How much does camping cost at Backpack Campsites?

Camping fees at Backpack Campsites range from $8-$10/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Backpack Campsites first-come first-served or reservation?

Backpack Campsites 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 Backpack Campsites?

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

Can I have a campfire at Backpack Campsites?

Fire policies at Backpack Campsites: Use approved or local firewood only. Light fires only within fire rings or charcoal grills, do not leave fires unattended, extinguish all fires before leaving, and do not burn trash.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Is there cell service at Backpack Campsites?

Cell phone service at Backpack Campsites is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

Are dogs allowed at Backpack Campsites?

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

What amenities are available at Backpack Campsites?

Backpack Campsites offers: Restrooms. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Backpack Campsites?

Popular activities at Backpack Campsites include Hiking, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Backpack Campsites

4.50

98 reviews

11411 Clementa Ave NW, Monticello, MN 55362

Summer Destination

Featured in:Tent Camping Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

$8 - $10/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has 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

$8 - $10/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota DNR)Official Website

Backpack Campsites

$8.00 - $10.00 / night

Campsite Fees

A non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation ($10 by call center, $8 online). Campground/campsite nightly fees apply but...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

11411 Clementa Ave NW, Monticello, MN 55362

No map location available

Nearby places

Monticello (~5 miles, per visitor reports)

Weather at Backpack Campsites

Best Time to Camp at Backpack Campsites

Fall offers the best combination of comfortable hiking weather, vivid shoreline and hardwood foliage, and greatly reduced biting insects. Perfect for Lake Maria's secluded backpack sites. Expect cool, crisp days (roughly 45–65°F) and chilly nights, which bring out more wildlife activity and excellent lake reflections for photography. Crowds drop after Labor Day. Summer delivers long daylight and warm hiking conditions, but mosquitoes and biting flies are relentless; citronella candles and DEET help. Winter transforms the trails into cross-country ski routes with far fewer visitors and a quiet you won't find the rest of the year.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Fall praised as best: comfortable hiking, vivid foliage, and far fewer insects.

Planning Tips

About Backpack Campsites

Lake Maria State Park's backpack campsites scatter along quiet lakes and ponds, each reached by a hike of half a mile to two miles from the trailhead. The eight rustic sites run $8–10 per night and offer real solitude: picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and vault toilet at each spot, with nothing but woods and water in between. You'll share some trails with horses, but the sites themselves feel remote.

Hike-in backpack campsites — remote, spread-out tent sites located around small lakes and ponds in the park. Sites are primitive with no utility hookups.

Weather and SeasonsFall offers the best combination of comfortable hiking weather, vivid shoreline and hardwood foliage, and greatly reduced biting insects. Perfect for Lake Maria's secluded backpack sites. Expect cool, crisp days (roughly 45–65°F) and chilly nights, which bring out more wildlife activity and excellent lake reflections for photography. Crowds drop after Labor Day. Summer delivers long daylight and warm hiking conditions, but mosquitoes and biting flies are relentless; citronella candles and DEET help. Winter transforms the trails into cross-country ski routes with far fewer visitors and a quiet you won't find the rest of the year.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campsites sit on lakeshores and pond edges, wrapped in dense hardwood forest that supports great horned owls, coyotes, and the endangered Blanding's turtle. Riparian zones hum with frogs and songbirds. Site B2 occupies a small peninsula with open water views and good light for sunrise. Pastures and hay fields appear in the distance from some shorelines, a reminder you're still in farm country. Trees near most sites work for hammocks, though you might need to walk a few steps outside your exact pad to find the right spacing.

Scenic ViewsMany sites provide lake and shoreline views, with opportunities for sunrise/sunset viewing over small lakes; some sites (visitor-recommended) are on peninsulas offering panoramic water views.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsOnline state parks reservation system (web) and phone call center (866-857-2757)

Cancellation PolicyAdvance reservations incur a non-refundable reservation fee; see the state parks reservations policy for full terms.

Best CampsitesSite B2 gets recommended most often for its peninsula location, minimal road noise despite proximity to the park road (which you can't see from camp), and slightly fewer bugs thanks to breeze off the water. All sites spread out enough that you won't hear neighbors, and most border small lakes with at least partial views.

Need help booking Backpack Campsites?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Backpack campsites at Lake Maria are remote hike-in sites with basic, primitive amenities. Visitor reports indicate sites typically include a tent pad, picnic table, fire ring and a latrine; there are no showers, electricity, or potable water at the backpack sites.

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

The backpack sites provide access to the park's hiking and multi-use trail network and are used for overnight backpacking and wildlife viewing year-round; trails are also used for cross-country skiing in winter. Nearby lakes and ponds provide additional outdoor opportunities reported by visitors.

Hiking

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsMosquitoes and biting flies can be significant in warmer months; shared trails may have horse droppings. Follow park rules: use local/approved firewood, light fires only in rings, extinguish fires, and pack out trash. Latrines may not be stocked with toilet paper—bring your own.

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

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

4.5

98 reviews

Recommended

Backpack Campsites is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitor sentiment is strongly positive: reviewers praise the park's quiet, well-maintained trails, private and scenic hike-in campsites, and good wildlife viewing. Common negatives noted are seasonal mosquitoes/biting flies and occasional limited supplies at latrines.

Review Summaries

Based on 98 reviews

What Campers Love

Very private, spread-out backpack sites with lake views; well-marked and varied trail system; good for families, birdwatching, and winter cross-country skiing; spacious tent pads and natural, quiet...

Based on 98 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring bug spray and toilet paper; expect short hikes to sites (about 0.5–2 miles); site B2 is frequently recommended for its peninsula location and views; citronella or other insect deterrents help...

Based on 98 reviews

Camper Quotes

“The hike in camp sites near the lake looked perfect for a more remote camping experience.” — reviewer; “The campsites are remote, being all backpack campsites, and some are on the water…” — reviewer

Based on 98 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Site B2 on the peninsula is the draw: open water on three sides, good sunrise light, and real quiet within 30 minutes of the Twin Cities metro. Fall weekends hit the sweet spot, cool temps, color, and the bugs are finally gone.

Skip if

No potable water at any backpack site means carrying everything in. Summer visits without serious bug protection get miserable fast, and some latrines run out of toilet paper, so pack your own regardless of season.

Campgrounds

Lake Maria State Park

Backpack Campsites

About Merritt Reservoir

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

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Merritt+Dam">Merritt Dam</a>, a feature of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Ainsworth Unit Project">Ainsworth Unit, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program</a>, is on the Snake River 14 miles upstream from the confluence of the Snake and Niobrara Rivers. Recreation is managed by Nebraska Game and Parks. Reservoir open 24 hours. Good access roads. Available species include walleye, muskie, largemouth bass, crappie, and yellow perch. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing moderate fluctuations. THe reservoir peaks has 2,906 water surface acres, 6,147 land acres and 44 miles of shoreline. Fishing season is year-round. <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_mrne.pl">Current reservoir levels.</a>

Directions

Located 21 miles southwest of Valentine, Nebraska. Nearest highway is Nebraska 97.