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Lake Washington Regional Park & Campground
Park Updates:
Park Construction: The southern half of the park, everything south of Shanaska Creek, will remain closed to the public until construction is finished in the spring of 2023.
Winter Trails: Cross Country Ski Trails for 2022/2023 will follow the yellow campground loop (.75k) and blue field loop (.9k). The park is open to snowshoeing, walking, and hiking, but please stay off of the groomed trails.
March 14, 2023: Cross Country Ski Trails have been groomed. Trails are in good condition.
Click the following link to make a campground reservation:
Lake Washington Regional Park & Campground Reservations
2023 Rates and Reservation Information Reservations will begin on Monday, April 3rd, 2023 at 8:00am.
To view our Campground Activities, Parks Programs, Recreation Activities, Food Vendors, and more; please visit our Facebook page events schedule:Facebook Events Page
Lake Washington Regional Park and Campground is a 164 acre park and campground located along nearly one mile of shoreline on Lake Washington near Kasota, or about 10 miles northeast of Mankato. The park currently provides its campers and day users with the opportunity to enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation activities.
Amenities
There are:
- 2 Playgrounds Located Within the Campground
- 3.5 Miles of Walking or Hiking Trails
- 35 Campsites
- Basketball Hoop
- A Canoe/Kayak Launch into Bakers Bay, Amongst Others
- A Fishing Dock on Lake Washington
- Large Open Fields for Recreation
- Scenery and Peacefulness of Lake Washington
- Shanaska Creek and Multiple Tree Groves
- Various Fire Pits and Picnic Tables That Can Be Enjoyed by Campers or Day Users
Lake Washington Park
In 1971, Le Sueur County established Lake Washington Park with the purchase of 111 acres from the Theresa Baur Estate. In 1978 the county purchased an additional 53 acres from the Gavin Lurth estate to give the park its current boundaries. With the support of federal, state, and county, the Community Building was built in 1979.
In 2010 a grant was awarded from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources that allowed for the development of:
- 28 Campsites
- Dump Station
- Electricity Throughout the Campground
- Main Campground Access Road
- Parking Lot
- Picnic Shelter
- Potable Water
- A Shower House
Campground
The campground and improvements then opened to the public in 2012. In 2015 the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission named Lake Washington Park as a regional park in Minnesota, one of 47 parks or trails with the designation in Greater Minnesota.
Our campground has:
- 1 Group Camping Site with 4 Electric Hookups
- 1 Non-Electric RV Site
- 3 Primitive Tent Sites
- 27 RV Sites with Electric Hookups
Each site comes with a large and spacious gravel pad, fire ring and a picnic table. Our sites do not have water or sewer hookups, but we do have a dump station located at the campground for our guests to use, along with 5 water spigots throughout the campground.
Lake Washington Regional Park Trails
Lake Washington Regional Park features 3.5 miles of self-guided trails that can be enjoyed by hikers and walkers in the summer months. We do not groom trails in the winter months, but they are still enjoyed by snowshoers and cross country skiers.
Community Building Information
The Community Building can be rented out for year round for gatherings and events.
Picnic Shelter Information
The shelter can be rented during the camping season for gatherings and events.
Shanaska Creek Bridge
Built in 1875, the Shanaska Creek Bridge serves as a pedestrian bridge along a trail in the park. With a local level of significance, the history of the bridge can be followed through the Minnesota Historical Society.