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Rice Lake
Overview
Rice Lake State Park offers a peaceful retreat centered around a shallow, marshy lake that serves as a vital stopover for wildlife. Known primarily as a haven for migrating waterfowl, the park provides a quiet escape from the bustle of daily life. The landscape features a mix of lush hardwood forests and open meadows, offering a serene backdrop for visitors looking to reconnect with the natural world in a classic southern Minnesota setting.
Location & Surroundings
Situated just a few miles east of Owatonna, the park is easily accessible for travelers moving along Highway 14 or Interstate 35. The surrounding area is characterized by fertile agricultural lands and gentle rolling hills. Because the lake is naturally shallow, it creates a unique wetland ecosystem that supports a diverse array of plants and animals, making it a distinct geographical destination compared to the deeper lakes found in northern Minnesota.
Amenities & Park Features
The campground provides several options for travelers, including sites that accommodate a variety of rig sizes. Facilities are designed to provide a comfortable yet rustic experience for visitors. Key features include:
- Access to electric hookup sites for convenient camping
- Seasonal bathhouses with modern showers and restrooms
- On-site sanitary dump station for waste management
The park also features a boat launch for non-motorized craft and over five miles of scenic hiking trails that wind through the woods and along the shoreline.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Beyond the park boundaries, visitors can explore the cultural highlights of Owatonna. A major draw is the National Farmers Bank, widely considered one of the most beautiful bank buildings in the country due to its jewel-box architecture. History enthusiasts should not miss the Village of Yesteryear, which showcases life in the late 19th century. For those staying in the winter, the park remains active with groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing adventures.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is perfect for wildlife photographers and avid birders who appreciate the quiet art of observation. It is an ideal spot for RVers seeking a tranquil camping experience away from the noise of crowded resorts and motorized watercraft. If you prefer peaceful evenings under the stars and waking up to the calls of nesting swans, this state park is a wonderful addition to your Minnesota travel itinerary.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
User Reviews
Melissa Strehmel
A beautiful, rustic park with some huge trees, great hiking trails and birds. The lake is beautiful!
David Alitz
Nice park. Fairly undeveloped. The campsites are all pretty level. Despite being heavily wooded, the sites aren't very isolated from each other. No shore fishing due to a wide margin of reeds. There is a small fishing pier off the southernmost point.
DLM-Distribution Campervans
We really enjoyed our stay at Rice Lake State Park! The park is clean, quiet, and surrounded by a beautiful mix of woods and prairie. The lake is the highlight—shallow and marshy in areas, it attracts a wide variety of waterfowl and other birds, making it a great spot for wildlife watching and photography. The hiking trails are easy and relaxing, perfect for a peaceful walk through nature. It’s not a huge park, but it offers a tranquil setting and a chance to slow down and enjoy the outdoors. Overall, it’s a nice place to visit for birding, light hiking, or simply soaking in the peaceful lakeside environment.
Vane Plun
We reserved a cart-in camp site for one night (thankful that it was only one night). First off it is hard to tell from the online picture but our camp site was veryyyyyy close to the next site, like 5 ft or less. Thankfully our neighbors were respectful. We were grabbing twigs that were on the ground, within our campsite, and used a mini foldable hand saw to cut a bigger piece of wood that was on the ground. We immediately get a call saying that someone reported that we were cutting down live trees…we were not cutting anything alive nor disturbing the wooded area. We were lectured and told to not go into the woods, stay on the path. Isn’t being able to venture around kind of the point of camping? We had bought 3 packs of firewood ($8 each 😑) so it’s not like we were trying to get out of buying wood but whatever. So that was a rough start. Not sure if this is standard but the lights in the bathroom do not work at night, don’t know if I’ve been playing too many horror video games, but that was scary lol When we tried to go to sleep there were industrial sounds that were SO LOUD. Beeping like trucks backing up, planes flying overhead, it sounded like a construction zone. NOT the sounds I expect to hear when camping. Thankfully I had earplugs but what a bummer. The two stars were for the view and the scenery. I won’t be back to this state park though.
Ash Lindquist (Luminash Images)
Hiking Club trail is still accessible but muddy on several spots. Not too buggy. Would recommend compared to other parks in the area right now.