Camping

Camping
Try out one of the state parks in the basin for an unique camping experience – Camden State Park in western Lyon County or Lac qui Parle State Park situated along the a reservoir filled with fish and waterfowl.  Each of the counties maintains park systems for the public along with many of the cities offering a place for people to camp and enjoy what the Minnesota River Basin has to offer.  One of the more unique experiences for camping is staying in one of the tipis at Upper Sioux Agency State Park (Photo below by Ron Bolduan).

Big Stone Lake State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/big_stone_lake/index.html  Found on east side of the Big Stone Lake, this state park has 37 drive-in sites, 10 electric sites and 1 Group Camp.

Glacial Lakes State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/glacial_lakes/index.html  On the far northwest edge of the basin, this state park has 37 camp sites, 4 backpack sites, 8 horseback camp sites and a group camp site.

Lac qui Parle State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lac_qui_parle/index.html  Situated at the south end of the lake, this state park has 37 electric sites (upper campground) and 24 sites (lower campground) along with a 2 group campsites.

Sibley State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/sibley/index.html  North of Willmar, this state park has 132 camping sites, 9 horse camping sites, 3 group camping sites and 4 camper cabins.

Monsoon Lake State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/monson_lake/index.html  Not that far from Sibley State Park, Monson Lake has 20 drive-in camping sites.

Camden State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/camden/rec.html  Close to Marshall, this state park has two campgrounds with handicapped accessible sites, horse camp sites and a group camp site.

Upper Sioux Agency State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/upper_sioux_agency/index.html  Located at the confluence of the Minnesota and Yellow Medicine rivers, this state park has 34 sites, a horseback riding campground and two 18-foot diameter canvas tipis.

For Ridgely State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fort_ridgely/index.html  On the east side of the Minnesota River, this state park has 31 camp sites, 3 walk-in sites and a horseback riding campground.

Flandrau State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/flandrau/index.html  Down along the Cottonwood River in New Ulm, this state park has 92 camping sites in three campgrounds.

Minneopa State Park - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/minneopa/index.html  Located outside of Mankato, this state park has 61 camping sites, 4 group camp sites and 1 camper cabin.

Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/minnesota_valley/index.html  Located in the Lower Minnesota River Watershed between Shakopee and Chaska, this state recreation area has 25 drive-in sties, 8 walk-in sites, a Horse Camp and a Group Camp.