Rice Lake State Park

This guide is for campers comparing Rice Lake's rustic and drive-in options, paddlers, and birders planning around migration. It covers site types, what each site can use, trails, the lake, current closures, fees and directions. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park record and the 2026 park map unless another source is named; sources are listed at the end.

The park in brief

The DNR says American Indians once harvested wild rice from this lake, and today its "shallow waters and marshy edges" draw waterfowl during migration. Rice Lake is the headwater of the south branch of the middle fork of the Zumbro River. It was first dammed to power a water mill to the east at Wasioja. A stagecoach route called the Ridge Road ran north of the park in the mid-1800s, and the village of Rice Lake grew along it until the railroads passed it by. The only building left is the Rice Lake Church, built in 1857, on the park's northern boundary along Dodge County Highway 20.

The park originally sat in Minnesota's southern oak barrens, an oak savanna that the DNR says covered about 7 percent of the state. Old bur oaks remain, and prairie has returned through restoration.

Camping at Rice Lake

Showers and flush toilets are only for the main campground. The DNR says campers on walk-in, cart-in, canoe-in and group sites "may NOT use these facilities." Vault toilets are open year-round throughout the park.

RV spurs and rules

Gravel spurs run 35 to 55 feet, measured from the front of the tow vehicle to the back of the camper. To fit, the tow vehicle must be backed into the spur in front of the camper, not beside it; an overflow lot near B Loop takes tow vehicles that do not fit. There is no dump station in the park. The DNR lists two about ten miles west in Owatonna and one in Mantorville, about 17 miles east.

Other than the group camp, each site allows one shelter and six people. Not every site has trees suitable for hammocks, and no ropes, chains or cables may be attached to trees, so call before you reserve if you rely on one.

Canoe-in sites

Canoe-in campers need to bring their own water. If you plan to rent a canoe for the trip, the DNR says you must call the park office to confirm availability at least two days before arrival.

Season and reservations

The DNR says camping is closed for the season, with an anticipated open date of April 1, 2027, weather permitting. All sites must be reserved before you occupy them. ReserveMN opens dates 120 days ahead, starting at 8 a.m. Central on the first day, per the DNR reservation FAQ. The Minnesota state park reservation guide walks through the system. For winter camping in the region, the Myre-Big Island State Park guide covers a park that offers it year-round.

The lake, trails and birding

Rice Lake is a designated wildlife lake managed for waterfowl habitat, averaging three to five feet deep. The DNR says it "is not managed for fishing," though some northern pike and perch are stocked to help control rough fish, and it points anglers to the Owatonna and Faribault areas. There is a boat launch and an accessible fishing pier and observation platform in the picnic area.

Paddle rentals (canoe and kayak) come from the ranger station, first come, first served, at $15 for up to four hours or $25 for four to eight hours, paddles and life jackets included. Boats must be locked up and keys returned before the office closes. Rentals are closed for the season.

The DNR record lists five miles of hiking trail and a half-mile accessible trail. An all-terrain track chair is available for designated trails.

For birders, the DNR says the park's marshes, lakes, meadows and woods draw large numbers of waterfowl in spring and fall. Seven woodpecker species use the forest, including the pileated woodpecker, and black terns nest in the park. Birding kits are free to check out, and the Window on Nature exhibit is in the ranger station.

When to go

• Spring and fall: migration for waterfowl; the map calls the bird migrations from the picnic area "spectacular."
• Summer: naturalist programs usually run Memorial Day to Labor Day, per the DNR's seasonal update; the map says May through September, and the park narrative says volunteer interpreters offer programs throughout the year.
• Winter: about three miles of snowmobile trail connecting to the Steele County system, three ungroomed miles of ski trail, packed trails for winter hiking, and snowshoeing anywhere except groomed snowmobile trails. A warming house in the boat ramp lot serves as the winter trailhead.

Current alerts (as of November 2026)

The DNR alert, updated November 9, 2026, lists:

• Closed for a hunt: the park is closed to everyone except registered hunters from 10 p.m. Friday, December 4 through 8 a.m. Monday, December 7, 2026, for a special muzzleloader deer hunt.
• Goat grazing: goats are clearing buckthorn and other invasives through sometime in November. The packed winter trails north of the picnic area to the campground road are inside an electric-fenced paddock and closed to day use.
• Waterfowl hunting is allowed on the lake itself, so you may hear gunshots.
• Cell service is spotty for some carriers, and the courtesy phone is out. WiFi (MNGuestWiFi) is available at the park office.

Fees and permits

The DNR recommends buying daily and annual permits online before leaving home; otherwise you may need to drive back west toward Owatonna to get a signal. From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year.

The picnic shelter, open-sided and accessible with electricity, is listed as first come, first served on one DNR page and as rentable for the day for $60 (non-refundable) on another; call the office to check. Firewood rules are strict here: out-of-state firewood is banned on DNR lands, and uncertified Steele County firewood is allowed only if bundled, labeled, harvested in Steele County alone and free of ash.

Getting there

From I-35, take exit 42A and follow the signs to Rose Street, then head east on Rose Street to the park, about 7 miles east of Owatonna. See the Nerstrand Big Woods State Park guide for another park in the region, all bluff country guides, or the park finder.

Before you go

1. Buy your vehicle permit online before you leave; cell service is unreliable.
2. Call 507-414-6191 to confirm office hours, which change with staffing.
3. Rustic campers: plan without showers, and canoe-in campers bring all drinking water.
4. Measure your rig; spurs are 35 to 55 feet and the tow vehicle must park in front.
5. Empty tanks before arriving; the nearest dump stations are in Owatonna and Mantorville.
6. Check the alert page for the December 4 to 7, 2026 hunt closure.

Related guides: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park · Myre-Big Island State Park · Sakatah Lake State Park · All bluff country guides

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Rice Lake State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alerts, history): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00250
• Minnesota DNR, Rice Lake State Park map and guide (PDF, 2026): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00250.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, State park fees: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fees.html
• Minnesota DNR, Minnesota state parks vehicle permit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html