Glacial Lakes State Park Backpack Sites

Glacial Lakes State Park (near Starbuck)

Glacial Lakes State Park sits in the hills about 5 miles south of Starbuck, in Pope County, where the prairie meets the hardwood forest. Minnesota Trails says the retreating glacier left its hills, lakes, ponds, and marshes about 11,000 years ago, and that its spring-fed lakes are “surrounded by rare virgin prairie and a virgin oak forest.”

The park has four backpack sites, according to Minnesota Trails, reached by hiking out from the campgrounds. The Outbound’s guide calls the park “a great, low risk introduction to backpacking trips for first time backpackers.”

The hike

Minnesota Trails describes about 16 miles of hiking trail looping from Mountain Lake on the park’s northwest edge to Kettle Lake and Baby Lake on the southeast end, with most trails shared with horseback riders. Explore Minnesota also lists 16 miles of hiking trail and 11 miles of horse trail, crossing native prairie hills with open views and passing prairie potholes.

The Outbound’s guide, by Joe Whitson, starts at the horse camp parking lot, where you can leave your car for the whole trip, and hikes “three or four miles” to a backpack site; the guide lists the route as 4 miles out-and-back with about 200 feet of climbing. He warns that the trails cross one another often and the signs can be hard to read, so carry a map. He also notes the park “has virtually no shade and the summers can get very hot.”

The landscape is the draw. Signalness Lake, also called Mountain Lake, is the park’s largest at 56 acres, set in a rectangular valley rimmed by high hills, according to Minnesota Trails. The High Peak Trail climbs from the group camp to a 1,325-foot overlook. The park covers nearly 2,500 acres, and a paved 5-mile trail connects it to Starbuck. Explore Minnesota lists a swimming beach and canoe, kayak, and fishing boat rentals, and Minnesota Trails says the boat dock and rentals are on Mountain Lake, so a layover day on the water is easy to add.

For first-timers, Whitson calls the park “a good place to learn and make mistakes.” For another short Minnesota state park overnight, see Lake Maria State Park.

Tips

Carry a map. The Outbound says trail junctions are frequent and signs can be hard to read.
Bring sun protection and extra water. There’s little shade on the prairie.
Park at the horse camp lot if you follow The Outbound’s route.
Share the trail. Most hiking trails are also used by horses.
Display a state park vehicle permit.

Camping

Camping is allowed only at designated sites, reserved through the Minnesota state parks system online or at 866-857-2757 up to 120 days ahead. DNR rules limit each site to one group of six or fewer, and check-in and checkout are at 4 p.m. The DNR’s backcountry page says backpack sites typically have a primitive toilet, tent pad, and fire ring. Pets are allowed on a leash of six feet or less. Buy firewood near where you’ll burn it.

Inside Intel: The Outbound’s Joe Whitson recommends the Kettle Lake site: “I would recommend staying at the Kettle Lake site since it’s the most remote and on water.”

Trail facts

Distance: About 4 miles round trip (The Outbound); farther sites may be 3 to 4 miles in
Route type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Campsites: Four backpack sites, including Kettle Lake
Water: Lakes near some sites; carry or treat water
Permits: State park reservation; vehicle permit
Dogs: Allowed on a 6-foot leash
Trailhead: Horse camp parking lot (per The Outbound)
Last verified: October 8, 2026

The Lowdown

A shadeless supper above Kettle Lake:

Glacial Lakes' prairie hills offer almost no shade, so a quick, simple stove setup keeps camp cooking easy at the Kettle Lake site. See the stoves testers like.

See what testers chose →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.