It is on the white sand beach shoreline of the Lake of the Woods, near the United States border with Canada.

[2] The history of human habitation in the Zippel Bay area of Lake of the Woods dates back to prehistoric times.

Coureur des bois Pierre La Vérendrye passed through the area in 1732 and reported settlements of the Cree, Monsoni, Dakota, and Assiniboine tribes.

[4] From here, French-Canadian voyageurs explored a large section of mid-continent North America, constructed other forts, and conducted fur trading, whose revenues were critical to the economy of the colony.

[2][5] The "golden age" of the French-Canadian fur trade lasted for 30 years before they were forced to abandon their forts at the end of the French and Indian War in 1763.

[2] Transfer of the area to the rule of the United States occurred at the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War when the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.

[4] Zippel Bay State Park is home to a diverse population of jack pine, birch and quaking aspen trees.

[4] Other birds found in the park include American white pelicans, Franklin's and Bonaparte's gulls, double-crested cormorants, and several species of terns.

[4] Zippel Bay State Park has two campgrounds with 57 campsites and one group camping area for organizations like the Boy Scouts.

[7] Additionally Zippel Bay State Park has picnic facilities including separate tables and a pavilion, a swimming area, boat ramps and a fishing pier.