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Minnesota State Parks

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USA Parks
Minnesota
Heartland Region
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
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Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Doe and her fawn © John Sleen
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Trilliums © Nancy Bauer
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Goldfinch © Nancy Bauer
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Canada geese © Nancy Bauer
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Garter Snake © Susanna Van Blaricom
snake outside the office building.
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park White tail buck © Nancy Bauer
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park White tail deer © Nancy Bauer
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Purple finch © Nancy Bauer
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MILLE LACS KATHIO STATE PARK
MILLE LACS KATHIO STATE PARK
15066 Kathio State Park Road
Onamia, Minnesota   56359

Phone: 320-532-3523
Toll Free: 888-646-6367
Reservations: 866-857-2757
Email: park email button icon
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park has so much to offer and discover. Its 9000 years of human history and archaeological significance has made it a National Historic Landmark. You can learn about its rich history and all of Kathio's other treasures at the Visitor Center located next to the picnic grounds.

Kathio's visitors can experience several different styles of camping year-round or even "rough it" in one of our new heated Camper Cabins. You can climb the 100 ft. observation/fire tower and look across the majesty of Mille Lacs Lake. Take part in Kathio's extensive interpretive/nature programs or get out by yourself and hike on the park's varied trail system. Kathio has a wonderful swimming beach plus canoes or rowboats you can rent for a trip on the historic Rum River and Ogechie and Shakopee lakes.

In the winter, visitors can cross-country ski on trails described as the best in Minnesota or take the family sledding on our popular sliding hill. You can ride on Kathio's 19-mile statewide Grant-In-Aid snowmobile trail system or "take it down a couple of notches" and snowshoe on nearly 7 miles of pristine trail that will take you to places you cannot see in any other fashion.

Mille Lacs Lake is the source of the Rum River which flows through the park. It links three lakes near its headwaters on a trip down to the Mississippi River just over 140 miles away. Two of those lakes, Ogechie and Shakopee, fall within Kathio's borders and provide good fishing and canoeing or boating opportunities. The river, lakes and park trails offer visitors excellent opportunities to watch waterfowl, bald eagles, osprey, otter, beaver, loons, deer, bear, coyotes and many others.

While you're at Mille Lacs Kathio, take some time to visit the Mille Lacs Indian Museum located just two miles north on US Hwy. 169. It is run by the Minnesota State Historical Society and exhibits the Mille Lacs area history from 1680 forward.
Nature of the Area
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park is in the Mille Lacs Landscape Region. The park is primarily a second-growth forest of aspen, birch, maple, oak, and other northern hardwoods. Wetlands are abundant in the eskers on which the park is located. A few isolated remnant stands of conifers provide diversity to the landscape and a hint of what the forest looked like a century ago.

The park's geological history is a story of immense natural forces at work over thousands of years. The rolling hills are actually a part of a terminal moraine. The small, but abrupt hills, were formed approximately 10,000 years ago when a major glacier stopped its advance south. As the glacier melted, it deposited gravel, rocks, and boulders that it had accumulated in its grinding passage over to the north and east. The resulting land form is referred to a terminal moraine. The glacial debris partially blocked the land's natural drainage patten and in effect became a huge dam, creating an extensive lake of meltwater - a lake even larger than the present day Mille Lacs. This ancient lake had three outlets and a shoreline 15 feet higher than the present lake. A long period of geological and vegetational succession followed. The outlet streams cut deep channels. Ponds and small lakes drained away. Wave and ice action built up beach ridges. Drainage patterns and the shape of lakes altered. Silt and vegetation filled many of the depressions. The present park - its soil, vegetation, and wildlife - is the result of these thousands of years of constant natural progression.

The park is home to a variety of wildlife. Hawks, ospreys, owls, and eagles are common. The tracks of beaver, raccoon, mink, and deer are often seen on the trail or in the snow. Northern Pike, walleye, bluegills, sunfish and bass inhabit the lake. The aspen stands and small clearings are excellent for ruffed grouse. Squirrels and chipmunks thrive in maple and oak stands. The small ponds and streams provide homes for amphibians and insects, which in turn attract larger fish, birds, and mammals.
History of the Area
The park name is steeped in plenty of history. "Mille Lacs," a French term used by early explorers and fur traders, means "1,000 lakes," and referred to the region. The word "Kathio" has a more dubious pedigree. Well-known explorer Daniel Greysolon, Sieur duLhut collectively referred to the area as "Izatys," a name the Mdewekanton Dakota people gave themselves. Sieur du Lhut's poor handwriting caused a wrong translation of the word "Izatys." The "Iz" was transcribed as a K, and further error caused the name to be Kathio, a word that translates to nothing. "Kathio" became a name so attached to the area that the park bears that name today. The park is one of the most significant archeological sites in Minnesota, with 19 sites identified. The earliest site, dating from the "Archaic" period, shows evidence of copper tool manufacture associated with the "Old Copper Tradition." Hundreds of years before Europeans settled in the region, the Dakota people established permanent villages along the shores of Ogechie Lake, and the Rum River. These people came to be known as the Mdewakanton, which translated means "Water of the Great Spirit." Late in the Dakota period, Father Louis Hennepin, a Recollect priest and one of the earliest European explorers to visit Minnesota, traveled through this region. He lived with the Dakota for six months in 1680 on a point of land where the Rum River leaves the park on the southeastern boundary. The French explorer, Daniel Greysolon, Sieur duLuth (after whom the city of Duluth was named) is also known to have visited this region in 1679. The 18th century increasingly became a time of change. By then, many bands of Dakota had relocated on the prairies, and near the lakes and rivers of what is now southern Minnesota. At the same time, Ojibwe Indians were entering the region from the east. Ojibwe oral tradition, recorded by historian William Warren, tells of a massive, three-day "Battle of Kathio" in which the victorious Ojibwe forever drove the Dakota from the area. Archaeologists have not found evidence to support this, and suggest that although many small skirmishes may have occurred, Dakota migration was well under way when the Ojibwe entered the area. The Ojibwe brought their own rich cultural tradition with them from the east and settled along the shore of Mille Lacs. Ogechie Lake and other natural areas thus continued to supply the needs of yet another group of people, providing wild rice, fish, waterfowl, and other foods. The Ojibwe continue to live in the Mille Lacs region today. In the 1850's, loggers came to the area. Within 50 years, the vast forest of white and red pine had been cut and floated down the Rum River, or across Mille Lacs Lake to sawmills. Much of the park's human and natural history is presented at the Visitor Center, and at naturalist programs throughout the year.
Swimming
1. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers a designated swimming area at Ogechie Lake.
2. No lifeguards are present, so swim at your own risk.
3. Swimming is not allowed in the park's other bodies of water for safety reasons.
4. The beach has picnic tables and grills nearby for post-swim meals or relaxation.
5. Restrooms and changing facilities are available near the swimming area for convenience.

Boating
The park offers a variety of boating options for visitors. There is an electric motor-only lake, Ogechie Lake, where you can enjoy peaceful and quiet boat rides. For those who prefer non-motorized watercrafts like kayaks or canoes, there are rentals available at the park office during summer months. The Rum River also flows through the area providing additional opportunities for canoeing and fishing trips.
Fishing
You can enjoy fishing in the Ogechie and Shakopee lakes, home to Northern Pike, Walleye, Bass and Panfish. The Rum River also offers excellent opportunities for anglers seeking Catfish or Smallmouth Bass. Ice fishing is popular during winter months on both lakes.



Picnicking
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers picnic tables, fire rings and grills for picnicking. Shelters are available on a first-come-first-serve basis or by reservation.
Bicycling
Biking enthusiasts can explore 27 miles of trails, though some are steep and challenging. Safety gear is recommended.

The park offers a variety of terrains for cyclists including forest paths, open prairies and hilly landscapes.

Mountain bikers should be aware that the terrain can become quite rugged in certain areas; caution is advised.

A few routes may not be suitable for beginners due to their technical difficulty level or rough surfaces.

It's important to note that all biking activities must adhere strictly to designated bike trails only within this area.

Remember: always wear helmets while cycling on these tracks as safety remains paramount at all times.

Please ensure your bicycle equipment meets necessary standards before embarking on any trail rides here.

Keep an eye out for wildlife when riding through wooded sections - they have right-of-way!
Birding
The park offers birdwatching opportunities with over 200 species spotted, including warblers and eagles. Bird checklist is available.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
February 2 The best by Dale
park review stars; one to five I have stayed at Kathio for many years and find the park and the staff to be exceptional. I go at the not busy times and find it very quiet and peaceful. The stars at night are amazing.The staff go out of there way to make your stay great.
October 19 Great place to snowshoe. by SM of Troop 19 of Milaca
park review stars; one to five Our Boy Scout unit had a great time learning about how to snow shoe with Ranger Jim. Then we were able to test our knowledge and use the camps snowshoes to due some treking. Thank you Kathio
August 16 Strange Ranger by Not Camping at Kathio Ever Again
park review stars; one to five I would just like to let people know if they go here you might run into a strange park ranger. He made strange comments to my sons and had ridiculous rules. We will never stay at this park again. We were told we were laughing to loud and could be asked to leave at anytime.
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Area Campgrounds
Great American Resorts/Mille Lacs Island Resort
6448 State Highway 27 PO Box 129
Wahkon, MN
320-495-3392
South Isle Family Campground
39002 State Highway 47
Isle, MN
320-676-8538
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
Go to mile post marker #221 on US Hwy 169, about 8 miles north of Onamia. Watch for the Kathio Arrowhead sign and take County Road 26 for about a mile, to the park entrance.

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Minnesota
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Minnesota State Parks

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