Lake Maria Campground

Great cross country ski trails in the winter!

For Twin Cities dwellers, this park is a backpacker's paradise close to home. It's less than one hour from Minneapolis, and offers 17 secluded backpack sites, with covered latrines. You only have to hike-in between 0.5 and 2 miles to most sites, but it offers the privacy and peacefulness of a much more remote camping spot. There are plenty of hiking trails, although some overlap with horse trails (so watch out for poop!). Just don't forget to bring toilet paper :) This site is also habitat for many amphibians and reptiles, including the endangered blandings turtle. I highly recommend.

If hiking to the cabins in the winter , don't forget to bring water and wearing ice cleats or yaktrax is very helpful as some of the trails that lead to your destination will have icy inclines .