Tent Camping in Hinckley, Minnesota
The area around Hinckley has been inhabited for hundreds of years, residents drawn to the area's beautiful forests and rushing rivers. Located approximately 80 miles north of Minneapolis, Hinckley was for decades a logging and farming community, but in modern times has transitioned to a laid-back tourist destination. With many state parks and historic sites fringing the town, outdoor destinations rank among the area's biggest draws. Here are a few nearby destinations for tent-pitchers to unfold a sleeping mat and relax by the fire.
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St. Croix State Park
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As the park closest to Hinckley, St. Croix State Park preserves a historic site along two flagship recreational waterways. Many preserved building and features, including the Visitor's Center, were erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the park is designated as a National Historic Site in honor of the CCC laborers. Saint Croix River, Kettle River and Lake Clayton provide opportunities for swimming, boating and fishing. This big park of 34,000 acres includes three separate campgrounds with 215 individual campsites. A few walk-in campsites are available a stone's throw away from the car campers, and backpack camps at opposite ends of the park offer more remote camping along forest creeks. Horseback riding and camping is also popular, and some campsites are seasonally restricted to horseback campers.
St. Croix State Park
30065 St. Croix Park Road
Hinckley, MN 55037
Tel: 320-384-6591
dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/st_croix/
Banning State Park
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Fifteen minutes north of Hinckley, Banning State Park flanks Kettle River's whitewater and provides easy access to campgrounds and nature trails. The Kettle River is listed as a wild and scenic river by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and is one of the state's suggested water trails. Banning State Park provides access to the river for kayak and canoe launches and watercraft camping for whitewater paddlers needing a layover. The majority of the dry campsites are drive-in and camping is available year-round. The nearby town of Sandstone derives its name from a historic quarry located within the park.
Banning State Park
61101 Banning Park Road
Sandstone, MN 55072
Tel: 320-245-2668
dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/banning/ -
Solana State Forest
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Solana State Forest is a protected, working forestland northwest of Hinckley. There are no official parks, campgrounds, or public facilities in the forest, but dispersed camping is allowed without a permit. The forest covers more than 68,000 acres and has two small lakes, Porcupine and Split Rock. Both lakes and many areas throughout Solana are accessible by road, and consulting a Minnesota highway map is advised. Dispersed campers should practice "leave no trace" camping and remove all trash when packing out of Solana State Forest.
Solana State Forest
Aitkin County, Minnesota
dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00049/
Wild River State Park
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Wild River State Park provides daily and overnight outdoors entertainment along the St. Croix River, downriver from St. Croix State Park. Here the river gives way to woodlands that give way to prairie, providing distinct landscapes for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. In warmer months, visitors stroll across 35 miles of trails and paddle on the river. Most of the 96 drive-in sites in the developed campground can be reserved, and there are also a handful of backpack sites.
Wild River State Park
39797 Park Trail
Center City, MN 55012
Tel: 651-583-2125
dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/wild_river/
Snake River Campground
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Chengwatana State Forest lies between Wild River and St. Croix state parks and is crossed by the same scenic rivers. An additional river and recognized water trail, the Snake River, is the impetus for this semi-primitive campground. Managed by the folks down at Wild River State Park, campsites provide only a cleared tent area, fire pit and picnic table. Vault toilets are available and there is drinking water (seasonal).
Contact Wild River State Park or visit:
dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/facilities/cmp00008/
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References
- Photo Credit camping image by Colin Buckland from Fotolia.com
