Sand Dunes State Forest offers primitive camping near St. Michael, Minnesota on undeveloped forestland characterized by a mix of pine stands and sandy terrain. The forest features sandy soil typical of central Minnesota's Anoka Sand Plain with elevations ranging from 950 to 1,050 feet above sea level. Temperature fluctuations between day and night can be significant, with summer nights cooling considerably compared to daytime highs.
What to do
Wildlife observation: The forest hosts diverse bird species including warblers and woodpeckers. "There's lots of little spots off the main gravel road. Nothing allowed further into the forest. One pull through area that I found. Couple vehicles pass a day," notes Heather W. who camped in the area.
Hammock camping: The pine stands provide good anchor points for hammocks. "I love that it's so close to home. I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock," reports Joslyn H., who gave the area a 5-star rating.
Short-term stays: The location works well for quick overnight trips due to proximity to the Twin Cities. "I just did an overnight camp one night in a truck camper and it was very easy to navigate and it was cleaned quiet area to spend the night," shares Adam W. about his experience.
What campers like
Proximity to the Twin Cities: Located approximately one hour from Minneapolis, this forest offers accessible backcountry camping without long travel times. "Came back on a warm weekend. A bit more traffic, but after 12 p.m., not much of anything. I really recommend this for an easy stop if you're looking for a place to put up," states Skip H..
Solitude on weekdays: Mid-week visits typically offer quieter experiences with fewer campers. One visitor notes, "For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot. Didn't expect to see as many campers as I did, but all seemed to be friendly. I stayed here for one night and roads were totally fine for any vehicle."
Natural soundscape: The forest environment provides natural sounds away from urban noise. "This is a nice quiet area. Some younger people coming through sporadically playing with their trucks but nothing serious and not often," explains Jason B. about the atmosphere.
What you should know
Road conditions: The main forest roads are gravel and generally passable for standard vehicles. "Most spots are like the pictures shown. There are a few spots that have great views or pull-through areas, and there are limited spots that are big-rig friendly," one camper observes.
Traffic concerns: Despite remote location, some forest roads experience surprising traffic volumes. "This road is pretty busy for a dirt forest road and people FLY down it. Almost got hit a few times walking. Even through a Wednesday night cars are flying down the road," warns Ryan P..
Restricted access areas: Not all forest roads remain open to vehicles. "The bad part a lot of the side roads are closed to motor vehicles due to some issues they had a couple years ago but are now taken care of like people dumping," explains one camper who visited the area.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose spots farther from the main roads for safety with children. "I parked near the front and closer to numbers, always like to be safer. Overall there was some shouting and yelling but for the location I was happy," shares Samuel C..
Site dimensions: Most camping pullouts accommodate single vehicles with modest tents. "Plenty of spots. Fairly small spots," notes one camper who found the area suitable but limited in space.
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes are prevalent, especially at dusk and in early summer. "As to be expected, mozzies were present, but after 5mins of the door being opened and several flying in, we decided the area wasn't for us," reports Gregory.
Tips from RVers
Vehicle size limitations: The forest is better suited to truck campers and small trailers rather than large RVs. "Great spot. Plenty of parking. Best for straight vehicles or very small trailers," advises one regular visitor.
Legal considerations: Rules regarding trailers may be enforced inconsistently. "Be aware if you have an rv though. I had a county sheriff person tell me it's not lawful to park a trailer and they kicked me out. I called the dnr and they said that wasn't right but I decided to leave anyway," cautions one RVer about potential enforcement issues.
Overhanging branches: Watch for low-hanging tree limbs when positioning larger vehicles. "We did find one we thought we liked, but branches over hung, and rested on our camper (8ft high) and in fact most sites were shaded," warns one camper who found clearance challenging.
