Best Glamping near Ellsworth, WI

Afton is a gorgeous park. There's beautiful trails that take you through dense woods and prairie, and then you take a pretty decline to get to the St Croix River. It was foggy when we were there but still gorgeous. We also managed to get a yurt and it was so much fun. Comfy beds, room for 7 and it was clean and well built. This is a great park!

Love love love this park! We did the backpack site so you hike in almost a mile and you go up on the ridge that's open in the middle but each site is heavily forested and some overlook the river. During the late spring, summer and early fall months you can't really see the river but if you do it after the leaves drop or before they come in then you'll have a great view of the river. Our site is off of the main trail so you have a nice little hike in and it feels very secluded and you have a nice even gravel tent pad that's raised up as well as a fire pit and picnic table. There is not a lot of room to play at your campsite but if you just take your trail up to the main trail then it opens up. Off the main trail you will also find vault toilets and firewood that you just have to saw yourself with the saw that is provided. You are surrounded by excellent hiking trails including some great single track as well as a great beach on the St. Croix River that is also very clean. The raccoons are not messing around so make sure to secure your food inside your tent or in a well fortified cooler otherwise you'll be listening to them ravage your site as you try to sleep at night.

First, terrific park. Lots of trails with a wide variety of landscapes. Prairie, forest, river, it’s got it all.

My campsite was perfect. The woods made it very secluded. It was close enough to water and bathrooms so it wasn’t bad if you planned. They do have firewood available however it is long slab wood, so you do need to cut it yourself. Hand hacksaws are provided, but we’re not great quality which made cutting the wood difficult.

These sites do require a hike from parking. Would strongly discourage big coolers or lots of weight.

I love Afton. It's a mere 40 minutes or so from Minneapolis-St. Paul and it's a great beginner campground for backpackers. The campground is only a 1-mile hike in, but the last 1/4 mile or so is up a steep hill that has really taught me a lot about pack weight. There is firewood available and a water pump with some of the best tasting well water I have ever drank.

The first time I stayed, there were loud people awake until the wee hours of morning, but I have camped here 2-3 times since then with no issues. This is my go-to hike-in spot when looking for a place closer to the Twin Cities.

This park offers a number of hiking trails on mountainous (well, river valley) terrain and is nestled along the St. Croix River. There is a beach, picnic area, interpretive center and trail, cross-country ski trails, and more.

I was pleasantly suprised by this campground. Its a nice 1 mile hike out with a steeper incline at the end. It was a great way to test our pack weight for a longer upcoming backpacking trip at a campsite that was close to Minneapolis. The campsite has a vault toilet, firewood (you have to saw yourself - but it adds to the experience), and clean drinking water available. There are a number of sites but they sit far enough apart you are still able to have privacy and enjoy the peace and quiet.

The park has good trails, beautiful views and provides a sense of solitude without having to travel too far from the city. Would definetly recommend this park and campsite!

Great state park with lots of amenities. This was only my second camping trip, my first being the superior trail with an 8 mile hike in and no amenities. More fun in my opinion to search for your own firewood and really rough it, but it was to have water and wood available close to the site we were at (site 22) because we got in later and lost some daylight. The hike in was shorter and far less strenuous than my first trip, but note that it is uphill. If you’re carrying a heavy pack, expect to sweat a bit. Paved sidewalks into the park, wide dirt and rocky paths into the camp site which was nice given the amount of other day hikers (space to spread out). My boyfriend and I loved that our site was so secluded. There is also a lot of variety to the sites. The sites 1 through about 10 (if my memory doesn’t fail me) are fairly wooded. Our site had a nice balance of wooded area and open terrain/sky. We were lucky to get to see some beautiful fall colors.

A few notes: the wood provided is THICK. They must haul the logs in with a truck. Saws are provided at the wood site, but be prepared to take some time on it. We had a hand saw so we were able to pack our packs with some large pieces and do some sawing at our campsite as the sawing station was busy with families and other campers. Lots of bark available to get a good fire started. The wood is not covered so if it rains the night before you come in, be ready to deal with some damp wood.

Water station takes about 30 seconds to start up. There are also two bathrooms within the camp site that are what you expect them to be. Hand sanitizer and TP stocked.

Never saw a ranger while we were there. We loved the privacy. Lots of spiders. Comes with the terrain.

The site was perfect for our hammocks. They are super kind if you want to call ahead to get an idea of what your site looks like. It was also great to be able to see what other sites were occupied on the day we decided to make a reservation. There is a grill top on your fire pit (we packed our own grill top, could’ve left it at home).

Overall it was a great overnight trip. Close to our home so I’m sure we’ll be back for a quick trip next year.

Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird)🏡🐦

Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!

Sites are nice and private, and the campground was quiet the whole time. The firewood available ($6) was dry and burned well, although you do have to cut it yourself. There are saws provided at the pile near the water spigot. The ranger was very friendly too. No doubt about it, it's not the easiest hike in but wasn't too bad. I don't suggest doing it on a 90 degree day like we did, but jumped in the river (1/2 mile or so from campground) right after which felt great! One of the bathrooms (the one near the water and woodpile) smelled SO STRONGLY of ammonia from the vault toilet that you could taste it and feel it when you took a breath inside of the bathroom! I have a very strong stomach and it was tough for me to be in the bathroom long enough to use it. Park was notified. I would stay here again, although I personally think that $27(20/night + 7/reservation fee) for one night of backpack camping is pretty steep. Pics are of the woodpile and site 22. Sites were clean and maintained.

Afton State Park is just 30 minutes east of the Twin Cities along the St. Croix river, but feels deep in the wilderness. Camping facilities include hike-in individual sites, group camping, canoe/boat-in sites, and horse sites. The hike-in sites are about a mile from the parking lot. The trail is partially paved and then gravel up to the campground, though it is not an easy hike. It is mostly uphill and includes a couple of switchbacks, so packing light is a good idea!

There are 26 hike-in sites, each with a different feel. Some overlook the valley, some are in a meadow, and some are partially to fully shaded. Each contains a picnic table, fire ring, and designated space for a tent or two. Water is available and wood can be cut yourself for a small daily fee. There are two vault outhouses in the campground that we’re clean and well-stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Dogs on a 6-foot leash are permitted in all areas of the park.

There are many trails for all levels of hiker to explore at Afton State Park. There is also a beach for swimming in the St. Croix river, though dogs are not allowed on the beach. The trails go through sunny meadows filled with wildflowers, areas of dense shade with beautifully majestic pines, and everything in between. Watch for wildlife! In addition to squirrels and rabbits, deer and even black bear have been seen regularly in the park.

Afton State Park is a great choice for camping, hiking, fishing, and skiing!