LAKE VERMILION— The heavily used Moccasin Point public access will close to the public for the season, beginning June 1, according to the Department of Natural Resources. That’s when the most intensive work on the DNR’s $3.2 million remake of the access gets underway in earnest.
Extensive tree clearing and topsoil removal is already underway at the site, so parking will be very limited for those using the launch point through the end of the month. Areas currently closed to use are cordoned off and marked. Any personal property left at the site will be removed by contractors after May 31.
The reconstruction at the site is expected to be more noticeable this summer than originally planned. The DNR had hoped to complete the necessary rock blasting and removal last December, a particularly quiet time on the lake. That didn’t happen, so the blasting will be done this summer, starting June 1.
According to the DNR, contractors will blast 1-2 times daily, typically starting in mid-morning with a possible second blast in the mid-afternoon. A blast horn will sound five minutes prior to each blast and a blast zone will be cordoned off prior to each blast, and that includes portions of the lake surface near Moccasin Point. The sound of the horn and the blasts themselves should be audible for miles across Lake Vermilion.
Blasting is expected to wrap around July 9.
The site will remain closed to use by the general public until the project’s completion, expected around the end of November. Commercial boat or barge users may continue to use the site through the summer at the contractor’s discretion.
St. Louis County will post highway signs on County Rd. 115 and at Bradley Road stating: “Moccasin Point Public Water Access closed June 1 – Nov.”
With the exception of the rescheduling of the planned blasting, the project remains on a similar timeline to the one released by the DNR last November.
A controversial project
The project had 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:
Eighty-one 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 at the end of the month, 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.