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DALL·E 2022-09-01 22.28.31 - a green camping tent with smoldering campfire along a lakesho

A Comprehensive Guide to 

Overnight Adventures 

on Minnesota's Public Lands

Unlock more of Minnesota's
outdoor recreation landscape. 

This resource organizes information simply and cohesively, to expand access to more camping experiences on more of our public lands.

The 23 Ways to Camp  on Minnesota Public Lands 

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&

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&

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&

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&

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  • "Front country" access.

  • Modern, developed amenities. 

  • Less technical equipment and expertise.

  • $ Fee and reservable. 

  • Remote to wilderness backcountry.

  • "Primitive" or "rustic" amenities.

  •  More technical equipment & expertise.

  • Free and first come, first served.

Approach Method Overviews

01-05

06-12

13-16

17-23

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BIKE Camping

Backpacking 

Car Camping

Paddle Camp

A "public land engagement continuum".

This guide uses two major variables to better organize all of our public land camping opportunities.

First, is the approach method; by car camping, backpack camping, bike camping or paddle camping.

Second is the land manager; typically a state or federal agency. City and county offerings are not covered here

The resulting matrix from those two variables yields a variety of 23 camping experiences differentiated by usage rules, fee structure, reservability, mix of amenities and mix of equipment or expertise required to safely and comfortably access them.

Is finding a Minnesota State Park car campground reservation a bit too competitive?

Let's give 22 other Ways to Camp a try. 

The goal of this project is to promote the full spectrum of public land camping opportunities in Minnesota. Find nearby alternatives to full campgrounds. Explore new parks, forests and protected areas. Adopt new recreational activities. Go deeper into wild and undeveloped places. Use more of our public lands.

One Map. 

From so many different sources - here is

the most complete and collected map of public land camping opportunities in Minnesota.

This project is from a fellow public land owner. 

 

The more time I spend exploring our most valuable estate, the more that moniker means to me. This website is something I wish had existed when asking, “What do I really own, and how do I use it?” I hope it has the feeling of keys being put into your hands. They aren’t mine to give, but a true tradition of public land access is being brought to a favorite spot by a friend. 

 

I’m another Minnesotan with a major appetite for outdoor recreation, and an industry professional leading trips from bikes, boats and backpacks. I’ve had reason to navigate the complexity of public land managers, discrete unit designations and their intended uses. And I’ve had the pleasure of sharing adventures with many different people. 

 

A great guide interprets nuance, sets expectations and with your motivations helps wrestle the right adventure out from the big recreation landscape.

 

Minnesota Camp Guide  is a pragmatic answer to great trip planning questions - a centralized source of disparate information. Beyond that, it’s a passionate encouragement to go recreate in as many public lands as you can. Find alternatives to those fully reserved state park car campgrounds. Complete your pilgrimage to the Boundary Waters wilderness. Then don’t forget the millions of acres of opportunity in between. You own all of that too. 

 

See you out there, 

Joe

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Buy Me a Beer? 

 If you've had an amazing outing thanks in part to any resource on this project, please send a little thank you to support keeping it online for your future trip planning and for others. This is a totally independent piece of work. It has no business model. The occasional donations help pay to maintain the website and spend time developing more resources. 

 

       Cheers!

Get in Touch.
Did this project help you explore more public land?
Any suggestions, corrections, compliments or complaints?
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 MINNESOTA CAMP GUIDE  

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