Frontenac State Park Backpack Campsites

Open — Open year-round with campsites available by reservation. Park hours are daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Portions of the park may close during special deer hunts in fall.

About

Frontenac State Park's two backpack campsites offer adventurous campers a primitive wilderness experience along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. Sites B1 and B2 are located approximately 1.4 miles from the parking area, requiring hikers to carry all gear to reach these secluded spots. The park sits atop dramatic 430-foot bluffs overlooking Lake Pepin and is renowned as one of the premier birdwatching destinations in the United States, with more than 260 species recorded including bald eagles, warblers, hawks, waterfowl, and shorebirds migrating along the Mississippi River flyway. The park's 14 miles of hiking trails wind through diverse habitats including bluffland, restored prairie, floodplain forest, and upland hardwood forest. Popular routes include the challenging Bluffside Trail with wooden stairs and switchbacks descending 430 feet to near water level, trails through old pine plantations, and the Sand Point Trail leading one mile out to a sandy peninsula extending into Lake Pepin. Historic features include limestone quarry remnants and views of Old Frontenac, a 1880s tourist destination community. Backpack campsites are primitive with basic amenities. The park is open year-round with opportunities for cross-country skiing on groomed trails and sledding in winter months. All campsites in Frontenac State Park are 100% reservable through the Minnesota State Parks reservation system.

Directions

From the park office, hike approximately 1.5 miles along the designated trail to reach the backpack campsites.

Nearby Campgrounds