Gull Lake Recreation Area
Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake
Gull Lake Recreation Area offers something for everyone with boating, hiking, fishing and swimming at Minnesota's famous Gull Lake, the largest of the 10 lakes on the Gull Chain of Lakes. Visitors have the opportunity to see and hear an abundance of watchable wildlife like bald eagles, white-tailed deer, river otters, a variety of songbirds, and the legendary call of the loon.
The campground is known for its well-spaced wooded sites, each with 50 or 30 amp electric hookup service, picnic tables, campfire rings, and a centrally located showerhouse. A water fill and dump station is located near the entrance to the campground. This side of the park holds two canoe launches, a paved shoreline fishing platform, fish cleaning station, self-guided information booth, playground, a flush toilet restroom, and a handful of picnic tabels and grills. Across the dam is the Ranger Office, boat ramp, vault toilet, and swimming beach on the lake. Volleyball nets, basketball hoop, horseshoe pits, and two more playgrounds are also perks of this side of the park.
Notifications and Alerts
- Only firewood certified, or approved by a state or
federal natural resource agency is permitted. Certified firewood is available
for purchase in the campground. Any unauthorized firewood in the campground
may be removed and destroyed by Corps of Engineers staff.
During the 2025 camping season, rangers will not be checking you in at your site in person. Instead, you will find a box on your site post with check-in information such as firewood ordering hand out, your day use camper pass, and an important campground information handout. Please review these materials when you arrive. If you need assistance, contact a ranger or a volunteer.
Need to Know
Reservations MUST be made online utilizing recreation.gov either prior to your visit or immediately upon arrival. The park office can not make reservations. However, the staff are happy to help walk you through the process on your smart phone or tablet.
Firewood sales will be available at the wood shed on site #40 ONLY between 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Upon arrival, you will be provided with instructions on how to pay for firewood with a credit/debit card online with wood delivery straight to your site. Exact cash sales are still available at the wood shed during hours of operation.
Only two tents OR one wheeled-camping unit plus one tent is allowed per campsite.
During the 2025 camping season, rangers will not be checking you in at your site in person. Instead, you will find a box on your site post with check-in information such as firewood ordering hand out, your day use camper pass, and an important campground information handout. Please review these materials when you arrive. If you need assistance, contact a ranger or a volunteer.
There is no longer an entrance at the north side of the park. All users will need to access the park via the south entrance. There is a detour on Gull Dam Road to route you to the south if you still wish to come that way. Suggested directions are as follows:
From the intersection MN 210 and MN 371 in Baxter, drive north 2.6 miles. Turn left on Cty Rd 77 (Pine Beach Road). Drive west for 4.7 miles. Turn right onto Cty Rd 70 (E. Gull Lake Drive). You will come to a stop sign in 2.1 miles, go straight, this will take you into the park. Follow the road over the dam and the campground will be straight ahead.
There are no sewer or water sites at this campground but potable water and a dump station are located at the campground entrance.
The shower building and drinking water are available May 1 - October 15.
ONLY CERTIFIED FIREWOOD is allowed in the park. Firewood restrictions are in effect to prevent the spread of harmful forest insects and disease. Click here for more information
Natural Features
The campground sits on the Gull River at the outlet of Gull Lake. The area was formed by a receding glacier that moved southward from Canada and carved the landscape. Gull Lake is one of the six Mississippi Headwaters Projects of the Mississippi River Watershed operated by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Nearby Attractions
Gull Lake is located minutes from 520 holes of golf, the 100-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, amusement parks, a zoo, and numerous shopping opportunities in Brainerd, Baxter, and Nisswa.
Recreation
Anglers will delight in the large population of fish including stocked walleye, northern pike, bass and a variety of panfish. Boaters can access crystal clear waters throughout the chain of lakes and enjoy the peaceful sunsets overlooking the woods. Hit the self-guided interpretive trail for a short hike with wildlife watching and scenic overlooks along the lake. Hop on your bike on the City of East Gull Lake's paved multi-use trail that starts by the dam, or head out to join up with the Paul Bunyan State Trail with trailheads located in Baxter and Nisswa. Got a kayak, canoe, or intertube? Try heading down the Gull River from the lower canoe launch. Ask the Park Rangers about river safety with current water flow and check-out a life jacket before you go.
Contact Information
Default
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS GULL LAKE RECREATION AREA 10867 E GULL LAKE DR BRAINERD MN 56401
Physical
10867 E Gull Lake Dr Brainerd MN 56401
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: (651)290-5772
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From the intersection MN 210 and MN 371 in Baxter, drive north 2.6 miles. Turn left on Cty Rd 77 (Pine Beach Road). Drive west for 4.7 miles. Turn right onto Cty Rd 70 (E. Gull Lake Drive). You will come to a stop sign in 2.1 miles, go straight, this will take you into the park. Follow the road over the dam and the campground will be straight ahead.
Available Campsites
- Site 39, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 28, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 10, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 16, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 31, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 05, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 16A, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 12A, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 30, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 14, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 19, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 24, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 37, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 20, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 09, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 04, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 22, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 23, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 29, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 15, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 13, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 34, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 21, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 40HOST, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 12, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 27, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 38HOST, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 17, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 32, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 02, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 33, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 01, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 18, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 06, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 11, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 36HOST, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site Picnic Shelter, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Group Shelter Electric
- Site 25, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 07, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 35, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 08, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 03, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 26, Loop GULL LAKE, Type Standard Electric
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