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• Heirs to a hideaway
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• Cabin on a waterfall
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• Ensconced in Ely
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• Where to stay on Minnesota's North Shore
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• Snug on the St. Croix
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• Renting a vacation house
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Lodgings in Minnesota state parks

Surrounded by nature, a lucky few sleep in relative luxury.

If you don't have a cabin of your own, Minnesota has one you can borrow.

Some really are cabins, but others are houses, complete with two-car garages, like the one at Bear Head Lake State Park, previously occupied by the park manager. Some were private houses that have been renovated, like the Illgen Falls Cabin in Tettegouche State Park.

There's something for everyone in Itasca  State Park: rooms in a historic lodge, classic cabins, motel-style rooms and new suites with computer access. It doesn't have camper cabins, but you'll find those at 22 other Minnesota state parks.

No matter what kind of "cabin'' it is, it's a good deal, because we all know what counts: Location, location, location. You're a lucky lodger when a state park is at your doorstep. So, needless to say, reserve early.

For more about camper cabins in Minnesota and around the region, see A roof in the woods. For more about inexpensive group lodgings in Minnesota and around the Upper Midwest, see The more, the merrier. For more about privately owned vintage lodgings, see Classic Minnesota lodges.

Reservations: They can be made a year in advance at 866-857-2757, toll-free in the United States and Canada, or at www.stayatmnparks.com; reservation fee is $8.50. On the first day of availability, reservations can be made starting at 8 a.m. Central Standard Time; after the first day, they can be made on-line 24 hours a day. The TDD number is 866-290-2267, and the international number is 605-718-3030.

Guest houses: In Tettegouche State Park on the North Shore, the nightly rate at the Illgen Falls Cabin is $165; for midweek stays between November and May, it drops to $125. The rate is for one or two adults; extra people over age 11 are charged $10 per night. For more, see Cabin on a waterfall.

Guests must bring their own bedding, towels and bath soap and clean the cabin before they leave. Kitchens include plates, pans and utensils; usually, salt, dishwashing soap and coffee filters are available, but don’t count on it. See What to bring to a rented cabin.

The four cabins on Tettegouche’s Mic Mac Lake rent for $90 to $120, $65-$95 weekdays November to May; Cabin B, which is right on the lake, is most popular at $120-$95. Cabins have fully equipped kitchens but no running water; there’s a nice central shower house and a lodge with wood stove. They’re popular in winter, too.  For more, see Heirs to a hideaway.

Bear Head Lake's guesthouse has three bedrooms and two baths and sleeps 10, $150 (See Ensconced in Ely); St. Croix's two guesthouses have six bedrooms and sleep 15, $200; Savanna Portage's has one bedroom and sleeps six, $100; and Wild River's has two bedrooms and a wood-burning fireplace and sleeps eight (four or six are a better fit), $90 (see Snug on the St. Croix).

St. Croix State Park also has five cabins with half-baths and kitchenettes that sleep two, $70, that are open from mid-May to mid-September. Scenic State Park has a cabin with a fireplace, hot plate and mini-fridge but no indoor plumbing, $70.

At Itasca, suites in Douglas Lodge are $115; guest rooms with shared baths are $69. The 12 new two-room Itasca Suites are open in winter and have kitchenettes, color television, phone and computer hookup, $132. The 1910 Clubhouse has 10 bedrooms and rents for $470. The two-bedroom Historic East Cabin has a fireplace, heat and air-conditioning, $205. The Itasca Ozawindib Lake Cabin sleeps up to eight and is $140; bring bedding.

Housekeeping cabins sleep four and have a toilet but no shower, $103. Cabins of various sizes with no kitchen (some have fireplace and screened porch) are $115-$195. Motel-style fireplace rooms are $90. For more on Itasca and its lodgings, see The people's park.

Fort Ridgely has a chalet that has a fireplace, $50 for up to 25 sleeping on the floor. It also has a farmhouse that sleeps six and has electricity but not indoor plumbing, $55 from April through October.

Camper cabins: There are 54 of them in 22 Minnesota state parks, renting for $45 with electricity and $40 without; none has running water, and cooking is outside.

Vehicle fees: Overnight guests also pay a vehicle fee of $5 daily or $25 for an annual pass.

Information: DNR Information Center, 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 from outstate Minnesota, www.mnstateparks.info.

Last updated on November 16, 2008