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Gull Lake Recreation Area
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Brainerd · Minnesota · Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake |
| Location | Brainerd · Minnesota · Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake · 46.41083, -94.35139 · Map |
| Sites | 43 public sites counted from the federal listing — 42 standard electric; 1 group shelter electric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 43 of 43 sites (up to 50 amp where reported) Water hookups at 1 of 43 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 43 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 43 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 122 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 41 sites · 30 ft: 39 sites · 35 ft: 39 sites · 40 ft: 39 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 1:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 43 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 1 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | (651)290-5772 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-05-09.
From the official listing
Overview 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.
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.
Facilities 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.
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.
Directions, from the listing
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.
Nearest federal campgrounds
21 mi straight-line · CROSSLAKE MinnesotaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersCross Lake Recreation Area
21 mi straight-line · Crosslake MinnesotaFSU.S. Forest ServiceMabel Lake
46 mi straight-line · MinnesotaFSU.S. Forest ServiceStony Point
50 mi straight-line · Walker MinnesotaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersSandy Lake
55 mi straight-line · MCGREGOR Minnesota
Trip Card — Gull Lake Recreation Area
Brainerd · Minnesota · Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | Brainerd · Minnesota · Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | Electric at 43 |
| Max RV | Up to 122 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 43 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233648 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.