If you’re looking to spend some time roasting marshmallows in the woods this year, consider these great tent-camping spots in Minnesota picked by Pioneer Press staffers and local camping aficionados.
As a general rule, you’ll find more peace and quiet if you’re willing to hike a bit to a campsite, but families may prefer the convenience of car camping options. Many of our picks are in northern Minnesota, where you’ll arguably find the best camping in the state, but the list also notes locations closer to the Twin Cities that offer a taste of nature’s serenity without spending too much time in the car.
Those wanting a bit more guidance can pick up a copy of “Camping the North Shore: A Guide to the 23 Best Campgrounds in Minnesota’s Spectacular Lake Superior Region” by Andrew Slade or “The Best in Tent Camping: Minnesota: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos” by Tom Watson.
Most camping locations require permits, so it’s a good idea to check with the park and reserve a spot beforehand when possible.
AFTON STATE PARK
Only about 30 minutes from St. Paul, Afton State Park offers metro residents a convenience unmatched by most other Minnesota camping locations. But that’s not the only thing going for it. The park sits along the St. Croix River, giving campers access to miles of trails on rolling river bluffs. If you want to camp here, you’ll be backpacking about -3/4 mile uphill to one of 28 sites.
“A lot of the campsites have awesome views of the bluff area, so the scenery is fantastic,” said Steve Schreader, operations manager at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis.
BEAR HEAD STATE PARK
This Northwoods park is just a stone’s throw from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and offers miles of shoreline to explore. You can swim at the park’s beach, cast a fishing line or take to the woods and get on a trail. The park’s campground, complete with showers and restrooms, has 73 sites, 45 of which have electricity. There are also four backpacking sites, one boat-accessible site, five camper cabins and one rustic group camping site. The park encompasses 5,685 acres that include Bear Head Lake and some smaller lakes. Those without a boat can still take advantage of the water; canoe, kayak and boat rentals are available.
BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS
The pristine waters of more than 1,000 lakes in the BWCAW can keep campers — and paddlers — busy for a lifetime. Pack a canoe and push off from an entry point, crossing lakes and portages to campsites where you might hear the call of loons or howl of wolves as nature washes away thoughts of everyday modern life. For able-bodied people looking to truly get away from it all, the BWCAW should be at or near the top of their list.
GEORGE H. CROSBY MANITOU STATE PARK
Want to fall asleep to the sound of a nearby babbling river? George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, northeast of Finland, offers campers a chance to do just that, but you’ll have to work a bit for it. The park has 16 backpacking campsites along the Manitou River and five more on or near Bensen Lake, and all require some level of hiking. While it will take some energy to get your gear to your camping spot, expect some seclusion in return; George H. Crosby Manitou State Park saw an estimated 3,140 overnight visitors in 2016 — just a fraction of what was seen in the North Shore’s more popular state parks.
GLENDALOUGH STATE PARK
This western Minnesota park near Fergus Falls is situated among prairie, hardwood forest and four lakes that include Annie Battle Lake, a heritage fishery that prohibits motors and any fishing electronics. Campers will find a variety of options when it comes to where they’ll rest their heads. The main campground, which has shower and restroom facilities, has 22 cart-in campsites and four camper cabins, and there are five more sites and a canoe-in group site on Annie Battle Lake. You can even stay in one of two yurts at this 2,761-acre park — one of only three Minnesota state parks to offer such accommodations.
LAKE MARIA STATE PARK
A forest of maple, oak and basswood sets the scene at this state park near Monticello. From the parking lots, it’s a one- to two-mile hike to the 17 backpacking campsites at the park, which also has two group camping sites and three camper cabins. The 1,580-acre park has other small lakes and ponds in addition to Lake Maria, along with marshes and old-growth oak trees. The diverse habitat attracts a variety of wildlife, including Blanding’s turtles, a threatened species.
NERSTRAND-BIG WOODS STATE PARK
Car camp among towering trees at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, about an hour south of the Twin Cities. This 2,884-acre park has a campground that features showers, restrooms and 51 sites, 21 of which have electricity. There’s also a playground and picnic area. Outside of the campground, there are four walk-in sites and three group camping areas. Miles of trails let hikers walk through a forest, where one can find an abundance of birds and, in the springtime, wildflowers. The park even provides a home to the endangered dwarf trout lily.
SCENIC STATE PARK
You can tell by the name that this is a pretty park. Located about an hour north of Grand Rapids, this state park offers lakes, virgin pine trees, and great hiking opportunities. And if you get too hot on the trail, you can cool off at the swimming beach on Coon Lake. The park has options for different kinds of campers, too. Between the Lodge and Chase Point campgrounds, there are 93 campsites, and backpackers can choose from seven lakeshore sites. There’s also a group camping site and a historic log cabin available for rent.
SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE STATE PARK
Some campsites at this state park offer spectacular views of Lake Superior and the park’s biggest draw, Split Rock Lighthouse. The North Shore park has 20 cart-in sites, two of which are wheelchair accessible, and four backpacking sites. The cart-in sites offer a good mix of seclusion, scenic beauty and access to showers and bathrooms. Campers can walk along the lake’s rocky shore or hike to the top of Day Hill for a high-up look at the lighthouse, which also offers tours.
SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL
Stretching for 310 miles across northern Minnesota to near the Canadian border, the Superior Hiking Trail offers a hiking experience unparalleled in the state. Outside of the portion that lies in Duluth, the trail has campsites every 5 to 9 miles for a total of 93 sites. While there are no permits or fees needed to camp along the trail, you can stay only at a site for one night before moving on and you may be sharing your spot with other hikers. The trail can be accessed at multiple locations along the North Shore, allowing those wanting to camp and hike for just a few days to mix with the trail’s through-hikers.
TETTEGOUCHE STATE PARK
Tettegouche State Park is one of the North Shore’s most popular camping spots. Located along Lake Superior just off Minnesota 61, the park has 14 cart-in campsites along the shore. For those wanting to car camp, the park has 28 such sites — and six walk-in sites — at its Baptism River campground, and there are four rental cabins in the park. Campers have access to 28 miles of trails and the Superior Hiking Trail. Travel along the Baptism River to view waterfalls or hike a bit more to see the park’s lakes and several scenic overlooks.
TWO ISLAND LAKE CAMPGROUND
Located in the Superior National Forest near Grand Marais, Two Island Lake Campground is far enough off the beaten path to allow for peace and quiet. Trees provide a buffer between sites, and the campground’s location on the western edge of Two Island Lake offers campers a chance to catch a beautiful sunset over the water. For more seclusion, hop on the nearby Twin Lakes Canoe Route to get to one of the five backpacking sites accessible by water.
VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK
Minnesota’s only national park is a destination point for boaters, whether you’re in a canoe, motorboat or houseboat. Motor or paddle up to a dock, sandy beach or rocky ledge near a campsite — or tie off on a mooring post if you’re in a houseboat — and enjoy the island-filled waters of Rainy, Namakan and Kabetogama lakes along the Canadian border. If you plan to tent camp in one of the parks’ 270 campsites, make your reservations through recreation.gov.
Tim Whitecotton contributed to this list.
