Glacial Lakes State Park

Signalness Lake Overlook

A wooden bench at Signalness (Mountain) Lake Overlook allows you to sit, relax, and listen to the sounds of nature. From this location you can view Signalness (Mountain) Lake and the rolling topography of the surrounding area.

Boat Launch

Signalness (Mountain) Lake is restricted to non-motorized and electric motors only. The boat launch area houses most of the park’s summer rental equipment and the fish cleaning station. Row boat, canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals are available at the park office during office hours.

Swimming Beach

The swim beach, on the south side of Signalness (Mountain) Lake, offers a chance to cool off from the summer heat. Signalness Lake is spring-fed, allowing for great swimming all summer long. Buoy markers designate the swim area. There are no lifeguards on duty and swimming is at your own risk.

Fishing Pier

This large wooden fishing pier, on the south side of Signalness (Mountain) Lake, offers you spectacular views of almost the entire lake. Look closely and you might glimpse one of the snapping or painted turtles that like to hang around the pier. Try your luck at fishing and then clean your catch in the fish cleaning station at the boat launch.

Lake Overlook

This wooden deck overlook offers great views of Signalness (Mountain) Lake and is home to public interpretive programs. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy nearby picnic tables and pedestal grills.

Year-round Cabins

There are four year-round Thursday-Sunday cabins available on the south side of Signalness (Mountain) Lake. Kettle and Kame cabins are located across from the boat launch and offer partial views of the lake. Esker (accessible) and Glacial Erratic cabins are located on the east side of the picnic area. Enjoy picnic tables, pedestal grills, a deck overlook, and proximity to the swim beach and fishing pier. A seasonal sanitation building with running water, sinks, and flush toilets is available nearby.

Southeast Group Camp

This group camp area can accommodate up to 50 people and features an open picnic shelter with a fire pit, lights, and electric outlets. Three electric pedestals are available for camper hook-up with rental of the group camp area. There is plenty of space to spread out with scattered picnic tables, fire rings, and pedestal grills. Potable water and two vault toilets are available. Multiple tents are allowed in this area along with a maximum of three campers. All vehicles must stay on the paved parking area.

Horse Camp

This open, grassy horse camp features eight non-electric campsites with a picnic table and fire ring at each site. The horse camp has five sets of double-tie posts, a gravel trail to a hand pump for water, a vault toilet, a manure pit with wheel barrow for clean-up, and a day-use staging area. Riders can enjoy nine miles of horse trails within the park.

Baby Lake Hike-in Site

Located two miles from the parking area in the horse camp, this campsite can accommodate hike-in campers or campers who wish to ride out and camp with their horse. The site features a single tie post, picnic table, fire ring, and pit toilet in the area. You must hike-in/hike-out firewood, water, and supplies. This campsite is just up the hill from Baby Lake. Campers should practice “Leave No Trace” here.

Baby Lake

Baby Lake is just down the hill from the Baby Lake Hike-in Site. Sit and relax near the water and listen to the sounds of nature.

Kettle Lake Hike-in Site

From the horse camp parking area, you can hike two miles to reach this lakeside campsite. The site offers lovely views of the open prairie, but does not have any shade or wind protection. Campers can enjoy a picnic table, fire ring, and pit toilet in the area. If you enjoy a rustic experience that requires hike-in/hike-out firewood, water, and supplies, then this is the site for you. Campers should practice “Leave No Trace” here.

Kettle Lake Overlook

From this vantage point you get an excellent view of Kettle Lake, several wetland areas, and the rolling hills of the open prairie. The unique landscape and numerous kettle lakes within the park are the result of glaciers. A kettle is a depression (which usually becomes a lake or marsh) that formed when a block of glacial ice melted after being separated from the glacier and covered by glacial debris.

Along the Trail

From this hiking/horseback trail, you can view the vast open prairie and rolling hills that are abundant in the park. Look closer and you may spot numerous species of prairie grasses and flowers. Wildlife is also abundant here, so keep your eyes and ears open.

Prairie High Point

This location is the second highest elevation point in the park. From this vantage point, you can see the vast topography of the park as it ranges from open plains and rolling hills to dense tree cover. You also get a glimpse of Signalness (Mountain) Lake off in the distance.

Highest Elevation Overlook

This spot is the highest elevation in the park at 1,352 feet. Make the hike and experience a stunning view that includes dense trees, open prairie, rolling hills, and Kettle Lake in the distance. Along the trail to this point, you will see different types of trees, prairie grasses, prairie flowers, and possibly some wildlife.

Oak Hike-in Site

From the Oakridge Campground, you will hike 0.8 miles to reach this hike-in campsite nestled amongst the oak trees. The site features a picnic table, fire ring, and pit toilet in the area. Campers will need to hike-in/hike-out firewood, water, and supplies, and should practice "Leave No Trace."

Oakridge Campground

Those looking for a more rustic experience will enjoy this campground set away from the main campground and day-use area. Oakridge Campground is nicely situated atop an esker and amongst the trees. It offers 18 campsites and provides a parking area for the Oak Hike-in Site. Bring your fishing pole! A fishing dock is located just 0.2 miles from the campground on Signalness (Mountain) Lake. Vault toilets and potable water are available. This campground does have access to the shower building in the Lower Campground 0.3 miles away.

Council Ring

The council ring area is located 0.1 miles from the Oakridge Campground and 0.5 miles from the Lower Campground. Set between the prairie and a wetland area, this area features a partial view of Signalness (Mountain) Lake. The council ring plays host to several of the park’s interpretive programs, and has bench seating, a table, and a fire ring.

Plank Walk

While walking around Signalness (Mountain) Lake, you will come across this unique wooden plank walk. The plank walk crosses over the wetland area on the northeast side of Signalness Lake. If you aren’t up for a long hike, you’ll appreciate that this plank walk is just 0.2 miles from the Oakridge Campground.

Camper Cabins

Two wood cabins, Coneflower Cabin (accessible) and Friends Cabin, are situated amongst the trees on the east side of the Lower Campground. Eat your meals at the picnic table outside each cabin, or roast marshmallows around the fire ring with family and friends. The cabins are conveniently located near the shower building and just up the hill from two fishing docks at Signalness (Mountain) Lake.

Cabin Interior

Camper cabins feature glowing wood interiors and a screened-in porch. They sleep a maximum of six people with bunk beds that are double on the bottom and single on top. Accessible cabins sleep a maximum of five people (one bunk with a double bottom and a single top, and the other with a single on top and bottom bunks). Cooking is not allowed in the cabins, but a fire ring for camp meals can be found just outside. Pets, except service animals, are not allowed in the cabin or on the porch.

Campground Fishing Docks

Two fishing docks are located on the north side of Signalness (Mountain) Lake, just down the hill from the Lower Campground. From here you can try your luck catching dinner.

Lower Campground

If you are looking for comfort away from home, you may enjoy one of the 19 campsites (14 with 50 amp service and five non-electric) and two camper cabins found in the Lower Campground. An accessible shower building is open seasonally. The campground is situated atop an esker and amongst tall shade trees. Campers can enjoy two fishing docks just down the hill from the campground on Signalness (Mountain) Lake. Camp hosts are available to answer your questions and sell firewood.

Overlook

Relax on this wooden bench as you take in views of the rolling landscape. From this location, you can see the main entrance area of the park and the prairie restoration. You can also glimpse Signalness (Mountain) Lake and Kettle and Kame cabins.