Is Group Camp first-come first-served or reservation?

Group Camp accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Group Camp?

Group Camp does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Group Camp?

Fire policies at Group Camp: Purchase firewood at the park office when open or use approved vendors; gathering firewood is prohibited. Light fires only within provided fire rings or charcoal grills and follow state park rules.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Group Camp?

Pets are not allowed at Group Camp. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What activities can I do at Group Camp?

Popular activities at Group Camp include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Group Camp

3 reviews

24869 Whitetail Lane, Battle Lake, MN 56515

Featured in:Summer Camping Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota DNR)Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota DNR)Official Website

Group Camp

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites; a non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation ($10 by phone / $8 online)....

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

218-261-6900

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

24869 Whitetail Lane, Battle Lake, MN 56515

No map location available

Weather at Group Camp

Best Time to Camp at Group Camp

While spring through fall brings peak activity with swimmers, paddlers, and hikers filling the trails and shorelines, winter transforms Glendalough into a snowy playground. Groomed trails invite cross-country skiers and snowshoers to glide through hushed forests, making this a true four-season destination. The park welcomes visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., so you can catch both sunrise over the lake and starlit evenings around the campfire.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Overview: 'Fall delivers the best balance of comfort and scenery' with vibrant oak color.

Planning Tips

About Group Camp

Nestled in the scenic transition zone where prairie grasslands meet hardwood forest, Glendalough State Park's Group Camp offers your group a secluded woodland retreat along the shores of Annie Battle Lake. You'll enjoy easy access to pristine paddling waters, miles of trails, and the charming historic Glendalough lodge—all while experiencing the peace and quiet that comes from camping away from the busier drive-in sites.

Cart-in tent camping and canoe-in campsites are provided; yurts and the restored historic lodge are available as lodging/meeting spaces.

Historical Significance

The restored historic Glendalough lodge on the north side of Annie Battle Lake interprets the park's history as a private retreat and game farm for the Minneapolis Tribune.

Weather and SeasonsWhile spring through fall brings peak activity with swimmers, paddlers, and hikers filling the trails and shorelines, winter transforms Glendalough into a snowy playground. Groomed trails invite cross-country skiers and snowshoers to glide through hushed forests, making this a true four-season destination. The park welcomes visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., so you can catch both sunrise over the lake and starlit evenings around the campfire.

Natural Features and SceneryAt the heart of the park lies Annie Battle Lake, a stunning 335-acre heritage fishery where motorized boats give way to the gentle sounds of paddles and wildlife. Beyond this centerpiece, you'll discover four additional lakes, each with its own character, plus rich hardwood forests that burst with color each fall and prairie remnants alive with native wildflowers in summer. Wind through this diverse landscape on trails and observation decks that showcase the best of Minnesota's ecological crossroads, or explore the paved bike trail loop that welcomes riders of all abilities.

Geological RegionTransition zone between prairie and hardwood forest; park includes five lakes and mixed woods and prairies around Annie Battle Lake

Scenic ViewsWooded lakeshore and prairie-edge views centered on Annie Battle Lake and surrounding small lakes; trails provide intermittent lake vistas and forest scenery.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsPhone reservations: 866-857-2757. Online reservations via the Minnesota State Parks reservation system (reservations may be made up to 120 days in advance; online reservations on the first available day cannot be made before 8 a.m.).

Best CampsitesThe group camp is described as a secluded group-only area shaded by mature oak and other hardwoods, with multiple picnic tables and on-site carts to help move gear; it is a short walk to nearby picnic areas and park facilities (details from park visitor reports).

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Cart-in tent camping, canoe-in campsites and yurts are offered. The park has a paved bike trail loop and two sandy swimming beaches; meeting spaces (dining hall and historic lodge) are available for day rental and are heated with flush toilets. Firewood can be purchased at the park office. Reservations are required for all campsites.

Cabin Lodging

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Recreation centers on non-motorized watercraft, lake swimming, hiking, biking and wildlife viewing. The park highlights heritage fishing on Annie Battle Lake and interpretive and groomed trails for year-round use.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsBiting insects (mosquitoes, black flies, gnats) can be intense in warm months. Standard wildlife precautions apply (store food properly). Use only approved or local firewood to prevent spread of tree pests.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

0.0

3 reviews

Limited Reviews

Group Camp has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

One Google review (5 stars) praises the group camp as secluded, fairly large, shaded by mature oak trees, with many picnic tables and on-site carts; it notes a short walk to the Molly Stark picnic area.

Review Summaries

Based on 3 reviews

What Campers Love

Secluded group-only area; shaded by mature oak trees; many picnic tables; on-site carts to move gear; short walk to nearby picnic area.

Based on 3 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Groups who want seclusion and car-free paddling: Annie Battle Lake is non-motorized only, the site has on-site gear carts, and mature oaks keep things cool. Fall weekends here are genuinely good.

Skip if

No showers, no flush toilets, no hookups of any kind, and pets aren't allowed. Groups expecting basic comfort infrastructure, or anyone traveling with dogs, will need a different park.

Campgrounds

Glendalough State Park

Group Camp

About Harry Strunk Lake (Medicine Creek State Park Recreation Area)

Context for the broader area surrounding Group Camp, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

Harry Strunk Lake, <A HREF=https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=454">Frenchman Cambridge Division, PSMBP</A>, is managed for the Bureau of Reclamation by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Formed by <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=154">Medicine Creek Dam</A> located on Medicine Creek, irrigation releases are made to the streams for diversion into downstream canal systems. Reservoir open 24 hours. Fair access roads. Available species include walleye, crappie, white bass, channel catfish, and wipers. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing fluctuations. The reservoir has water 1,850 surface acres, 7,093 land acres and 29 miles of shoreline. Fishing season is year-round.Numerous tracts provide food and cover for pheasant, quail, small fur-bearing animals, and mule and white-tail deer. Over 5,600 acres are open to public hunting.

Directions

Site is 9 miles northwest of Cambridge, Nebraska. Nearest highway is U.S. 34.