Best Tent Camping near Norwood Young America, MN
State parks and wilderness areas surrounding Norwood Young America, Minnesota offer diverse tent camping opportunities within an hour's drive. Lake Maria State Park, located 30 miles northeast in Monticello, features exclusively walk-in tent sites that provide a backcountry experience without venturing far from the Twin Cities. Crow Hassan Park Reserve and Lake Rebecca Park Reserve offer additional tent camping options with varying levels of seclusion. The Cannon River Wilderness Area, though farther south, provides free primitive tent camping with sites tucked along the riverbank.
Most tent-only sites in the region feature level dirt or forest duff tent pads with minimal improvements. Lake Maria's backcountry tent sites require hikes ranging from a quarter-mile to over a mile from parking areas, making a gear cart useful for transporting equipment. Each site typically includes a fire ring, picnic table, and bear box for food storage. Vault toilets are available near clusters of sites, though campers should bring their own toilet paper. Water access varies significantly, with most parks providing pumps near parking areas but requiring campers to carry water to their sites. Summer brings significant mosquito activity, particularly after rainfall.
Tent campers frequently mention the privacy these walk-in sites provide compared to standard campgrounds. According to reviews, Lake Maria's Site B6 offers "a level tent pad with a solid fire ring and picnic table" with "just enough open sky for stargazing by the fire." One visitor noted that weekday camping often means "having the park to yourself," with sites spaced far enough apart that "we could barely tell anyone else was at the park with us." Fall camping is particularly recommended for vibrant foliage and reduced insects. Wildlife observations are common, with campers reporting woodpeckers, owls, frogs, and even endangered Blanding's turtles. Winter camping is available at Lake Maria for those seeking true solitude, with some sites accessible via snowshoe.
