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Camper submitted image from Shingobee Recreation Area - 1

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Roads

Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Shingobee Recreation Area

2 Reviews

About

National Forest

Chippewa National Forest

Nestled along the rolling hills of the Shingobee River Valley, the Shingobee Recreation Area provides a variety of summer and winter activities. The area offers 6 miles of trails for hiking, hunting, birdwatching, primitive camping, and cross-country skiing in the heart of Minnesota's Northwoods. A sliding hill and a weekend warming chalet are also available for winter fun.

Fee Info

Free

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Location

Shingobee Recreation Area is located in Minnesota

Directions

Located five miles southwest of Walker, Minnesota, along State Highway 34.

Coordinates

47.03700041 N
94.64400018 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Good

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Toilets
Pets
Fires

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Contact

General Info

Alexandra T.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 25, 2021

National Forrest Dispersed Camping

You can park overnight in the lot by the trailheads in your RV to camp or you can hike in. There is a campsite directly off the road or more down the trails. This is national forest land so free camping.

Month of VisitSeptember

Amy G.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 1, 2017

Cute little site that's not too far out of the way....great for a family outing!

This little campsite is lovely because it's not too far from things, but far enough away that you feel like you are in the woods. The North Country Trail passes by this site and most sites on the NCT are free! (except for some that are in State Parks, etc). This free site is a very short walk from a parking area/trailhead. Because it's on the NCT, the trail that passes the camp is extremely well maintained and groomed, not to mention super wide! If you have little ones that you are trying to "wean" into camping, this would be a great place to take them to get a feel for the woods.

There is a picnic table, a fire grate (lots of cement blocks around the grate that while are not terribly attractive, actually make great flat surfaces for camp stoves). The tent pad is pretty level and all the pine needles soften the ground below the tent a bit. A plethora of trees give hammock-ers lots of options! The latrine, while not glamorous (are they ever?), is just down a short path past the fire pit. The campsite and the latrine are very well marked and easy to find.

Across the trail (directly across from the camp) is a small little meadow type area that would be a perfect spot for "overflow" tents, if you have more in your group than the site can take. I wouldn't recommend a party...lol...but if you have a family unit with a few tents, this would work really well.

Also...as an observation...my husband said it would be a great winter camping site, as it's more sheltered in the trees than some sites are. Plus...in the winter, this trail is groomed for Cross Country Skiing, so it would be super accessible as a camp if you were skiing.

Month of VisitOctober

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