Minnesota State Park Camper Cabins

Log Structures Make Winter Camping Cozy

Oct 31, 2008

Winter camping is possible, even cozy, with a stay in one of Minnesota's State Park camper cabins. Get out into the crisp air and shorten the winter a bit!

In a state where winter temperatures regularly drop below minus -25 degrees (F), a weekend in the woods in January is not something many folks consider. Thanks to a growing number of camper cabins being built annually by the Minnesota DNR in state parks throughout the state, some extended time out in the crisp winter air is more of a possibility.

Camper Cabins Are Well-Built, Minimal Structures

The log camper cabins are well-built but relatively minimalist in their structure, 12 x 16 feet, 4 bunks and a built in table, but their simplicity allows the DNR to continue to build them (up to a dozen a year recently) and the basics allow for an experience that can still be called camping. Each of the year-round cabins have some form of heat --electric, propane, or wood stove-- and most have an electric light, but that's about it (note: some "seasonal" cabins <see below> do not have heat).

An outdoor fire ring and picnic table are included in the very reasonable 40-45 dollars (depending on electricity) a night, and cooking must be done outdoors. There is no running water or toilet, but all the cabins are close to the state park campground toilets that include those and hot showers. Basically, the cabins are a warm place to sleep after enjoying a day of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking.

There are currently 38 camper cabins available year-round in 12 parks, with more being added every year as their popularity has grown in the last few years. 9 more Minnesota State Parks have seasonal cabins, open from April through October, bringing the current total to 56.

Year-Round Camper Cabins in Minnesota State Parks:

Any time of year, the state park camper cabins are a great opportunity for those who don't have the gear to experience camping. Particularly for families with children, the cabins offer a chance to ease into the pastime and decide whether an investment in equipment is appropriate. Kids will enjoy the bunk beds and ladders.

Another fun family aspect of the camper cabins is the cabin journal or "logbook". Most of the cabins have a notebook that's been written in by all the previous visitors. The entries may contain recommendations for trails, various wildlife that was seen, or detailed play-by-play of their trip, including meals. Kids love writing their own entries and "speaking for the family."

Occasionally the journal will become the log for an ongoing game. At the Lake Shetek camper cabin, people have been hiding pennies for the next visitors to find, noting the number and hints in the logbook. For more "official' fun in the parks, the MN DNR offers a wide variety of programs, including wildlife identification, organized nature hikes, and maple syrup making. Other popular activities in the parks include geocaching, photography, fishing, and swimming.

The copyright of the article Minnesota State Park Camper Cabins in Minnesota Travel is owned by Dale Van Every. Permission to republish Minnesota State Park Camper Cabins in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.