Is there any free camping near Twin Cities?

best tent camping mn image

mary_cathe

I'm just looking for a place to pitch a tent. None of the fancy stuff (plumbing, water electricity, ect...) is necessary.
I'm located just south of Minneapolis so anything around there would be ideal.

Answer
State Forests allow camping without a permit at non-developed sites. This is different from a State Park, where you have to pay a fee and are usually only allowed to camp at designated sites.

Rules:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/camping.html#faq

List of State Forests:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Minnesota_state_forests

They're generally in the northern sections of the state, though there are State Parks everywhere. The Superior Hiking Trail is another great option. It basically runs parallel to Highway 61 north of Duluth. There are dozens of free campsites, though sections of the trail run through State Parks and if you camp there you have to pay, or just walk another couple miles and there's usually a campsite outside the park. The SHT is one of the top rated trails in the country. It's well marked, well maintained, offers a great variety of terrain and views.

There are a number of parks in the region that have campsites that require a short amount of hiking. Afton State Park and Lake Maria State Park are two, this generally greatly reduces the number of people who show up to use those campsites. A night of camping at most State Parks is relatively cheap too.

When camping at a non-developed site, always observe "Leave No Trace". If you are doing your best to preserve the location in it's natural state, DNR officers will usually leave you alone, or if you are in a location that doesn't allow dispersed camping, might be convinced to let you off with a warning (though that can be a risky plan). Being respectful of the land and minimizing your impact will almost always put you in their good graces.

http://www.lnt.org/

Good Places to Fish for Pike in Minnesota?

Thomas Gra

I am looking into planning a fishing trip to Minnesota, if you have ever taken such a trip (or if you live there) can you please tell me some lakes, towns, hotels, etc that would be good to go to so that I can fish Northern Pike.

Answer
As others have said Pike are easily caught all over the State.

However, trophy-sized Pike (Pike over the 38" mark) are only caught regularly on the border of Canada.

I don't think anyone can deny that the "border lakes" of Canada offer the best of ANY type of fishing in MN.

These lakes include: Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Gunflint Lake, Loon Lake, Etc.

I try to make a trip to the Gunflint Lake area every year to catch Bass, Walleye, Pike & Lake Trout. If you want a pristine environment and limits of fish in the 50's-100's PER day, try any of the Border Lakes.

Here's where I go: Go to http://www.gunflintpines.com/camp_cabins.shtml

We get a Camping Cabin.

Camping cabins work well for me and my family because they are inexpensive; eliminate the hassle of tent and camp set-up; are more secure and comfortable than ANY traditional tent camping; have electric facility's for heaters/electric coolers/hot-plates/ Etc and generally sleep better after a hard day of fishing.

Due to the many lakes in the area (some lakes see a HANDFUL of fishermen all year), your odds on catching a number of trophy Pike is pretty secure.

Go check it out.

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can you use a backpacking tent for camping multiple nights in a campground?

tents for camping cheap image

xxohellkit

backpacking tents seem generally cheaper and lighter weight, but would they work well for camping in general? i want a tent i can camp in but also use for backpacking if need be
i dont mean if im allowed to, just if it would work and hold up alright

why are they split anyways? isnt a backpacking tent just a lighter camping tent?

Answer
none of the campgrounds I ever heard would care if you slept on the ground without a tent at all as long as you weren't naked

Will it be worth it to take my tent through Europe?

rusted_gut

I am planning to travel Europe mainly by bicycle alone. Probably Greece-italy-Slovenia-Austria-Germany-
Will it actually save money to bring my tent with? Or should I rather leave the hassle of the tent and sleep in hostels. What will be the cheapest?
I have a feeling it may be cheaper to go by hostels, because i have to pay for my tent site, and not for one person as I would have at a hostel. Or maybe I am wrong... could camping be cheaper?

Answer
Get your backpack packed-
The most important item you will need for your backpacking tour of Europe is, of course, the backpack. Suitcases are bulky and hard to lug around everywhere. Plus, your looking to save money and backpacking is the way to do it. So, on the to backpack itself. This piece of gear will be your best friend on your trip and you need to make sure you get the bag that is right for your body and needs. Most major sporting goods stores will carry backpacks and have a very well informed staff that can fit a back to you that will fit your needs perfectly. Don't settle on this step. If you have to try on twenty backpacks until you find the one that offers the most comfort then so be it. These stores should also have weight bags they can place inside of your backpack so that you can know how they will feel with a heavy load in them. Again, do NOT settle on this step, you will regret it later.

Housing-
So you've bought your backpack. Pat yourself on the back because you are now on your way! The next item you will want to pick up is a lightweight tent. Camping is by a mile the cheapest way to travel through Europe.


Touch down-
So you've made it to Europe! Yay! Time to take out that guide book and find a place to stay, get set up and hit the town! Have fun!

Check out the tips below for more ideas on getting the most out of your trip without breaking the bank! At: http://www.hotels2stay.net/world/europe/index.html

Hope my answer will help you in your way!!! :-)

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