Where to find mosquito-free camping
Breathe a sigh of relief in southeast Minnesota.
© Beth Gauper
Already tired of mosquitoes? Head for southeast Minnesota.
That's karst country, where porous limestone lies just under the surface and rain sinks into fast-moving underground streams that are chilled to 48 degrees when they run through the many cave systems. Trout like it, but mosquitoes don't. There's no standing water, so there's nowhere for them to breed.
That makes camping virtually mosquito-free at Forestville/Mystery Cave, Whitewater and Beaver Creek Valley state parks. Deb Erickson, office manager at Forestville, says people used to camping on Minnesota's North Shore are pleasantly surprised and often ask why there are so few mosquitoes.
"All the parks are like that in southeast Minnesota,'' she says. "It's kind of strange, but very wonderful.''
And remember that Minnesota state parks allow campsite reservations a year in advance. So if you think you might to want to
camp at this time next year, be on the phone or on-line at 8 a.m. on the day you
want to arrive next summer, 866-857-2757.
For details, see Camping in state parks and Cave country.
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter
Get our weekly stories, tips and updates delivered a day early — directly to your Inbox. Wondering what you'll get? Take a look at our newsletter archive.
