Big Bog

© 2021, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources MAP AND GUIDE: BIG BOG STATE RECREATION AREA 55716 HWY 72 NE WASKISH, MN 56685 BELTRAMI COUNTY 218-888-7310 VISITOR TIPS • Follow special limits and protected slots when fishing on Upper Red Lake. • All boat docking in the campground is first come, first serve. • Be respectful of each campsite’s space when accessing boat docks. • Ludlow Pond is stocked with pan fish for shore fishing. Minnesota residents don’t need a license to fish this pond. • In an emergency call 911. • Non-emergency sheriff’s number: 218-333-9111. ONLY HAVE AN HOUR? • Don’t miss the mile-long Big Bog Boardwalk with interpretive panels and benches along the way. • Climb the 100 foot fire tower for a magnificent view of Upper Red Lake and the Big Bog. Open to the public during visitor center hours. • Play, swim or wade in the shallow waters of Upper Red Lake. LOOKING FOR MORE TO DISCOVER? VISIT MNDNR.GOV/BIGBOG SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE REC. AREA... ABOUT THE RECREATION AREA Big Bog State Recreation Area was established in 2000. It was the result of a grassroots effort to create a sustainable tourist attraction in Waskish, whose economy was devastated when the Red Lake walleye population crashed in the 1990s. The recreation area includes a northern unit and a southern unit totaling 9,121 acres. A 500-square-mile peat bog, the largest in the lower 48 states, is located in the northern unit. The southern unit includes a visitor center, fire tower, campground, winterized camper cabins, a sandy beach and great fishing. A full set of STATE PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS is available at mndnr.gov. RECREATION AREA OPEN 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. VEHICLE PERMITS Permits required; purchase at visitor center or entrance kiosk. TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS Big Bog Boardwalk 1 mile one-way Flat • Boardwalk • Handicap accessible This is a truly unique experience. Explore the boardwalk for views of orchids, carnivorous plants, mosses and a stunted tamarack and spruce forest. Located 9 miles north of the visitor center on MN Hwy 72. Old Caribou Camp Trail Mostly flat • Packed dirt Discover the diverse wildlife, trees, lichens and fungi that call Ludlow Island home. Keep on 6-foot leash; pick up after; attend at all times; not allowed in buildings or at beaches. CAMPGROUND QUIET HOURS − 10 p.m.– 8 a.m.; only registered campers may be in campground during quiet hours. FIREWOOD Must be purchased at this site or from vendors who sell wood approved for this site; no gathering firewood in the park. 1-mile loop Old Marina Trail 0.3 miles one-way Mostly flat • Mowed grass Hike to an observation deck over the Tamarac River. Watch for shorebirds, waterfowl, beavers and orchids. Interpretive panels share the history of the local fish hatchery. Red Lake Beach Trail 0.3-miles one-way Mostly flat • Packed dirt Walk to an observation deck over Upper Red Lake. Look for waterfowl and read interpretive panels. MORE TO EXPLORE • Attend naturalist programs. • Launch your boat or fish from docks along the Tamarac River in the campground. Find handicap accessible fishing piers near the public boat accesses on the north side of the river. PETS WELCOME Take a stroll on the Big Bog Boardwalk. • Rent a canoe, kayak, paddleboard or snowshoes from the visitor center. Checkout a GPS, birding kit, Kids Activity Kit or fishing pole for free. • Visit during any season! The campground, camper cabins, Big Bog Boardwalk and visitor center are open year-round. − CURIOUS ABOUT CABINS OR CAMPING? VISIT MNDNR.GOV/RESERVATIONS OR CALL 866-857-2757 MORE INFORMATION Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Information Center 500 Lafayette Rd. , St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 888-646-6367 or mndnr.gov/parks The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This information may be available in alternative format upon request.