Ms. Keto Watercraft Campsite

Verdon Township, Minnesota

About

This section of the Mississippi River is influenced by glacial lakes Upham and Aitkin, which once covered most of the area. You’ll find a flat landscape with meandering streams and many oxbows (u-shaped sections of abandoned river channel). The still waters of the oxbows are excellent for fish and other wildlife. You will also pass floodplain forests that offer food, shelter and habitat for muskrat, beaver, otters, turtles, herons, hawks, osprey, eagles and more. Much of the shoreline is privately managed for forest or agriculture with few houses due to the river’s tendency to flood. Hazards include snags, downed trees and a diversion channel dam. At the Rice River confluence, a diversion channel carries water around the town of Aitkin during high flow. There is no portage route around this diversion channel dam. Watch for wildlife along the river’s banks.

Amenities

Available Site Types

• Tent Sites

Local Attractions

• Sandy Lake Recreation Area
• Wold’s Ferry Crossing
• Scott’s Rapid Campsite
• Riverwood Healthcare Center
• DNR INFORMATION CENTER
• DNR REGION 2 HEADQUARTERS
• SANDY LAKE RECREATION AREA- US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
• mndnr.gov/watertrails
• exploreminnesota.com