1 campground with availability this weekend
Whitewater State Park and Eagle Cliff Campground provide distinct glamping options in the scenic bluffs region near Altura, Minnesota. Both locations house elevated canvas accommodations with comfortable beds, electricity, and private outdoor areas for enjoying the natural surroundings. The upscale safari-style tents and yurt accommodations feature quality furnishings, climate control, and proximity to water features. "Whitewater State Park Campground is amazing. It's very clean, well kept and the sites are all mostly private with trees which is so much nicer than being in a giant field of tents and RVs like most campgrounds," shared one visitor. The glamping sites maintain a balance of rustic charm and modern comforts, with many offering full bathrooms, kitchenettes, and furnished patios.
Hiking trails lead directly from several glamping accommodations at both resorts, with Whitewater State Park's renowned bluff trails accessible within minutes of the luxury canvas tents. The Old Barn Resort, featuring both yurts and glamping tents, connects guests to fishing opportunities on the trout-rich waters and offers a selection of guided outdoor experiences. According to a camper, "We participated in many naturalist programs including: bird banding, archery in the park, trout fishing, and learning about bats and peregrine falcons." Seasonal considerations affect availability, with most glamping accommodations open from April through October, though some weatherized yurts remain accessible year-round. The area's minimal mosquito population, frequently mentioned in reviews, enhances the outdoor luxury experience, allowing guests to fully enjoy private decks and fire features during evening hours without the typical Minnesota insect concerns.
"Drinking water had already been turned off for the season, but the bathroom still had running water and flush toilets in mid-October. Easy access to hiking trails."
"Site 53 was close to the showers and water spigot and it was a big enough spot for 2 tents while being private. It was a 10-20 minute walk to anywhere else."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $250 / night
"Located on the Root River. Cliff View has very clean bath houses. Lots of sites to choose from. 50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If your close enough to the office wifi available."
"Situated right along the Root River next to the bike trail. They offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals and shuttles. They also have bike rentals. This facility is clean and very well kept."
from $30 - $46 / night
"Nice park for everyone’s type from tents, cabins and all size RV’s. Electric only at the camp sites but have water and dump station on site. Clean bathrooms and showers."
"It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground."
"The cart in sites all have a fire pit with a grill, picnic table, and are a short walk from the primitive toilets. There is a water spigot in the parking area."
"I enjoy camping away from the hub bub of the family campground and opting for the backpack or cart in sites. Luckily, Great River Bluffs has some of the nicest cart ins I have encountered."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 / night
"Our site was very large, which was nice as it gave us more than enough room to set up our tent, leaving space between us and the neighboring sites."
"It was located right on the Root River Trail System which we liked for biking and running."
"Fire rings have attached grills. Lovely walking trails. Near Lake Pepin. One negative was orange/rusty water from hand pump well. $14 a night!!! We plan to camp there again."
"Nice and tucked away. Sites are very private. Has beautiful trails. Next to the river great for exploring and fishing."
from $14 / night
"There is a restaurant/bar on site. The river is behind the property."
"Mark, Sheri and the staff are good people who work hard to make sure you have a great time. The food is excellent and comes out SO FAST; bravo to the kitchen staff!"
"There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails."
"It can be a little confusing because the camping and mystery caves are a distance apart. I highly recommend going to the caves."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $90 / night
"Walking trails were nice but recommend pants as the grass was long in spots. Plenty of wildlife and could not hear the cars from the highway."
"Water, fishing, tubing, bar, pavilion, kid and animal friendly, showers, toilets, fire pits, water/electric sites, easy booking."
"There is a bar and restaurant within walking distance. A lot of people camp there, the sites are small we still managed to have a good time. We had four campsites next to each other for our group."
from $30 - $40 / night
RangerThis campground has large private sites, most are shady or partially shaded. Bathrooms are large and well maintained. There’s lots of good hiking trails and the historic town of Forestville was interesting to explore. Absolutely no cell coverage for T-Mobile or AT&T but luckily our site had a good opening in the trees for our Starlink. Would definitely recommend.
TravelerWe tent camped one night, midweek late August. Our site was private, close enough to the shower house but far enough away that we didn't hear any noise from the exhaust fans. Was a lovely quiet night. On a tight schedule so we weren't able to sample any of the hikes. Would stay here again. #33 also looked like a prime tent camp spot.
GuideNice campground sites are smaller & you will need to level. Nice clean flush toilets & showers. Can hear the highway below. Road in is gravel & narrow not for big rigs.
ScoutI was a little skeptical after a negative review about the regular residents, so I watched for that dynamic. We were camping with another family so we had 8 kids between the two of us and I was worried all those kiddos would upset people. Quite the opposite experience from that review and it motivated me to leave this one to help provide a good picture. I have nothing bad to say about our camping experience. We did go a little out of season (September 12) so a lot of the campsites were empty. Most their sites are flat, and clean. The grass was well mowed and maintained. They had activities for the kids (Halloween). People that drove by were friendly and smiling, and waiving. We had people drop off candy for the kids asking parents first. We had people offer basketballs for our kids to use while they were away from their site. Me and my friend were about to haul ice bags and wood up a huge hill on foot and someone stopped their golf cart and emptied it of what they were carrying to give us a ride to our campsite. The kids tootled about on their bikes being kids with no negative experiences. There were a couple of kids on motor scooters whose engines were kind of obnoxious but that’s going to happen more and more at campgrounds, and it wasn’t during quiet hours. We had sites atop the “full Lakeview” and it was honestly surprising how beautiful it was up there. I think it can be difficult to get a view when you’re camping but those sites had it. We knew the full lake view sites were open so we took the cheaper ones across from them, but still saw the same view. There was a great amount of space between the sites we used. The only possible critique I might offer is in that specific row there weren’t many trees for shade, but the weather was cooler so it didn’t affect us, but if we went in the summer it might have been more uncomfortable without that natural shade. The bath houses and showers were great!!! I feel like a good bath house can make or break a campsite and we’ve been to some smaller ones that were quite lacking but this one was great. Very clean, not many bugs, spacious, real doors on the shower stalls. We did not arrive in season to utilize the pool area but it looked great from the other side of the gate ;) - the parks were well maintained and the kids loved them. there was a set of stairs that went from up the hill down to the office that looked a little sketchy but they were closed off for use. If you didn’t have a golf cart or couldn’t ride a bike, the trek from where we stayed to the office might be a challenge. Overall we loved it and would definitely consider going again. The sites were a little pricey but had on site sewer hookup which is fantastic.
RangerBeautiful setting along the Mississippi River. A few campsites right on the river edge. Also sites with Electric.
Across the railroad tracks is the nice little village of Stockholm which is famous for the PIE Shop. The village also has a wonderful bakery and other small shops and cafes.
A very nice Nature Center outside of town with great prairie trails and views overlooking the Mississippi River up high in the bluffs.
The campground does NOT have showers.
Campground does not have sewage dumping station.
The campground is located close to the railroad tracks but the trains go through fast and were not as bad as we expected.
LegendThis campground is on the opposite side of the road as the park office… but on the same side as the beach. Nice new shower building and nice roads. Some sites are a bit on the smaller side, but there are some drive through sites as well. There are also group sites and cabins.
LegendThis is in a rural area and has many seasonal sites. Transitional sites too. There is a restaurant/bar on site. The river is behind the property.
LegendThis is a county campground near Rochester. It is in a county park that has a swimming beach, boat docks, fishing piers, hiking trails, playground, biking trail. There are showers available. Pretty park-like setting.
TravelerI arrived late in the day and the office was closed but they have all the instructions and QR codes for an online reservation and check in. Very clean including the showers and bathroom. View of the Mississippi is amazing!
Minnesota's southeastern river bluff region near Altura offers rustic and luxury camping experiences ranging from 600 to 1,200 feet above sea level. The area's unique landscape features steep limestone bluffs carved by the Root River and Mississippi River tributaries, creating a microclimate that's often 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding areas. Campgrounds in this area typically report fewer mosquitoes than other Minnesota camping destinations due to the moving water and limestone terrain.
Hiking trails with river views: At Whitewater State Park, visitors can explore well-maintained paths through varied terrain. "I hiked up Chimney Rock and then looped back to tackle part of the Dakota trail! The hiking paths were well taken care of. There were plenty of places to stop and rest if you need to," notes Sarah C.
Fishing in trout streams: The cold-water streams in the region provide excellent fishing opportunities. "Lots of spots for great fishing," explains Leda T. from Whitewater State Park. The area's spring-fed creeks maintain water temperatures ideal for trout populations throughout the camping season.
Tubing on gentle rivers: Old Barn Resort offers tubing adventures with convenient access. "Tubing the river is the highlight here. You drop in one side of the campsite and an hour later pull out on the other side," shares Lee G. The resort provides tube rentals and shuttle service to the starting point.
Cave exploration: Tours through underground formations are available near several campgrounds. "If you get the chance, go do the 1 hour walking tour of Mystery Cave - well worth the entry fee," recommends Jim C. regarding activities near Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.
Limited insect encounters: Many visitors note the minimal mosquito populations. "We were surprised that there were minimal mosquitoes at Whitewater. We have always enjoyed hiking here too," writes Amber Z. This ecological feature makes evening outdoor activities more enjoyable than typically expected in Minnesota.
Private-feeling sites: Eagle Cliff Campground offers secluded spots along the water. "The Root River goes right alongside most of the campsites which creates a really peaceful space. The grounds are super clean including the showers and porta-potties that are available for campers," explains Jen H.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness consistently earns positive mentions. "The bathrooms and showers were pristine clean and close and easy to walk to. The beach was great and clean. Fishing was great," notes Erik O. about Chester Woods County Park.
Seasonal activities: Different times of year offer unique experiences. "I had the entire State Park to myself. It was super cool be eerie. Great hikes and the view from the top was worth it," shares Erik R. about visiting Whitewater State Park during the off-season.
Firewood availability: Most established campgrounds sell firewood on-site. "Firewood is available for $8 per bundle, you can pay by QR code if you have enough service. Or you can grab wood and pay in person at the other end of the park," notes Karla J. B. about Whitewater State Park.
Cell service limitations: Many bluff area campgrounds have limited connectivity. "We had no cell service at our site, but 2 bars plus WIFI outside the visitor center," reports Karla J. B. This affects navigation, online reservations, and emergency communications.
Water access points: Campgrounds on waterways typically offer specific entry points. "This campground has it all. Situated right along the Root River next to the bike trail. They offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals and shuttles," writes Kayla S. about Eagle Cliff Campground.
Reservation requirements: Great River Bluffs State Park and other popular sites often require advance booking. "It's $19 plus the $7 MN state park fee. There was no camp host on site, but I saw a ranger drive through," explains Mary S. about the park's procedures.
Naturalist programs: Educational opportunities enhance family experiences. "The park contains two viewing areas King's and Queen's Bluff. Bring binoculars; the river valley is a great viewing area for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks," suggests a reviewer from Great River Bluffs State Park.
Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple campgrounds provide designated play areas. "For the families - there's a couple small playgrounds on site, which is a good opportunity for the littles to burn some energy. There's also a nice covered pool," notes Joe W. about The Old Barn Resort.
Beach access: Swimming areas provide cooling recreation. "We had so much fun playing on the river and exploring the park! Everything is right there and the river is so pretty!" shares Kate H. from Whitewater State Park. Most swimming beaches feature gradual entry points suitable for different ages.
Indoor activity alternatives: Regional attractions offer options during inclement weather. "Despite the rain we had a great time! Because of the rain we went to the eagle center near Wisconsin. A must see if you're looking for something indoors!" recommends Kate H.
Electric-only hookups: Many local campgrounds provide electricity without full hookups. "Large sites on river. Bike trails. Tubing," notes Tiffany W. about sites at Eagle Cliff Campground. RVers should arrive with freshwater tanks filled.
Dump station access: Services for waste disposal exist at most established campgrounds. "Nice place but it is a campground not an rv park, 30 & 50 amp service but no water hookup (fill when you come in) and dump tanks when leaving," explains Kevin about Chester Woods Park.
Level site availability: Terrain considerations affect parking. "Good level campsite and in walking around all the ones in the electric loop looked pretty level," notes Jim C. about Forestville Mystery Cave State Park, which offers 30-amp connections in designated loops.
Winter camping options: Limited year-round camping exists for cold-weather enthusiasts. "We visited in winter (February) and while there was snow on the ground, the spaces were kept plowed with easy access to the electric boxes," shares Amy G. about Whitewater State Park's winter accommodations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Altura, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Altura, MN is Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 51 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Altura, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 glamping camping locations near Altura, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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