⛺️ only in mn camping tips with an outdoor enthusiast





explore minnesota | minnesota outdoors | no wifi? no problem | two campers at their site at night. campfire ring and two tents are visible. [ [link removed] ]





interview with aaron shaffer

Growing up, Aaron was more of a video-game-stay-inside kinda guy. That is, until his parents sent him to an overnight camp, Camp Tanadoona (now *Camp Fire [ [link removed] ]*), just west of the Twin Cities and his eyes opened up to the possibilities beyond his screen. *Camp Warren [ [link removed] ]* became his summer highlight as he was older, eventually bringing other gamer friends with him.

 

One of his core camping memories is from a Camp Warren Boundary Waters island excursion, in which he broke slightly from the group, read books for hours, all while sitting in a low-hanging tree and taking in the views. Camp was also the spark that led to his ongoing love for the Boundary Waters. After a brief stint outside of Minnesota, he returned in 2010 and started revisiting the Boundary Waters as an adult. For the past 15 years, one of those annual trips is with a friend from Camp Warren.

 






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the rocky terrain is almost like you're in the mountains, but with endless water you can filter and drink.

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a small green tent is pitched by the water. a canoe is upside down on the shore. it's golden hour, so the sun is turning everything slightly yellow. [ [link removed] ]





do you have a favorite place to camp?

The *Boundary Waters [ [link removed] ]* is different than anything else around. The rocky terrain is almost like you're in the mountains, but with endless water you can filter and drink. There's an element of adventure to it that I really like.

 

We were up this last weekend, base camping* for the first time — we could only be there for two nights, so we stayed in the same site rather than picking up and moving. We found this day trip adventure where we paddled up to *Moosecamp Lake [ [link removed] ]* and we had to cross around seven beaver dams. We had to do a lot of problem solving to figure out how we were going to get ourselves and a canoe over a two-foot beaver damn with muck and branches as our only thing to stand on. We felt very accomplished when that was a successful trip.






View of giant Cumulus clouds above the Boundary Waters [ [link removed] ]





what makes camping in minnesota different from other places you’ve camped?

I know there are other good places to paddle and camp in the United States, but I think the Boundary Waters is unique. It's the most visited wilderness, so they get much more exposure while still maintaining a wild quality. There can be a lot of people on certain routes, but if you go farther away from entry points, you might only see two other people for the whole day.

 

There’s a lot of versatility in the kind of camping you can experience as well. While we usually do more campsite hopping — a type of imitation of French voyagers from back in the day — there's been a trend in the last 10 or 15 years where people might paddle for an hour and camp in one spot for a week. You can really control how far you go and how much you explore with each visit.  






Person walking into a terracotta-colored yurt. Two mountain bikes are propped up next to the door. [ [link removed] ]





are there any spots that offer a true “only in minnesota” camping experience?

*Cuyuna State Park [ [link removed] ]* is fun to camp at and has an amazing world class mountain bike trail network that we really love. We go there once in the summer and once in the winter every year. In the summer you can go mountain biking or road biking and then kayak later in the day on beautiful lakes. Then in the winter, you can cross-country ski on those road bike trails and fat bike on other trails.

 

*Split Rock [ [link removed] ]* is another unique experience. It has the lighthouse, of course, plus a camping element and then there are pretty cool hiking trails, especially with access to the *Superior Hiking Trail [ [link removed] ]*. There's also another really good mountain bike park there called *Split Rock Wilds [ [link removed] ]*.

 

Both of those places are unique to Minnesota, with a lot of history and also unbelievable scenery. 






a pea green canoe sits on shore next to a beautiful blue lake. A campfire with a pot on a grate and cooking utensils are in the foreground. [ [link removed] ]





you listed out several ways to camp in your article [ [link removed] ]. do you prefer particular kinds of camping? 

Canoe expeditions are probably the biggest for me, but my wife and I will dabble in backpacking. Canoeing is firmly in the lead because you can bring more luxuries — better food and amenities — you can't bring if you have to carry it all on your back.

 

As far as backpacking, there are hiking trails in the Boundary Waters that people don't often know about. My favorite hiking trail I've ever done goes around Snowbank Lake. There's a parking lot that you actually start from east of Ely. It's a three-day/two-night, pretty vigorous hike. While you’re in the woods mainly for the Superior Hiking Trail, on the *Snowbank Lake Trail [ [link removed] ]*, you're popping out of the woods with amazing overlook views of the water every few minutes. If you go in the fall, you get the bonus of fall colors, too.






Aaron holds a map with one hand and points to a waterway with the other while talking with a fellow camper. [ [link removed] ]





what advice would you give first-time campers?

There are a lot of rabbit holes you can go down researching and gear can be a big barrier to people. I would recommend to people get whatever you can to try it out. Worry about which specific brand or which features or whatever later on, once you've determined if camping seems like something you'd actually like.

 

There are so many Facebook groups, forums and websites where it makes it seem like you should be spending thousands of dollars to get in, but you could probably borrow all the gear from a friend or get it on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist for under $100. Car camping is an easy way to start out, especially as, a lot of times, cheaper gear is heavier.

 

If you are doing a wilderness-style trip, I would recommend going through an outfitter first and get some good tips from them. The other thing I would say is just look up a list of suggested things to bring and make sure you don't get hung up on the brand.  






car camping gear suggestions

* Cooler packed with ice to preserve food and keep drinks cold
* Large tent
* Comfy camp chair
* Blow-up mattresses — one twin-sized per person — for better sleep
* Blankets to stay cozy around camp
* A camp set for cooking, grilling, and making coffee
* Refillable water containers
* Lighters to get a campfire going
* A bug net tent
* Recreational options: inflatable stand-up paddle board, kayak or floaties (if you’re near a lake)





 

what are some of the best camping areas for people who want to experience nature without difficult terrain? 

There are some lodges and campgrounds right along the Boundary Waters, like the *Sawbill Lake Campground*, [ [link removed] ] where you can set up a campsite right next to the same exact body of water without having to hike or paddle to.

 

Also *Bear Head Lake State Park [ [link removed] ]* is an accessible campground where you can get a camping experience without needing to carry a canoe or 100lb pack. 











screenshot from Explore Minnesota's BWCA Beginner Guide Reel [ [link removed] ]





*WATCH A BEGINNER GUIDE TO BWCA* [ [link removed] ]






 

any tips for avoiding mosquitoes while camping here? 

Mosquitoes can be really annoying, but don’t forget flies, too. I sometimes think flies are worse than mosquitoes, but mosquitoes are the thing most people worry about. For both, I would recommend always bringing a black head net, which works better with your vision somehow. Your brain erases it a little bit vs the green nets really impede your vision. Just have it in your pocket or if you wear a hat, wear it partially over your head, so it's ready to be pulled over.

 

Mosquitoes tend to come out at dusk and dawn. Find a campsite that has wind and sun. In the day, the wind will blow them away and the sun will keep them at bay. Then try to be done with the cooking and eating dinner before sunset, so that you're not eating at “mosquito hour.” Also, get any overnight prep finished during the day, when the mosquitoes are less present, so you're not trying to do it while you're being devoured.

 

Another tip is more weather dependent, but you can wear winter gloves and thick pants. Tuck your pants into thick socks and then wear thicker shoes. Add a couple shirt layers and the bug net on top and you end up with a suit of armor that only the best mosquitoes can get through.

 

If you really hate bugs, you should look at doing a trip early May or late August/early September. By August/September the water is still warm, but the mosquitos are pretty much gone by then. If you go in May, you should plan your trip around whether there's been a freeze recently. 






a terracotta-colored tent is close to a fire with a red tea kettle on it. The campsite is surrounded by enormous pine trees. [ [link removed] ]





do you have any camping hacks you’d like to share?

I've developed some over the years and one concern that comes up a lot is about water filtration. In the past, you had to use a hand pump and someone's one role at the campsite would be the pump person. They would spend hours over the course of a few days pumping water so that everyone could stay hydrated.

 

Then drops started to get more popular to sanitize the water, but there's still a chemical element that you're drinking that people are hesitant about.

 

About 8-9 years ago, a company pioneered these little inline water filters for their *Sawyer squeeze* [ [link removed] ]. What I did was, I got one of those filters and hooked it onto an old hydration pack bladder and then I hooked it onto a tree. I essentially made a gravity filter for about $15 that accomplished the same thing that was $200 at the time. More companies are imitating the expensive filters, so it's becoming cheaper, but my hack is still a money saver. 






what’s your go-to snack and/or meal when camping for multiple days?

Tortilla shell, peanut butter and pepperoni. I was very skeptical the first time, but it tastes way better than you'd expect. I'm guessing it's the salt, because it’s more savory than what you'd get with jelly.  

Another is tuna packets and a whole bunch of spinach stuffed into a little Tupperware container, so you have some greens. That meal usually gets wrapped in tortillas, too.

 

We brought sausages to grill last camping trip and I realized I forgot the buns, so... we used tortillas as a makeshift bun. It turns out, tortillas are the way to go. 






*GET S'MORE CAMPING TIPS* [ [link removed] ]






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"from top to bottom: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, photo by Aaron Shaffer  |  Boundar Waters, photo by Erica Wacker  |  clouds above the BWCA, photo by Lauren Cutshall  |  Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in Ironton, photo by Dana Hernandez  |  Caribou Lake in the Boundary Waters, photo by Gary Hamer courtesy of Capture Minnesota  |  Paper maps while camping, photo from Aaron Shaffer  |  Camping in Northern Minnesota, phtoo by Daniel Thornberg"

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""*Base camping is when you pick a single spot to set up your tent, returning to the same area after daily excursions or activities."""

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"""This interview has been edited for length and clarity."""






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