Looking for the best place to do an overnight hang within like 15 miles of minneapolis to test out some gear. Preferably one that won't cost me anything or not much as I'm cheap, broke, and newly married. Thanks!
Looking for the best place to do an overnight hang within like 15 miles of minneapolis to test out some gear. Preferably one that won't cost me anything or not much as I'm cheap, broke, and newly married. Thanks!
Free isn't possible that close to the Cities, and anything at all is tricky. There are several regional parks in the Three Rivers and Anoka County systems that are close by, but I'm not sure if any are open for winter tent camping. (Some have winter camper cabins, but are otherwise closed.) I suspect your best bet is going to be more like 45 minutes out to Lake Maria, William O'Brien, or Afton State Parks, which will run $12 or $16 per night.
Not aware of anything free within 15 miles. As far as pay sites as the fella above me said, Afton State Park isn't terrible. You'd probably have your pick of sites and would have to go look at them to decide which are hammock friendly. I'd have to look myself and get back to you to remember which I thought were ok for hammocking. I'm not a fan of O'Brien just due to the camp sites being mashed together and a metric crapton of people being there. But in the winter that's probably not a concern. If it has to be free, nearest place I can really think of is Sand Dunes State Forest in Zimmerman, MN. The state forests (as opposed to the state parks) don't have amenities (water, bathroom, etc) so you don't have to register, pay, etc. And Sand Dunes is really the only one even close to the cities.
Last edited by MK-9; 12-29-2013 at 23:18.
Most of the sites along the East side at Afton will work for hammocks.
How about the back yard or a buddy's back yard?
If you're going to drive as far as lake Maria you may as well go to sand dunes state forest and do dispersed camping for free. Otherwise you could look at a local park/forest and stealth hang. My buddy CryOTheWild used to hang in parks during college...he slept during the day, so it was actually legal. Otherwise Afton is a good place
The camper formerly known as HikingDad...
http://www.threeriversparks.org/activities/camping.aspx
Choose any of these: All are closer than Lake Maria or Afton with cheap rates.
http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/par...s/default.aspx
Lebanon Hills is great place to get in a outdoors time - LOTS of trails. I have never camped there but I is within your time range from South Minneapolis. Campground is closed during the winter however.
Afton is worth the extra 15 minutes it will take you to get there.
Good Luck
Last edited by OCDave; 12-30-2013 at 00:37.
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