Best Dispersed Camping near Bay Lake, MN

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Bay Lake

12 Reviews of 8 Bay Lake Campgrounds

• E

  Erin G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 28, 2024

  Rum River State Forest Dispersed

  Secluded, Quiet, Good Cell Coverage, Bugd

  There are many different sites (most just pull offs) in this area! I did see one that was pull through further down game refuge road. The cell service with Verizon is good enough to stream videos and work on your laptop with ease. There aren't too many people in the area, even on a Sunday in July. The bugs are not great but that's just what you're going to get in an area like this one. Overall I would definitely stay here again.

• 

  Tracy M.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 25, 2024

  Moose River ATV - Dispersed Camping

  Dirt Parking Lot

  Absolutely nothing interesting about this place. It’s just a standard issue dirt lot with a slight incline. Open parking, no sites.

• 

  samuel C.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 18, 2024

  Hill River State Forest

  Okay

  There were a good amount of spots, and I seemed to be the only person. Was a good and secluded. I did hear some weird noises throughout the night, but all was well. It is your average dispersed site. I made it fine with 2wd, just take it slow.

• S

  Skip H.

  Ranger

  

  Jan. 26, 2024

  Rum River State Forest

  Great place to camp!

  Most of these spots are cutoffs on the sides of the dirt road. They are deep and have plenty of room, though. Almost all of them I could see have firepits. The spot I stayed in was the most secluded I could find. It was through a ditch and up a small hill and set back in the woods. There is a firepit up there as well. I spent 3 days here with only one car passing through on the first night. After that, nothing! You wouldn't have a problem finding a place if your pulling a trailer.

• S

  Skip H.

  Ranger

  

  Jan. 17, 2024

  Hill River State Forest

  Quiet dispersed sites

  You'll want to come in on 640th lane. The road does a lot of winding, and sections aren't always in the best shape. I wouldn't recommend any trailers unless you have 4x4 and the trailer is set up for offroad. Ideally, this is a better straight vehicle spot. There are numerous spots off the road to camp. I stayed over at the very dead end, which, on Google, is labeled "deer camp." It's quiet and deep in. Good luck. No amenities.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 28, 2021

  Paul Bunyan Trail Canoe Campsite

  Pristine spot on the Pine River!

  This is a beautiful deeply wooded double campsite along the scenic Pine River. It is accessible only by foot, bike or paddle, for trekkers on the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail or the Pine River Water Trail. For paddlers, the campsite is right on the river between River Mile 35 and 36, just south of the town of Pine River. For bikers or hikers, it is about a half mile south  down the trail from the Bites Bar and Grill  to the turn off west on a dirt trail about a half mile down to the river. There are two campsites avaialble, for separate campers or for a group to encompas the whole camping area. Fire ring, picnic table, tent clearings available. There is no cost to camp here, but also no way to reserve either of the sites, and in accordance to trail etiquette if you show up on your bike or in your canoe ready to camp but someone else is there, they should share the camping space with you. 

  Map of the water trail is here: 

  https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/canoe\_routes/pine.pdf

  General info on the water trail is here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/pineriver/index.html

  Map of the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail is here: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state\_trails/paulbunyan\_heartland.pdf

  General info on the bike trail is here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state\_trails/paul\_bunyan/index.html

• 

  Ronney P.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 8, 2021

  Rum River State Forest Dispersed

  Rum River

  7/7/1921 pull off sites big have a 37 ft fifth wheel no problem nice an quietalot of ticks but had a great time

• B

  Brent G.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 21, 2021

  Spider Lake Trail - Dispersed Camping

  Deep in the woods

  Located on the North Country Trail. Decent hike to campsite. Surrounded by nature. Campsite has a fire ring and a bench/table. It helped for taking my hiking bag off. Very quiet, no sounds of vehicles or people. Biggest negative is there is no parking lot. Must park on road. Campsite was well taken care of. The site is smaller. It does over look a tiny little lake with bird life. Water is mucky looking, I wouldn’t swim in it. Trail goes through long grass and tall trees. Lots of beaver activity as well when circling the near by lake.

• 

  Johnny H.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 25, 2021

  Rum River State Forest Dispersed

  Walking in and roadside camping

  I've camped here twice, now. Once roadside during hunting season with oranges on and once in December. So far, I enjoy it. Where to start... The roads aren't really kept up for the winter. So, you'll want 4 wheel drive and slow and mindful driving. I walked in for ten minutes from one of the parking spots. I just cleared the snow, built a heat retaining wall, and set up camp in front of it. I did hear wolves for the first time. They were howling after sunset. A little creepy, camping alone. But, i don't suspect they'd come too close.

  If you want secluded, minimal camping. This is an okay spot, close to the twin cities.

• 

  Brittany

  Guide

  

  Sep. 15, 2020

  Paul Bunyan Trail Canoe Campsite

  Loved it!

  My middle son and I did a bike packing trip on the Paul Bunyon Trail, we rode up from Crow Wing and stayed at this little gem for the night. Got there around 3PM, set up camp and then rode into Pine River for his birthday dinner. The trail in to the site was fun to ride on bike, there was plenty of down wood for a fire and would love to return!

• 

  Art S.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 12, 2019

  Rum River State Forest Dispersed

  State forest dispersed camping

  Dispersed camping along the forest roads. Areas are cleared away that are quite separate giving some privacy. They are right on the road so vehicles pass by. Off road trails can be found but we did not discover cleared hiking paths. After finding a tick quickly we just hiked along the road. Only one other camper so during the non-hunting season this might be a good stopover.

  We did encounter a lot of birds as well as deer.

• 

  Amy G.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 1, 2018

  Paul Bunyan Trail Canoe Campsite

  Beautiful little canoe camp accessible by foot as well!

  This is a unique little site that's really a canoe camp, but accessible by foot as well. It's not well advertised...almost a secret! But if you are in a canoe, it's easy to find off the river. If you are on foot or bicycle, it's marked on the paved Paul Bunyan Trail.

  From the trail, it's about a 1/2 mile walk/hike to the site. Not super easy if you have a bike, but do-able. Easy if on foot, and super easy if in a canoe! There are actually 2 sites, about a 1/4 mile apart, and both are equally nice. Newer picnic tables, fire rings, lots of trees for hammocks, right on the river with super easy in/out for canoes. Very pretty view on the river! Both have bathroom/latrine/toilet access as well.