Minnesota State Parks Advice

[Campaholics]

We are planning a one week vacation for mid August in Minnesota.  We have a strong preference for state parks.  Having never camped in Minnesota, we are trying to sort out which State Park to go first.

Camp Site Preferences
Electric site
Shower building.
Shaded.

Things To Do
Hikes
Museums (including old forts, etc)
History
Industry (factory tours are really cool)
Scenery
Wildlife
Canoe rental for a few hours

Thanks,
Bob

[4campinfoxes]

Forestville/Mystery Cave SP is pretty nice.  We were in a really shady loop the time we camped there & got to watch bats fly around in the night.  Very cool.  There is a cave run by the SP that you can tour & an historic town that has tours through it at the SP.  Don't know about canoeing, but it is nearby a major bicycle trail.  We were in a non-electric site, I don't know how much shade the electric sites have.  They also had some interesting educational programs, including hunting/digging for fossils.

One problem I see with the MN SPs - while you can make a reservation you can't reserve a specific site.  You have to get your site from the ranger when you check in.

Another place we've been is near Albert Lea, I think it's Myr Lake/Big Island SP?  There might be canoeing near that one.  

Hoep this helps.  The MN SP website has a fair amount of information on the parks - what's nearby, what to do, etc...

Sharon

[PLJ]

I agree Forestville is a nice place to camp.

Other nice parks are St. Croix, plenty of canoeing opportunities but lacking forts.
Getting Further North staying on Superior is also great scenery, lots of hiking, canoeing etc. Some light house museums.

We will be staying at Fort Ridgely in Mid May for a weekend. I'll report on that when I get back.

Hope this helps.

[Campaholics]

Sharon, PLJ,
Thanks for the advice.  Both parks caught my eye in the literature the State Park Office sent.

Thanks again
Bob

[Kelly]

Forestville/Mystery Cave SP is pretty nice.  We were in a really shady loop the time we camped there & got to watch bats fly around in the night.  Very cool.  There is a cave run by the SP that you can tour & an historic town that has tours through it at the SP.  Don't know about canoeing, but it is nearby a major bicycle trail.  We were in a non-electric site, I don't know how much shade the electric sites have.  They also had some interesting educational programs, including hunting/digging for fossils.

One problem I see with the MN SPs - while you can make a reservation you can't reserve a specific site.  You have to get your site from the ranger when you check in.

I agree with Sharon.  I love Forestville/Mystery Cave ~ we end every camping season there.  There are plenty of shady sites in the electric loop, but the non-electric loops are definitely prettier!  Especially in the fall.

Minnesota changed their policies this year.  Now you CAN reserve a specific site!  Makes group campouts a whole lot easier ~ now the first one there doesn't have to pay for all the sites to keep the group together!

You could also try St Croix Bluffs Regional Park  on the St. Croix River.  
This is fairly close to the Twin Cities ~ where you would have access to some of the other activities on your list ...
museums, forts, historical sites, etc.

I haven't been there yet, but it is on my list of places to try out this summer.

[/COLOR]

[Campaholics]

Kelly,
Thanks for your input.
Bob

[Kelly]

Inquiring minds want to know, Bob .... where did you end up?   [/FONT]

[gromit]

Bob,
I live in southern MN. and have camped at quite a few places and do have favorites.  I absolutely LOVE Whitewater State Park.  There is hiking, a beach for swimming, park programs, small towns nearby, trout fishing, and the kids can ride bikes around camp areas.  Electric and non electric sites.  You can reserve ahead of time but they fill fast on weekends.  Reserve now!  They do have some non reserved sites but I suggest you get there by Wednesday or Thursday morning.  I will be very honest in my opinions.  I have also been at Forestville and also love it but........no swimming, not much to hike because trails are used for horses, if it wasn't for my kids I would go there.  They do have park programs and a neat little old town museum nearby.  There is also a creek for trout fishing.  
In Wisconsin in Baraboo There is Devils Lake Stae Park.  Awesome place!  Worth a visit sometime.   Canoe rentals, beach, hiking.  Very nice.
Good luck!!!

[yakinfam]

We've been to most of the parks in Minnesota, if you check out //www.dnr.state.mn.us
you are able to reserve certain sites at the campgrounds, the maps at each park will show the reservable vs. firstcome/first serve sites.
I would suggest Itasca state park: headwaters of the MIssissippi, bear head lake state park,soudan iron mine with interesting tours = great for those hot days.
Jay cooke state park has some beatiful rapids, and hiking/ biking.
Banning state park also has some beatiful hiking trails, along with some large rapids where you can watch those crazy kayakers.

                      Best of luck!

[merkong]

Kinda forget where you are heading in from but I'll run down where I have been (the list is only at 5 MN SP's now so it won't take too long)

Sakatah Lake (near Fairbault) - cool park, lots of trails, nice sites and facilities, I seen people catching fish, mountain bike trails and the "Singing Hills Trail" a long paved bike trail that would be great for a day trip on bike.

Blue Mounds (near Luverne) - our favorite so far (it's a tough call), beautiful terrain and quite unique, blue grass, purple rock cliffs that run for more than a mile, cactus, and a bison herd in the park, easy hiking trails, decent sites (not real secluded but nice) and the usual amenities, long drive but we has a blast.

Frontenac (past Red Wing) - spent a long Memorial Day weekend here (5 days), some great trails, nice facilities, nice sites with average screening, a paved trails, some scenic overlooks, much Native American history (this has been very common at all SP parks so far)

Upper Souix Agency (near Granite Falls) - nice park, great facilities, tipi sites for rent, check with park for well screend/wooded site numbers, trails, trails, trails, and lots of Native American hx), neat terrain, about 150 mi  from TC.

Rice Lake (near Owatonna) - nice park with easy walking trails, some really great sites (#7 and 8 were well screened), rained all weekend or we would have hiked more, usual facilities, didn't see alot of other noteworthy items, close to TC area (less than an hour).

MN SP's rule...  Good Luck...

[hayyward]

No one has mentioned the Temperance River park with excellent lakeside sites and more hiking than a person can do. Can't go wrong in a MN SP, if there's a beautiful spot, MN has preserved a campground on it!  
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/temperance_river/index.html

I also recommend St. Croix Bluffs campground, a Washington County park on the WI/MN border east of the twin cities. Great for kids, lots of playground area, and access to a swimming beach on the clean St. Croix river. http://www.co.washington.mn.us/info_for_residents/parks_division/parks_and_trails/st_croix_bluffs_regional_park/

Can hardly wait until next summer...