet hours 10 p.m.–8 a.m.; firewood must be bought at the park or from approved vendors |
Camping questions about Rice Lake State Park
Can you camp at Rice Lake State Park?
Loop A: 21 non-electric sites (1 accessible); Loop B: 19 sites, all but one with 50-amp electric (2 accessible); plus walk-in sites (25 yards or less from parking), 4 cart-in sites (200 yards or less, carts provided) and 5 canoe-in sites on the south shore.
How do you reserve a campsite at Rice Lake State Park?
mndnr.gov/reservations (Reserve MN) or 866-857-2757.
Are pets allowed at the Rice Lake State Park campground?
Pets welcome on a 6-foot or shorter leash; not allowed in buildings.
Source: files.dnr.state.mn.us (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Rice Lake State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are welcome in Minnesota state parks and recreation areas as long as they are leashed and personally attended at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash six feet or shorter (or portable enclosure) required at all times.
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Only service animals are allowed in beach areas — pets are prohibited on swim beaches statewide.
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Only service animals are allowed in state park lodging, camper cabins, yurts and tipis — no pet-friendly cabin program.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Emotional support/therapy animals do not qualify as service animals and are prohibited from park buildings.
Are dogs allowed at Rice Lake State Park?
Pets are welcome in Minnesota state parks and recreation areas as long as they are leashed and personally attended at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via dnr.state.mn.us. More: Minnesota state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
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