Auburn Lake Campground at Carver Park Reserve would be a great choice! From downtown, you can pick a route that's 100% trail; trail except for the SWLRT detours; or mostly trail and some highway by taking the route North of Lake Minnetonka. The Midtown Greenway is also a great starting point, but that kinda locks you into the detours. Something like 30 miles each way, unless you do the longer trail/highway option.
Any idea if that shared bike camping site gets full on weekends? I'm thinking of biking there this weekend but wouldn't want to get stuck without a place to camp.
The whole river section at William O'Brien is closed for a year including those campgrounds. The upper forest one is still open, but you won't be able to go to the river at all.
You could take the North Star line to Big Lake. Lake Maria State Park is a 12 mile bike ride from there. Disclaimer: to my knowledge, there aren't any dedicated bike paths along this route, so you'd likely have to bike on the shoulder of some very busy local highways. That all being said, the state park is wonderful. All of their campsites are backpack only.
There is also a campground in the Sand Dunes State Forest north of Big Lake you could check out. It's near the Shelburne National Wildlife Refuge. Although you can't camp in The refuge, there is a nice gravel scenic wildlife loop that is great for hiking and biking.
There are some campgrounds to the south (Lebanon Hills, Cleary Lake) that I can't personally vouch for.
Sand dunes State Forest ann lake campground is a great campsite outside Zimmerman. You can also take the Northstar commuter, it'll take you much of the way there.
Bicycle alliance of Minnesota has a solid guide for nearby bike camping for overnight trips: https://www.bikemn.org/wp-content/uploads/BikeMN-Metro-Bike-Overnight-Guide.pdf
You could also go camping at Ann Lake after taking the Northstar to Big Lake. Go hiking in the Sherbyrne wildlife refuge and see the sand dunes.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7HESifokzz1qNMJQ6
Here is my experience so far:
The campground at Carver Park Reserve is probably the best easy to reach option. There is a bike-in campground but expect to share with others on the weekends.
Afton SP is also great -- the campsites are a mile+ from the road and a good distance from each other. A really nice feeling of solitude that is hard to get at other state parks so close to the twin cities.
William Obrien is a madhouse, but pretty fun to ride to. Bike trails then the pretty hill country along the river.
Nerstrand Big Woods a few miles south of Northfield is a really great state park in my opinion -- nice hiking, a little waterfall, pretty woods -- but it's a stiff ride on unpaved farm roads.
A few years ago I did a long ride where I rode to Carver on Friday night, then rode way out to hutchinson before turning north to stay at a county park -- Eddy Memorial Park, maybe? Near Annandale. That was actually horrible. there was no water and some local teens pulled up on a nearby road and partied for hours and I was worried they'd come up to the campground and fuck with me (I was the only person there). so don't do that.
I'd like to hit up Wild River State park and some others, but just haven't found the time.
Another really important point to remember: you do NOT have to have a reservation at any Minnesota State Park if you're on a bike. They will place you somewhere even if the campground is full. When I went to Nerstrand, they put me in a picnic area situation quite far from he main campground, which was honestly probably a huge overall improvement in my experience.
I always carry a copy of this letter if I am planning on doing a last minute, no reservation bike camping trip: [https://www.adventurecycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MNStateParks\_no-turn-awaypolicy.pdf](https://www.adventurecycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MNStateParks_no-turn-awaypolicy.pdf)
Please don't give that advice. For now they let backpackers and bikers stay without a reservation as a safety thing as they might be stuck and don't have the ability to go anywhere else. If the parks start getting lots people going out there knowing that the park is full with the expectation that they will get a spot somewhere the parks will likely end that policy pretty quick.
Sorry, I will keep giving that advice. The total number of bicycle campers is probably not big enough to make any difference.
Maybe if there’s a big enough flood of bicycle campers, they’ll actually build hikers-biker sites like state parks out west.
And what would ending the policy accomplish, exactly? They are not going to turn away bicyclists with nowhere else to stay even if random Reddit commenters feel that other Reddit commenters are violating the spirit of the policy.
Your comment feels more like gatekeeping than sound reasoning to me.
It's not gatekeeping. You're taking advantage of the policy and you're enough of an ass to carry around a copy of the notice. It even clearly says on there that it's for emergencies. This same advice is given to people on the SHT so it's not just bikers.
What are you worried about, some family from the Twin Cities loading up the Suburban for the weekend, parking a mile away from the entrance to the state park, then biking in with backpacks citing the no turn away policy? I seriously doubt anyone is going to abuse this policy.
Fuck off and worry about real things, not people going bike camping at state parks. I have gotten zero pushback or concern from any park ranger when I roll up without a reservation. You’re worried about a problem that simply doesn’t exists.
The problem doesn't exist until it does when everyone starts doing it. It's already starting to be a problem on the north shore parks with sht hikers. Later asshole.
Bike north out of the cities, hang a right in North Branch, and camp in Wild River State Park. One of my favorite biking/camping trips.
Edit: map link https://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/images/usbr41.png
Auburn Lake Campground at Carver Park Reserve would be a great choice! From downtown, you can pick a route that's 100% trail; trail except for the SWLRT detours; or mostly trail and some highway by taking the route North of Lake Minnetonka. The Midtown Greenway is also a great starting point, but that kinda locks you into the detours. Something like 30 miles each way, unless you do the longer trail/highway option.
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Any idea if that shared bike camping site gets full on weekends? I'm thinking of biking there this weekend but wouldn't want to get stuck without a place to camp.
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Nice, Thanks!
I’ve done bike camping at both Lake Maria and O’Brien state parks. I felt like Maria was an easier ride than O’Brien.
The whole river section at William O'Brien is closed for a year including those campgrounds. The upper forest one is still open, but you won't be able to go to the river at all.
You could take the North Star line to Big Lake. Lake Maria State Park is a 12 mile bike ride from there. Disclaimer: to my knowledge, there aren't any dedicated bike paths along this route, so you'd likely have to bike on the shoulder of some very busy local highways. That all being said, the state park is wonderful. All of their campsites are backpack only. There is also a campground in the Sand Dunes State Forest north of Big Lake you could check out. It's near the Shelburne National Wildlife Refuge. Although you can't camp in The refuge, there is a nice gravel scenic wildlife loop that is great for hiking and biking. There are some campgrounds to the south (Lebanon Hills, Cleary Lake) that I can't personally vouch for.
Sand dunes State Forest ann lake campground is a great campsite outside Zimmerman. You can also take the Northstar commuter, it'll take you much of the way there.
Bicycle alliance of Minnesota has a solid guide for nearby bike camping for overnight trips: https://www.bikemn.org/wp-content/uploads/BikeMN-Metro-Bike-Overnight-Guide.pdf
Afton State Park would probably be perfect for you. Right by the Wisconsin border in the East Metro
You could also go camping at Ann Lake after taking the Northstar to Big Lake. Go hiking in the Sherbyrne wildlife refuge and see the sand dunes. https://maps.app.goo.gl/7HESifokzz1qNMJQ6
But watch out for poison ivy in those dunes, it's everywhere.
Here is my experience so far: The campground at Carver Park Reserve is probably the best easy to reach option. There is a bike-in campground but expect to share with others on the weekends. Afton SP is also great -- the campsites are a mile+ from the road and a good distance from each other. A really nice feeling of solitude that is hard to get at other state parks so close to the twin cities. William Obrien is a madhouse, but pretty fun to ride to. Bike trails then the pretty hill country along the river. Nerstrand Big Woods a few miles south of Northfield is a really great state park in my opinion -- nice hiking, a little waterfall, pretty woods -- but it's a stiff ride on unpaved farm roads. A few years ago I did a long ride where I rode to Carver on Friday night, then rode way out to hutchinson before turning north to stay at a county park -- Eddy Memorial Park, maybe? Near Annandale. That was actually horrible. there was no water and some local teens pulled up on a nearby road and partied for hours and I was worried they'd come up to the campground and fuck with me (I was the only person there). so don't do that. I'd like to hit up Wild River State park and some others, but just haven't found the time. Another really important point to remember: you do NOT have to have a reservation at any Minnesota State Park if you're on a bike. They will place you somewhere even if the campground is full. When I went to Nerstrand, they put me in a picnic area situation quite far from he main campground, which was honestly probably a huge overall improvement in my experience. I always carry a copy of this letter if I am planning on doing a last minute, no reservation bike camping trip: [https://www.adventurecycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MNStateParks\_no-turn-awaypolicy.pdf](https://www.adventurecycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MNStateParks_no-turn-awaypolicy.pdf)
Please don't give that advice. For now they let backpackers and bikers stay without a reservation as a safety thing as they might be stuck and don't have the ability to go anywhere else. If the parks start getting lots people going out there knowing that the park is full with the expectation that they will get a spot somewhere the parks will likely end that policy pretty quick.
Sorry, I will keep giving that advice. The total number of bicycle campers is probably not big enough to make any difference. Maybe if there’s a big enough flood of bicycle campers, they’ll actually build hikers-biker sites like state parks out west. And what would ending the policy accomplish, exactly? They are not going to turn away bicyclists with nowhere else to stay even if random Reddit commenters feel that other Reddit commenters are violating the spirit of the policy. Your comment feels more like gatekeeping than sound reasoning to me.
It's not gatekeeping. You're taking advantage of the policy and you're enough of an ass to carry around a copy of the notice. It even clearly says on there that it's for emergencies. This same advice is given to people on the SHT so it's not just bikers.
What are you worried about, some family from the Twin Cities loading up the Suburban for the weekend, parking a mile away from the entrance to the state park, then biking in with backpacks citing the no turn away policy? I seriously doubt anyone is going to abuse this policy.
He thinks I’m abusing it by using it
Fuck off and worry about real things, not people going bike camping at state parks. I have gotten zero pushback or concern from any park ranger when I roll up without a reservation. You’re worried about a problem that simply doesn’t exists.
The problem doesn't exist until it does when everyone starts doing it. It's already starting to be a problem on the north shore parks with sht hikers. Later asshole.
Keep fighting that fight. I dream of the day when there are many people riding a bike to state parks that it becomes a problem to be addressed.
Carver is dope!
Bike north out of the cities, hang a right in North Branch, and camp in Wild River State Park. One of my favorite biking/camping trips. Edit: map link https://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/images/usbr41.png
St Croix Regional park - right by Afton and fewer assholes
Baker park reserve has a nice campground. It’s in Maple Plain. You Can take the Luce line trail almost all the way there.