Backpacking in Itasca State Park

Itasca State Park, near South Clearwater, Minnesota, is not the typical American state park. Described by the local CBS network affiliate as one of the state's best camping areas, the lakes and forests of the park extend for more than 30,000 acres, an area that includes the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Because it encloses a vast wilderness area, Itasca hosts a 49-mile long network of hiking trails and back-country camping. The hike-in, backpacking campsites in Itasca State Park fall between one mile to five miles' distance from the park's various parking lots, making Itasca a destination for veterans and tenderfeet alike.

Backpacking Campites
Itasca State Park hosts 11 backpacking campsites, scattered about the southern half of the park and located off various hiking trails. Some of these campsites are in camping areas with two or three sites, while others are in isolated, single-campsite areas. All of the backpacking campsites are located on or within a few minutes walk of one of Itasca's many lakes. The backpacking sites at Itasca fall into the "remote camping" designation of the Minnesota State park system. All sites have a fire ring, a primitive toilet, and water, and many campsites have a picnic table as well.

Wildlife
One of the benefits of backpacking is that it puts you far from areas frequented by humans, and thus increases the chance of seeing wildlife, including the aforementioned bears. Itasca State Park hosts plenty of deer, so much so that overpopulation has become a problem. The forests, lakes and wetlands offer a habitat for a wide variety of birds, including cormorants, ducks, herons, hummingbirds, owls and woodpeckers. The park is also home to endangered species, such as the bald eagle and gray wolf.

Fees and Reservations
Although no backcountry permit or advance notification is required to go backpacking in Itasca State Park, the limited number of campsites makes advance reservations a sound precaution. Itasca's backpacking campsites are open to reservations, either online or by calling the state park system's reservation service at 866-857-2757. The park charges a nightly fee, payable in advance.

Rules and Safety
Lighting campfires outside of the designated fire ring and digging your own latrine are expressly forbidden. Backcountry campers are also required to pack out all trash with them, and exercise "leave no trace" values while camping in the park.

Minnesota's many ponds and lakes give it a fully deserved reputation for spawning vast numbers of biting flies, mosquitoes and ticks. Anyone hiking in Itasca State Park, let alone backpacking there, needs a bottle of deep woods-strength insect repellent. The park is also bear country, so backcountry campers need a bear bag and rope, so as to secure their food both away from the campsite and out of the reach of any black bears in the area.