National and State Parks - Recreational Areas
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Hayes Lake State Park
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Nature of the Area
Located on the western perimeter of vast, sparsely populated wildlands within Beltrami Island State Forest, Hayes Lake State Park offers visitors recreation enjoyment and access to hundreds of square miles of untamed land and great scenic views. Man-made Hayes Lake meets the forest edge for spectacular shoreline timber views.
When Glacial Lake Agassiz receded from large areas of northwestern Minnesota approximately 10,000 years ago, it left behind a flat landscape. The only prominent interruptions of this are the beach ridges and river valleys formed as the ancient lake retreated. The glacial lake-bottom landscape within the park was probably exposed to the erosive forces of wind and water 9,000 to 11,000 years ago and several thousand years earlier than areas to the northwest. As a result, from scenic points along the parks trails, visitors can see how the action of the water has cut, gouged and eroded a steep u-shaped, small floodplain valley.
Black bears are residents of the northern forest and are seen occasionally in the park. Moose, fisher, otter, bobcat, lynx and
timber wolf can be seen in and around the park. More common wildlife include deer, fox, racoon, porcupine, beaver, mink and skunk. Along the shoreline, loons, herons, grebes and
other water birds can be observed.
History of the Area
More Info
Hayes Lake State Park