LAKE VERMILION— The heavily used Moccasin Point public access here will remain open to users through the winter even as work on a major reconstruction of the site gets underway next month.
In an effort to minimize disruption, DNR officials say they’re taking a phased approach to the more than $3.2 million project. Rock blasting and removal at the site will begin in December, but that won’t require closure of the site, which is scheduled to remain open to public use through May 2026. The site will be closed to public use beginning next June, with a reopening anticipated in late summer or fall of next year.
While closed, public access and parking at Moccasin Point will not be permitted due to safety concerns. However, limited launch service for barge operations will be allowed when feasible.
The project has faced considerable opposition from seasonal residents on Lake Vermilion, many of whom regularly use the site for accessing their summer residences and for long-term parking of their vehicles. The site is also heavily used by barge operators, since it is one of the deepest water accesses on the lake and is centrally located near large numbers of water access properties.
The DNR purchased the site in 2008 with the intent of a major reconstruction of the launch but had lacked the funding to move forward until recently. The project is being funded through the Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) initiative, approved during the 2023 legislative session.
According to the DNR, the redesigned Moccasin Point site will feature:
81 vehicle/trailer and 18 single vehicle parking spaces, including accessible stalls.
New boat ramps, boarding docks, and short-term mooring docks.
Aquatic Invasive Species inspection and cleaning stations.
Stormwater management and shoreline stabilization features.
A heavy-duty barge loading ramp for equipment and materials needing transport to islands in the lake that provide both recreational and residential use.
DNR officials have said the upgrades are needed to reduce sedimentation at the landing, which has been a longstanding problem there. The DNR is also trying to bring the site into compliance with state rules regarding public accesses. The potential enforcement of those rules has met with considerable protest from users who benefit from the site’s current, largely unregulated use.
Look for alternatives
With the closure of the Moccasin Point access beginning next June, the DNR is encouraging lake users to plan ahead and consider alternative locations for access and parking. There are 17 public launches available across Lake Vermilion, and overnight parking is allowed at the 11 DNR-managed sites on the lake. The Blackduck Bay access, located 1.4 miles west of Moccasin Point, offers the nearest alternative. The DNR is coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service to ensure continued access to the Trout Lake Portage via Blackduck Bay and Rice Bay launch sites. Private marinas and resorts might offer additional options. The DNR is recommending that boaters call ahead for information about private access sites.
Project status information will be posted on the project web page located at: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/moccasin-point-pwa-construction-updates.html.