Unlocking Minnesota's Car Camping Landscape
A Series of Outings | Ways to Camp #1 to #5
The car campground is often stocked with services and amenities, allowing an outdoor experience that remains familiar to your habits at home. Those associated with the most popular parks and lakeshores are busy base camps and home for the whole weekend, or longer. More nomadic adventures are better when linked together with overnights at scenic and comfortable campsites. Some trips are meant to hit the end of a long, unmaintained road - if only for one night.
No matter your style, the Ways of the Car Camper include many benefits. Maximum capacity for toys and equipment. A backup shelter should things hit the fan. Fast and easy access to local area attractions, amenities or resupply runs. An immediate exit strategy.
This series of adventures organizes the Ways of the Car Camper into a sequential order, beginning with the most beginner friendly car camping experience. From the first time camping at a Minnesota state park, then beyond - this guide defines six distinct car camping experiences, and encourages you to participate in them all. The reward for achieving a confident and comfortable night outdoors in each of the six Ways to Car Camp is the total unlocking of Minnesota's public land car camping experiences.
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Outing #1 | A Night, or Weekend in a Modern State Park Campground | Way to Camp #1
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Full Amenities, High Fee, Reservation, Most People, Most Development
Outing #2 | An Amenity Rich Alternative: A Modern National Forest Campground
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Full Amenities, Moderate Fee, No Reservation, More People, More Development
Outing #3 | A 'Rustic' (But All You Really Need) State Forest Campground
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Moderate Amenities, Low Fee, No Reservation, More or Less People, Less Development
Outing #4 | Remote & Rustic Superior National Forest Campground
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Minimal Amenities, No Fee, No Reservation, Less People, Minimal Development
Outing #5 | 'Designated' Dispersed Campsites of Chippewa National Forest
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Minimal Amenities, No Fee, No Reservation, No Other People, Minimal or No Development
Outing #6 | True Dispersed Car Camping
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No Amenities, No Fee, No Reservation, No Other People, No Development
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Outing 1
A Night, or a Weekend in a Modern State Park Car Campground | Way to Camp #1
Full Amenities. High Fee. Reservable. Most People. Most Development.
Of the 75 state parks and recreation areas across Minnesota 61 of them have modern, developed drive-in car campgrounds.
Managed by the Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division, these campgrounds tend to be what people envision when we mention the word "camping". The most amenity rich, and most highly developed campgrounds are going to be those destination'or core state parks that are designed to accomodate large, high density groups of participants. High use creates high impact and the immediate surroundings will be less natural. This is campground camping.
Well distributed across the state, and these three recommendations are in closer proximity to the Twin Cities but well worth a little road trip.
Interstate | State Park
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37 drive-in campsites (22 with electricity)
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A scenic and spacious campground tucked between the river and rocky bluffs.
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Campground access to St. Croix River paddling.
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Hiking trails on basalt bluffs and along cliffs, with unique ancient geology.
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Down the street from Taylor's Falls amenities.
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William O. Brien | State Park
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Riverway Campground: 60 drive-in campsites (37 with electricity)
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Shaded but open and airy, less private.
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Great access to St. Croix River paddling, swimming and wading.
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Savanna Campground 54 drive-in campsites (34 with electricity)
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Fairly well screened with brush for privacy and not too dense.
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Some sites have a wide open wetland stargazing opportunity adjacent.
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Whitewater| State Park
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148 drive-in campsites (87 with electricity)
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Minneiska: Removed from river.
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Upper Cedar Hill: Spacious sites, well spaced, shady but airy.
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Lower Cedar Hill: A handful of sites are close enough to hear the running water.
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6 walk-in campsites
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Running water can be heard from walk-in sites.
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Hike craggy terrain of The Driftless region.
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Fish for trout in Whitewater River.
Approach | Minnesota State Parks
The most amenity rich, and most highly developed campgrounds are going to be those 'destination' or core state park campgrounds that are designed to accomodate large, high density groups of participants. High use creates high impact and the immediate surroundings will be less natural. This is campground camping.
Best Use: Set up a weekend base camp. Include lounging, cooking, eating and drinking stations. It won't be quiet and private anyways, so invite family and friends. Bring activities. Have a bike or a kayak. Plan to leave your campsite to explore adjacent park features, trail systems and other programming. Maybe take a drive to nearby points of attraction before returning to a robust camp.
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Located in the 'front country' and broadly accessible off of main, paved roads.
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Supported, by resident campground host, local law enforcement and park staff at a campground office or visitors center.
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Close proximity to park's attractions, recreation facilities and programming.
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Communal, with many shared spaces (bathrooms, drinking water, playgrounds, beaches, etc.)
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Not very private.
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Not a place for solitude. Lots of these campgrounds have tent sites adjacent to each other in open areas with direct sight lines to each other.
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Not a place for quiet, despite the existence of 'quiet hours'.
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I'm also talking about people who wake up way too early.
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Administrative | Minnesota State Parks
100 % reservable. Reservations are required.
The reservation portal allows bookings up to 120 days in advance. About ⅓ of our parks, including those on the North Shore of Lake Superior are incredibly popular and in such high demand that you’ll find the entire summer’s weekends sold out several months in advance.
If you don’t want to celebrate a new winter holiday wherein you plan and book the prime parks and campsites for the upcoming season, try signing up for an email notification of opening availability for a nearby weekend.
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Otherwise, remember that two thirds of the park system is not in nearly as high demand. Even last minute bookings can be made to more than 40 different state parks if you use the ‘Search All’ filter. Explore some new ground.
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You know exactly where you are going. One major less thing to worry about, with all the other new things you're learning.
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Once you arrive, you can just start camping without the need for administrative chores.
A vehicle permit (sticker) is required to enter the state parks.
There are single day passes, or an annual permit is around $35.
Nightly rates for these campgrounds are $20 to $25.
Electric campsites can be up to $35. Additional online reservation fees are $8.
Operating Season
May through October. Over 25 campgrounds are typically open through the winter, though bathroom and water facilities are turned off for the season.
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Amenities | Modern State Parks
Skills & Equipment to Master This Outing:
If anything goes wrong on this outing, you can always shelter in a warm, dry car. Or drive to get supplies. Even give up and escape, if you must.
☑ Cleared and level tent site is already selected, or obvious.
☑ Parking space adjacent to campsite.
☑ Picnic table.
☑ Campfire ring. With grill grate.
☑ Potable drinking water available.
☑ Dumpsters.
☑ Security of car for storing smellys from animals.
☑ Bathrooms with plumbing;
sinks and mirrors, flush toilets and hot showers.
Shelter and Sleep Systems
☐ Pitch your tent (or hammock or other shelter).
☐ In the right spot?
☐ Did you pitch it without hassle? Securely against any wind? Dry against any rain, or condensation?
☐ Set up your sleep system (sleeping pad, sleeping bag, liner, pillow, appropriate clothing).
☐ Too cold? Know your pad and bag temperature ratings and insulation values. Match expected temperatures.
☐ Too hot? Wear less clothing, and slip into a comfy bag liner.
☐ Did you get any sleep? Getting good rest the first night of any outing is pretty unlikely, so no worries.
Resistance to the Elements
If the weather turns too cold, or shelters aren't staying dry - stash things in the car.
☐ Did you stay warm?
☐ Did you stay dry?
☐ Does your insect repellent work well, for you? Would you consider wearing a bug headnet?
Water
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Bring a large jug, or a collapsible water cube with several gallons.
☐ Fill or refill potable drinking water at the campground. Check the campground map. These are often pressurized faucets at buildings, or coming from a well. Sometimes they are manual well pumps or a solar powered still where you press and hold a button.
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In an "emergency", pick up a gallon jug from gas station or grocery store.
Cooking and Meals
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You have space in the car for a cooler and a food bin. Empty the pantry at home and hit the grocery store on the way, no specialized meal plans necessary.
☐ Try cooking with a double burner camp stove.
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A propane canister will fuel your cooking immediately, in any weather, without the labor of campfires.
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Use familiar kitchen cookware and recipes, no need for anything super specialized yet.
☐ Experiment with campfire cooking.
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Fry or grill on the integrated campfire grate. Bake with/on coals. Roast something on a stick.
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Carbon soot is likely to cake cookware over open flames. Applying a film of dish soap can reduce this.
☐ Build a campfire.
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Firewood is available for purchase - split, dried and bundled logs. Gathering tinder and kindling from nearby gets harder the more popular the park is, but is usually doable.
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Bringing your own wood, or transporting firewood is discouraged, and probably illegal. Invasive insects live in firewood, we move them around and kill our forests faster. Look into DNR approved firewood sales and other regulations.
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Food and Waste Storage
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Black bears are much less worrisome in busy campgrounds than other critters like mice, raccoons and skunks. All the same, practicing the secure storage of any food, garbage or smelly hygiene products should be followed. It’s easy in a car campground. Close packages, keep the lids on your coolers and bins and put them inside the vehicle anytime you plan to leave your campsite unattended, and especially at nighttime.
☐ Identify anything "smelly" - typically food, trash and hygiene products. Store these inside your car overnight, and not your tent or the wide open picnic table.
☐ Locate the campground dumpsters. A place to deposit your waste, instead of storing in your vehicle or driving it home with you.
Dishwashing
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It will be uncommon for a campground to have a dedicated dishwashing sink or station, but some do. Use that.
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Do NOT wash dishes inside bathroom sinks, or at the drinking water faucets.
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☐ Practice 'Leave No Trace' dishwashing methods:
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At your own site, scrape food scraps from dishes into trash.
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Gather water in a collapsible bucket or other container. Rinse and scrub with soap.
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Optional; a second collapsible bucker or other container can offer a bleach water rinse to finalize the cleaning.
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Don't 'dump' the dirty dish gray water... cast it. Spreading it wide into the surrounding woods is less impactful, or attractive to animals. Supposedly.
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Hygiene
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There are bathrooms with plumbing, open seasonally between mid May and mid October.
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Just please, for the love of dog, don't brush your teeth and spit your toothpaste into one spot on the side of the campsite. Use the bathrooms sinks.
Risk Management and Security
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Lock valuables in your car.
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You likely have cell service and law enforcement or emergency responders have easy access to you.
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The car is right there, for self-evacuation scenarios.
Explore and reserve Minnesota state park drive-in campsites with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Not all, but most state parks offer drive-in car campgrounds. There is a different vibe between large destination class parks and rustic class parks. That said, only two of the state park drive-in campgrounds lack flush toilets and showers; Franz Jevne and Scenic.
That was comfortable?
Let’s keep the modern amenities of a developed car campground…
but head deeper into the North Woods and avoid the heavy competition of the State Park reservation system.
Outing 2
An Amenity Rich Alternative: A Modern National Forest Car Campground | Way to Camp #3
Full Amenities. High Fee. No Reservation. Many People. Much Development.
Our two national forests are managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a 'multiple-use' mission; to balance commercial resource extraction, nature and resource conservation or preservation and robust outdoor recreation development.
The majority of campgrounds and recreation infrastructure are primitive, sometimes even wilderness, but there are several fully modern drive-in campgrounds with all of the comfortable amenities from Outing #1.
Superior National Forest is a 3.9 million acreage of mixed conifer-hardwood forest punctuated by ancient bedrock exposures and pristine lakes. This vast swath of the Minnesota Arrowhead is home to the Iron Range, the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area and 23 national forest car campgrounds with 597 campsites.
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Fall Lake Campground, South Kawishiwi Campground, Whiteface Reservoir Campground
Chippewa National Forest is 666 thousand acres of sopping wet north central conifer-hardwood forests, wetlands and recreational waters. It hosts several of the state's largest lakes, the source of the Mississippi River and 21 national forest campgrounds with 660 campsites.
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Norway Beach Campground (Chippewa Loop has electricity.)
* The vast majority of national forest car campgrounds are more similar to the description of Outing #3.
CHIPPewa National Forest
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Norway Beach
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37 drive-in campsites
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Chippewa Loop offers electric sites
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No showers.
Superior| National Forest
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Fall Lake
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all modern amenities
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high demand, some first come first served
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Superior| National Forest
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South Kawishiwi
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some electric
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no showers
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Approach | National Forests in Minnesota
The U.S. Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture manages national forest lands for harvesting timber and preventing forest fires, as well as developing infrastructure and access to outdoor recreation. Unlike a national park, or the National Park Service, the Forest Service's investment in public recreation amenities is moderated in comparison. Amazing camping experiences are to be had in the national forests, through more rustic means than the heavy development of state and national parks.
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Many campgrounds are 'front country' accessible, but many are more remote drives - perhaps even on unpaved roads.
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A campground, with many communal amenties (bathrooms, drinking water, playgrounds, beaches, etc.)
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Not a place for solitude. Lots of these campgrounds have tent sites adjacent to each other in open areas with direct sight lines to each other.
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Not a place for quiet, despite the existence of 'quiet hours'.
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Fewer to none specific points of attraction, entertainment or programming.
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The forest, lakes, rivers and maybe nearby hiking trails invite you to structure your own activities and interpretation.
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Supported, by resident campground host, local law enforcement and park staff at a campground office or visitors center.
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Common to have your base camp established here for sleep, meals and relaxation surrounding time spent off on activities and adventures.
Administrative | National Forests in Minnesota
Campgrounds offer reservations on a portion of campsites. The remainder are first come, first served.
The reservation portal for federal public lands is Recreation.gov.
☐ Investigate First-Come, First Served Camping
Notice the number of campsites that are first come, first served (FF) and how many units are available. Imagine the holiday summer weekends to be least available, but you should expect to find options most weekends and especially during weekdays. The campground will have a station for self-service payment after you drive the loops and pick out a site that is unoccupied.
Nightly rates for these campgrounds are $20 to $25.
Electric campsites can be up to $35. Additional online reservation fees are $8.
Season
May through October. Over 25 are typically open through the winter. And facilities can close for the winter season.
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Maximum stay?
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Amenities | National Forest
☑ Cleared and level tent site is already selected, or obvious.
☑ Parking space adjacent to campsite.
☑ Picnic table.
☑ Campfire ring. With grill grate.
☑ Potable drinking water available.
☑ Dumpsters.
☑ Security of car for storing smellys from animals.
Skills & Equipment to Master This Outing:
Continue with goals from Outing # 1...
★ Some additional goals for Outing #2.
Shelter and Sleep Systems
☐ Pitch a secure shelter, and get a comfortable sleep.
Resistance to the Elements
☐ Stay warm, stay cool, stay dry and avoid bug bites.
Water
☐ Fill or refill potable drinking water at the campground well.
Cooking and Meals
☐ Build a campfire and cook with it.
☐ Use a camping stove.
☐ Firewood is available for purchase.
Food and Waste Storage
☐ Keep all "smellys" locked in car overnight and when campsite is unattended.
☐ Deposit trash in campground dumpsters.
Dishwashing
☐ Practice Leave No Trace dishwashing method.
Hygiene
☐ Use the bathrooms.
Risk Management and Security
☐ Lock valuables in your car.
☐ Use cell phone service to call emergency services.
☐ If needed, self-evacuate with car.
☑ Bathrooms with plumbing;
sinks and mirrors, flush toilets and hot showers.
Can you be comfortable without electricity, flush toilets and hot showers...
especially if it means a smaller campground with less people?
Outing 3
“Rustic” but All you Really Need, State Forest Car Campground | Way to Camp #3
Minimal Amenities. Low Fee. No Reservation. Some People. Minimal Development.
For this next trip, if you can become comfortable and satisfied with the amenities of a “rustic” or “primitive” campsite (by state park standards) you’ll be unlocking the core car camping experience and greatest number of campsites on Minnesota's public lands. This campground description applies all of 22 state forest car campgrounds, and almost all national forest campgrounds.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages state forest lands with a 'multiple-use' mission. This includes timber harvest for state revenue, conserving wildlife habitat and water quality as well as outdoor recreation - from hunting and fishing to camping and paddling. Developed infrastructure and amenities are less than state parks, appropriately.
Unlike state parks, our state forests and their campgrounds are geographically concentrated to the forested regions of Minnesota. They are absent from the western and southern prairie counties. But elsewhere, they range from eastern deciduous Big Woods biome to the coniferous boreal forests of the North.
Finland| State Forest
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Eckbeck
Sand Dunes| State Forest
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Ann Lake
Richard J. Dorer| State Forest
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Kruger
Approach | National Forests in Minnesota
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Accessible, but often gravel roads and lots.
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Many are in large areas of state forest, and reasonably remote from town or city services.
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Communal drinking water and bathrooms.
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While a handful of state forest car campgrounds are popular and busy (near the North Shore or St. Croix river), many of them see light demand and light occupancy.
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Unlikely to have any staff support. No resident campground host. Patrols by agency staff or local law enforcement not expected.
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Within public lands where you generate your own recreation itineraries. Minimal development of recreation infrastructure.
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A boat launch or landing at nearby lakes of rivers is common.
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Hiking trails and systems are less present or less maintained.
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Provide a comfortable base camp for activities like paddling, hunting, fishing and foraging in surrounding woods and waters.
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Administrative | State Forests in Minnesota
No entrance fees or permits are required to enter Minnesota state forests.
Campsites are first-come, first served. There are no reservations.
Summer weekends, especially holidays can be busy but high demand is not super common in these campgrounds.
Each campground has a physical self-service kiosk with guidance for check-in. This generally involves:
1. Gathering a physical registration card that you will place on your campsite's individual numbered post.
2. Paying the fee for your stay on the digital mobile app Yodel.
When you arrive, drive the campground loop and find an unoccupied space. If there is no equipment present in the site, and no registration card on the post you should consider it available. Sometimes folks leave behind their registration card on the post, so it can pay to take a closer look at the occupancy dates they filled out.
What if I have no mobile phone? Or it's dead? Or I have no service or internet connection?
Not a huge stress. Pay via mobile after your stay when you regain service. Or find instructions at the self-service kiosk on how to mail-in a payment.
Nightly rates for Minnesota state forest campground sites are around $17.
The national forest fee car campgrounds with equivalent experience to this Outing #3 are between $18 and $20 each night.
Operating Season is generally May through October. Many may be closed or choked with snow in the winter season. Those that are open during the winter are unlikely to have certain facilities operating, like drinking water wells.
Amenities | Minnesota State Forests
Skills & Equipment to Master This Outing:
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☑ Cleared and level tent site area
☐ Specific tent site is not selected
☑ Parking space adjacent to campsite.
☑ Picnic table.
☑ Campfire ring.
☑ Potable drinking water available.
☑ Bathrooms are outhouse style vault toilets.
☐ No running water sinks, toilets or showers.
☐Garbage disposal, if not a dumpster, than trash cans.
☑ Security of car for storing smellys from animals.
☐ Without plumbing.
Continue with goals from Outing # 2...
★ Some additional goals or context for Outing #3.
Shelter and Sleep Systems
☐ Pitch your tent, in the right spot.
★ The exact place to pitch your tent within your campsite is up to you. From the several options, including the often obvious ones, be doubly discerning of the ground's gradient. Where will rainwater pool and drain if there is a rain event?
Resistance to the Elements
☐ Stay warm, stay cool, stay dry and avoid bug bites.
Cooking and Meals
☐ Build a campfire.
★ Gathering tinder and kindling from nearby is much more feasible since there are fewer users.
☐ Use a cook stove.
Food and Waste Storage
☐ Secure all 'smellys' inside the vehicle overnight, or while campsite is unattended.
★ At many of these campgrounds, there are less people compared to modern car campgrounds. Surrounded by undeveloped wildlife habitat, your animal encounter preventions are more important than before.
Hygiene
★ ☐ Build a backcountry toiletry kit.
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Have the supplies necessary in case remote bathrooms are unstocked.
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Toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
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Wet wipes can cleanse face, hands and feet etc.
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Carry a scent proof zip loc bag to pack out used wet wipes. Don't toss them in the vault toilets.
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★ ☐ Rinse off in a lake, stream or river.
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Remember that "biodegradeable" soaps work when grey water is cast onto soils, with living bacteria. When used directly in water, they are contaminants. Carry water away from source in a collapsible bucket for actual soaping and sudsing. Pour this out on the ground.
Dishwashing
☐ Practice Leave No Trace dishwashing methods.
Risk Management and Security
☐ Lock valuables in your car.
☐ Use cell phone service to call emergency services.
★ Start bringing an emergency communication device or system if spending time outside of cell phone service.
☐ If needed, self-evacuate with car.
The state parks designated 'rustic' fit the above description. These include:
Beaver Creek Valley, Carley, Charles A. Lindbergh, Franz Jevne, George Crosby Manitou, Greenleaf, Judge C.R. Magney, Kilen Woods, Lake Louise, Monson Lake, Old Mill and Schoolcraft.
Almost all fee car campgrounds in the Superior and Chippewa National Forest also fit this description.
So, you’re comfortable with ‘rustic’ amenities. You've gained confidence in skills and equipment.
Are you ready for a bit more wild, natural and remote setting? How about we do that. And do it for free.
Outing 4
A Free Night in the Superior National Forest, Rustic and Remote | Way to Camp #4
Minimal Amenities. No Fee. No Reservation. Few People. Minimal Development.
One of the better kept secrets in all of Minnesota public land camping are to be experienced on this outing.
The Superior National Forest maintains 18 rustic campgrounds with drive-in car campsites. They only include a few of the most basic amenities, but are completely free to use. This is an opportunity to explore some of the most wild and remote region of the state
Keep the most necessary comforts of a maintained campsite while exploring the more remote corners of Minnesota.
The Chippewa National Forest maintains a collection of over 30 designated "dispersed" drive-in car campsites.
Approach | Rustic Campgrounds in Superior N.F.
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Reasonably accessible, but considered remote.
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The Forest Roads approaching these campgrounds are well-graded gravel roads but winter weather and severe rain can close them at times.
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Several have final approaches where minimum maintenance roads offer challenging driving for non AWD vehicles.
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These are very limited occupancy 'campgrounds'. Sometimes there are only 2, at most there are 8 campsites.
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Fewer people means less disruption. You may even have the whole place to yourself.
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Fewer people can also become awkward, if any unlikely conflict arises.
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Unlikely to have any staff support. No resident campground host. Patrols by agency staff or local law enforcement not expected.
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Intended to serve as rustic base camps to access adjacent lakes and rivers.
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Most of these have a primitive boat launch and/or dock adjacent to campground.
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Paddling and fishing are typical activities to pursue here. Hiking trails are very limited. No other programming or recreation infrastructure present.
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Best use is for experiencing a more remote campsite, with more solitude than elsewhere. Use for a single night while driving through the national forest region, or leave during the day to regional hiking trailheads and destinations. Bring a boat of any kind and fishing kit.
Administrative | Rustic Campgrounds in Superior N.F.
No entrance fees or permits are required at these campgrounds or to drive in the Superior National Forest.
They are FREE.
Campsites are first-come, first served. There are no reservations.
Several are better known and busier around summer holiday weekends. Just be prepared with a backup or two campground should you arrive to full occupancy.
Operating Season is generally May through October. In the winter months, roads may be impassable and bathrooms may be locked.
Amenities | Rustic Campgrounds in SNF
Skills & Equipment to Master This Outing:
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★ ☐ ☑
☑ Cleared and level tent site area
☐ Specific tent site is not selected
☑ Parking space adjacent to campsite.
☑ Picnic table.
☑ Campfire ring.
☐ Potable drinking water not available.
☑ Bathrooms are outhouse style vault toilets.
☐ No running water sinks, toilets or showers.
☐ No garbage disposal.
☑ Security of car for storing smellys from animals.
Continue with goals from Outing # 3...
★ Some additional goals or context for Outing #4.
Shelter and Sleep Systems
☐ Pitch your tent, in the right spot.
Resistance to the Elements
☐ Stay warm, stay cool, stay dry and avoid bug bites.
Cooking and Meals
☐ Build a campfire.
☐ Use a cook stove.
★ When dry summer conditions increase the risk of wildfire, burning bans may be in effect in the national forest. Canister fuel camping and backpacking cook stoves are still allowed, when open campfires are not. Having the ability to use these for meals becomes very useful.
Food and Waste Storage
☐ Secure all 'smellys' inside the vehicle overnight, or while campsite is unattended.
★ The greatest risk for encountering black bears, wolves and most other wildlife will be in this region of the state.
Water
☐ Gather and treat drinkable water from a wild source.
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identifying wild water sources
☐ Use a water filter and treatment method:
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filtration
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treatment
Hygiene
☐ Bring your backcountry toiletry kit.
☐ Rinse off in a lake, stream or river.
Dishwashing
☐ Practice Leave No Trace dishwashing methods.
Risk Management and Security
☐ Lock valuables in your car.
☐ Be prepared to have use emergency communication devices, when out of cell service range.
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Understand emergency use of cell phone.
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Carry a personal locator beacon.
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Use a satellite communication device like a Garmin inReach.
★ Start bringing an emergency communication device or system if spending time outside of cell phone service.
☐ If needed, self-evacuate with car.
☐ No park staff or support.
☐ No cell phone service, likely.
Outing 5
Designated Dispersed Drive In Campsites in the Chippewa National Forest | Way to Camp #4
Minimal Amenities. No Fee. No Reservation. No Other People. Minimal Development.
Before you head off to true dispersed camping experiences, we have one more unique outing. And an opportunity to explore the other national forest in Minnesota. The Chippewa National Forest maintains a collection of over 30 designated "dispersed" drive-in campsites. The Forest calls these "dispersed" campsites, but they are in specific locations. Why not take the solitude and free nightly rate, and keep a few basic campsite amenities?
Approach | Rustic Campgrounds in Superior N.F.
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Reasonably accessible, but considered remote.
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The Forest Roads approaching these campgrounds are well-graded gravel roads but winter weather and severe rain can close them at times.
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Several have final approaches where minimum maintenance roads offer challenging driving for non AWD vehicles.
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These are very limited occupancy 'campgrounds'. Sometimes there are only 2, at most there are 8 campsites.
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Fewer people means less disruption. You may even have the whole place to yourself.
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Fewer people can also become awkward, if any unlikely conflict arises.
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Unlikely to have any staff support. No resident campground host. Patrols by agency staff or local law enforcement not expected.
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Intended to serve as rustic base camps to access adjacent lakes and rivers.
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Most of these have a primitive boat launch and/or dock adjacent to campground.
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Paddling and fishing are typical activities to pursue here. Hiking trails are very limited. No other programming or recreation infrastructure present.
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Best use is for experiencing a more remote campsite, with more solitude than elsewhere. Use for a single night while driving through the national forest region, or leave during the day to regional hiking trailheads and destinations. Bring a boat of any kind and fishing kit.
Administrative | Rustic Campgrounds in Superior N.F.
No entrance fees or permits are required at these campgrounds or to drive in the Superior National Forest.
They are FREE.
Campsites are first-come, first served. There are no reservations.
Several are better known and busier around summer holiday weekends. Just be prepared with a backup or two campground should you arrive to full occupancy.
Operating Season is generally May through October. In the winter months, roads may be impassable and bathrooms may be locked.
Amenities | Rustic Campgrounds in SNF
Skills & Equipment to Master This Outing:
!
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★ ☐ ☑
☑ Cleared and level tent site area
☐ Specific tent site is not selected
☑ Parking space adjacent to campsite.
☑ Picnic table. Sometimes.
☑ Campfire ring. Often a rock ring, sometimes a metal one with fire grate.
☐ Potable drinking water not available.
☑ Bathrooms are wilderness latrines. Sometimes are not present.
☐ No running water sinks, toilets or showers.
☐ No garbage disposal. Pack out what you bring in.
☑ Security of car for storing smellys from animals.
Continue with goals from Outing # 3...
★ Some additional goals or context for Outing #4.
Shelter and Sleep Systems
☐ Pitch your tent, in the right spot.
Resistance to the Elements
☐ Stay warm, stay cool, stay dry and avoid bug bites.
Cooking and Meals
☐ Build a campfire.
☐ Use a cook stove.
★ When dry summer conditions increase the risk of wildfire, burning bans may be in effect in the national forest. Canister fuel camping and backpacking cook stoves are still allowed, when open campfires are not. Having the ability to use these for meals becomes very useful.
Food and Waste Storage
☐ Secure all 'smellys' inside the vehicle overnight, or while campsite is unattended.
★ The greatest risk for encountering black bears, wolves and most other wildlife will be in this region of the state.
Water
☐ Gather and treat drinkable water from a wild source.
-
identifying wild water sources
☐ Use a water filter and treatment method:
-
filtration
-
treatment
Hygiene
☐ Bring your backcountry toiletry kit.
☐ Rinse off in a lake, stream or river.
Dishwashing
☐ Practice Leave No Trace dishwashing methods.
Risk Management and Security
☐ Lock valuables in your car.
☐ Be prepared to have use emergency communication devices, when out of cell service range.
-
Understand emergency use of cell phone.
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Carry a personal locator beacon.
-
Use a satellite communication device like a Garmin inReach.
★ Start bringing an emergency communication device or system if spending time outside of cell phone service.
☐ If needed, self-evacuate with car.
☐ No park staff or support.
☐ No cell phone service, likely.
That right there? Not a campsite.
You disagree? Well, go where very few people have gone before...
Outing 6
Make your Own Way. Dispersed Car Camping in State and National Forests. | Way to Camp #5
No Amenities. No Fee. No Reservation. No Other People. No Development.
Literally, off the beaten path.
State forest and national forests in Minnesota include more than 2,500 miles of roads and thousands of minimally maintained spur roads used for forestry management. Off of and along any of these roads you can dispersed camp, free of charge.
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Your camp must be 150 feet away from roads, trails, buildings, water bodies and other designated campsites.
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You are not allowed to park motor vehicles anywhere it may impede traffic, harm vegetation or soils.
It's not too much of a challenge to achieve this. A vehicle with all wheel drive and significant ground clearance will certainly increase your access to these opportunities, and there are many chances to find logging clear cuts, inactive gravel pits and the like to pull over and set up camp.
When scouting dispersed camping opportunities, determine the boundaries of private, state forest and national forest land with the DNR's Recreation Compass. The large print national forest maps are a great resource for this task also.
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US National Forests in Minnesota have the same rules.
Approach | Dispersed Car Camping
Best Use: Doing something extra adventurous and not spending a dime for it. Creating a base camp for hunting and foraging in deep woods. The quest for a totally unknown and super scenic campsite, all to yourself is a fun one. But, dispersed camping is often the backup plan to the backup plan, if all other campsites you've visited are occupied and the sun is on it's way down. A very pragmatic overnight stay with the intent to continue traveling the next day.
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Considered remote. Reasonably accessible, to borderline inaccessible by motor vehicle.
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Many, if not most forest and fire roads will eventually deteriorate in quality the farther down them you explore. Expect rocks, ruts, pits, ditches, water holes, fallen trees, etc. These places are playgrounds for all-terrain and off highway vehicles after all.
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Lack of water.
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It's not hard to find a dispersed campsite, but one adjacent to good water access - or a scenic view - is harder than you might think.
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No amenities of any kind.
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Unless, you move into a spot that's popular with parking hunting season camp trailers and RVs. Then you may find a fire ring and some log furniture left behind.
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Total solitude - if that kind of thing freaks you out.
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Free.
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Quite adventurous.
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Having "secret" spots is pretty great.
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Total solitude.
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Greater chance for uninterrupted night sky or wildlife encounters.
Amenities | National Forest
Skills & Equipment to Master This Outing:
!
-
★ ☐ ☑
☑ Cleared and level tent site is already selected, or obvious.
☑ Parking space adjacent to campsite.
☑ Potable water must gathered and treated.
☑ No amenities.
☑ No bathrooms.
☐Garbage disposal, if not a dumpster, than trash cans.
☑ Security of car for storing smellys from animals.
Continue with goals from Outing # 3...
★ Some additional goals or context for Outing #4.
Shelter and Sleep Systems
☐ Pitch your tent, in the right spot.
Dry and level ground. Do not pitch beneath dead or dying trees and limbs.
Resistance to the Elements
☐ Stay warm, stay cool, stay dry and avoid bug bites.
Cooking and Meals
☐ Build a campfire.
You may locate a site where fires have been had before.
☐ Use a cook stove.
★ When dry summer conditions increase the risk of wildfire, burning bans may be in effect in the national forest. Canister fuel camping and backpacking cook stoves are still allowed, when open campfires are not. Having the ability to use these for meals becomes very useful.
Food and Waste Storage
☐ Secure all 'smellys' inside the vehicle overnight, or while campsite is unattended.
★ The greatest risk for encountering black bears, wolves and most other wildlife will be in this region of the state.
...Practice backcountry food storage methods
bear bag, bear barrel, bear hang
Water
☐ Gather and treat drinkable water from a wild source.
-
identifying wild water sources
☐ Use a water filter and treatment method:
-
filtration
-
treatment
Hygiene
☐ Bring your backcountry toiletry kit.
☐ Rinse off in a lake, stream or river.
Poop in the woods.
Dig at least a 6" deep hole to poop in and bury it. Pack your toilet paper or wipes out a scent lock bag, do not bury them.
Dishwashing
☐ Practice Leave No Trace dishwashing methods.
Risk Management and Security
☐ Lock valuables in your car.
☐ Be prepared to have use emergency communication devices, when out of cell service range.
-
Understand emergency use of cell phone.
-
Carry a personal locator beacon.
-
Use a satellite communication device like a Garmin inReach.
★ Start bringing an emergency communication device or system if spending time outside of cell phone service.
☐ If needed, self-evacuate with car.
Why This Guide?
And Other Resources.
There are several sources of information about #4 Rustic Car Campgrounds in the Superior National Forest.
This Minnesota Camp Guide presents much of this information within the full context of Minnesota's car camping recreation landscape.
1. Superior National Forest 'Camping Recreation Opportunity Guide’
This document lives online here, and can be found printed in USFS information offices.
All Superior National Forest camping opportunities are listed and described here. The Rustic Campgrounds page includes the map used above.
Minnesota Camp Guide has added photos and qualitative descriptions to help narrow your selection, link to digital maps with driving directions and display alongside other public land campsites.
2. USFS Online Information | Resource Webpages
The US Forest Service website for Superior National Forest's Campground Camping is here. The rustic campgrounds are listed within regular fee campgrounds. Each rustic campground has a webpage with additional information. Updated status, alerts and warnings can be found here.
3. USDA National Forest Map
For the best printed physical map of the Superior National Forest, visit the US Geological Survey store. This map does not include all the rustic campgrounds, and/or does not use legible symbology classifying these sites - but it does serve as the most useful navigation aid while driving around outside of cell service.
Happy Camping.
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Cheers!