Maplewood Backpack Campsites Permit

Highlights

• •Minnesota DNR's definition of the category: "Backcountry campsites in Minnesota state parks are not accessible by motor vehicle and are a half mile or more from a parking area. They do not have electricity, and are a popular option for backpackers, paddlers, and bicyclists."
• •"Backcountry sites typically have primitive toilet facilities and water, a tent pad, and a fire ring. Some have a picnic table and a grill on the fire ring, and a few have shelters."
• •The Minnesota reservation system lists this facility as "Backpack Campsites" with three units, named Backpack #BERS, #COW and #GRAS.
• •Minnesota DNR's published backcountry rate at Maplewood is $22 per site, per night, plus tax.
• •"Seasonal availability varies by park." DNR publishes no season for this facility specifically, so the booking calendar is the authority on which nights exist.
• •DNR lists the count and nothing else: "Backpack Sites | 3 sites." No distance, no trail, no access description accompanies it on the camping page or the park map.
• •The reservation system names the three units Berscheid, Cow and Grass — lake names in the park. DNR does not connect those names to anything on its own page.
• •Worth knowing before you book the Grass unit: DNR's own trail alert says "The Grass Lake Trail from letters Blue AA to Blue Z is closed" for safety and maintenance. DNR does not say whether that closure touches access to the campsite, and we are not going to assume it does or does not.
• •No season is published for the backpack sites. Park-wide, DNR says "The shower building is open and will close the 3rd week of October, weather permitting" and "Water is on at all locations. Water is expected to remain on until the 3rd week of October."
• •Water, and what it depends on. DNR: "Drinking water is available at the ranger station year-round, located on the side of the building. Drinking water spigots located at the Dump Station, The Sugar Shack, Lida, Knoll, Hollow, Horse and Grass Lake Campgrounds are available for the season. Anticipated water off date is The 3rd week of October." Everything but the ranger station has a published switch-off, and DNR states no water at the backpack sites themselves — carry it in, and ring the park if you are going late in the season.
• •Toilets: "Vault toilets are available year-round at the Trail Center, Picnic Area, Main Campground, Beers Lake Cabins, Beers Lake Boat water access parking lot, the Horse Campground/Day-Use Area, and picnic/beach area."
• •Sourcing note: the park-page sentences on this page were read on 2026-08-10 from Minnesota DNR's own live park-content endpoint. maps.dnr.state.mn.us refuses our requests outright, so that fetch went through a Wayback Save-Page-Now capture of the live DNR endpoint, with the Internet Archive acting only as transport. www.dnr.state.mn.us and files.dnr.state.mn.us were read directly.

Best Time to Visit

Autumn, on DNR's own account: "The park is known for its wonderful fall colors. Look for special park events and festivals each autumn," and "the maple forest turns brilliant shades of orange, gold, and red in the fall." DNR also suggests "the park drive at dawn and dusk is a great time to see deer." No season is published for the backpack sites; park-wide, water and the shower building run to the third week of October, weather permitting.