Schoolcraft State Park — Hotel in Grand Rapids

Ok. It's rustic. I knew what I was getting into... at least I thought I did. The mosquitoes were relentless and the size of small planes which led to copious amounts of semi-effective bug spray. The resulting sticky exo-shell initiated a strong desire to take a shower before bed oh wait there are no showers, or sinks..doh! The three toilets are Pit style structures that were really clean and mostly free of bugs. 'Till that kid from a couple of campsites over peed all over it, apparently he left all of his potty training at home... but, regardless of all that the park was beautiful, and peaceful. The early bird reservers had roomy campsites that were overlooking a nice little body of water. The rest were a little small but you still had nice separation from your campa-neighbor. I'm pretty sure I heard some moose calls in the morning and our kayak adventure on the Vermillion and Mississippi River was epic! The park was well stocked with plenty of firewood for us to buy...with cash. (That was interesting) Sadly, there wasn't a gift shop so our only memorabilia to take home was a couple of photos and some skeeter bites. I'd go back but, I'd be better prepared. Maybe next time I'll bring my own Porta shower or a huge inflatable...

I visited Schoolcraft State Park to complete the Hiking Club Trail. Since it’s the off-season, the place was completely quiet—almost deserted. Unlike many other state parks, this one doesn’t have a visitor center, and given its small, secluded nature, I’d recommend visiting with a hiking buddy rather than going solo, especially in quieter months.

The park is heavily wooded with pine trees, and I even came across a fenced-off area protecting white pines, which was interesting to see. On my way there, I spotted a couple of deer, and a posted sign reinforced that they’re frequent visitors in the area.

The trail offers a decent view of the Mississippi River along a portion of the route, adding to the park’s peaceful atmosphere. The campground is right at the trailhead, with additional camping spots along the trail itself. If you’re looking for a quiet camping or hiking spot, I’d recommend visiting in summer or fall when it’s likely to be livelier. Otherwise, if you prefer solitude, this could be a great...

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with this state park. “Rustic” can mean many things when it comes to MN State Parks. At this one, it means quiet (when not a holiday weekend or weekends during peak season), clean, grassy and shaded sites, brand new vault toilets, and small (24 small sites total, no elec).

Please note, this is NOT a campground that can accommodate big rigs, it says so on the park website. Turns are tight and sites are small. I witnessed someone pull in with a 35-40 footer and cram it into the smallest site. First, it didn’t fit, second it looked ridiculous. Come on.

The hiking options are limited, but nice. The only other activity here is boating/kayaking. If those are not your activities, bring books, games etc or look to...