Baker Park Reserve and nearby campgrounds provide diverse outdoor lodging options within 30 miles of Maple Plain, Minnesota. The area's gentle terrain ranges from 900 to 1,100 feet in elevation with mostly deciduous forest and prairie landscapes. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer months typically range from 65-85°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Trail exploration: Baker Campground offers extensive paved biking trails connecting to regional paths. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities (which were very nice)," notes one camper at Baker Park Reserve.
Water recreation: Lake Independence provides seasonal boat rentals and fishing. "Access to lake independence. A lot of biking trails. Nice clean bathrooms. Nice park for kids just a small hike away. Plus a decent amount of rentals," explains a visitor about Baker Park.
Disc golf: Bunker Hills Regional Park maintains a tournament-quality course. "Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing," mentions a reviewer at Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Equestrian options: Horse enthusiasts can access dedicated trails at Crow Hassan. "This is my all-time favorite park to bring my horse to, and it's her favorite trail too," shares a rider at Crow Hassan Park Reserve.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer well-separated sites. "The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," explains a Baker Park camper.
Privacy options: Lake Maria offers backcountry camping. "This hike-in site is about a half-mile walk from the parking area, and the journey in is half the magic: winding wooded trails, wildflowers, and glimpses of the lake through the trees," writes a visitor to Lake Maria State Park.
Yurt camping: Minneapolis area KOAs provide yurt camping near Maple Plain. "We stayed here for an overnight stop through MN. Close to downtown which was nice for us coming through," notes a KOA visitor about the proximity to the Twin Cities.
Clean facilities: Campground bathrooms receive consistently positive reviews. "While some sites are a little uneven and better suited to RVs than to tents, all sites are spacious and clean. Campground management is helpful and friendly," reports a camper at Lake Auburn Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate April through October. "After months of winter the first trip of the season is something we look forward to. The sites at Baker Park Reserve are larger than average," shares a Baker Park visitor.
Bug awareness: Summer months bring mosquitoes and black flies. "When we pulled up to the parking lot we knew we were in trouble. The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon," warns a Lake Maria visitor.
Reservation requirements: Weekend bookings require advance planning. "During these COVID times everyone wants to get out and about more, which means that the main parking lot for the park that used to be mostly designated for horse trailer parking is now overrun with family vehicles," notes a Crow Hassan visitor about increased demand.
Water safety: Swimming beaches are typically unguarded. "Lake Auburn Campground part of the Carver Park Reserve was an awesome primitive style campground. We stayed here in late September and into October. There are 57 sites with an unguarded beach, playground, volleyball court and tons of miles of trails," states a Minneapolis Northwest KOA visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple parks feature modern play equipment. "For our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!" enthuses a Baker Park visitor.
Beach activities: Lake beaches provide swimming options. "The swim area was cool after a hot day and the beach was gently sloping and smooth," notes a Lake Auburn camper about the water access.
Nature programs: Seasonal interpretive events occur at several parks. "There is a nice indoor pool, clean shower and bathroom building," mentions a Minneapolis Southwest KOA visitor about alternative recreation options.
Quick escapes: Many campgrounds are close to the Twin Cities. "Super quiet & relaxed atmosphere! A cute lil beach for swimming! This campground even has 2 walking/hike-in campsites to give your avid campers a real out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind of feel," explains a Lake Auburn camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Campground maps indicate RV-suitable sites. "The lower loops are definitely better for tent campers, even though quite a few spots could support an RV. The campground map does a good job of providing visual indicators of what a site provides," explains a camper about Bunker Hills.
Seasonal hookups: Water hookups may be unavailable in early spring. "Water fill stations readily available so we loaded up prior to continuing out west," notes a Bunker Hills visitor about water access.
Big rig accessibility: Several campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. "Really nice campground! Meadow setting where the campsites are, but then TONS of hiking trails with significant trees & shade," reports a visitor at Bertram Chain of Lakes about the site layout.
Local supplies: Nearby towns provide provisions. "I was traveling Eastward through the upper Midwest and had a really hard time in this area finding a place to camp. I finally came across this place," shares a Bertram Chain of Lakes camper about the convenient location.
