About • Location • Activities • Ecology
About |
Ownership |
Links |
Overview |
Lake Shetek is the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota and is the headwaters of the Des Moines River. |
History |
In 2010 a new campground was added and the existing campground underwent a major overhaul. |
Management |
The prairie was mowed in July 2013 to control sweet clover. |
Comments |
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Activities |
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Hiking Biking Mountain biking Horseback riding Picnicking Camping Backpacking Rock climbing and bouldering Swimming Boating Canoeing Birding Nature photography Geocaching Cross country skiing Skate-skiing Winter hiking Snowshoeing Snowmobiling |
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Trails |
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Hunting and Fishing |
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No hunting. The park may hold one or more managed hunts in the fall. In most cases, Minnesota residents do not need a permit to fish in Minnesota State Parks. |
Ecology |
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Ecological Classification |
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Ecological Province | ![]() |
Prairie Parkland Province |
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Ecological Section | ![]() |
North Central Glaciated Plains |
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Ecological Subsection | ![]() |
Coteau Moraines |
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Land Type Association | Slayton Moraine |
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Native Plant Communities* |
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Basswood - Bur Oak - (Green Ash) Forest Dry Hill Oak Savanna (Southern) Southern Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest |
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* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources | |||||
Natural Features |
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Visitor Photos |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Park entrance |
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Lake Shetek |
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Southern Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest |
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Causeway |
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Causeway |
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Loon Island Trail |
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Loon Island Trail |
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Webster Island Trail |
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Webster Island Trail |
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Eastlick Marsh observation deck and spotting scope |
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Eastlick Marsh |
Mowed Prairie |
Slideshows |
Lake Shetek State Park |
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About
Lake Shetek State Park, MN |
Lake Shetek State Park, Minnesota |
About
Published on Oct 29, 2013 Note: Sites 1-38 are shaded. Sites 39-70 are open. Favorite Sites: 1, 9, 15, 22, 23, 28, 33, 34, 50, 51, 63, 64, 68 |
Visitor Videos |
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Wander Without Wifi |
Lake Shetek State Park - Minnesota |
About
Whether you are looking to score some Walleye or catch a glimpse of pelicans or deer, this southern Minnesota State Park is a great place to take your family. From wonderful wooded trails, to a swimming beach and even bike paths, all family members will find something to enjoy. Also, for more questions or information on WanderWithoutWifi, head to – |
Other Videos |
Lake Shetek State Park |
About
Published on Aug 14, 2013 Clips from our vacation in Lake Shetek State Park. |
Visitor Sightings |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
Visits |
9/14/2010 7/18/2013 |
Amphibians |
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Birds |
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American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens) House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) |
Fishes |
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Fungi and Lichens |
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Cedar-hawthorn Rust (Gymnosporangium globosum) |
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Insects and Arachnids |
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American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) clouded sulphur (Colias philodice) dog day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis) orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme) twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) white snakeroot leaf miner (Liriomyza eupatoriella) |
Mammals |
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American mink (Neovison vison) American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) |
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Plants |
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Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List |
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Plants frequently found in: Basswood - Bur Oak - (Green Ash) Forest MHs38b |
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absinthe wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana) American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus) American elm (Ulmus americana) American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana) American lopseed (Phryma leptostachya) American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus) American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis) American woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ssp. americana) asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) black medick (Medicago lupulina) black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima) black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii) bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) blue vervain (Verbena hastata) boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo) bracted vervain (Verbena bracteata) bristly locust (Robinia hispida var. hispida) broadleaf enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea canadensis) broad-leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa) Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense) Canada moonseed (Menispermum canadense) Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) Canadian honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) Canadian horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis) Canadian woodnettle (Laportea canadensis) chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana) clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) common blue violet (Viola sororia) common burdock (Arctium minus) common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum) common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca) common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus) common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) common wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum) common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) crown vetch (Securigera varia) cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum) cut-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata) desert false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) downy hawthorn (Crataegus mollis var. mollis) early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata) eastern bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix) field sagewort (Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata) four-flowered yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora) foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum) fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum) fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) golden alexanders (Zizia aurea) gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera) hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) lance-leaf fog-fruit (Phyla lanceolata) long-headed coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) lowland hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa) Maryland black snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica) Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense) Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) northern hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis) plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera) prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata) prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) prairie peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum) purple giant hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia) purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea) quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) red baneberry (Actaea rubra ssp. rubra) red clover (Trifolium pratense) reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper) rough cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) rough oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra) round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) sandbar willow (Salix interior) spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis) starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum) sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum) sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata) tall cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta) Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) Virginia stickseed (Hackelia virginiana) water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia) western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii) white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens) white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida) white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana) white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima var. altissima) white sweet clover (Melilotus albus) wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea) woundwort (Stachys pilosa var. arenicola)
Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder) Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple) Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) Actaea rubra ssp. rubra (red baneberry) Agastache scrophulariifolia (purple giant hyssop) Ageratina altissima var. altissima (white snakeroot) Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) Amorpha fruticosa (desert false indigo) Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa (lowland hog peanut) Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem) Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone) Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp) Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine) Arctium minus (common burdock) Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) Artemisia absinthium (absinthe wormwood) Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata (field sagewort) Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage) Asclepias amplexicaulis (clasping milkweed) Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed) Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) Asparagus officinalis (asparagus) Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis (Canadian milkvetch) Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed) Campanula rapunculoides (creeping bellflower) Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) Celtis occidentalis (northern hackberry) Circaea canadensis (broadleaf enchanter’s nightshade) Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) Coreopsis palmata (prairie coreopsis) Crataegus mollis var. mollis (downy hawthorn) Cryptotaenia canadensis (Canadian honewort) Cynoglossum officinale (hound’s tongue) Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover) Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover) Drymocallis arguta (tall cinquefoil) Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber) Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) Elymus hystrix (eastern bottlebrush grass) Erigeron canadensis (Canadian horseweed) Fragaria vesca ssp. americana (American woodland strawberry) Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash) Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) Galium triflorum (fragrant bedstraw) Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy) Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust) Hackelia virginiana (Virginia stickseed) Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (rough oxeye) Hemerocallis fulva (orange daylily) Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum (foxtail barley) Impatiens capensis (spotted touch-me-not) Laportea canadensis (Canadian woodnettle) Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca (common motherwort) Lepidium densiflorum (prairie peppergrass) Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover) Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle) Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed) Lycopus asper (rough bugleweed) Lysimachia ciliata (fringed loosestrife) Lysimachia quadriflora (four-flowered yellow loosestrife) Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal) Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal) Medicago lupulina (black medick) Melilotus albus (white sweet clover) Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover) Menispermum canadense (Canada moonseed) Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely) Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam) Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel) Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine) Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip) Persicaria amphibia (water smartweed) Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) Phryma leptostachya (American lopseed) Phyla lanceolata (lance-leaf fog-fruit) Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain) Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood) Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) Potentilla recta (sulphur cinquefoil) Prunella vulgaris ssp. vulgaris (common selfheal) Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry) Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak) Ratibida columnifera (long-headed coneflower) Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower) Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry) Robinia hispida var. hispida (bristly locust) Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry) Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan) Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata (cut-leaved coneflower) Sagittaria latifolia (broad-leaved arrowhead) Salix interior (sandbar willow) Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) Sanicula marilandica (Maryland black snakeroot) Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort) Securigera varia (crown vetch) Silphium laciniatum (compass plant) Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum (cup plant) Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod) Sonchus arvensis (perennial sow thistle) Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Stachys pilosa var. arenicola (woundwort) Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry) Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion) Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood) Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy) Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover) Trifolium pratense (red clover) Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover) Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum (common wheat) Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail) Ulmus americana (American elm) Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle) Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein) Verbena bracteata (bracted vervain) Verbena hastata (blue vervain) Verbena stricta (hoary vervain) Viola sororia (common blue violet) Xanthium strumarium (rough cocklebur) Zanthoxylum americanum (northern prickly ash) |
Reptiles |
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painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) | ![]() |
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