Wild River State Park lies in Minnesota's St. Croix River Valley with 35 miles of trails connecting prairies, forests, and riverside landscapes. The park occupies over 7,000 acres and reaches elevations ranging from 770 to 925 feet above sea level. Visitors exploring alternative glamping near North Branch, Minnesota can access varied terrain with marked seasonal temperature shifts from below-zero winters to humid 80°F summer days.
What to do
Snowshoe hiking: Join winter events at Wild River State Park Campground. The park maintains dedicated winter trails marked with colored luminaries for evening activities. "I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," notes Joanna B.
Stargazing: Find clear night skies at Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park. The park features a designated star viewing area away from city light pollution. Katherine T. confirms: "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet."
Water recreation: Float the Rum River at Country Camping. The river features a sandy bottom perfect for tubing, with rental equipment available. "The tubing is a plus. Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," shares David G.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Wild River offers secluded camping spots. The campground design takes advantage of natural vegetation. "The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative," reports Stephanie H.
Clean facilities: Bunker Hills Regional Park maintains excellent bathrooms and showers. Located 45 minutes from North Branch, this park offers upscale glamping amenities. "Amazing campsites nice trails clean shower's and bathroom's. There's a water park down the road and friendly staff," mentions Krista G.
Affordable alternative glamping: Stay in rustic yurts at Stone Creek Farm. This organic farm provides simple accommodations with toilet facilities while maintaining a natural setting. Stephanie K. describes it as an "interesting place" with unique accommodations.
What you should know
Winter camping requires planning at Wild River State Park. While sites remain open year-round, expect significant temperature drops and possible heavy snow. Erik R. shares: "I stayed in the campground in late March. It was cold, rainy, and that turned into 5" of snow."
Primitive toilets need attention during busy periods. Some remote sites have basic facilities that may need service. "The primitive toilet smelled so bad it burned!! It needed to be emptied and wasn't the entire time we were there," notes Kate H.
Varied distance to shower facilities: Consider site location when booking. Some loops require a drive to reach shower buildings. Kate H. adds: "Only one shower house and we had to drive there... if we did come back we would definitely camp closer to the shower house."
Tips for camping with families
Waterpark access: Baker Park Reserve combines camping with swimming. The park features two beaches - one dedicated to campers and another for day visitors. "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)," ERolf P. explains.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Look for deer throughout the day. Many campgrounds in the area support abundant wildlife. Kate H. reports: "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls."
Playground access: Kozy Oaks Kamp offers family-friendly amenities. The campground includes play areas, a pool, and indoor games for rainy days. "The kids always have fun, they have a pool, RC track, mini golf, playground, and community room with board games & such," Barb M. shares.
Tips from RVers
Site selection at Country Camping Tent & RV Park: RV sites vary in size and proximity to amenities. "This place does have 30amp and 50amp hook ups and has pull through spots and sewer sites. Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!" advises Spencer C.
Power capacity planning: Consider electrical needs during peak season. During hot weather, electrical systems may be strained. David G. notes: "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off. It was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max."
Private membership requirements: Check access policies before arriving. Some previously public campgrounds now operate as members-only facilities. According to Teek D.: "Ham Lake Resort is not open to the public anymore," indicating the shift to private camping only.
