Tent campsites near Baxter, Minnesota offer unique river-based camping experiences along the Mississippi River Water Trail and Crow Wing River. Many sites are accessible only by water, providing secluded natural settings away from developed areas. Temperatures in this region range from summer highs in the 80s to below freezing in winter months, with heaviest rainfall typically occurring between May and September.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The rivers around Baxter provide excellent wildlife observation. At South Bend Watercraft Site, campers report seeing abundant wildlife while kayaking. "We saw so much wildlife on this kayak trip, and enjoyed a great swim in the river. It's never super deep or too strong a current, and in front of this site it's sandy and great swimming!"
Climb the fire tower: When camping at primitive sites near Ogechie Campground, take time to visit the observation tower. "They have a lot of hiking trails and a really cool fire tower that you can climb and see all of the surrounding area," notes one camper. The tower provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and lakes.
Explore historic sites: While staying at primitive campsites, visit nearby historic attractions. The Crow Wing State Park area contains remnants of the Red River Oxcart Trail from the 1800s. A visitor to Ogechie Campground mentioned, "We stayed here one night and part of the next day. We camped in the older Ochegie campground (site #1) near the historic native village site and trail."
What campers like
River swimming access: The sandy river bottoms near many Baxter tent sites make excellent swimming spots. At Knob Hill campground, visitors appreciate both upper and lower camping areas. "The lower has a view of the river and it a little further from the bathrooms, but much prettier. All have fire rings. There is a staircase that connects the two."
Maintained facilities: Despite being remote, several water-access sites feature well-maintained amenities. At Overlook Park Canoe Campsite, campers find "a picnic table, fire ring, and nice high ground soft space for a tent... There is garbage and a vaulted toilet. There are three picnic tables throughout including the tent site, and two fire rings."
Secluded camping spots: Primitive tent sites around Baxter often provide privacy not found at developed campgrounds. One camper noted about Knob Hill, "This is on the Crowe Wing River, and while I believe you can access it by car, we canoed to the site down the Crowe Wing River. It is very unique and pretty!"
What you should know
Limited facilities at river sites: Many primitive tent campsites require self-sufficiency. At Half Moon Watercraft Campsite and similar river locations, there are no drinking water sources, no toilets, and limited amenities besides fire rings.
Wildlife encounters are common: Be prepared for wildlife visitors at night, including bears. Campers should hang food properly. At Ogechie Campground, some visitors report smaller wildlife issues: "I camped here in a 2006 Toyota Tacoma and mice essentially had their way with every part of my vehicle in one night! Their nasty little feces were found in food, on towels, in the cab, in the bed, in ONE OF MY HIKING BOOTS!!!!"
Seasonal insect considerations: Mosquitoes can be extremely numerous during summer months. One camper at Ogechie Campground warned, "Beautiful state park, but WAY too many mosquitos in the summer. we had at least 100 bites after our trip... Definitely recommend, but in the spring or fall months."
Tips for camping with families
Choose established campgrounds: For families with young children, sites with toilets and picnic tables provide easier camping experiences. The Canoe Landing Campsite offers more amenities than remote river sites. "The canoe campsite is beautifully maintained by the state park, and has fire ring, picnic tables, and ample tent space for several tents. There are vault toilets nearby."
Bring adequate water: No potable water exists at most river campsites, so families must pack all drinking water. For longer stays, plan for 1 gallon per person per day, plus cooking water.
Consider shorter paddling distances: When planning canoe-in camping with children, select closer sites. One family found Knob Hill suitable: "We just stopped for a bite to eat before heading down the river further." Sites within 1-2 hours of paddling from access points work best for families.
Tips for RVers
Limited RV options near watercraft sites: The primitive tent camping locations around Baxter rivers aren't suitable for RVs. For RV camping, look to established campgrounds further from the river access points.
Use tents for river experiences: RV campers wanting to experience riverside camping should consider leaving their vehicle at designated parking areas and tent camping at river sites as a separate activity. Most river sites require boat access and have no vehicle accessibility.
Access roads can be challenging: Even when approaching the general vicinity of river campsites, roads may be difficult. As one visitor to Knob Hill noted, "This place is off the beaten path for sure. It's more of a trail than a road for the last part and I was riding my Victory Motorcycle. 4 wheels is advised or a dirt bike."
