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Waterways surrounding Ironton, Minnesota provide numerous tent camping opportunities along the Mississippi and Crow Wing Rivers, ranging from primitive riverside campsites to reservable tent sites with full amenities. Baxter Canoe Camp offers primitive tent camping directly on the Mississippi River with level tent pads and basic amenities. Overlook Park Canoe Campsite, maintained by the city of Baxter, features walk-in tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Crow Wing State Park, approximately 15 miles west of Ironton, includes dedicated tent campsites at its Canoe Landing area, which serves as an official stop on the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail. For tent campers seeking more established facilities, Ogechie Campground in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers reservable tent sites with access to extensive hiking trails.
Most tent campsites in the Ironton area feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at established sites, while vault toilets are available at most locations. Tent pads vary from flat, cleared dirt areas to grassy spots with minimal grading. Water access is limited at primitive sites, with Crow Wing State Park being one of the few locations offering drinking water near tent camping areas. Seasonal considerations include heavy mosquito activity during summer months, particularly at Ogechie Campground, where campers have reported significant insect pressure. Spring and fall offer more comfortable tent camping conditions with fewer pests and moderate temperatures.
Tent campers frequently note the exceptional river views and wildlife viewing opportunities. According to reviews, Baxter Canoe Camp provides "level tent pads right on the river" with ample space for hammocks and multiple tents. One visitor reported hearing bears in the vicinity but experienced no direct encounters when proper food storage was practiced. At South Bend Watercraft Site, campers enjoy "cleared grassy soft spots great for tents" with views from elevated positions above the Pine River. Walk-in tent sites at Ogechie Campground offer increased seclusion, with one camper noting they "chose a dispersed site away from everyone" that required "walking a ways but worth it" for the privacy. Backcountry tent camping areas throughout the region provide access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and water recreation opportunities.
"There is a trail for maintenance workers to drive in (they come by regularly to empty the trash cans!), but I don't know if it's for drive in traffic as well."
"This hidden gem is on the Mississippi water trail around mile 996. It is called "Overlook Park" and owned/maintained by the city of Baxter, but is part of the DNR's state water trail."
"We camped in the older Ochegie campground (site #1) near the historic native village site and trail. There were few people camping so it was quiet."
"The trails are wonderful. The campsites and campground are great. Except... I camped here in a 2006 Toyota Tacoma and mice essentially had their way with every part of my vehicle in one night!!!"
from $23 - $46 / night
Check Availability"This is a canoe campsite that is part of the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail, one stop on the paddle trail which allows canoers and kayakers to paddle from Lake Itasca to to the north, all the"
"We were bike riding the Paul Bunyon Trail and rode into Crow Wing in the dark. I self registered because the office was closed (wrote in canoe site since you can't reserve it online)."
"This is a site on Pine River Water Trail - it's tucked just above Rat Lake, and only accessible by boat/waterfcraft."
Legendoffers sites with no hookups and sites with electric (no water, but potable water station is provided to fill up prior to parking) bathrooms and showers in the campground. Fire ring and picnic table provide for each site. Firewood and sewage dump station also provided for free to registered campers. There is a dock, sand swimming beach, horseshoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.
LegendI've been to campgrounds in MN and other places that were nicer, but there isn't anything wrong with this campground at all. And at this time of year, the ice on the lake was breaking up, so it made for a beautiful sunset! Since it is still that time of year when it's warm during the day and cool at night, it was the perfect chance to test out the Twilight Thermal Mattress Topper by Alki while staying at Father Hennepin State Park in MN.
CAMPGROUND REVIEW:
We've been to this campground before, but not during this season or time of year. The campground is nice, but not terribly fancy. What it does have going for it is that it's a decent bit off the road, so there isn't much road noise. And although all the sites are fairly close together, there are tons of trees that (if it were summer) offer a buffer between them. It's possible to car camp at these sites or tent camp. They also have RV sites. Unfortunately, the RV sites are pretty close to the others, so if there are parties going on or radios playing, everyone can hear them, but that is to be expected at a campground where sites are close together. It wasn't terribly bothersome, though, and the scenery outweighed the mild disturbance.
They do have showers and flush toilets (during warmer seasons) and vault toilets the rest of the time. There is also a dump station for RVs.
Many of the sites are lakeside, for no additional cost. Benches dot the lakeside, and you get a gorgeous site of the sunset from here. There is also a paved path that runs near the water, so it's a pretty stroll late in the eve. This leads to a floating dock (not floating this time of year, though, because of the ice). Pretty space to chill and take in the breeze.
PRODUCT REVIEW:
As a Ranger for They Dyrt, I have the amazing opportunity to review incredible products in exchange for an honest review. This time, I received a Twilight Thermal Mattress Topper by Alki in a queen size. This is the first time I've ever tried something like this, so when I found it on Kickstarter, I was intrigued. The idea of a thermal layer built into a quilt-like blanket (think about the silver reflective stuff that everyone who camps talks about). But this isn't your typical mylar-type foil sheet. It's quiet. It's soft. It makes absolutely no noise at all. Now, this isn't something you are going to put in a backpack because it's big and it's not going to fit the bill of the ultralight hiker, but that's not what it's meant for. I emailed with the owners of the company and they intended it to be an addition to a car camping excursion or used on a bed as extra insurance from the night air. So I was intrigued. We are getting a teardrop trailer soon and I thought it might be a great way to stay warm without adding a heater to the mix.
The owners, Saul and Carolyn, have created this super soft blanket-type mattress topper that can be used several ways. You can put it on the mattress directly and sleep on top of it. You can use it as a blanket, you could wrap up in it and make a mock sleeping bag. It's a microsuede type of fabric on top and feels amazing, but has a brushed polyester bottom that helps to keep it from slipping off your pad. I'm a cold sleeper, so I really wanted to give it a good test. Normally, I use a sleeping pad with an R Value of 4.4 or better so that I don't chill out in the night. This time, I decided to use a pad with an R Value of 1.9 (thank you to my husband for sacrificing his pad). Normally, I'd be frozen from the backside, even in temps that are in the 40's. So I put down my pad in the van, laid the topper over the pad, and then my bag on top of that. And then I was off to la-la land.
The verdict…a toasty back side. It was truly wonderful to sleep in cooler weather without the typical CBS (cold butt syndrome) that campers talk about. Normally, with a pad that was only 1.9, I'd be frozen from the pad side. And that means tossing and turning all night to figure out how to stay warm. But I didn't have any cold spots from the pad side while sleeping on this topper. I just wish I'd thought to wrap it over my bag as well to insulate from the top as well. Then, I would have had the perfect night of sleep! It reflects back your own body heat to help keep you toasty.
PROS:
There really isn't anything negative to say about this blanket. Now, it does weigh more than a regular thermal blanket (queen is 4.5 pounds, and twin is 3 pounds), but they don't advertise it as ultra light or for backpacking. Carolyn said that it was designed with car camping in mind, as mentioned before. That said, it works beautifully for that purpose! It would be lovely if they'd consider making a skinny version that would fit in a hammock or under a sleeping bag/pad. As a cold sleeper, I'd seriously consider adding it to my cold weather backpack supplies, even if it meant an extra pound of weight.
Bottom line, if you want to enjoy a good night sleep in the chilly night air while car camping with your family or friends, take this topper for a spin. It's perfect under a sleeping bag, over a sleeping bag or to snuggle while watching the autumn sunset.
LegendThis is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping. The beauty of this campground, is that while the campsites available are in a row, there's plenty of space between sites and some of them are even pulled through. Making it easy for RVs to pull in and hook up.
The vault toilet is not easy to find from where the electric openings are in the winter. While these spaces are right next door to a shower house with toilets, this is closed in the winter. The vault toilet is several rows over and down, making it hard to find if you don't already know where it is. But it was clean, and it was available.
The campfire rings seemed clean, and each had a picnic table as well. We loved the pull-through site because then we were a little more protected from the road, although it's not busy this time of year at all. So it was very quiet except for our neighbors, and they didn't make much noise at all.
There are trails nearby that are easily accessible on foot from the campground, and you can make loops that come back to the campground as well.
There are two campgrounds at this park, but this is the one that has availability in the winter time. Ironically, they also have a couple of walk-in spots that are also open this time of year. If you're willing to brave the temps without an electric hookup. Not hard to find, not hard to access, but no electric hookups at these sites.
GuideThis is one of the most beautiful campsites we have stayed at in the midwest. The canoe campsite (also accessible through cart-in) is located on a small creek just off of the Mississippi river. There is a fire ring, picnic table, and ample tent space. There is about a 500yd walk to the restrooms, and you have to go another 500yds to the main campground to find the showers. We camped in mid-September, and the water to the main campground had already been turned off for the winter, so no shower review. The bathrooms near the cart-in sites were well maintained and clean, flush toilets. There was drinking water access near the old WPA water tower (but the water came from the city, not the well and water tower). We had some rain, but the sandy soil mean things drained quickly and were nearly dry in the morning. Lots of neat hiking trails within this small park, and a Minnesota Historical Society Site across the road at the Charles A. Lindbergh historic site (his boyhood home).
RangerThis hidden gem is on the Mississippi water trail around mile 996. It is called "Overlook Park" and owned/maintained by the city of Baxter, but is part of the DNR's state water trail. There is even signage for those on the river to inform them about their whereabouts on the trail when they pass this park.
So although this is a little private city park, there is a specific spot RIGHT on the river with a picnic table, fire ring, and nice high ground soft space for a tent. But really you could tent it anywhere in the park, but this space is set aside a bit from the rest, as it is a city park although very little traffic. There is garbage and a vaulted toilet. There are three picnic tables throughout including the tent site, and two fire rings. There is a nice canoe landing area with a few stairs to help give access up and down from the river bank. Very pretty spot on the river! The opposite land bordering this city park is part of Crow Wing State Park, so even though it's close to town, it does feel fairly remote.
Such a well maintained park! Pretty views and some rugged trails along the river for some hiking as well.
GuideI've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi. The campground is nice but only has a primitive toilet adjacent to the campsites. There are no electric or sewer hookups, but there are a couple of tent sites than can accommodate small campers. I camped in site #18 and it either isn't very level or I just did a poor job of setting up my tent because we were slanted all night. Great stargazing at both the cabins and the tent sites.
Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions. They even offer up the option to have firewood delivered to your site (either cabin or tent site) before you arrive.
This is my favorite place to stay in Crosby because it's so close to both the Rally Center Trailhead and Crosby. My favorite places in town are Red Raven (great coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch food options), Crosby Pub (wide variety of food - burgers, salads, appetizers), Rafferty's Pizza (pizza and beer plus a couple of arcade games in the back), and Iron Range Eatery (a little fancier than Crosby Pub (but not by much) and offers great food as well). All of these restaurants offer outdoor seating.
LegendNice basic standard USFS campground in the Chippewa NF.
$14/night, self pay, no reservations, no host. There’s a vault toilet on site and a pump-handle water faucet. No trash service here, please pack out. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.
Mosquitos were brutal here!
Surprised to have ok (not great) verizon and ATT service here.
A little ways from the campground is the day use picnic area and boat ramp. You can walk along the main road or take a little connecting trail to it, but just a heads up that the mosquitoes are lying in wait in this trail. We decided to go for it and try out the trail (instead of walking back out to the main road), quickly regretting it and almost running through the whole thing to come out the other side (entrance to trail is near campsite 21).
Campsites were decent, not very private, and some were oddly shaped where you just pull onto the grass, with no clear driveway or parking area. But they were fine.
LegendWhile I have seen parks and campsites with more privacy, there are so many trees (and many sites with a lake view) that it's worth a stay at Father Hennepin State Park in MN. Especially if you are rocking out with a pair of OOFOS flipflops!
CAMPGROUND REVIEW:
We've stayed at this campground a few times before, and it should seem obvious that since we keep coming back, it's not too shabby. Yes, I've seen campgrounds that have more privacy between spaces, but I don't think this place is every terribly crowded (at least not when we visit, in May). The leaves are just beginning to bud on the trees, so there is less coverage from your neighbors than in the heat of the summer, but since there are less campers, you can spread out a little bit. My only complaint, and this is the same of previous years here, is that the electric sites are so close to the tent sites that you can generally hear the generators and/or those that think that the wilderness is for loud music dance parties. Fortunately, this time, we were in our new teardrop camper and could shut out the tunes!
We were at site 7, which was the last one in this campground that sits and faces the lake. And while we've been to this site before, it's the first time we've been in our Teardrop Trailer at this park. Lucky for us, the ice was gone and the wind was pretty calm, so the icy chill wasn't too bad. Each site has a fire ring with a grate that swings back and forth, depending on if you want to chill by the flames, or grill off some burgers. The site we had was fairly level. and provided ample space to park our teardrop and our car without hanging out into the road. A picnic table rounded out the scene to provide a full on camping experience. And lovely night sounds of frogs that sang us to sleep!
There are well over a hundred sites, about 100 of them tent pads (no electric), and about 50 with electric. A few group campsites as well as 4 handicapped sites.There are 2 shower houses, 2 flush toilet buildings, vault toilets scattered around and water (in season, when it's turned on).
In Minnesota, reservations are required. We've found that if you make them in advance, and then decide to cancel the day of the reservation, there are cancellation fees and first night fees and blah blah blah. If, however, you decide to take your chances and book it the "day of", there are no online reservation fees and you can cancel without penalty if you decide to go elsewhere.
Drive in sites are approximately $23/night. Electric are about $34/night.
PRODUCT REVIEW:
Now, I have to admit, I'm an OOFOS junkie. Ever since I won a pair in my very firsts campground contest. That said, I'll never pass up the chance to review another pair! This time, I had the OOFOS Women's OOriginal Sandal. The last pair I had was a light color, and I loved the shoes, but they got dirty so quickly. Since these shoes are a type of foam, they scuff and dirty a little easier than other shoes, but the comfiness of them is off the chart, so they are totally worth having in other colors! This time, I chose black, to combat and dirt issues I might have while camping. If you can't see the dirt, it's not there, right?
OOFOS are recovery shoes, and I didn't know what that meant at first, but just wait until you put them on at the end of a hard day on your feet (long work day, long hike, etc). They literally massage the sole of your foot. I'm not joking. I can't believe how my feet feel when I change shoes. If I listen veeeeeery carefully, I can hear my feet smiling! They are sort of spongy and squishy, but not in a strange way. Like walking on marshmallows! (but not sticky). Seriously, they cushioning, higher arch and wide fashion of the shoe (yes, it's a little chunkier, not a huge fashion statement) make it stable and comfy. They hug your feet and don't slip off the way some other "slippy" flipflops can. And so lightweight! The price is a little more than I normally pay for shoes, but I'd absolutely invest in another pair if this one wears out. The bottom has some fun grippy texture that looks as if it might channel away water if you stepped in a puddle.
Quite frankly, as long as I have my OOFOS, I don't care what campground I'm staying at, but this one is good enough that I enjoy staying a little while, to look at the lake and enjoy the singing frogs!
LegendThis campground is really a hidden gem that i never knew about even though it is within an hour drive of my home. It is a rustic state forest campground with great campsites located in a gorgeous oak-birch-pine forest and right on a pretty lake. Although the campsites are karge enough to accomodate RVs, there are no hookups and no amenities like a bath house, so the campground favors tent campers. Many of the sites are right on the lake, including oarking space, tent pad, fire ring and picnic table, and each of these have a small lake access for swimming or launching a canoe or kayak. There is also a day use area with beach and boat launch, plus a nice nature trail. You can enjoy a quiet family weekend in the deep woods here, but still pop into the town of Pillager which is only 10 miles away. Well kept, quiet and peaceful
Tent camping near Ironton, Minnesota centers around several watercraft-accessible sites along the Pine and Mississippi Rivers. Most sites sit within 20 miles of town at elevations between 1,200-1,300 feet, experiencing summer highs around 80°F and winter lows well below freezing. Many watercraft campsites require paddling to reach, with access points located at designated landings along the established water trails.
Explore water trails: The Pine River Water Trail offers tent camping opportunities with South Bend Watercraft Site positioned about "an hour and a half - two hours downstream from the Pine River Damn access." South Bend Watercraft Site features "a rustic latrine just off behind the site" and "a couple cleared grassy soft spots great for a tent."
Climb the observation tower: At Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, campers can climb to impressive heights for panoramic views. Ogechie Campground offers "lots of trails, close fishing, and an awesome lookout tower" according to visitors, making it ideal for campers who enjoy hiking combined with tent camping.
Hike historic trails: The area contains significant historical sites along maintained trails. As one camper at Ogechie Campground noted, they "stayed in the older Ochegie campground (site #1) near the historic native village site and trail," allowing exploration of the region's cultural heritage alongside camping.
River proximity: Watercraft sites position campers directly on waterways. At Baxter Canoe Camp, campers love waking up "to the sound of water babbling on the Mississippi River" with a site that's "flat as a pancake and right on the river."
Wildlife viewing: The river corridors support diverse wildlife populations. One South Bend visitor reported they "saw so much wildlife on this kayak trip," while a Baxter Canoe Camp camper mentioned nighttime wildlife encounters, noting they "had a nighttime visitor in the form of something big and black and furry."
Secluded sites: Remote locations provide privacy for tent campers. At Crow Wing State Park, the Canoe Landing Campsite is "beautifully maintained by the state park, and has fire ring, picnic tables, and ample tent space for several tents."
Seasonal challenges: Insect activity varies dramatically by season. At Ogechie Campground, one camper warned of "WAY too many mosquitos in the summer" with "at least 100 bites after our trip," recommending visits "in the spring or fall months."
Wildlife precautions: Bears inhabit the region, requiring proper food storage. A Baxter Canoe Camp visitor reported, "Fortunately, we had properly hung our food in a tree and left all the Snickers in the bear bag" when encountering a bear.
Water access considerations: Some watercraft sites have challenging landings. At Overlook Park Canoe Campsite, visitors noted "a nice canoe landing area with a few stairs to help give access up and down from the river bank," making entry easier than at some other locations.
Swimming spots: River access provides natural swimming areas. At South Bend Watercraft Site, a camper reported the water is "never super deep or too strong a current, and in front of this site it's sandy and great swimming!"
Small mammal awareness: Mice can be problematic at some sites. One camper at Ogechie Campground warned that "mice essentially had their way with every part of my vehicle in one night" finding "mouse poop EVERYWHERE," suggesting secure food storage even in vehicles.
Educational opportunities: Wildlife viewing provides learning experiences. At Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, a visitor enjoyed watching "several Purple Martin houses near the parking lot of the picnic area" where they observed "the martins coming and going and feeding youngsters."
No hookup sites: Most tent sites near Ironton lack RV amenities. Canoe Landing Campsite at Crow Wing State Park offers some facilities but remains primarily tent-focused with "vault toilets nearby" and access to "the park office to get water and firewood if desired."
Access limitations: Most river camping areas have limited vehicle accessibility. One camper at Canoe Landing noted that while it's primarily designed as a "canoe campsite that is part of the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail," it does have "park road access into the canoe campsite area which is helpful" for those with support vehicles.
Group camping options: Some areas accommodate larger parties. At Canoe Landing, "if by chance you were having a large group launching from the park for a canoe trip, you could rent the adjacent group campsite instead of or in addition to the small group canoe campsite."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ironton, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ironton, MN is Baxter Canoe Camp with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Ironton, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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