Best Dispersed Camping near Cottage Grove, MN
Sandy Cove on the St. Croix River offers primitive camping along the Ice Age Trail near Cottage Grove, Minnesota. This dispersed site features an open-air vault toilet, fire ring, and wheelchair-accessible picnic table with an extra-long side. Access is available via a well-maintained gravel trail to the south or a single-track footpath to the north. Permits are required for overnight stays, with a 14-day camping limit typical for off-grid camping in this area.
The site sits directly on the St. Croix River, though seasonal flooding can affect accessibility and site conditions. A camper wrote, "When the river is lower with the fire ring and table where they're supposed to be, this would be a nice place for the night." The proximity to Lions Park via the crushed gravel path makes this boondocking location convenient but potentially busy, with some visitors reporting litter problems. Fires are permitted, but campers must pack out all trash as no collection services exist.
