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Crow Hassan Park Reserve allows pets throughout its expansive trail system, making it popular with dog owners seeking outdoor recreation near St. Michael. Minneapolis Northwest KOA provides pet-friendly camping options including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and yurts, with a dedicated K9 fenced area for off-leash exercise. The KOA's sites are well-maintained with level ground and shade trees at select locations. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard pet policies requiring leashes no longer than 6 feet when outside designated exercise areas, with Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, Bunker Hills Regional Park, and Baker Campground all accommodating pets at their established sites.
Trail access for dogs varies significantly between locations, with Crow Hassan offering some of the best dog-walking opportunities along the Crow River. The trail system features both wooded sections and open prairie areas where pet owners should be aware of seasonal bug activity, especially in forested segments. Lake Maria State Park Campground maintains year-round operations with pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV spots, and cabins. Visitors note the mountain biking trails at Lake Rebecca provide excellent exercise opportunities for active dogs, with many deer sightings common throughout the park. Campground bathrooms generally require entry codes, and sites near water access points may fill quickly during summer months when swimming is popular.
"One of our kids & her husband live in Minneapolis, a sister & several nieces & nephews live close by."
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
from $21 - $29 / night
Check Availability"This park is only about 50 minutes away from me, and for hiking/camping I only think it is worth a trip in the fall."
"I chose Lake Maria for a solo camping excursion because it was close to the Cities, but still offered the level of seclusion I wanted."
from $22 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground."
"The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."
"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 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."
"Lots of close camp sites for larger groups near the entrance. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. There are a few walk-in sites that I absolutely love."
"We picked this spot as we had dogs with and liked that there was a row of trees where we could tie them away from the fire . Would be a GREAT lot for multiple hammocks. "
from $50 / night
Check Availability"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
from $20 - $32 / night
Check Availability"I never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!"
"Do a 180 on the trail and she is happy to trot away from the trailer."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Great for birding and walking trails! One of my favorite places to go near home😁"
"When I first pulled in I checked out the single track trail area first and the parking lot was full of mountain bikers. "
"There was some suggestion that there was some drive in sites that were not reservable, that is. They were first come first serve. But I was unaware or unable to find those."
"Meadow setting where the campsites are, but then TONS of hiking trails with significant trees& shade. Really beautiful. Nice people staying in adjacent sites. We would return."
TravelerLebanon hills has everything for the family. Schultz Beach for summer fun. Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation
GuideI never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!
GuideThis is a nice city campground with lovely views of the Rum River. There is a nice playground with a small climbing wall, benches to sit looking over the river. Picnic tables and a shelter are great for eating at. There is a dog park just across the river, within easy walking distance.
LegendSmall little campground next to large casino. We lucked out and were able to stay 2 nights without reservations….only had to move because they were fully booked for the 4th…large concert event happening across the street. You will need to call early in the day to talk to office staff…who are very friendly. If after hours and there are no spots, you can dry dock in large lot in front of office. There is fuel on site as well as RV wash station. Bath house and laundry and card controlled ($5 card deposit on check in)…well maintained facilities. Dog park available, watch a few spots in fence near bottom where fencing has risen up…little dogs could easily climb under. Very convenient for visiting Minneapolis…25/30 minutes from airport/Mall of America (Aquarium) and Security patrols regularly and there is shuttle if you want to visit casino. Pool at hotel is not included. Golf attraction is being completed next door so there was some construction traffic during day as expected.
GuideSites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground.
LegendThis was such a great spot! The campground is so nice and quiet!
Located 50 Miles NW of Minneapolis, and only 15 Miles from St. Cloud, MN.
GuideWe stayed here for a weekend in May. The campsites are a little bit on top of each other. There aren't many campsites that you're able to reserve. The majority of the campsites are seasonal campsites. There are a lot of mature trees that help with the shade! The beach area is nice, but the only problem is that boaters and kayaks are in the same general area so you have to be careful so you don't get hit. There is a dock for fishing as well. You can also rent boats, kayaks and paddleboards for a small fee. If you want to walk the whole campground having a golf cart would be nice. Also there is NO petting zoo as stated on the website or on the campground maps. There hasn't been one for a few years but they have yet to edit the website or the campground maps. We went there partly because there was a petting zoo for the little kids. Seems lazy to me that they can't update the website or the campground maps.
TravelerWe just found this campground in September and this year we've been there 3 times and we live in Montana, there's no place I'd rather stay. It has nice clean bathrooms and it's a great place to walk your pets, they do have 3 different areas to camp but we always use the full hook-ups
The people at check-in are always so friendly, and very helpful.
lots of things in the area to do, and the "city" isn't that far to drive to.
GuideMy partner and I scheduled a 3 day / 2 night stay in a new Vintage Cruiser RV for $39.99, in exchange for attending a presentation on private membership.
We checked in Wednesday evening, and the nicest staff I've ever met helped us acclimate to RV living. We are new to this game. They patiently described how to utilize the grey and black water tanks, as well as encouraged us to check-out the canoes, row boats, bikes, horseshoes, ladder golf and many other entertainment items - for FREE!
The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate. Provided for our use were all linens (a public very clean bath and shower was just across the road), dish soap, dish towels, paper towels, flat wear, plates, bowls, mugs and pans.
The campground has a couple of ponds, as well as access to Ham Lake where the watercraft is launched. There is a petting arena with goats, ponies, and a llama who gave my partner the stink eye, but fell in love with me rubbing the fence and giving me all googly eyes!
The clubhouse sells bundled wood, ice, snacks, cold drinks, ice cream and provides 24-hour fresh coffee. There is also a small resupply area, and gift shop.
There are pull-through sites, back ups, 50 and 30 amp hook ups, and tent sites, covered pavilions, picnic tables and fire pits.
The campground itself seems remote, secluded and peaceful, however, you are conveniently located to two well-stocked convenience stores, as well as Wal-Mart about 15 minutes away. It's also only about 45 minutes from the Minnesota Twin Cities.
One note: We visited in August and needed gallons of bug spray.
We very much enjoyed our get away!
Dispersed camping options near St. Michael, Minnesota range from wooded sites in sand dune terrain to prairie landscapes along the Crow River. This region sits at approximately 950 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Most campgrounds operate from April through October, though some offer year-round access with winter facilities.
Wildlife watching at Lake Maria State Park: Campers can explore 14 miles of hiking trails with regular wildlife sightings. "We saw pileated woodpeckers, red squirrels, and a chorus of chorus frogs. Nature feels close here — in the best way," notes one visitor at Lake Maria State Park Campground.
Mountain biking at Lake Rebecca: The park features 13.25 miles of single-track trails with options for various skill levels. A visitor shares, "Sweet single track for mountain biking. The best kids park at any campground I've been to," making Lake Rebecca Park Reserve a versatile option for active families.
Water activities at Baker Park: The park provides swimming beaches, boat rentals, and fishing docks. "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)," explains a camper who enjoyed the convenient layout.
Private tent sites: Backpacking sites at Lake Maria offer secluded camping experiences. "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," writes one reviewer who appreciated the privacy.
Accessible amenities: Many campgrounds feature well-maintained facilities. "The bathrooms were nice and clean. The only down fall was there was no trash cans in the campground only with you were leaving the campground," notes a visitor at Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Camping without reservations: Some locations offer first-come, first-served options. "This campground is on a first come, first serve basis. I highly recommend the walk-in-sites for the most private tent camping experience," suggests a camper at Ann Lake.
Bug activity varies by location: Wooded areas typically have more insects than open areas. "The fun thing about this state park is that all the sites are hike in. No drive up camping... 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," cautions a Lake Maria visitor.
Trail conditions and accessibility: Trail difficulty varies significantly between parks. "It has a couple camper cabins as well. But everyone is spread out along a few trails so it's a little quieter than your typical campground," explains a camper about Lake Maria's layout.
Weather preparedness: The region experiences significant seasonal changes. At South of Sand Dunes State Forest, a visitor advises, "Bug up at first signs of dusk—mosquitoes and ticks love these woods."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature child-friendly facilities. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," shares a parent who camped at Baker Park Reserve.
Shorter hiking options: For families with young children, certain trails provide easier access. "The walk from the car isn't far, but the sites are off the road and in the pines," notes a camper at Ann Lake, making it suitable for families with varying hiking abilities.
Swimming beaches: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near St. Michael offer swimming areas. "This has an amazing beach. Great Trails. The best kids park at any campground I've been to," reports a visitor to Lake Rebecca Park Reserve.
Site selection considerations: Many campgrounds have varied site types. "Sites are large with varying degrees of privacy. Well spaced out, just some have less undergrowth," explains an RVer at Ann Lake, highlighting the importance of choosing sites based on specific needs.
Hookup availability: Bertram Chain of Lakes offers full-service options. "I ended up paying a fair amount of money for a full hookup site. The bathrooms were extremely modern and clean," shares a visitor at Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Campground.
Road conditions for larger vehicles: Access roads can present challenges for bigger rigs. "30' class C motor home. Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides. Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking," notes an RVer at Ann Lake, providing useful information for those with larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near St. Michael, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near St. Michael, MN is Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve with a 4.5-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near St. Michael, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 78 dog-friendly camping locations near St. Michael, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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