Lake Maria State Park Backpack Sites

Lake Maria State Park (near Monticello)

At Lake Maria State Park, about 8 miles west of Monticello, every campsite is a walk-in. Minnesota Trails says backpacking is the only camping in the park apart from three camper cabins and a primitive group camp: you park at the trail center and walk 1 to 2 miles to one of 17 backpack sites.

The park protects a piece of the Big Woods, a hardwood forest that Minnesota Trails says once stretched about 100 miles north to south, and the sites are tucked around small lakes and marshy ponds among oak, maple, and basswood. Islands puts the park about an hour from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.

The hike

The DNR’s winter map numbers the sites B1 through B17. Minnesota Trails says most are clustered near Bjorkland Lake and Putman Lake, and Explore Minnesota describes them as spread among remote lakes and ponds. The park has about 13 to 14 miles of hiking trail, depending on the source, about 6 of them shared with horses, plus a boardwalk through a marsh.

Islands (2025) lists the 2-mile Bjorkland Trail, with a viewpoint over the water, and a 5.2-mile loop on the Anderson Hill, Big Woods, and Bjorkland trails. Minnesota Trails points to the Big Woods Loop for its old-growth forest.

Most reviewers on The Dyrt describe a walk of about a mile. Bri M. (2018) called the trails “easy, wide trails without much up and down,” while other reviewers describe hilly approaches to BP4, BP6, and BP7. One reviewer said BP5 is a long hike; another reached B5 on a short road walk instead. Several reviewers mention bringing a cart to haul gear, and one notes the trails are kept smooth enough for one.

Several reviewers mention Blanding’s turtles on the ponds, and The Dyrt’s summary lists owls, woodpeckers, and wood ducks. Many reviews mention bugs: mosquitoes from late spring through August, more along grassy trail sections, and spiders in the privies. The Dyrt’s summary says fall and winter are much quieter. Islands says camping is available year-round, though the DNR’s winter map shows some sites closed in winter.

To turn the overnight into a real day of hiking, walk in to camp, drop your pack, and do the 5.2-mile loop. For a longer central Minnesota trip, see Wild River State Park on the St. Croix River.

Tips

Fill water at the parking area. Reviewers say there’s a pump there and that the lake water is swampy.
Ask about distance when you book. Reviewer estimates for the same site vary.
Bring permethrin-treated clothes or repellent for summer.
Bring your own toilet paper; one reviewer found none.
Buy firewood at the park rather than bringing it from far away.

Camping

Camping is allowed only at the designated sites, reserved through the Minnesota state parks system online or at 866-857-2757 up to 120 days ahead. DNR rules limit each site to one group of six or fewer and one tent or shelter unless the manager approves more; check-in and checkout are at 4 p.m. Pets are allowed on a leash of six feet or less. The DNR’s general backcountry page says backpack sites typically have a primitive toilet, tent pad, and fire ring. Reviewers report firewood sold at a self-pay station and an office that may be open only Friday through Sunday off-season.

Inside Intel: Reviewers keep pointing to sites 1 through 4. Jeff S. (2018) called sites 1-4 the best, and Joanna B. (2020) said BP1, BP2, and BP3 are on lakes, with BP8 and BP14 also lakeside, but that “BP1 does not have its own toilet.” Tori K. (2025) favored site 1 but said vehicle noise from a county road carries at night. In 2017, the Star Tribune listed B5 among its favorite Minnesota state park backpack sites.

Trail facts

Distance: About 1 to 2 miles each way to most sites; a 5.2-mile loop is available
Route type: Out-and-back to camp, with optional loops
Difficulty: Easy
Campsites: 17 (B1-B17), mostly near Bjorkland and Putman Lakes
Water: Pump at the parking area (per reviewers); lake water not recommended
Permits: State park reservation; vehicle permit
Food storage: Lockers reported at sites
Dogs: Allowed on a 6-foot leash
Trailhead: Trail center parking lot
Last verified: October 8, 2026

The Lowdown

A tent pad in the Big Woods:

Every Lake Maria site is a walk-in, about a mile from the lot, so a light, easy-pitching tent makes the short haul even easier. See the tents testers like.

Compare the top 5 →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.