McCarthy Beach State Park

McCarthy Beach State Park in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, preserves 2,311 acres of lakes, rolling moraines, and northern boreal forest near the Iron Range. Its landscape was shaped by glaciation, which gouged ancient volcanic bedrock, left steep-sided moraines, and helped form the surrounding lakes. The park contains red and white pine, leatherleaf, and black spruce, and supports diverse wildlife, including 33 animal species and more than 175 bird species. Its human history includes logging, beginning with a railroad built to Sturgeon Lake in 1895, and long use for picnicking and camping. In 1945, local residents and matching state funds secured the land for preservation after concern over its timber future.

Minnesota · United States