BLM Opens New Campsites on Islands at Black Duck Lake

A scenic view of a forested shoreline under a partly cloudy sky, with calm lake water in the foreground.
A peaceful view of Black Duck Lake from the island with forested shoreline and bright, open sky.

“We got islands, yes we do. We got islands, how ‘bout you?” 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has officially opened six new campsites on islands in Minnesota’s Black Duck Lake. These islands are part of the BLM’s Northeastern States District. The campsites were finished during the week of June 23, 2026. 

One person uses a post driver to install a trail marker stake along a forest path while another person stands nearby holding signage materials.
ORP Kyle Wanner and ADM Mitch Owens placing a new recreation marker post along a forest
A person attaches a “Dispersed Campsite” sign to a wooden post surrounded by dense green vegetation.
ORP Kyle Wanner installs the first dispersed campsite sign along the newly cleared trail.

A small team of supervisors and specialists worked hard to get everything ready. They traveled by boat across the newly thawed lake to deliver supplies, build picnic tables, pour concrete for fire rings, and clear away tall weeds and brush. It was a big job, but the team was excited to bring new recreation opportunities to the public. 

“The Eastern States is proud to feature new quality recreation access that provides primitive but meaningful assets to outdoor enthusiasts a premiere Minnesota lake,” explains District Manager Pamela Mathis. “People are using their public lands for fish-cleaning, grilling, camping and birding, and we are seeing many regional visitors now.”

A person in outdoor work clothing stands beside a trailer, opening a large cardboard package containing metal frame components. Tool bags sit on the trailer in the foreground.
DDM Shannon McCrory unpacking materials and supplies to build the first picnic tables for Black Duck Lake.

  

A person wearing safety gear holds a chainsaw near a freshly cut tree stump in a forest clearing, with sawdust and a fallen log visible nearby.
Hazard tree safely removed to improve campsite safety in the forest by ORP Kyle Wanner.

Work on the project started a year earlier. Staff created boat access points, cleared land, built trails, and installed the first fire rings. Now, three of the four islands have improved recreation sites, complete with official camping signs and markers.  

“Black Duck Lake is a great spot to camp- especially if you like birding. You can see everything from yellow warblers to American white pelicans and bald eagles, and every size bird in between! There are nice soft trails where you can look at a variety of native plants, and maybe even spot some pollinators like half-black bumblebees (Bombus vagans) hard at work!” praised natural resource specialist Nikki Carter. 

Two people work along a wooded trail using loppers to trim back thick vegetation. Another person is farther up the path doing similar clearing work.
DDM Shannon McCrory and ADM Mitch Owens Major trail work on island clearing brush and opening a path through dense vegetation.
Left: An overgrown campsite fire ring sits among tall vegetation near a lake as a person approaches. Right: The same fire ring after being cleared, with vegetation cut back to reveal a neat, open lakeside campsite.
Left to right: Overgrown campsite before restoration, with lakeshore just beyond the trees. Restored lakeside campsite after cleanup, with fire ring and a clear view of the water.

The BLM manages 86 islands on Lake Vermillion and four islands on Black Duck Lake. With the new campsites now open, visitors have more places to explore and enjoy nature up close. 

The new sites are already drawing interest from local campers and paddlers eager for fresh experiences on the water. With improved access and clear signage, visitors can easily navigate the islands and enjoy a peaceful retreat surrounded by northern Minnesota’s iconic wildlife and scenery. 

Story by:

Pamela Mathis, Northeastern States District Manager

Blog Topic:
Recreation
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