Sakatah Lake State Park, State park in Le Sueur and Rice Counties, Minnesota, US
Sakatah Lake State Park is a Minnesota state park situated between two connected lakes, Sakatah Lake and Upper Sakatah Lake, surrounded by woodland, meadows, and wetlands. The park has hiking trails, campsites, canoe and kayak routes, and spots along the lakeshore for fishing.
The area was established as a state park in 1963, primarily to protect the lake landscape and surrounding woodlands of southern Minnesota. Before that, the land had long been used by Dakota people, who had settled along these waters for generations.
The name Sakatah comes from the Dakota language and is often translated as "laughing waters," a reference to the sound of the water flowing between the two lakes. Visitors can still hear that gentle movement of water when walking along the shore between Sakatah Lake and Upper Sakatah Lake.
The park has campsites with electric hookups, basic cabins, and shower facilities for overnight visitors, so booking ahead is a good idea, especially in warmer months. A paved trail runs through the park and connects to a longer route, making it easy to arrive by bike or to plan a longer ride from here.
The paved path through the park is part of the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, which runs about 39 miles (63 km) and links the towns of Mankato and Faribault. In winter, the same corridor is used by snowmobilers, giving the park a second life once the snow arrives.
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