This week the weather here in The Netherlands turned back to the normal, wet and mild. I am suffering from paddle fever and it gets worse with each day that passes. I was on the water here last year on 10 March. Doesn’t look like the weather is going to allow me to get into the water for a few more days. That hasn’t stop me from planning for my Spring Minnesota camping trips.

My office wall covered in maps
Minnesota Planning
I started planning my Minnesota Spring trip mid winter. I have goals, I know where I want to go and the places I want to check off my to do list.
- Visit two Minnesota State Parks that I have not yet experienced.
- Explore the Minnesota River and parts of the St Croix River by kayak.
- Fly fish. I will try again this year to catch my first Minnesota trout.
- Kayak as much as I can, weather conditions permitting.
- Take some outdoor classes.
Last Spring, I was camping on 10 April at Moose Lake State Park and then when the forecast called for snow, I quickly changed locations, relocating outside the snow belt. I camped at William O’Brien State Park close to Forest Lake, Minnesota. I then moved for 4 days at St Croix State Park just east of Hinckley, Minnesota where I kayaked, fished, and hiked. Finally, I headed back to Moose Lake (read my blog experience here) before securing the Tiger Moth trailer camper back into a near empty storage unit. I had the same goals on my list last year, accomplishing almost everything. Sadly, catching a Minnesota trout last year eluded me.
Spring camping is not everyone’s cup of tea, friends think I am out of my mind camping in 30 F degree (- 0 C ) conditions even if I do have a camper with a small plug in heater. I also often have people ask me if I am scared, being a woman and camping alone. I just laugh.

My weather station inside my Tiger Moth on April 10, 2017 – Moose Lake State Park
I enjoy the quiet of the near empty campgrounds. It gives me joy to start a campfire and to sit it it’s glow at the end of a day of paddling or hiking. I can experience the return of the Spring birds and hear the frogs singing without the additional noise of civilization. I can still see the wild animals as they scurry around in the near bare woods void of leaves. I usually find that the campers who are out in those campgrounds at this time of the year are also pretty well grounded, interesting people.
My initial plan this spring, I was going to try camping at the State Parks close to Mille Lacs Lake. I quickly found that this option would not be the best option for my spring camping schedule as the average “ice out” date on Mille Lacs Lake is 24 April. The pictures and video of the dangerous ice mountains coming off the lake made me reconsider and then change my plans. This change made me very excited, it will be my first stay in a Minnesota State Park in the southern part of the state. Both parks I chose are close to the Mississippi River.
This week when I booked my camping spots at two Southern Minnesota State Parks, Whitewater and Beaver Creek Valley. I was surprised at the number of weekend and weekday camping slots that were already filled. Last year, most of the state parks I camped at, I had the entire campground to myself mid week and very few people were camped on the weekends.
I quickly found from my research on the DNR website, that during the time I am camping at these two parks, it is trout fishing opener. I will be sharing the rivers and campground areas with like minded fly fishing people. The fly fishing rod went on my packing list. I will be trying to catch my first Minnesota brook or maybe a DNR stocked rainbow trout. How exciting!
Well, excited is how I feel now, sitting behind my computer screen in The Netherlands. Lets just wait and see if I can catch anything on my line this Spring. I know from past experiences it could be a frustrating task waiting for a fish to bite the fly once I am on the river. I usually spend hours untangling line out of trees, falling into the river or the muddy banks, or having fun catching something that isn’t even a trout. Last year I spent a wonderful day on a small trout stream catching fish like crazy only to find out that they were river chum. Another morning in early Spring I was catching sunfish with every cast of my flies, fun for me just to catch something but I couldn’t fool anyone else that they were rainbow trout!
My goal of taking outdoor classes last year landed me a free fly fishing class at Afton State Park. I also attended another free REI presentation about a year long BWCAW canoe trip. Both of these classes were very helpful in my planning and enjoyment of my camping trips last year.

Free Fly Fishing class at Afton State Park
This year I have scheduled a REI class (free) presented by the National Park Service on paddling the St Croix River system. I have researched and located several other free class options but haven’t made additional plans just yet. I found that several county parks in the Minneapolis/St Paul area along with the State Parks have many outdoor classes in the months of April and May. Most of these classes are free or have a small reasonable charge.
So now the waiting game starts, as the days get longer (hopefully warmer) my paddle fever grows. I wait to load the kayak into the water here (The Netherlands). I dream of the April Minnesota waters.
Then, before I realize it, the big day at the end of this month will be here. The day where I fly to Minnesota leaving my tulip garden here alone.

Last Spring the tulips in my back garden while I was in Minnesota camping.

One more tulip picture (from last year) for all you still in the snow…
Beautiful thoughts. I too am itching for spring camping but being close to Old Mill State Park, we are still buried in feet of snow. I’m left to sorting and organizing gear and pouring over maps. Have you been to Minnesota State Park? If not, I recommend it as your new one to visit. Lovely!
Cheers,
Jes
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I haven’t been to Old Mill State Park. I will have to check that one out. Thanks for the tip.
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Minneopa* (auto correct)
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Wow~ That is one of my bucket list to drive to a nice quiet forest or park and have an outdoor camping + camp fire which I would love to experience if I have a chance. A pity, we can’t do that in Singapore. Lol~ Anyway, you are really a brave lady who go camping alone out there! *Thumbs up* =D
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Thanks for the thumbs up but really it is a wonderful experience I would encourage any woman to step out and do on her own. Thanks for stopping.
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While at Whitewater, keep your eye out for the Chestnut-sided Warbler and the Black and White Warbler which are two of my favorite Spring birds – both appear to be common at that time. While relaxing after a long day of kayaking or fishing, be sure and listen for the Whip-poor-will at Beaver Creek probably will not see them, but I love to hear their song as the Sun takes leave and gives way to the Moon. Sounds like you have well set for your Minnesota trip – good luck catching something… other than tree leaves which is what I would be frying up if I ever attempted fly-fishing.
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Thanks for the tips. I always get the bird lists that the park provides but can only check off the ones I know for sure. I will haul out my bird books before I leave so maybe I have a chance to see them. The whip-poor-will is an easy one to pick out. I am bringing a steak to fry, as mostly the fish never make it in the hook. Thanks for the tips.
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It sounds like you have an exciting adventure waiting for you this summer. Best wishes from Canada, where winter shows signs of retreat with beautiful spring like weather and bright sunshine!
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Thanks Peter, sounds like nice weather. Still no nice weather here. Waiting…waiting…waiting…
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Your plans sound wonderful!! I’m dreaming of some spring camping. We might get out next weekend. But spring means soccer so we are stuck camping close to home. Whitewater is on our calendar for this year too. It is such a beautiful park!
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I remember those soccer mom days. I can’t wait to see how southern MN stacks up to the parks I normally visit in northeast MN.
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Great post. Thanks for sharing. We live in Atlanta (much further south than Minnesota) and all of our friends thought we were crazy for dragging the kids up to Washington DC in our camper this spring. We followed that up with a trip to Roan Mountain, Tn on the Appalachian Trail. We saw morning in the ’20’s but it never deterred us. It’s Spring!
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I think it is great that we have strong adventurous types like you. I love camping when it is still just warm enough to keep most people from camping. I have seen things in those Spring days in an empty campground that you would never seen when it is full RVs and campers. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
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There are so many great parks in Minnesota to visit. I live here and haven’t been to all the ones I want to go to yet. I’ve started falling in love with the “small” parks because they have fewer people. Best of luck on all your future adventures!
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Thanks for stopping and commenting on our blog. Happy camping at your next Minnesota State Park😊
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[…] and hikes of this Minnesota State Park many times in the recent years. ( you can read more here and here). On this day, I wanted to explore a trail along the […]
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