# Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland

See photos, check availability, and book on Hipcamp: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/minnesota-gilles-family-dairy-woodland-glz9hlyp

- **Location:** Houston, Minnesota, United States
- **Price:** from $31.50/night
- **Rating:** 100% recommend (531 reviews)
- **Sites:** 4
- **Size:** 100 acres
- **Host:** Mike And Joan G.

## Overview

ALERT; We will not receive booking requests or messages from July 25th through August 10th as we will not have WIFI at that time. 
Welcome ; Located in southeast Minnesota's Driftless region of hills, valleys, fields and forests, we are a grass based working dairy farm with over 100 acres of woodland,

including an extensive trail system and campsites in our wooded acres. What makes this woodland special is it's quiet, secluded setting and over 6 miles of hiking / skiing trails.

Our farmstead sits three quarter of a mile off the paved county highway on our well maintained gravel driveway.

Each of our campsites are secluded from the others with their own sawdust compost toilets, picnic tables, fireplaces, and firewood.

Two of our sites require 4WD with a minimum of 6 inches ground clearance

to access, and two are accessible with 2WD.

If you do not have 4WD we can help transport your gear while you enjoy the walk in.

There are plenty of woodland birds, deer, turkeys, raccoons and squirrels sharing the woods with you. At night it is common for owls to visit the campsite area to say hello, and coyotes talking in the distance. The winding trails through 100 acres of woodland offer a variety of woodland habitats, from Old growth Maple to mixed hardwood, to dense brush, to the edges of open pastureland. Bring your fat bike or mountain bike for an enjoyable ride.

For winter users there is a mix of easy, moderate, and challenging winter cross country skiing

 or snowshoeing / hiking

on the property. However the Rock Bottom Cabin is our only heated and insulated site and is available for winter booking. Winter access is walk in only with snow on the ground or in the forecast. We can help transport gear.

This property is part of a working pasture-based dairy farm and guided tours of the dairy and cattle are available when scheduling allows.

Children 12 and younger are free at our campsites.

No need to be counted as guests , but please let us know when requesting to book.

We do not allow non-booked visitors to our campsites due to the secluded, remote location, and accessibility.

## Highlights

- **Best Hipcamps in Minnesota:** Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2025.
- **Family-friendly:** Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
- **Best in Minnesota: Finalist:** Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
- **Staff verified:** Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
- **Mike and Joan is a Star Host:** Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
- **Romantic:** Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is romantic.
- **Private sites:** 100% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.

## Amenities

- **Amenities:** Pets, Potable water, Toilets, Campfires, Trash, Picnic table, Playground
- **RV amenities:** Generators
- **Activities:** Biking, Hiking, Horseback riding, Snow sports, Wildlife watching
- **Terrain:** Forest, Farm

## Sites

- **ROCK BOTTOM CABIN** (cabin, up to 6 guests, $88.00/night)
- **WOODEN TENT IN THE WOODS** (cabin, up to 6 guests, $55.00/night)
- **ROUND MOUND CAMPSITE** (rv-tent, up to 6 guests, $35.00/night)
- **HILLTOP QUEEN** (quirky, up to 6 guests, $88.00/night)

## Recent reviews

> This was our second time at Rock Bottom Cabin and it was again a beautiful stay. At the tail end of fall and with perfect weather, we were able to explore much more of the trails this time and have awesome campfires. It is such a nice time to disconnect and take it easy. Again, Mike and Joan made sure we had everything we needed! Thanks again!
>
> - Emily P., October 27, 2026

> We loved our stay here! If you’re looking for a unique/quirky/memorable place to stay, would highly recommend! Very quiet and private, great fire pit, and makes for a great story.
>
> - Anna Z., October 18, 2026

> Had a great two nights with two kids and a dog. Beautiful property. Slightly challenging trails (inclines) but great views as a reward. We added therma rests to the futon bed and slept well. It got down to almost freezing the first night - the wood fire stove was great. We did relight the fire overnight to stay cozy. The second night wasn’t as cold and we managed the fire a little better and lasted the whole night. Would definitely stay again.
>
> - Chanda K., October 18, 2026

> We had a great stay. Gracious host, lots of thoughtful amenities and we loved the trip!
>
> - Mike F., October 17, 2026

> This was our first time using Hipcamp and we couldn’t not of had a better experience. It started off with Mike giving us a tour of his working dairy farm. My wife feel in love with the super-cute calves. Then Mike took his time explaining the camp site to us and the trials. The location was beautiful and peaceful. My dog, Cooper, had the best time. He was busy running around and playing our whole stay.
>
> - Anthony M., October 12, 2026