Ann Lake Campground - Camping in Minnesota

Preview: It’s rare that I would recommend camping in an area shared by horseback riding, but Ann Lake, with offerings for both horseback riders and snowmobilers, is also a pretty darn good place to camp and hike. Besides, those other two popular activities are not allowed in the camping area designated on maps as the Bob Dunn Recreation Area. If you’ve only camped or visited state parks, state forests offer a new way of enjoying and appreciating the outdoors. In some ways, state forests seem less structured and less developed—but they are by no means less appealing. The recreational opportunities in Minnesota’s forests are less structured—back to the basics of hunting, fishing, and just plain enjoying the outdoors. You will be ahead of the game if you are easily entertained by nature itself. A state forest setting may not always be as spectacular as a state park or have nearly the geological, historical, or other amenities that single them out from the outdoors in general. Yet state forest campgrounds are a pleasant way to enjoy the forest for what it is—either in passing through on an overnight, or as the final destination for a week’s stay under the stars. What I especially like about the state forest campgrounds is that they are usually located off the main arteries of highways and scenic routes and often are stuck in the middle of nowhere—even within the forest itself. They are basic campsites cut out of the forest and developed, to the extent that there is a tent site, picnic table, fire ring, pit toilet, and other amenities. “Wait a minute,” you are probably saying, “that’s as much as a state park offers?” Yes, indeed, basic sites with all the basic needs in a more utilitarian setting— but wonderful camping just the same. That said, here’s what’s special about Ann Lake. First of all, it is situated within Sand Dunes State Forest. This area used to be part of the expansive prairie system that covered the western and southwestern parts of Minnesota. However, the sandy soils were not conducive to pioneer farming methods, and those who homesteaded this region fought long and hard to grow crops here. During the Great Depression, it was determined that that area’s economy could be better established if trees were planted in the sandy soil. Since the early 1940s, more than 2,400 acres of tree plantations have been established in this area. Many of the hiking trails throughout the Bob Dunn Recreation Area pass through these blocks of plantings. The forests in and around Ann Lake were eventually built up to cover more than 17 square miles, featuring northern pines as well as other species (predominantly oak) that found the area suitable for growth. Activities: horseback riding trails, snowmobile and hiking trails, swimming, and boat ramp.
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Duration: 36 drive-in, 6 walk-in campsites
Best Time to Go: Year-round
This travel guide comes from:
The Best in Tent Camping: Minnesota Guide Book