Public access camping

[ikeslayer]

Is it illegal to pitch a tent and camp at a public access in minnesota? I wouldn't block the access or anthying like that just wondering if i am going to get cherries and a flash light in the middle of the night.

[Wanderer]

There will be signs posted stating if there is "No camping" or "No overnight parking".

I suspect you'll see this at most public accesses in MN. I would look for a state campsite at a lake you're interested in. You may have to go way North to find some though.

[deadeye]

Depending on where your going it may It may or may not be a problem....

If it was up north at a quiet ramp on a superior national forest lake I wouldnt think twice about camping there. If it was at a busy ramp on a popular lake I would consider going elsewhere.

Like mentioned if there is a no camping sign then go somewhere else l. If not, enjoy.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Depends on the landing.

In my area, the DNR operated landings have no camping signs at them. Some of the county operated landings are open for camping.

[ikeslayer]

well i think i am going for it - if any of you want to t.i.p. me in i will be at the access on that lake

[Northlander]

Why not just find a campsite on the lake your fishing? More private and it will actually be like camping.

[ikeslayer]

there isn't any on the lake that i am fishing and the nearest campground is 40 minutes away.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

If it is not posted, go for it.

[fisherofmen]

there isn't any on the lake that i am fishing and the nearest campground is 40 minutes away.

if it is "posted" don't do it! we'll t.i.p. you in a heartbeat

[ikeslayer]

it wasn't posted and we didn't get bothered from 11p.m to 5 a.m

and i would do it again

[RumRiverRat]

if it is "posted" don't do it! we'll t.i.p. you in a heartbeat

TIP has better things to do...................

[reinhard1]

i dont know what lake your looking for but i'm here to help. i know many lakes up north with places to camp that has good fishing. there is no need to camp at a access. i have been to a couple of remote access's with gravel landing with no signs but there are very few of them. if there are no signs go for it but it would not be for me.good luck.

[just_jig]

FYI, MN Rule 6218.0100 GENERAL RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF PUBLIC WATER ACCESS SITES.

Subp. 8.Camping prohibited.A person may not camp on or remain in a vehicle overnight in any public water access site, unless the site is posted for this use by the commissioner

[reinhard1]

you are correct[i checked]. i asked the dnr guy about the lakes [remote] where there are no signs and the access is very small and suited for canoe or small 12ft boat where you go to it by 4wheeler and the dnr site states there is no public landing. he said he could not answere that and i would have to contact the county or if the property is privatly owned. then if you want to be technical i asked about when you portage from one lake to another are they not access points also. could you not camp off to the side of the access on a portage lake if you had to say bad weather would prohibit you from going somewhere else at the time. he said he saw no problem camping off to the side of these portage access's. bottom line is you are correct that there is no camping allowed on any public access whether it is posted or not unless otherwise specified. why would you want to. you can camp on any state forest land and there is a spot somewhere on any lake to camp where there is no private property. good luck.

[deadeye]

I would camp at a access because its camping on a durable surface. I'm not saying go break the laws but if its a lake that doesn't see much traffic, doesnt have any designated sites and there is room to camp there without interrupting traffic then its fine by me. Better than making a camp in somewhere that impact would be much greater.

[reinhard1]

the game warden or sherriff would disagree with you. look, earlier i spoke of a couple of places i go maby once a year for a weekend. i think i'm the only person that goes there. maby i'm wrong but you need a four wheeler to get there and i take a 12ft boat i put on a two wheel light trailer. i dont camp right there were i put the boat in but near by. its not stocked and only has northerns and nice perch in it. just in case i'll put my tent 20 ft down the shore. but in most cases camp down the shore of the access if there is a spot availabe or look for a spot on a island or on shore in other places. i dont want to pay for the trip up there and a chance for a ticket as well. good luck.

[deadeye]

Yeah sometimes its got to be a agree to disagree.

I wont go out of my way camp at a landing but If I'm in the SNF and there isn't another reasonable place to go I'm willing to risk it. There is plenty of options up there so I have only had to once but I would think that it could also fall under dispersed backcountry camping. Mentioning and following Leave No Trace will go a long way if you got a problem too.

If I see someone camping at a landing and they aren't leaving a mess and aren't in the way I'm not calling them in. They are in no way hurting the resource (better than hacking up the lakeshore to make a camp) so I'm happy.

If they are in the way and got beer cans laying all over then its another story.

They just don't want a crowd camping at a landing on a busy lake on opener leaving a mess. I have seen that many times especially during duck opener too. If your not in that crowd and you got some common sense then its not a issue.