Lake Herman State Park

Enjoy spending time at this recreational park year-round.

Lake Herman has been a popular area for hundreds of years before settlers entered the region and were popular among Native Americans traveling to the nearby pipestone quarries. This lake was formed from melting glacial ice thousands of years ago. It has 1,350 acres to explore. There are 72 campsites available with electric hook-ups or two cabins available for rent. Enjoy boating on the lake, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, biking, and hiking. At the lake, visitors can rent a kayak or canoe or bring their own. The playground is nice, and day visitors will enjoy the picnic areas, the park trail system, grassy areas with shade trees, and water sports.

The first settlers at Lake Herman were Herman Luce and his son William. They assumed squatters' rights on June 17, 1870, as they settled the timberland on the east side of the lake. The log cabin that still sits in the park was built for Herman Luce in 1871. The cabin is made of oak logs that were hand-hewn to fit snugly and chinked to keep out the cold during the harsh winters. In 1977, the cabin was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The family cemetery is still there today with signage. John Abbot (Mary Luce's brother) is buried there. Mary Luce was the daughter of Mary and Herman Luce; she is also buried there and died of the Chicken Pox.