Baker Campground at Baker Park Reserve offers cabin-style accommodations for campers seeking a glamping experience near Medina, Minnesota. The sites range from rustic tents to fully-equipped yurt camping options with modern amenities. Located within the Three Rivers Park District system, these campgrounds provide access to Lake Independence and numerous hiking trails through woods and prairie landscapes within a 20-minute drive of downtown Minneapolis.
What to do
Hiking trails: Baker Campground features extensive paved and unpaved paths. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities," notes ERolf P.
Waterpark access: Bunker Hills Regional Park campers can enjoy an on-site water recreation area. "There's a water park down the road and friendly staff. Within the park is large water park and wave pool," writes Krista G.
Lakefront recreation: Canoe or kayak at Cleary Lake Regional Park where certain sites provide direct water access. A camper mentioned, "Our 'hike in' spot was very close to the car but hidden in a forest. Cleary Lake is a good size and a kayakers delight!"
Wildlife viewing: Explore the prairie restoration areas at Crow Hassan Park Reserve. A visitor shared: "I never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!"
Disc golf: Bunker Hills offers a highly-rated course alongside its camping options. A recent visitor noted, "Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Lake Maria State Park offers secluded backpacking sites for those seeking quiet. One camper described their experience: "Site B6 at Lake Maria State Park feels like a secret woodland sanctuary — set up on a slight rise, tucked beneath a cathedral of towering oaks and maples."
Clean facilities: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park maintains well-kept shower buildings and restrooms. "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," notes Bryan S.
Spacious campsites: Multiple campers mentioned the generous sizing of sites at Baker Park Reserve. A visitor noted, "The sites a Baker Park Reserve are larger than average. This is a big campground with a lot of paved bike trails and a nice lake a short walk away."
Lakefront yurt camping: Medina-area yurt rentals provide direct lake access at several parks. As one camper at Cleary Lake Regional Park stated, "Site 13 is the only one right on the water and it's HUGE with lots of trees and absolutely beautiful scenery."
What you should know
Reservations recommended: Most parks fill quickly, especially for yurt camping near Medina. Booking 3+ months in advance is advised for summer weekends.
Bug preparedness: Lake Maria State Park can have significant insect activity in summer. "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon. First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos," reports Steph H.
Site selection considerations: Minneapolis Northwest KOA has varying site quality. A camper advised, "Be sure to call the office ahead and let them know that you want a site with trees and not one backing up to the road."
Variable privacy levels: Site exposure differs across campgrounds. At Lake Auburn Campground, one camper observed: "While the park is nice and has mature trees, the sites are very open and offer little privacy between sites."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Lake Auburn Campground offers recreation facilities for children. "The playground is nice, the vault toilets have automatic lights at night, which is pretty nice, and the beach has couple large shade umbrellas and a fishing dock," shares Emily H.
Beach swimming: Several parks feature swimming beaches with sand. "The lake and beach were nice and has a big sanding beach area," notes a visitor to Baker Park Reserve.
First-time camping spots: Baker Park provides an accessible introduction to outdoor stays. "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," according to Heather V.
Youth activities: KOA locations organize special events. "They have events planned for kids. It has a pool that stays open late, and it's got some playgrounds," mentions a Minneapolis Southwest KOA visitor.
Tips from RVers
Utility hookups: Baker Park Reserve offers water and electric connections. "The sites are well maintained. The staff is very kind and accommodating. There are a few restaurants around that deliver. Great spot," notes Justin R. about Minneapolis Northwest KOA.
Site leveling: Check campground reviews for leveling information. "The sites were uneven and the water Spicket didn't really work very well," reported a visitor to Minneapolis Southwest KOA.
Dump station access: Several parks offer sanitary stations, though reliability varies. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes and Baker Park provide maintained dump facilities as part of their amenities.
Site spacing: Most RV sites at Bunker Hills Regional Park offer reasonable separation. "This campground was big with privacy between the camp spots. There were nice trails to help explorer the regional park," observes Melissa A.
