Fact Sheet 21: Recreation

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
Published May 11, 2015
Updated: March 22, 2023
The Pokegama Recreation Area is situated on the Mississippi River at the western edge of Grand Rapids, Minn. Festivals and events held throughout the summer in nearby Grand Rapid make our campsites very convenient for area visitors and travelers on U.S. Highway 2. 
  The recreation area offers camping, boating, picnicking, fishing and playground areas. There are 19 camp sites and two tent sites. The camp and tents site adjacent to the Mississippi River gives campers a spectacular view of the river. The picnic area is located near the parking area and close enough to the river for breezy winds on a hot day. 
  Pokegama Lake is a highly utilized lake for recreational purposes, such as fishing, boating, waterskiing and personal watercraft use. A boat ramp just north of the dam gives boaters access to the river. The fish population includes walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pan fish and the occasional lake trout. USACE photo by Patrick Moes

The Pokegama Recreation Area is situated on the Mississippi River at the western edge of Grand Rapids, Minn. Festivals and events held throughout the summer in nearby Grand Rapid make our campsites very convenient for area visitors and travelers on U.S. Highway 2. The recreation area offers camping, boating, picnicking, fishing and playground areas. There are 19 camp sites and two tent sites. The camp and tents site adjacent to the Mississippi River gives campers a spectacular view of the river. The picnic area is located near the parking area and close enough to the river for breezy winds on a hot day. Pokegama Lake is a highly utilized lake for recreational purposes, such as fishing, boating, waterskiing and personal watercraft use. A boat ramp just north of the dam gives boaters access to the river. The fish population includes walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pan fish and the occasional lake trout. USACE photo by Patrick Moes

St. Paul District's Brad Labadie, Park Ranger at Eau Galle Recreation Area in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, was out at Lake Minnetonka on April 25, 2015, to teach a little about water safety during the Minnetonka and Victoria Lions clubs’ crappie fishing contest. The event was a fundraiser with all proceeds helping send 15 children to the American Diabetes Association's Camp Needlepoint in Hudson, Wisconsin, for a week this summer.

St. Paul District's Brad Labadie, Park Ranger at Eau Galle Recreation Area in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, was out at Lake Minnetonka on April 25, 2015, to teach a little about water safety during the Minnetonka and Victoria Lions clubs’ crappie fishing contest. The event was a fundraiser with all proceeds helping send 15 children to the American Diabetes Association's Camp Needlepoint in Hudson, Wisconsin, for a week this summer.

The Corps of Engineers hosted a youth fishing derby at the Leech Lake Recreation Area at Federal Dam, Minn., on Saturday, July 20, 2013. More than 170 young anglers, ranging in age from one through 14 showed up to see if they could catch the biggest fish of the day. The largest fish caught was a 23-1/3 inch walleye, but the big winners were the children. “The real goal of the event is to introduce the kids to the environment,” said Timm Rennecke, Leech Lake Recreation Area Park Manager.

The Corps of Engineers hosted a youth fishing derby at the Leech Lake Recreation Area at Federal Dam, Minn., on Saturday, July 20, 2013. More than 170 young anglers, ranging in age from one through 14 showed up to see if they could catch the biggest fish of the day. The largest fish caught was a 23-1/3 inch walleye, but the big winners were the children. “The real goal of the event is to introduce the kids to the environment,” said Timm Rennecke, Leech Lake Recreation Area Park Manager.

Brad Labadie, a park ranger from Eau Galle Recreation Area, near Spring Valley, Wis., escorted Seamoor the Water Safety Serpent around the fairgrounds during Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair on August 27, 2013. Seamoor does a good job of getting everyone’s attention while Labadie talks about water safety and the importance of wearing your life jacket.

Brad Labadie, a park ranger from Eau Galle Recreation Area, near Spring Valley, Wis., escorted Seamoor the Water Safety Serpent around the fairgrounds during Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair on August 27, 2013. Seamoor does a good job of getting everyone’s attention while Labadie talks about water safety and the importance of wearing your life jacket.

The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public landings along the Mississippi River to lock and dam visitor centers to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant.

The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public landings along the Mississippi River to lock and dam visitor centers to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant.

The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public landings along the Mississippi River to lock and dam visitor centers to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant.

The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public landings along the Mississippi River to lock and dam visitor centers to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant.

The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public landings along the Mississippi River to lock and dam visitor centers to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant.

The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public landings along the Mississippi River to lock and dam visitor centers to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant.

It is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ mission to provide quality, public outdoor recreation experiences to serve the needs of present and future generations while being consistent with ecosystem management principles. As stewards of public lands, the St. Paul District has a special responsibility to assure resource accessibility for today and tomorrow while providing high quality outdoor recreational opportunities for all. The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public landings along the Mississippi River to lock and dam visitor centers to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant. These sites see an average of 2.3 million visitors annual $79 million for the local and regional economy. Key products and services include:

Operation and Maintenance of Corps Recreation Areas

The district’s 49 recreation areas throughout the region, ranging from Jay’s Lake, Millstone and Bad Axe landings along the Mississippi River in Pools 9 and 10, to full-service campgrounds at Eau Galle Recreation Area and Blackhawk Park in Wisconsin and campgrounds in the Mississippi River Headwaters in central Minnesota and Lake Ashtabula in North Dakota. These areas provide more than 650 individual campsites, 27 boat launches, 10 beaches and numerous individual picnic sites. Camping fees are charged at Corps campgrounds, and a number of the areas also charge day-use fees.

Recreation at the Locks and Dams

There are recreation facilities at all of the district’s locks and dams, except Lower St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis and Lock and Dam 5A near Fountain City, Wisconsin. Facilities range from visitor centers at Upper Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis and Lock and Dam 7 near La Crosse, Wisconsin, to interpretive displays, observation areas and information kiosks. These recreation sites are an important component of the region’s tourism economy.

Interagency Cooperation

Much of the federally owned land managed by the Corps, however, is licensed or leased to other federal, state or local governments for management, especially along the Mississippi River navigation channel. There are 45 developed recreation areas managed by other public entities, ranging from city parks to full-service marinas. The district’s recreation and natural resource management staff works in cooperation with these entities.

Corps employees involved in recreation regularly coordinates with various federal, state and local government agencies that also have an interest in outdoor opportunities at Corps sites. Corps employees also cooperate with non-government entities to provide recreational opportunities. For example, the Cross Lake Recreation Area has entered into an agreement with the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway organization and Lake Ashtabula is working with the Sheyenne Valley Scenic Byway organization and the local chapter of national North Country Trail organization to provide enhanced recreational opportunities for visitors at Corps parks.

Dispersed Recreation

A significant amount of recreation occurs on Corps-managed lands and waters outside of developed recreation areas. This dispersed use includes visitors to wildlife management areas, low-density (undeveloped) recreation areas and visitors accessing the project from adjacent lands.  

Making Reservations

For more information on making camping reservations at Corps of Engineers parks, see www.recreation.gov or call toll-free
(877) 444-6777.