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Other stories in "Camping"

• Camping in the Twin Cities
  For many, a lake vacation is a hop, skip and jump from home.
• Camping around Lake Michigan
  For a beach vacation on a budget, stay at cabins and campgrounds in state parks.
• Camping like a king
  The best campsites await those who know how to look for them.
• Camping in state parks
  For summer, reserve far ahead to get choice spots at peak times.
• Yippee for yurts
  A weekend stay on an Iowa lake is so simple, it's hardly camping.
• A roof in the woods
  In state parks, visitors love their camper cabins.
• Camping out west
  Not far from the Twin Cities, county parks provide easy access to beach life.

10 great campsites

It's all about location, location, location.

I don’t do a lot of camping when I travel around this region. Camping is a leisurely kind of travel, and I’m always moving too fast. But that doesn’t stop me from admiring a great campsite when I see one.

Here are 10 of the campsites that have made me say, “Wow, this is really choice.’’ For details on finding other campsites, see Camping like a king.

Saxon Harbor County Park on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wis. I found this Iron County park while seeking out nearby Superior Falls, on the Montreal River between Wisconsin and Michigan. It has everything anyone wants in summer — a sand beach for swimming, showers, a protected bay for kayaking and a bar that serves burgers and pizza on days when it’s too hot to cook.

Sites are first-come, first-served — weekends fill fast — and cost $15 with electricity. Harbor Lights bar gives out information, 715-893-2242, or call Iron County, 715-561-2697.

Chapel Campground in Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We came upon this rustic six-site campground (pictured) while hiking the Lakeshore Trail atop sandstone cliffs. Tents are tucked amid pines, and there are wooden steps down the cliff that lead to that rare thing: a sandy beach on Lake Superior, just the ticket on a hot day.

The Chapel and Mosquito sites are most popular; reserve at least two weeks in advance or as early as Jan. 1. Send or fax the back-country camping form. 

For more, see Michigan's Pictured Rocks.

Mantrap Lake Campground in Minnesota's Paul Bunyan State Forest. I was staying at a lake resort on Bad Axe Lake and was on a run when I discovered this beautiful lake campground northeast of Park Rapids. Hmm, I thought — sites here have the lake, the beach and the forest, but they’re a tenth the cost of a cabin. As in all Minnesota state forests, sites are $12 and first-come, first-served. 218-266-2100.

The campground is near Itasca State Park, where campsites are prized but harder to get. For more, see The people's park and Summer in Park Rapids.

Newport State Park in Wisconsin’s Door County. Hiking along Europe Bay on a warm day in August, I saw a tent pitched just off the trail, on the sandy edge of Lake Michigan. It was Backpack Site 16 — not luxurious, not convenient, but oh, so well-located.

With Backpack Site 14, it’s between Europe Lake and Lake Michigan — perfect for water-lovers and only $15-$17 per night. As at all Wisconsin state-park sites, sites can be reserved up to 11 months in advance at 888-947-2757, www.reserveamerica.com.

For more, see Outdoors in Door County.

Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. I spent an afternoon swimming and reading on the dock at one of the park’s Lost Bay sites and gladly would have spent a week. It had two raised sand tent pads, a grove of white pine, a picnic table, a privy and a lot of privacy.

All sites in Voyageurs National Park sites are reached by boat only and are first-come, first-served. Permits are free and available at park visitors centers. 218-286-5258.

For more, see Land of big water.

Hok-Si-La Municipal Park near Lake City, Minn. This wooded campground is like a little resort. Sites overlooking Lake Pepin book up first, especially B10-12, G0 and G2. But no site is far from the beach, and there’s a store, bathhouse, playground, nature trails and free use of basketballs, volleyballs, horseshoes and footballs.

All sites are for tents, and they go for $15 Monday-Thursday and $25 weekends and holidays. Mosquitoes can be a problem, but the park sprays weekly. Call 651-345-3855.

For more, see A spin around Lake Pepin.

Kandiyohi County Park 7 on Games Lake in west-central Minnesota. There’s nothing tranquil about this park near New London, just down the road from Sibley State Park. But kids love it.

There’s a long, broad sand beach lined with tree-shaded grass and picnic tables; a slide and two swimming rafts; two volleyball nets; a baseball diamond; and a store where attendants scoop ice cream and take orders for the next day’s breakfast pastries, just like European campgrounds.

It charges $21.75 per night, $27.25 with electricity, and takes reservations only for stays of seven days or more, starting Jan. 1 at each park. Shorter stays are available for walk-ups; call 320-354-4453 in advance to gauge availability.

For more, see Camping out west.

South Pike Bay on Cass Lake in northern Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest. I found this rustic campground while bicycling on the paved Migizi Trail. There are 24 first-come, first-served rustic sites, all shaded by red pines and half with their own little stretch of beach. The 17-mile trail winds around the lake to Norway Beach Recreation Area, which has a more luxurious campground and some sites that can be reserved. 218-335-8600.

Walker is the nearest resort town. For more, see Fishing in Walker.

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway near St. Croix Falls, Wis. I was hiking on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail when I came across this sweet little campsite with its own sand beach. The trail starts in town and winds north along the St. Croix; half a mile past Lions Park, there’s a site with picnic table, tent pad, fire ring and vault toilet. Being close to water, all of the river sites are great in summer.

Camping is first-come, first-served. For more information, stop by the new visitors center in St. Croix Falls. 715-483-2274.

For more about St. Croix Falls, see Trail mix. For more about river towns, see Sightseeing on the St. Croix.

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway near Grantsburg, Wis. The very scenic Sandrock Cliffs Trail goes past another great site along the St. Croix, the rustic Sandrock Cliffs Campground north of Wisconsin 70. Red pines on a hillside create a room-like atmosphere for tent campers, who will sleep on a thick bed of fragrant needles. 715-483-2274.

Last updated on September 11, 2009