Schoolcraft State Park

Facts checked against official sources on November 11, 2026

Photo: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

Location: On the Mississippi River; nearest town Deer River
Campsites: 28 rustic drive-in sites, no electric, no showers
Camping season: May through Labor Day
Trail: 2 miles of hiking trail (1.75-mile loop on the park map)
Vehicle permit: $7 a day or $35 a year
Park hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

In this guide

The park in brief
Camping at Schoolcraft
Trails, river and fishing
When to go
Fees and permits
Getting there
Before you go

Short answer: Schoolcraft State Park is a small, rustic park on the Mississippi River near Deer River, in Cass County. People come for quiet: 28 rustic drive-in campsites (no electricity, showers or flush toilets), about 2 miles of trail (the DNR feed says 2 miles; the park map gives a 1.75-mile loop) through old pines including a white pine the DNR says is more than 300 years old, and a boat access for paddling and fishing the river. Camping runs May through Labor Day. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year.

This guide is for campers who want a simple, low-key site on the river, and for paddlers and anglers on the upper Mississippi. It covers the campground, trails, the river, seasons, fees and directions. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park page, the DNR park map and the DNR fee and reservation pages, listed at the end.

The park in brief

The DNR calls Schoolcraft a "secluded north woods park," with a trail system through "the virgin pine forest that includes a white pine more than 300 years old." The forest mixes red pine, white pine, spruce, jack pine and fir, and the shoreline has grasses, wild rice and yellow and white water lilies.

The park is named for Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, who charted the headwaters of the Mississippi with Anishinabe guide Ozawindib. The DNR says studies of Schoolcraft's diary suggest he camped in this area on that trip. The field at the south end of the park is the site of the first recorded homestead in Torrey Township, a stopping place for river travelers and lumberjacks. The park map says the park was created in 1959.

On size, DNR sources differ: the park record lists 222 acres, while the park narrative and the park map both describe a 225-acre park.

Address	9042 Schoolcraft Lane NE, Deer River, MN 56636
Park hours	8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Phone	Grand Rapids area office, 218-328-8984
Office	No office hours and no staffed ranger station; self-registration kiosk at the entrance
County	Cass
Pets	6-foot leash; not allowed in buildings or on beaches (park map)

Camping at Schoolcraft

Everything here is rustic. The DNR says "all sites are rustic" and there are "no modern restrooms" in the park.

Site type	Count and details (DNR)
Drive-in sites	28, all rustic
Electric sites	None
Accessible sites	1 accessible drive-in site
RV length limit	40 feet, tow vehicle included
Group camp	1 site, up to 20 people, tents only; primitive toilets and running water
Toilets	Vault toilets throughout the park; no flush toilets
Showers and dump station	None

Water: the DNR says campground water runs from the Friday before the walleye opener through Labor Day, and in another note gives it as May to September. Water in the day-use picnic grounds is available year-round.

Season: the DNR alert says camping is open "annually from May through Labor Day," and the campground closes after Labor Day. The day-use area is open year-round.

Reservations: campsites can be reserved by phone (866-857-2757) or online, and self-service registration and firewood are available at the entrance kiosk. The DNR reservation FAQ says every state park campsite needs a reservation, bookings open 120 days ahead, and on a date's first day online booking starts at 8 a.m. Central. Same-day bookings carry no reservation fee. The kiosk phone takes credit cards only. See the state park reservations guide for how it works.

The park also manages the Cottonwood Lake and Moose Lake campgrounds in the Bowstring State Forest; call the Grand Rapids area office about those.

Trails, river and fishing

The trail

The DNR feed lists 2 miles of hiking trail through wooded areas along the river, with interpretive signs throughout. The park map names a Hiking Club Trail, a 1.75-mile loop, mostly flat on mowed grass, with "large pines and beautiful river views." The two figures differ, so plan on roughly 1.75 to 2 miles of walking.

Option	Detail (DNR)
Hiking Club Trail	1.75-mile loop (park map), self-guided, interpretive signs
Total hiking trail	2 miles (DNR feed), maintained during the camping season
Winter	2 miles of winter hiking trail; snowshoeing anywhere; no groomed ski trails
Picnic area	Tables and grills among mature red and white pines by the river

The park map warns that wood and deer ticks live in the grassy areas, and recommends repellent, staying on the trail and checking yourself after a hike.

The Mississippi River

The park has a boat access and boat docks on the Mississippi River. The DNR says canoeists and anglers "enjoy the gentle waters," and the map suggests casting for walleye and northern pike and watching for waterfowl. The DNR geology note mentions an oxbow lake in the marsh in the southwest corner of the park near the Vermillion River, and the history notes that logging-era cook boats tied up near the Vermillion's mouth.

For wildlife, the DNR mentions abundant waterfowl, white-tailed deer and migrating birds. There is no naturalist at the park.

When to go

The camping season is May through Labor Day, when campground water is on and the trail is maintained. After Labor Day the campground closes, though the day-use area and picnic grounds, with year-round water, stay open.

In winter the park keeps 2 miles of winter hiking trail and allows snowshoeing anywhere, but the DNR says there are no groomed cross-country ski trails.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax. The fee schedule gives statewide ranges; ReserveMN shows each site's exact price. The 2021 park map says to buy permits at the park office or entrance kiosk; the DNR park page notes there is no staffed ranger station, so plan on the kiosk or buy your permit online.

Item	Price
One-day vehicle permit	$7 (the DNR also sells an overnight permit at the same price, valid through 4 p.m. the next day)
Year-round vehicle permit	$35, every state park for a year
Drive-in campsite	$20 to $35 a night
Group campsite	$50 to $300 a night
Reservation fee	$8 online, $10 by phone; none for same-day bookings

Two nights at a rustic site, worked from the DNR fee ranges: 2 × $20 + $8 = $48 at the low end, or 2 × $35 + $8 = $78 at the high end, plus a vehicle permit ($7 overnight or $35 year-round). For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year.

Gathering firewood is against state park rules; buy approved firewood at the entrance kiosk.

Getting there

The DNR directions: "Take State Highway 6 to County Road 28 west (turns into 65 W), then north on County Road 74." Deer River is the nearest town. The park's mailing address and office are the DNR Grand Rapids area office at 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids.

For other parks in the region, see the northwest Minnesota guides, including the Itasca State Park guide at the Mississippi headwaters and the Lake Bemidji State Park guide, or use the park finder.

Before you go

Reserve your site by phone or online, or use the self-service registration at the entrance kiosk.
Bring a credit card for the kiosk phone, and buy your permit in advance if you can.
Remember campground water runs only in season; the picnic-ground water is on year-round.
Expect vault toilets only, and no showers, hookups or dump station.
Check RV length: the limit is 40 feet.
Pack tick repellent for the grassy areas.