Camping in the great outdoors can be a healthy way to stay fit and active. Staying in a Minnesota State Park camper cabin can help you save room in your vehicle to bring the recreational gear you'll need to take advantage of your surroundings. As of 2010, 23 state parks in Minnesota offer a rustic way to experience the outdoors. You can reserve the cabins up to a year in advance, and many are available for year-round use. Sparse furnishings include wooden bunks that can sleep up to six people and a table.
Bear Head Lake
Enjoy the wilderness setting of Bear Head Lake at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Seventeen miles of rugged coniferous forest trails wind past numerous remote mountain-style lakes. The scenic Taconite State Trail connects through the park. Explore 23 miles of shoreline on Bear Head Lake. Stop at the sandy beach for a refreshing dip. Portage your canoe to the secluded Holter Lake and reward yourself with a leisurely paddle in the middle of nowhere. Five cabins, each with electricity, are available for year-round use.
Whitewater
If you want to combine challenging hikes and blue ribbon trout fishing, Whitewater State Park in southeastern Minnesota is a perfect spot. The 2,600 acre park lies amidst deep valleys carved by spring-fed waterways and framed by steep limestone bluffs. You can explore 10 miles of easy to challenging trails that wind from the river bottoms up to scenic overlooks. Trout fishing in the valley is legendary. One cabin lies in the Lower Cedar Hill campground, and it's available from April through October.
Myre-Big Island
You can hike, bike and canoe all day in Myre-Big Island State Park in south central Minnesota. Sixteen miles of hiking trails wind through lowland marshes, grassy meadows and a towering oak savanna featured on the parks Big Island. You're sure to encounter numerous waterfowl and white-tailed deer are ever present. Hop on your bike and peddle the paved Blazing Star Trail that connects the park with nearby Albert Lea. Seven miles of mountain bike trails provide a more challenging ride. One seasonal-use cabin rests under towering oaks in the park's Big Island campground.
Jay Cooke
You can keep active at Jay Cooke State Park any time of year, while staying in one of its winterized camper cabins. Located just south of Duluth, the park gives you access to a 50-mile web of hiking, biking and cross-country skiing trails. Traverse the St. Louis River gorge with the famous hanging suspension bridge, as the water rushes on its way to Lake Superior. A series of challenging rapids just upstream from the park will try to lure you into a whitewater rafting or kayaking experience. 32 miles of cross-country ski trails can provide you with wintertime adventure. Jay Cooke features five cabins for year-round use.
Wild River
Wild River State Park hugs 18 miles of shoreline along the Upper St. Croix River. The National Scenic Waterway showcases the valley's lush beauty. Take a day a paddle the river by canoe available from the park office. You can hike the multiple loop trails that weave a 35-mile path along the shoreline, or you can explore them on horseback. The trails are groomed in winter for cross-country skiing, and they're rated easy to moderate. Six year-round cabins are available.
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