McCarthy Beach State Park

This guide is for families planning a beach and camping trip, and for anglers and paddlers looking at the Sturgeon chain. It covers the two campgrounds, the trails, what is open in each season, current DNR notices and costs. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park page and the DNR's 2026 summer park map unless noted.

The park in brief

The DNR says "McCarthy's beach" was a popular picnic and swimming spot for Mesabi Iron Range families in the 1930s. The park was established in 1945 as a living memorial to area servicemen who died in World War II, and is named for former property owner John A. McCarthy. The original 135 acres of virgin pine between Sturgeon and Side lakes were bought with money raised in Chisholm and Hibbing and matched by the state. Today's size depends on the DNR source: the history narrative says 2,471 acres and the park data record lists 2,356.

People have used this ground far longer. The DNR describes a jasper taconite spear point, later reworked into a drill, found near the park office in 1999 and dated with copper awls to about 10,000 years ago. Remnants of an 1895 Swan River Logging Company railroad grade still show along park trails.

The beach and the lakes

The DNR describes the Sturgeon Lake beach as an "extended area of knee-deep water" that makes it "a great beach for kids," and the introduction on the DNR park page says the beach was "rated one of the top 17 beaches in North America by Highway's Magazine" (the DNR does not give a year for the ranking). A mat across the sand gives easier access to the water, and the park lends a floating beach wheelchair (call to reserve). The picnic area beside the beach has tables, fire rings, vault toilets and shade, and an enclosed picnic shelter overlooking Sturgeon Lake has 12 tables, electricity and a fireplace; call the park to reserve it.

Boat accesses are on Beatrice, Side and Sturgeon lakes. From Side Lake or Sturgeon Lake you can explore the five connected lakes of the Sturgeon chain. The DNR says the park's seven lakes hold trout, walleye, bass, pike and panfish, and there is a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier on Side Lake. Fishing for trout in Pickerel Lake requires a license and trout stamp, according to the DNR.

Rentals: boats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddleboards are rented at the ranger station. As of November 2026 they are closed for the season and resume, weather permitting, May 20, 2027. Fishing, birding and kids' discovery kits are free to borrow.

Camping

Side Lake and Beatrice Lake campgrounds need a reservation. The DNR's counts:

The park map says each site holds up to 6 people, one camping shelter and one vehicle. The DNR warns that both campgrounds "have narrow roads with sharp turns" that may not suit large RVs, trailers or fifth wheels. The park has no camper cabins listed.

At Stony Brook you must pay before occupying a site. The DNR seasonal update said the horse camp would stay open until October 31, 2026; check with the park for its reopening date.

Reservations

Per the DNR reservation FAQ, you can book up to 120 days ahead through ReserveMN, and on the first day a date opens, online booking starts at 8 a.m. Central. See our Minnesota state park reservation guide for the step-by-step.

Trails and things to do

The 2026 summer map names four routes:

• Big Hole Loop Trail (Hiking Club Trail), 3-mile loop, rolling hills: a trout lake, glacial kettles and red pine forest. Parking is off Ski Trail Road (County Road 501): from the main entrance, turn left on McCarthy Beach Road, left on County Road 5, then left on Ski Trail Road and continue 1 mile.
• Pickerel Lake Trail, 1 mile one way, steep: around part of a small trout lake to a dock reached by stairs on a spur trail.
• Lake Shore Trail, 1.2 miles, mostly flat: under tall pines from the campground to the back bay of Side Lake.
• Red Top Loop, 5-mile loop, rolling hills: a quieter area with old-growth red pine.

The DNR notes that spring and fall are the best times to ride horses here, because the sandy soils drain well, and that more than 175 bird species visit the area. Two rustic shelters sit along the snowmobile trails. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers 16 and older.

When to go

The park map suggests spring or fall "for a quieter park experience." As of November 2026, the DNR reports:

• Side Lake and Beatrice Lake campgrounds are closed for the season.
• Water spigots, showers, flush toilets and the dump station water are off; they come back on May 11, 2027. The spigot on the back of the ranger station stays on for filling bottles and jugs.
• Deer hunt: the alert says sections of the park, including most hiking trails and the Hiking Club Trail, are open to a special muzzleloader hunt November 27 to December 13, 2026. Wear blaze orange or blaze pink if you visit then.
• No naturalist programs are offered at this time.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

Firewood is sold at the park office, or through Yodel when it is closed. Battery charging at the office costs $5 a charge. For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year.

Getting there

The DNR directions: from Hibbing, take U.S. Highway 169 north to 73 in Chisholm, then follow Highway 5 from Chisholm 16 miles to the park. Enter the street address, 7622 McCarthy Beach Road, in your navigation app; the DNR warns that some apps otherwise send you to a remote part of the park instead of the main entrance.

For more parks in the area, browse the Boundary Waters and Iron Range region, including Scenic State Park near Bigfork and Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. Nearby Hill Annex Mine State Park is permanently closed; it was abolished as a state park in 2024.

Before you go

1. Navigate to the street address, not the park name.
2. Reserve Side Lake (for electric) or Beatrice Lake ahead of time; Stony Brook is first come, first served.
3. Check the RV length limit (40 feet) and the narrow campground roads before bringing a large rig.
4. Bring a trout stamp if you plan to fish Pickerel Lake.
5. During the late-fall deer hunt, wear blaze orange or pink on the trails.
6. Buy firewood at the park; gathering it is against state park rules.

Related guides: All Boundary Waters and Iron Range guides · Bear Head Lake State Park · Find a state park

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, McCarthy Beach State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alerts): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00226
• Minnesota DNR, McCarthy Beach State Park map and guide, summer (PDF, 2026): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00226_summer.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html
• Minnesota DNR, State park fees: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fees.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html