Army Corps of Engineers · Minnesota
Gull Lake Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers · Minnesota, United States
- Sites
- 43
- Hookups
- 43 electric, 1 with water
- Season
- May 14 to October 14
- Max RV length
- 122 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,240 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake
- Nearest town
- BRAINERD
- Address
- U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, BRAINERD, MN, 56401
- Phone
- (651)290-5772
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Evening Programs, Fishing, Hiking, Ice Fishing, Information Site, Interpretive Programs
43 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Gull Lake Recreation Area offers something for everyone with boating, hiking, fishing and swimming at Minnesota's famous Gull Lake, the largest of the 10 lakes on the Gull Chain of Lakes. Visitors have the opportunity to see and hear an abundance of watchable wildlife like bald eagles, white-tailed deer, river otters, a variety of songbirds, and the legendary call of the loon.
Recreation
Anglers will delight in the large population of fish including stocked walleye, northern pike, bass and a variety of panfish. Boaters can access crystal clear waters throughout the chain of lakes and enjoy the peaceful sunsets overlooking the woods. Hit the self-guided interpretive trail for a short hike with wildlife watching and scenic overlooks along the lake. Hop on your bike on the City of East Gull Lake's paved multi-use trail that starts by the dam, or head out to join up with the Paul Bunyan State Trail with trailheads located in Baxter and Nisswa. Got a kayak, canoe, or intertube? Try heading down the Gull River from the lower canoe launch. Ask the Park Rangers about river safety with current water flow and check-out a life jacket before you go.
Facilities
The campground is known for its well-spaced wooded sites, each with 50 or 30 amp electric hookup service, picnic tables, campfire rings, and a centrally located showerhouse. A water fill and dump station is located near the entrance to the campground. This side of the park holds two canoe launches, a paved shoreline fishing platform, fish cleaning station, self-guided information booth, playground, a flush toilet restroom, and a handful of picnic tabels and grills. Across the dam is the Ranger Office, boat ramp, vault toilet, and swimming beach on the lake. Volleyball nets, basketball hoop, horseshoe pits, and two more playgrounds are also perks of this side of the park.
Natural Features
The campground sits on the Gull River at the outlet of Gull Lake. The area was formed by a receding glacier that moved southward from Canada and carved the landscape. Gull Lake is one of the six Mississippi Headwaters Projects of the Mississippi River Watershed operated by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Nearby Attractions
Gull Lake is located minutes from 520 holes of golf, the 100-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, amusement parks, a zoo, and numerous shopping opportunities in Brainerd, Baxter, and Nisswa.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19° | 0° | -25° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 23° | 3° | -29° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 21° | -11° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 45° | 31° | 17° | 76° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 65° | 46° | 32° | 82° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 75° | 59° | 45° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 81° | 64° | 54° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 63° | 55° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 56° | 41° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 41° | 24° | 71° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 38° | 27° | 6° | 60° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 27° | 16° | -18° | 46° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Walter E. Stark Assembly Area and Horse Campground · State Forest · 5 mi · 25 sites
- Rock Lake Campground and Day-Use Area · State Forest · 6 mi · 48 sites
- Crow Wing State Park · Minnesota State Parks · 10 mi · 59 sites
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area · Minnesota State Parks · 18 mi · 29 sites
- Cross Lake Recreation Area · Army Corps of Engineers · 21 mi · 122 sites
All public campgrounds in Minnesota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-09. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.