Best Winter Camping In Minneapolis Near Me

4worldlovers:
To get to the park headquarters and main use area, enter the park address into your GPS: 39797 Park Trail, Center City, MN 55012. Take exit #147 (Hwy 95) from I-35. We are located 15 miles east of North Branch at the terminus of County Road 12.

Parking at the Sunrise Landing? Be sure to buy your vehicle permit in advance online (link is external) or at the park office - permits are not available at the Sunrise Landing.

This park is a natural place and home to many animals. To minimize your chance of encountering raccoons, bears, skunks or other wildlife, please:

Keep coolers and food in your vehicle at night and anytime you are away from your site.

If you are in a backpack site, keep food in the storage box provided.

Wild River State Park also manages the Snake River Forest Campground, located in the Chengwatana State Forest near Pine City, open from early May to late November. This quiet, rustic campground is first-come first served, and does not take reservations. Contact the park for more information.

Wood is not available after hours at this park. If you will be arriving after the park office closes, please be sure to buy wood from the gas station in Almelund or from another nearby approved vendor. Wood from private property or from parks or vendors outside Chisago County is prohibited unless it bears the MDA shield of approval. Gathering firewood can spread tree-killing insects and is against state park rules. Protect our trees - please burn only approved firewood!

Nevers Dam...The Lumberman's Dam (PDF) - An illustrated history of a St. Croix River logging era landmark.

4worldlovers:
Hidden Falls Regional Park is located along the Mississippi River bluffs just below Lock and Dam 1. This beautiful park is great for birding, fishing, picnicking, walking, and biking.


CLOSURE NOTICE: Roads, trails, amenities, and sections of Hidden Falls Regional Park may be closed at times due to flooding, construction, restoration, or other conditions. The gates may close to vehicle traffic during the winter due to the steep roads becoming hazardous. Please obey all barriers and signage. Do not trespass into closed areas of the park. For updates and information, visit the Park Closures & Special Notices page and the Public Works Road Closures page.


BBQ Grill, Benches, Biking Trail, Boat Launch, Fire Pit, Hiking Trail, Picnic Area, Restroom Facilities, and Shelter


With about 6.7 miles of paved trails, the park provides a beautiful setting for an afternoon's walk, run, or ride. Trails run along shady, wooded bottomlands next to the Mississippi River, past scenic picnic areas, and connects to the Mississippi River Boulevard parkway.

Fitness in the Parks is a free outdoor exercise program offered throughout the summer. Classes are open to all ages and no registration is necessary.

Expect to catch primarily panfish when fishing the Mississippi River banks. One DNR official called the Mississippi River "the fishin' river of Minnesota." It has a fantastic array of gamefish such as walleye, sauger, northern pike and muskie. Standard state regulations apply to fishing on the Mississippi. Call (651)259-5831 for more fishing regulation information.

Note: Boat launch is located at Hidden Falls North (Magoffin entrance)

Hidden Falls has an open shelter that covers 12 of 16 picnic tables and seats approximately 60 people. Electricity is available at a 110 volts. Multiple crock pots, coffee pots, roasters and other electric items may cause overloads on the power source.

Also Available are the following: drinking fountains, 2 fire rings, 1 boat launch, paved trails and barbecue grills which are located around the site.

Note: The possession or consumption of alcohol is prohibited in this park.

Please contact the Park Permit Office at 651-632-5111 or ParksPermits@ci.stpaul.mn.us for more information or to make a reservation. Office hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The possession or consumption of alcohol is prohibited in this park.

Please remember that despite the wilderness setting of Hidden Falls Parks, it is still a city park and subject to the same rules for dogs as any other city park. Pets must be licensed and secured by a leash six feet or less. Owners are required to carry clean-up materials for their pets' droppings. Anyone violating these rules are subject to ticketing. Remember, loose dogs and wildlife don't mix!

May be used only on designated bike paths. Motorized vehicles have the right of way at all intersections with bike paths. Bicyclists are allowed only on bike paths and roads reserved for vehicular traffic.

Barbecue grills are available, and people may bring their own grill for outdoor cooking. Recreational fires are allowed only at fire rings.

The park dates back to 1887, when it was selected by Horace Cleveland, a nationally known landscape architect and park planner, as one of four major park sites for the City of Saint Paul. Except for the use of a portion of the land as a tree nursery, no improvement was made in Hidden Falls Park until 1936-37, when the WPA carried out an extensive improvement program on the site. Featured in the park was a small spring-feed waterfall from which the park got its name. In the mid 1960's the park took much of its present form as work began on the park's four primary use areas: the primitive area, boat launching area, general picnic area, and scenic falls area.

The Hidden Falls - Crosby Farm Regional Park Master Plan was adopted in 2019. The plan guides future park improvements and natural resources management. Priority improvement projects will be implemented as funding and opportunities become available. See the Hidden Falls - Crosby Farm Regional Park Projects webpage for more information.

4worldlovers:
Coldwater Spring was added to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in January 2010, with the goal of restoring the landscape to an oak savanna/prairie complex. An extensive renovation, which included the removal of twelve buildings and the restoration and seeding of twelve acres of prairie and one acre of wetlands, began in early 2011 and was largely completed by August 31, 2012. During the course of the restoration more than 1,000 trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers were planted on the property. The restoration work, however, will continue for many years.

This area served as an important crossroads for Native Americans and traders using both the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers for commerce and travel. During the construction of Fort Snelling U.S. soldiers camped at Coldwater Spring, making it the first American settlement in Minnesota. By 1825, construction of the fort had been completed and soldiers had moved from Coldwater into the fort. The area around the spring, however, continued to attract traders, Native Americans, and a small village developed that serviced the trade at the site.

The spring also continued to provide water to the new fort and the later Upper Post. The fort initially relied on horse-drawn water wagons and eventually railcars to deliver water from Coldwater Spring up until the 1870s. By 1879, the fort was expanded under Secretary of War, Alexander Ramsey. The fort's expansion demanded a more efficient water supply system and, in 1880, the Army established a formal waterworks at the spring. Coldwater served as the water source for the Army until the 1920s when the Army turned to the City of Saint Paul to supply water for the fort.

The property was last home to the Bureau of Mines: Twin Cities Research Center. The buildings were constructed primarily during the late 1950's through the early 1960's.The Research Center developed significant mining safety equipment, mining technologies and mineral extraction processes used worldwide. The labs there also analyzed the composition of some of the moon rocks brought to Earth by the Apollo moonshot missions. Federal funding for the Bureau of Mines was permanently eliminated in 1996; by 1997 the buildings were vacated and gradually fell into disrepair. They remained vacant until their demolition in 2011.

The park features a crushed limestone trail for walking to Coldwater Spring. Additionally, there are many opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. Birdwatching is becoming a popular activity at Coldwater Spring as the savanna/prairie restoration matures and attracts a larger number of species. Turkeys, deer, and even coyotes are not uncommon and native wildflowers bloom throughout the growing season.

Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet (2 meters) in length.

Bicycles must be walked on the gravel trail from the parking lot past the spring house to the junction of the next trail to prevent rutting.

WARNING: Water from the spring house and reservoir is not potable. Do not drink or use for personal consumption. Our tests indicate the water that runs from the spring's recharge area is not filtered sufficiently by natural processes to be safe for human consumption.

We monitor the water discharge from both the springhouse and Wetland A weekly.

5601 Minnehaha Park Dr S, St Paul, MN 55111 (Not all electronic maps use this address for this location and you may want to use the GPS coordinates below.) Driving directions: From Hiawatha Ave, turn east on 54th Street East and then immediately south on the frontage road. Paid parking is available along this street. (Parking at Coldwater is limited to disability parking only.) From the west, drive east on 54th Street East and turn south on the frontage road after passing through the Hiawatha Ave intersection.

4worldlovers:
Welcome to the Minneapolis NW KOA! We look forward to having you camp with us and enjoy our campground and its facilities.

With 20 acres of maples, oaks and lush lawns, this KOA is a relaxing suburban oasis that's a quick jaunt from big-city sights - and only 17 miles to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Sports fans are close to stadiums for pro football, basketball and baseball in Minneapolis. You're only 25 miles from the National Sports Center in Blaine and 35 miles from Valleyfair. Browse five shopping centers in addition to the Mall of America (30 miles), an outlet shopping center (10 miles) and Cabela's (3 miles). Choose sunny or shady level sites. Some Pull-Thru RV Sites stretch up to 80 feet. With a regular antenna, you can access up to 25 channels. This KOA offers free Wi-Fi. Enjoy mini golf, horseshoes, basketball, a playground, game room, swimming pool and free holiday hayrides. Please be aware that due to weather conditions in early April, water to each site may not be available. In those situations, campers will be able to fill their holding tank at the front office. Pool: Memorial Weekend - Labor Day Weekend. Max pull thru: 80 feet. Your hosts: Joyce, Dan and Jim Hou.