Autumn in Minnesota is gorgeous. One of the best ways to get out and enjoy what fall has to offer before winter arrives is to find a beautiful campsite among the trees and bathe in the colors. Add a water view to the foliage to make things even better. Here are a handful of our favorite places to camp in the fall!
To sleep among some of the most picturesque fall foliage in Minnesota, head to Whitewater State Park in Southeast Minnesota’s Bluff Country. Limestone cliff faces tower over the Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek as they run through deep, forested ravines. The hardwoods in the park burst into a stunning array of reds, golds, and oranges in the autumn. Try and book one of the 10 riverfront sites in the campground to maximize your views or to have a go at the native brook trout that inhabit the park’s streams. A special trout stamp is required if you do decide to fish for them. Hiking in the park is gorgeous, but several of the trails can be challenging, so be sure to bring sturdy shoes or boots.
If you prefer to enjoy your autumn with a little more solitude than that offered by larger campgrounds, Silver Island Lake Campground in the Superior National Forest offers an experience somewhere in between car camping and a backcountry hike-in site. The campground has only eight sites, strung along the shore of Silver Island Lake among the fall-golden aspens, birches, and poplars. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. There is a vault toilet, and that’s it. There’s no electricity, potable water, or other people (except for those in the other seven sites) for miles. Be prepared to rough it from your car. This means you’ll need to bring your own drinking water or treat the water from the lake. There are black bears in the forest, so take necessary precautions with food storage!
Kruger Campground is pretty much ground-zero for fall foliage in Minnesota. The campground is located among the Mississippi River bluffs, near the mouth of the Zumbro River in the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest. The steep, forested bluffs, deep ravines, and views up and down the valleys make Kruger an awesome spot for fall camping and hiking. Because it’s a state forest campground—rather than a state park campground—sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. On the other hand, the campground is also smaller and, therefore, much less crowded than typical park campgrounds. The campground is located near a stream, but take advantage of the nearby hiking trails to see the gorgeous river views in the forest.
The Nemadji State Forest is part of a transition zone where hardwood forests of Southern Minnesota begin to give way to the aspens, birches, and balsams of the Great North Woods. This means that fall camping on the shore of Pickerel Lake in Gafvert Campground is spectacular. The Nemadji State Forest is in a sparsely populated part of the state, and a little off the beaten path, so chances are good that you’ll be able to score a site with a water view in the fall. Hike or bike the Willard Munger State Trail to take in all the beauty that autumn in Minnesota has to offer. There is a popular grouse hunting area nearby, so if you’re not a hunter, be aware that you may be sharing the forest with them in the fall.
Prepare to be blown away by some truly magnificent waterfalls. Gooseberry Fall State Park has 69 drive-in sites (no electric), three pull-through sites, as well as two wheelchair-accessible sites, and three group campsites. The RV length limit is 40 feet. On the grounds, you’ll find showers and flush toilets, but these are only available until late October as the water is turned off. Although, vault toilets are available year-round. At the park, you’ll find hiking trails, biking trails, and more. The visitor center includes bathrooms, vending machines, interpretive displays, a nature store, a video wall and theater, and more. Grab some firewood at the visitor center, too, for a cozy campfire to end your crisp days at Gooseberry Falls.
