Posted in Minnesota Nature July 28, 2017 by Betsy Rathburn

The Underrated Beach With The Whitest, Most Pristine Sand In Minnesota

We all know that Minnesota has more than 10,000 lakes – 11,842, to be exact. And with those thousands of lakes comes 90,000 miles of shoreline. It should come as no surprise, then, that Minnesota has some truly outstanding beaches. From the pink of Iona’s Beach to the Black Beach of Silver Bay, there are as many unique beaches are there are lakes.

But are there any white-sand beaches like you’d see in a tropical resort? It turns out, there’s at least one. Your visit probably won’t come with a fruity drink, but the beauty of Minnesota’s whitest beach is more than worth a visit.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: onlyinyourstate.com/nominate

The beach at Zippel Bay State Park may have the whitest sand in Minnesota. It's located at 3684 54th Avenue Northwest in Williams, Minnesota.

If Williams doesn't ring a bell, don't worry. The tiny town is overshadowed by a huge lake. Zippel Bay State Park is located way up north, on the shores of Lake of the Woods.

The lake alone makes Zippel Bay worth the visit, but there are plenty of other amenities. Nicely wooded campsites offer shelter for those who stay overnight.

There are plenty of lovely sights, like this view of the stone jetty that separates the bay from the rest of the lake.

Of course, you'll want to get out on the boat, too. Lake of the Woods is *enormous*, containing over 14,000 islands and 65,000 miles of shoreline. It's one of the world's largest lakes.

But once you've had your fill of boating and fishing, a visit to the beach is a must.

Zippel Bay State Park has over two miles of sandy shoreline.

The long, white beach is a favorite of swimmers in summer months. Long sandbars stretch far into the water, making it a great place to swim and explore.

A second, equally beautiful beach offers lake access to paddlers. It also comes equipped with a fire ring and picnic table.

When you're all done swimming, you can take in the arresting beauty of Lake of the Woods as it washes the white beach of Zippel Bay.

Have you ever been to Zippel Bay State Park? Let us know what you thought! If you’re looking for another gorgeous lake to visit, check out the bluest lake in Minnesota.