McCarthy Beach State Park

7622 McCarthy Beach Road Side Lake, MN 55781

Hiking Club Trail Description

To access the Hiking Club Trail loop from the park’s entrance, drive 1.5 miles north on McCarthy Beach Road and turn right on Pickerel Lake Road. Pickerel Lake Road is a minimum maintenance gravel road. Drive past the private residence 100 yards to the parking lot on the left. The trail from the parking lot guides you around to the north east side of Pickerel Lake where you may be treated to the sights and sounds of loons or hear the slap of a beaver’s tail as you walk the shoreline of this small trout lake. A short spur trail of stairs leads down to a dock to access the lake. From the east side of the lake, travel up the hill and connect to the Big Hole trail while walking among impressive red and white pines. The hilly landscape also includes mixed stands of birch, aspen, maple, oak and balsam fir. From vantage points along the Big Hole Trail, you look down on a “kettle” pond of glacial origin. The loop trail returns you to the parking lot.

State Park Video

Hike Length (miles):

3

Park Map

DNR Resources

State Park Website