Lake Shetek is the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota. The word "Shetek" is Ojibwe for pelican. If you're near Lake Shetek on the right day, you could see the entire lake covered in a giant flock of the birds.
Lake Shetek State Park features a swimming beach, boat launch and some great crappie and walleye fishing. A six-mile bike trail wraps around the lake and into the town of Currie, home to the End-O-Line Railroad Park.
There is an effort to restore the natural prairie around Lake Shetek. Showy wildflowers are popping up all over and the prairie provides habitat for a variety of wildlife. You might catch a glimpse of a white-tailed deer or hear the call of a bobolink.
If you’re in the area, stop by Blue Mounds State Park in Luverne. Blue Mounds is home to one of the last remaining herds of bison in the world. The landscape features a small piece of America’s once vast tallgrass prairies and is a birders paradise.
Minnesota Landmarks
In 2020, the Lottery celebrated eight uniquely Minnesota Landmarks with our "Minnesota" scratch game. The tickets featured Minnehaha Falls and Lake Harriet in the Twin Cities, Canal Park and Gooseberry Falls on the North Shore, Lake Bemidji and Lake of the Woods in Northern Minnesota, Lake Shetek in the Southwest and Lake Pepin in the Southeastern part of the state.
Each ticket scene was another beautiful reminder of how Lottery proceeds help benefit all areas of Minnesota.