Glendalough State Park Campground

What a wonderful park for families and first time campers.  All sites (except one handicapped site) are tent only and cart-in sites.  That being said, the trip from the (assigned) parking spot to your site is very short and very flat.
The loop of campsites are in a grove of hardwood trees that offered great shade and and a contrast to the surrounding prairies.  The campsites were filled with families and things were very quiet by 9 pm each night.
With the opportunity to spend time on a non-motorized boating lake, two streams, plenty of fishing, lots of trails and family picnic spots along a swim beach, it's perfect for every level of camper.
We saw many deer, caught many pan fish and observed an eagle in it's nest... We can't wait to go back.
It's more of a "domestic park" than wilderness, but it is great for an easy, relaxing camping trip.

Perfect State Park for a Family Visit

This is one of the few state parks where they have canoe-in sites. It's right in the heart of lake country so there's always water around you. They have cabins as well as tent sites so its pretty easy to get around. They have a few of the new yurts that the Mn State Park system put in. These are very nice. 

There's also an old house/museum where the former owner of the land lived. Apparently a few presidents visited there during the turn of the century. 

Yurts & Canoes

Only Tents Allowed--this is the most serene place! They don't allow motor boats on one of the lakes so there is always calm water to canoe, kayak, swim, or paddleboard in.

Tents only, Calm, Serene Water

We decided to try camping in one of Glendalough’s yurts. There is carts available to haul your gear. The views along the bike path are stunning. There is so much to do here. Biking, hiking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boards, and so much more. Truly something for everyone. We had a blast and can’t wait to go on our next adventure there!

You won’t be disappointed

walk in campground on a non-motorized lake, great for canoe or paddle board, paved bike trail around the park, rentals for bikes and watercraft available, sand beaches

quiet, cart in campground

My friend &amp; I stayed in their Osprey yurt, and it was perfect for our first camping trip together. I recommend yurts if you’re not 100% comfortable with/ enjoy staying in a tent. 

Yurt

This park is a little gem. The campgrounds are on Annie Battle Lake, a peaceful little lake. A prairie walk away is Molly Stark Lake, which, though it allows motorized boats, is quite peaceful, and great for an afternoon of swimming and play and fishing.

Galloping Goose rentals is on the park, and rents out canoes, kayaks, and SUPs. Be sure to spend some time paddling around Annie Battle Lake.

Nearby Battle Lake has several grocery stores and restaurants and ice cream options.

We stayed at site 22, which is one of a few sites with lake views and access (I believe 24 might, as well). The sites are spaced out enough that it still feels private even though you can see other campers’ tents. 

Beautiful little park with options to keep everyone happy

We had a really great weekend exploring Glendalough, in the Ottertail Lakes region where the northwoods transitions out to prairie. Lots of lakes, a mosaic of habitats from pine and aspen forest to maple and ash woodlands, to oak savannah, to fens and marshes and lakes and streams and prairie. The camping opportunities here are really unique, it is one of the few state parks in our state where there are no RV's or car camping,, you have to hike in with your tent and gear on trails into the campground, or paddle across the lake to some of the more remote campsites, or backpack or bike around to the other side of the lake on trails to more dispersed sites. It is awesome. The lakes are ranked among the most pristine in the state and are designated"Heritage Lakes" because of the water qulity and the diverse habitats around them. They also have a few camper cabins or yurts that you can rent which you can cart in to or hike to with your gear. It makes for a very quiet, very secluded and very peaceful retreat with quiet outdoorsy like-minded neighbors. In the summer they have all kinds of environmental education programs, and you can learn on your own with their field guides and good interpetive trails explaining the activity of the glaciers through here, how the landscape formed and how different microclimates and habitiats evolved after the glaciers retreated. They are open year round, in the winter you can cross-country ski or snowshoe in for winter camping. Pretty cool!

Five-star state park camping for tenters

Beautiful biking trails!!! There’s a paved trail around the lake. Hiking trails in the prairie are breathtaking. The yurts looked very cool. Will return. 

Fantastic biking 

Woah love this park! Has so many things to do. 

- Went on the hiking club trail around Annie Battle Lake, most of it is even paved for biking or groomed for skiing. 

- The yurt and watercraft sites are secluded and so awesome with great views, right on the lake, firewood and water back there available specifically for that area... so cool. 

- The cart in sites and camper cabins are in a little old growth forest area right on the lake up in a little hill area. Spaced out quite well, all have views of lake (even though on a hill so for swimming/boating access you gotta go to appropriate spots). What a site for camping! 

- Very clear and calm lakes, sandy, and the little creeks/rivers betwixt them are just begging to be canoed or kayaked. 

- Great swimming areas and picnic tables and fire pits everywhere. Vast views and also pretty wooded areas. 

- Shower and rest rooms very modern by the trail center. 

All in all so cool that they kept it so rustic has a cool history! Big views and wooded views which I love. Various walks, streams and lakes. Campground is the real deal and good for anyone who wants a wilderness experience without actually backpacking! Great for kids, for sure! 