Camp under the fall colors

It’s fall; meaning the leaves are changing, the nights are getting cooler, and bonfires are more prevalent. Making it the perfect time to camp before the colder months set in.

This article will function as a bit of a field guide of what to bring and where you can camp within a two hour driving distance of NDSU.

Where to Camp

Camping under the canopy of fall leaves and waking up to a crisp morning will leave you breathless, eyes full of nature’s most beautiful months.

Notable places to camp at within a two hour driving distance are…

Buffalo River State Park – This state park only a 25 minute drive from Fargo, located East past Dilworth is a great place to get away if you only have a night to spare. Notable things the state park offers according to their website is that it’s situated on the prairie that we all very much love. There are electric hookups, hot showers, and trails to hike. Just to name a few things that this great state park has to offer.

Itasca State Park – One of my personal favorites, located two hours North East from Fargo is a Minnesota state park you can’t miss. Itasca boasts to be the place where the beginnings of the Mississippi headwaters start. According to the Minnesota DNR website, Itasca is home to Native American burial mounds which you can visit. A hike recommendation would be to hike to the fire watchtower where you can view from a birds-eye view the incredible untouched lakes and fall colors cascading over Itasca.

Maplewood State Park – Located in the Minnesota lakes region (by Otter Tail Lake), it is a great place to camp if feeling already nostalgic about the lake seasons dwindling days. A beautiful forested area makes up the astounding 9,500 acres of wilderness. According to the Explore Minnesota Site, “of there to observe the wildlife: the park is host to 150 bird species and 50 species of mammals.”

Fort Ransom State Park – Interestingly enough, Fort Ransom formally a military fort in the 1860’s located in the Sheyenne River Valley (by Valley City), One hour and twenty-five minutes driving distance from Fargo is a beautiful place if you’re looking to see beautiful scenery from our fellow state, North Dakota. Rolling hills and streams are what makes up Fort Ransom. I highly recommend this state park in particular if just looking for a day-trip. Not wanting to camp? Perfect, there is an incredible opportunity to rent a yurt for $125 a night. I highly recommend checking it out if, in fact, you don’t know what it is.

Packing List

So far places to camp at have been covered but, what do you bring?
Items like; a flashlight, emergency kit, sleeping bags, tents, trail maps, firewood, rain poncho (because the weather can be quite unpredictable). The most important piece of advice I can give to anybody is, always pack warm. Bring layers and of course, enough snacks! Hiking makes a person hungry.

Not Tenting It

That’s perfectly okay, all of the state parks listed above have cabins to rent or different accommodations if a night under some fabric doesn’t suit your taste. The outdoors are for everyone and doesn’t demand you to abandon every bit of comfort you want.

Additional Tips

It’s always a great idea to plan ahead. Reservations fill up quickly in peak season but during fall months with school starting, there are campsites open. Especially, if you want to arrive early and get a first come first serve site.

NDSU Student Perks

Did you know that NDSU rents nearly everything you would need for an outdoors trip? From canoes, snowshoes, tents, and sleeping bags. Our university has it and the rates are extremely affordable. Further information about camping supplies to rent can be found at https://www.ndsu.edu/mu/rec_outing/ro_outdoor_equipment/

So what’s stopping you? The outdoors are calling you, like John Muir a famous naturalist once said,  “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

Go out and celebrate the changing colors of fall and get to know more about the natural landscape, we call home.