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Father Hennepin
Overview
Father Hennepin State Park offers a tranquil retreat on the southeastern shores of Mille Lacs Lake in Isle, Minnesota. This state park provides a harmonious blend of dense hardwood forests and expansive lakeside views, making it a popular destination for those seeking a quiet connection with nature. It is particularly famous for its rare albino deer population, which visitors frequently spot roaming through the campgrounds and wooded trails. The park serves as a scenic gateway to one of the state's most iconic lakes while maintaining a peaceful, natural atmosphere for all visitors.
Location & Surroundings
The park is perfectly situated on the edge of Mille Lacs Lake, one of Minnesota’s largest and most celebrated bodies of water. The surrounding landscape is dominated by a lush maple forest that provides ample shade in the summer and vibrant colors during the autumn months. Because the park is positioned on the southeastern tip of the lake, it offers a sheltered environment with easy water access. Travelers will find the setting offers a distinct sense of seclusion despite being only a short distance from the local conveniences of Isle.
Amenities & Park Features
The facility features two distinct campgrounds known as Lakeview and Maplewood, offering a variety of environmental backdrops. For RV travelers, the park provides 41 electric sites that can accommodate rigs up to 60 feet in length. Essential facilities include a seasonal dump station, modern restrooms, and clean showers. Beyond the campsites, the park boasts one of the few large sandy swimming beaches on the lake, alongside two accessible fishing piers and over two miles of hiking trails that wind through the woods and along the shoreline.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Anglers often choose this park as their home base for world-class walleye, northern pike, and muskie fishing on the open water. For those who prefer land-based adventures, the Soo Line Trail is located just outside the park, offering miles of paved paths for biking and hiking. Visitors can also explore the quaint shops and local eateries in the town of Isle or take a short drive to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park to explore its interpretive center and 100-foot observation tower for a birds-eye view of the region.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is an ideal match for nature photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who hope to capture images of the unique white deer. It is also a fantastic choice for families looking for a traditional lakeside camping experience with plenty of swimming and fishing opportunities. Because of its quiet, relaxed vibe and lack of heavy commercial traffic, it is best suited for peace-seeking RVers who prefer the sounds of the forest and the waves over a high-activity resort environment.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Leah Palmer
I had breakfast this morning in Isle MN @ Goody's Corner Cafe and it was delicious! Then I went for a walk @Father Hennepin State Park. It was a blissful morning. 🌞🍁🍂🌳💜🌳❤️🌳🧡🌳💛🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂
Cassondra Bellows
Lovely trail to the beach. Beach is nice with the softest sand. Definitely bring water shoes if you're going to swim. There is a little park near the beach. Campsites were large and clean, but not at all private.
Kathy Mchaney
We spent two nights there. We have a class A and were able to back in and level our rig with minimal issues. The birds were incredible. Loons, eagles, woodpeckers, and more. Saw four deer while walking on the paved paths by the lake. We do wish they would trim up their trees over the roads and at some of the sites. Also need more restrooms and showers for not having any sewer hookups. It was fine for us this time as it was mid week for only two nights.
Cheri Abraham
This would have been 5 stars, but the campground hostess is a little scary and very unprofessional. The rangers said she's been here for a lot of seasons but I found her as rude-shining a huge flashlight in my face while screaming at me, not explaining who she was, edging on hysteria, not allowing me to speak, coming to our campsite after my friend and I were IN the tent and yelling because we we giggling as we got ready for bed. From outside my tent, she was yelling that we had been smoking and drinking alcohol and that it was illegal in this park and that if she heard any more laughing or talking, she would call the sheriff. At 71 years old, this felt like a bad 4H camp experience. On a Monday night, we were in an empty area of the park and had no close neighbors except for the hostess, so any laughing and talking was only bothering her. I am 71 and my friend is 60. In the morning, I apologized to the professional rangers for any disturbances we may have caused by listening to 70s music or laughing too loudly. The hostess is from Florida, parking her camper free in MN all summer for 20 years. I'm a frequent Minnesotan tent camper and, I can honestly say that she made that night of our trip miserable. There are so many great things about this park. Checking in was friendly and efficient, the Rangers were very professional and kind, the park and facilities are very clean and I will camp there again, but stay far away from the "hostess". My sister died just a few days before this trip and my friend was grieving for her brother, so we were hoping for healing and renewal. Even with her odd behavior, we managed to find special peace via the daily visits of the Albino deer. For three days, she kind of hung around our tent as though to comfort us.
Jerome Liggett
Had a fun walk along the lake around the picnic area. Walk paths are in great condition and are easy to navigate for all ages. Was not terribly busy on a Sunday afternoon. Plenty of places to relax and enjoy the beach or picnic along the shore.