HOK-SI-LA Municipal Park & Campground
A rustic way to experience the Mississippi's unique Lake Pepin!
Play, Camp, Make Memories!
hospitality is our nature!
Escape to our 252 acres - 160 of which above the water and make a beautiful plateau "island" situated along the tranquil shores of Lake Pepin. The driftless area history of this sacred land goes way back and maybe some will still remember the time it was called "Rest Island" and home to Hotel Russell (1892-1910). Other snapshots of times past included being a fox farm and more recently a long time run Boy Scout Camp. The Boy Scouts were the ones to give the name "Hoksila", a word from the Lakota language, which is part of the Sioux language family. It means "boy" or "young boy". The park was then purchased by the City of Lake City and has been municipally run as a public park and campground since 1973. Part of the purchase agreement from the Boys Scouts is that the park would not be overdeveloped and would stay "rustic", operating by offering tent only camping.
Visit and enjoy the public beach, picnic areas and park any day of the year between the hours of 8am-10pm (no unauthorized overnight parking). Park office hours are available mid April - mid October. Camping guests are now welcome all year round. Please remember our unique and rustic back to nature camping is TENT ONLY (no wheels allowed)! We also offer 9 beautiful sleeping cabins equipped with electricity (heat & A/C) and comfortably sleep 6. Hok-Si-La truly offers an array of experiences! As you explore the park's scenic wonders, immerse yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds you, and create lasting memories in this extraordinary sanctuary.
Lake pepin or mississippi river?
The confluence of Lake Pepin refers to where the lake is formed by the Mississippi River. Lake Pepin itself is a naturally occurring widening of the Mississippi River, located between Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is formed by the backup of water due to sediment deposits at the delta of the Chippewa River, which flows into the Mississippi from the Wisconsin side. This sediment buildup slows the river's flow, creating the broad, lake-like section known as Lake Pepin.
So, while "confluence" typically describes the meeting of two rivers, in this case, it refers to how the Chippewa River's sediment contributes to the formation of Lake Pepin within the Mississippi River system.
