Rice Lake State Park

Waterfowl Season
While there is no hunting in Minnesota state parks, waterfowl hunting is allowed on Rice Lake. Please be aware that you may hear gun shots on the lake. Contact the park office at 507-414-6191 if you have any questions.

Road Construction
44th Ave (Steele County 43) north of MN Hwy 14 north to Kenyon Road (Steele County 8) is being resurfaced and is closed to through traffic. To avoid the construction and reach the park:
Westbound on Highway 14:
* Take Exit 185 - Claremont/Dodge County 3.
* Turn right (north) on DC 3 (130th Ave) to 620th Street.
* Turn left (west) on 620th St to Dodge County 1 (120th Ave).
* Turn right (north) on DC 1 to Dodge County 20 (585th St)
* Turn left (west) on DC 20 to park entrance; about 3 miles west on the left.
Eastbound on Highway 14:
* Take I-35 North Minneapolis/St. Paul Interstate exit to Exit 42A-B - Steele County 2 & 45 to Hoffman Drive.
* Turn right on Hoffman Dr (east then curves south) to Rose St.
* Turn left (east) and take Rose St. out of town about 8.5 miles to park entrance on the right.

Boat Launch Access/Watercraft Rentals (rev. 10/22/26)
Duck hunters with motor boats are able to get out of the channel a bit easier than canoes or kayaks. But access conditions may change daily, or even hourly, due to floating bogs getting blown into the channel.
Canoe and kayak rentals are CLOSED for the season.

We have goats! (rev. 10/22/26)
Goats are still in the park through sometime in November They are here to conduct prescribed grazing in areas with buckthorn and other woody invasives. They are currently located in a paddock east of the main park road to the main campground and south of the campground road.
Please do not hike off trail in this area. Do not try to pet or feed the goats, as the fencing is electric and will shock if touched. Use caution when hiking in areas where the fencing is close to the trail edge or road.

Courtesy phone
Our courtesy phone is not available at this time, and cell phone reception for some carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint) can be spotty to nonexistent in the park. WiFi is available at the park office for better phone and internet signal (MNGuestWiFi).
If you need to purchase a daily permit through Yodel and you are unable to get online, you will need to drive west toward Owatonna (take a left at the park entrance) until you can get an internet signal. We recommend visitors purchase their daily and annual permits online before leaving home.
Updated 10/22/2026