Camping near Lynd, Minnesota offers wooded riverside sites and open prairie camping opportunities across county and state parks. The area sits at approximately 1,200 feet above sea level in the Minnesota River Valley, creating a landscape of gentle hills and prairie vistas. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F, with occasional thunderstorms that can temporarily limit trail access.
What to do
Trout fishing in Redwood River: Camden State Park Campground provides access to a designated trout stream that runs through the park. "Great trout stream, swimming, tubing, camping, horse trails, hiking... my kids loved it," notes Emma V. in her review of the park.
Biking the Camden Regional Trail: This 14-mile paved trail connects Camden State Park Campground to Marshall. "We visit this place for a quick getaway a few times a year. Great hiking and biking trails, swimming pond and right on the redwood river. The Camden Regional trail is 14 miles of paved trails between Camden State Park and Marshall, MN," shares Kyle B.
Rock climbing: Blue Mounds State Park offers unique quartzite rock formations suitable for climbing. "Would love to come back and do some rock climbing here now that I learned there are spots!" mentions Tori K. about Blue Mounds State Park Campground.
Disc golf and water recreation: Plum Creek Park has disc golf courses and water activities. "Hiking, biking, canoeing, disc golf, playground..... All sorts of fun stuff. Clean park and facilities," writes Scott K. in his review of Plum Creek Park.
What campers like
Prairie landscapes and wildlife viewing: Blue Mounds State Park offers a glimpse of native prairie ecosystem. "The park features natural prairie and a buffalo herd. Bison tours are available. Plenty of hiking trails and some cliff climbing," writes Bruce P.
Lake access and fishing opportunities: Sunrise Campground at Lake Shetek State Park provides excellent lake-based recreation. "We had a great view of the lake from our tent site. Sites were very large for a state park. We had many lovely walks on the trails around the campground. Loon Island was a cool walk on a hot day," shares Lisa H.
Swimming beaches: Most parks in the area offer swimming options. "Nice and clean place, large sites, nice beach. This year there was more goose poop on the beach than last time we were there and the beach had a lot of big ground wasps," reports Josh B. about Plum Creek Park Campground.
Hiking trail networks: The parks around Lynd feature extensive trail systems. "This campground is FCFS, with a money drop box at the beginning of the camppad loop. There were only 2 spots left when we arrived and wound up with the spot right next to the airport fence. There were terrible bugs while we were there but we spent hours on the dock watching the fish, turtles, and muskrat? swimming around right near the dock. There is also a small playground and a paved trail that takes you into town," writes Allysa K. about Swift Lake Park.
What you should know
Campsite layouts and privacy vary: Some campgrounds offer more secluded sites than others. "Sites in the lower campground are fairly close together and we didn't have cell service (Verizon), which wasn't a big deal," notes Makayla B. about the lower campground at Camden State Park.
Seasonal closures and conditions: Most campgrounds operate from April to October. "Super friendly people all around. Very quiet and beautiful campground. Well minus the semitrucks going down the road here and there. Beautiful clean bathrooms and showers. Pathway is well lit without being obnoxious," Jennifer K. mentions about Blue Mounds State Park.
Reservation requirements: Many campsites require advance booking, especially on weekends. "This is the definition of a hidden gem. The park is well maintained with friendly staff. There are nice trails around the lake and more in the lower unit. There is disc golf and kayak rentals and a small store where you can buy ice, firewood, souvenirs, and an ice cream treat," shares Megan R. about Plum Creek Park.
Wildlife and bugs: Insect activity can be intense, particularly in summer months. "There were terrible bugs while we were there but we spent hours on the dock watching the fish, turtles, and muskrat? swimming around right near the dock," notes Allysa K. about Swift Lake Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. "The lower campground is close to the playground and swimming pond but it rained the whole time we camped so we didn't use either," shares Makayla B. about Oak Woods Campground.
Historical attractions: Visit nearby historical sites for educational opportunities. "This campground is FCFS, with a money drop box at the beginning of the camppad loop. There is also a small playground and a paved trail that takes you into town," notes Allysa K. about Swift Lake Park.
Kid-friendly water activities: Many parks offer shallow swimming areas. "My family does a annual family reunion camping once a year! We stayed here and it was beautiful! Perfect for all the kids off all ages, adults, grandparents...we had a really good time," shares Anne G. about Camden State Park.
Ice cream and treats: Some parks have small stores with snacks. "There is disc golf and kayak rentals and a small store where you can buy ice, firewood, souvenirs, and an ice cream treat," mentions Megan R. about Plum Creek Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric sites are common, but full hookups are limited. "We have 46 foot toy hauler, Clean bathrooms and plenty of dumpsters," notes Bruce P. about Blue Mounds State Park.
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal. "Layout for getting water and dump station is a little odd as you have to drive through the campground to get to it rather than it being on your way out," shares Tori K. about Blue Mounds State Park.
Site sizes and maneuverability: Large rigs may find some sites challenging. "Nice, secluded and wooded sites," reports Pete H. about Camden State Park Campground, though site dimensions aren't specified.
Seasonal rental sites: Some campgrounds reserve spaces for long-term stays. "The daily sites are 30 and 50 electric only. There is a fresh water fill spigot on the bathroom closest to the daily sites. There's also a dump station onsite," writes Scott K. about Garvin County Park.
