Tent campers in the Lynd area of southwestern Minnesota have multiple established campgrounds to choose from within a short drive. Skalbekken County Park in Sacred Heart offers tent sites with drive-in access, providing basic amenities for primitive camping experiences. Other nearby options include Birch Coulee County Park in Morton, which features seven tent sites with electric hookups, and Beaver Falls County Park in Redwood Falls, both providing peaceful settings for overnight stays.
Most tent sites near Lynd include picnic tables and fire rings, with varying levels of additional amenities. Skalbekken County Park provides drinking water, toilets, and trash facilities but lacks electric hookups for tent campers seeking a more rustic experience. Birch Coulee County Park offers more developed sites with both water and electric connections, plus toilet facilities. Beaver Falls features fire pits and picnic tables at each site, with toilets nearby, though campers should note the limited space for larger groups. All parks generally allow pets and have reservable sites, though availability may vary seasonally.
The tent camping areas provide access to natural features that make for memorable outdoor experiences. Vicksburg County Park has been noted for good catfishing opportunities and views of the Minnesota River. A visitor commented that Beaver Falls County Park offers "beautiful rustic camping spots throughout the park" with the opportunity to "camp right next to the creek" which provides "fun fishing for kids." Several parks feature trail systems, with Skalbekken specifically mentioned for its horse trails alongside "nice friendly local people" according to reviews. Birch Coulee County Park, situated near a historical site, creates a unique backdrop for tent campers. These smaller county parks typically offer more seclusion than larger state park campgrounds, with reviews frequently mentioning the peaceful settings and well-maintained facilities.
$24 / night
$20 / night
"Beautiful views of minnesota river valley"
"Off the beaten path..so lots of peace & quiet to enjoy..beautiful rustic camping spots throughout the park..picnic table & fIrepit at each spot & bathrooms nearby..can camp right next to the"
GuideWe camped in a tipi here. All we needed to bring were sleeping bags and sleeping pads. The kids loved being in a tipi and mom & dad loved that we didn't have to set up a tent. The deck kept us off the dirt, and we were warm all night. What a fun and unforgettable experience. We hiked the amazing trails throughout the park and even learned about the history of the area.
RangerI was up in the Oak Woods Campground. This was pretty much an open field with people crammed together. One of my neighbors sat and watched a certain cable news channel on a giant outdoor TV hooked up to their bus from 8am until 10p. I can tell you that a TV host named Tucker was very angry that night. Another "camper" had set up a giant playground, penned in areas for their multiple dogs, and had a bouncy castle set up for their daughter...that was running off of a very loud generator all day. The whole thing was lit up with string lights like it was an airport runway and gave the entire campground a carnival feel. WTF? Unfortunately for your enjoyment, I deleted the video I took of the scene. Lucky for you, I still have a photograph of it.
I had reserved 2 nights. I left at 6am after one pathetic night and went and stayed at a Harvest Host instead.
Leave no trace (and set up no carnivals).
RangerLots of space between sites. There are not many trees so not much shade. Sites are gravel and relatively level, not much leveling required. Variety of sites, from group camping, primitive (no hookups), electric only, full hookups (water, electric, sewer) as well as cabins and tent only areas. Limited hiking trails connected to campground. Surrounded on two sides by farm fields and Lac Qui Parle Lake on another. There are two loops in the campground. One loop has view of the lake. Boat/canoe launch is in lower campground about 10 minutes from Upper Campground. Recycling and garbage dumpsters on site. Dump station near entrance. Verizon cell signal is poor. Pit toilets available. Bathhouse is centrally located, includes private showers. No laundry on site. Nearby attractions in Montevideo include Talking Waters Brewery/taproom, Jake’s pizza and Java River cafe (with outdoor seating, dog friendly).
GuideThere are two campgrounds in this park - the upper one is on the prairie while the lower one is situated among trees along the river. We stayed in the lower campground in site 30. The lower campground is close to the playground and swimming pond but it rained the whole time we camped so we didn't use either.
Sites in the lower campground are fairly close together and we didn't have cell service (Verizon), which wasn't a big deal.
I brought my fat bike and bike the Bluebird and Dakota Valley trails. Both are mowed paths that go through prairie and wooded areas. The actual mountain bike trail was disappointing, it was overgrown, narrow, and hugged a high ridge.
Our site, 30, sloped away from the parking pad. You wouldn't be able to set up.chairs under your awning at this site and the picnic table sat in a low spot that got muddy after 2 straight days of rain. There is a river that runs behind the sites in this loop. Our boys played on the rocks and had a great time.
There are nearby train tracks and trains ran by several times a day, though luckily they don't blow the horn so we didn't notice them much.
LegendIf you’re looking for some unique camping look no further than the Upper Sioux Agency State Park outside of Granite Falls Minnesota. This park is one of three parks in Minnesota that is home to Tipi camping. Yes I said Tipi!! And not even a Tipi that you need to supply one that’s already set up for you with the wood platform and everything perfect for you to have an amazing experience!
We paid $55 a night and were able to stay at this awesome Tipi campsite. The only downside to the campsite that we stayed in was that it was right on the corner of the main road. Other than that we are absolutely in love with the campsite and the staff at the park. Each day the park rangers would come through and ask if you needed firewood charge you for it and bring it straight to your campsite. This is a pretty good option for buying firewood since the park office was a few miles away from the actual campsite.
It was a really nice shower and bathroom facility along with vault toilets just off the main road. The campground is pretty open but still secluded enough for us to feel like we were there alone. There was a river close to the campsite so that we could fish if we wanted to. And just a short walk or drive or bike ride you could get to the picnic area right off the river and have a really nice day or evening. There were also backpack in camp sites that were really secluded and pretty large. The only problem to those was they were close to the river and the mosquitoes are pretty bad.
This park also has equestrian camping and it’s really nice because it’s completely separate from the main campground.
There wasn’t a whole lot to do around the Park in the nearby towns however there was some cute little antique and thrift shops which was right up our alley.
We would definitely go back and stay in a tipi again!!! What a cool experience!!!
ScoutThis is the definition of a hidden gem. The park is well maintained with friendly staff. There are nice trails around the lake and more in the lower unit. There is disc golf and kayak rentals and a small store where you can buy ice, firewood, souvenirs, and an ice cream treat.
For extra peace and quiet, get the tent only (non electric) sites across the lake! There are a variety of sites if you want to “rough it” or not. Bathrooms are clean.
You can tell the workers here care about the park and your experience. I found 0 trash on the trails, and I usually come out with a handful.
It fills up on weekends with “seasonals” but all the sites have trees and nice shade that gives you a sense of privacy. Theres a tent site close to the playground and bathrooms perfect if you have kids.
ScoutMy husband and I wanted to try out camping with our five-month-old, so we stayed two nights in Upper Sioux Agency State Park at the Yellow Medicine River Campground. The campground was well-maintained, clean, potable water tasted good, the outhouse had toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and the sites/paths were mowed. Our site (#5) did not have any tree cover, so midday was HOT! It looked like all of the other sites had at least one tree, if not a small forest surrounding the site - so it was just our dumb luck to choose the one site without shade [via the DNR website]. The state park has over 18 miles of trails - - - most are grassy paths mowed along the Yellow Medicine River, through the prairie, or over the grasslands - none with noticeable elevation changes.
Legend6/12/20-6/14/20 cart in 3
Lake Shetek State Park is located in the SW corner is Minnesota and on Lake Shetek. They have 4 campgrounds. We always up for the more private sites and stayed in the cart-in campground. There are carts available to haul your gear if you choose. The cart in sits sit up on a ridge and had some views of Lake Shetek. Our campsite (3) was spacious with a tent pad large enough to hold 2 tents and had a spot for a hammock. It had a fire ring and picnic table. The vault toilet was right across from our campsite, so we had a lot of foot traffic. It was not the most private site of the bunch, we liked 5 and 7 better.
Lake Shetek allows motor boats and there was a lot of boat traffic. There are other resorts on this lake so it’s very active. We brought our kayaks and enjoyed kayaking the lake, though there was always a pretty big wake and we stayed near the shoreline. We kayaked (a short Portage) to 2 smaller lakes that had no one on them. We were able to tie our boats to a tree below our campsite and scaled up the embankment, there was a path already there. There are a few hiking trails in the state park (roughly 4 miles of hiking tidal) but I wouldn’t say it’s known for its hiking. We enjoyed the causeway that led to the 1-mile Loon Island Trail. We saw turtles, deer, waterfowl and eagles during our stay. There is a “beach” locates near the Oak Wood campground however it was underwater, people still enjoyed swimming as it was shallow and warm in June. We did find another beach within the state park that was a longer walk to reach, but MANY boats were docked and “partying” here. There is a nice fishing pier and a dock within the park.
Due to all the boat traffic, I would say this is a much less private and serene state park.
RangerStayed one night, tent only, but water and electric hookups present, along with firepit and picnic table. Reservations have to be made in person, but can be done after hours, picked up at the Police Station box, $20. There's less than 10 sites, one half against the highway, the other backed to the disc golf course and swingset. Sites are a bit close, but on an empty weekend we were spaced well. On a beautiful Saturday it was quiet, and empty of visitors by night, and the sites cleared out early Sunday. Two bathrooms, with a shower each, seem well kept up, but are a bit dated. There was no firewood available, but Casey's nearby had some available. There was also a lot of fallen wood and branches in the area. Would definitely go again if in the area.
Tent campsites near Lynd, Minnesota are situated in an area characterized by gently rolling prairie landscapes and occasional wooded river valleys. Southwestern Minnesota experiences hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 85°F and cold winters that can drop below 0°F. Most campgrounds in this region have limited shade coverage compared to northern Minnesota camping areas.
Fishing opportunities: Vicksburg County Park offers catfishing on the Minnesota River, with easy public water access points. According to a camper, it's "Fun, good for catfish. Wonderful views of mn River. Lots of places to choose for dispersed camping."
Creek exploration: At Beaver Falls County Park, families can enjoy shallow water activities. A reviewer notes there are "trails throughout the park for walking" and you can "camp right next to the creek" which provides "fun fishing for kids."
Historical sites: Camping at Birch Coulee County Park puts you near significant local historical sites. One camper mentioned it's a "very special place" located "way back in a historical site." The Birch Coulee Battlefield is just minutes away and commemorates a significant battle from the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.
Quiet atmosphere: Smaller county parks offer more solitude than larger facilities. A reviewer at Beaver Falls County Park appreciated being "off the beaten path..so lots of peace & quiet to enjoy" with "beautiful rustic camping spots throughout the park."
Horse trails: Skalbekken County Park is noted for its equestrian-friendly facilities. A regular visitor commented about the "lots of horse trails" and described the park as "very clean and well kept."
River views: The Minnesota River Valley provides scenic backdrops at several campgrounds. At Vicksburg County Park, campers enjoy "wonderful views of mn River" along with "lots of places to choose for dispersed camping."
Site limitations: Some campgrounds have space constraints for larger groups. At Beaver Falls County Park, a camper noted there's "not much room for bigger rigs to get around but doable if dry."
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the area operate from mid-spring through mid-fall. Valhalla Island Campgrounds specifically has a May 1 to October 15 season, requiring boat access for tent camping.
Limited activities: Some parks offer minimal structured recreation. A visitor to Birch Coulee County Park stated it's "not a lot to do but kids in fun playing in the creek." The park has water and electric hookups but focuses more on quiet camping than programmed activities.
Creek access for children: Beaver Falls County Park offers kid-friendly water features. A reviewer highlighted that you can "camp right next to the creek" which provides "fun fishing for kids" in a safe environment.
Bring your own entertainment: Pack games and activities as some parks have limited built-in recreation. At Birch Coulee County Park, a camper mentioned "not a lot to do but kids in fun playing in the creek," suggesting simple water play was the main attraction.
Consider amenity needs: Evaluate bathroom facilities when camping with young children. Skalbekken County Park offers basic toilets and drinking water but no showers, which one reviewer still found "very clean and well kept."
Size restrictions: Several campgrounds have limited turning space. A reviewer at Beaver Falls County Park noted it's "not much room for bigger rigs to get around but doable if dry," suggesting smaller RVs fare better.
Hookup availability: Electric connections vary by park. Birch Coulee County Park has electric hookups at its seven tent sites, while Skalbekken has "water, no elec. hookups but nice and quiet" according to a regular visitor.
Access challenges: Some parks have narrow or winding roads. At Vicksburg County Park, a camper noted there are "no real RV sites or electric" but there's a "public water access for river" that might accommodate smaller rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lynd, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lynd, MN is Valhalla Island Campgrounds with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Lynd, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Lynd, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
