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Frontenac Backpack Campsites permit area in Frontenac State Park (MN) - backcountry hiking destination
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Frontenac Backpack Campsites Permit

Frontenac State Park (MN) · Minnesota

Two backpack sites reached on foot from the park trail system.

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When it opens

120 days
First come, first served from 120 days before your start date, at 8 am CentralYou book on the agency's site.

Source: dnr.state.mn.us

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Frontenac Backpack were gone within 10 minutes.

Frontenac Backpack reservation dates

route distance, out and back
1.25mi
max group size
6people

How to get a Frontenac Backpack permit

As of September 2026, Frontenac Backpack in Frontenac State Park (MN), Minnesota requires a permit issued via reservation. Frontenac Backpack is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Frontenac Backpack permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Frontenac Backpack route covers 1.25 miles.

Type
Backpacking
Location
Mississippi River Bluffs, MN

  1. Step 1: Create a Minnesota State Parks (ReserveMN) account

    Sign up at Minnesota State Parks (ReserveMN) if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Minnesota State Parks (ReserveMN)
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation hunting

More on Frontenac Backpack: Live availability activityWhen Frontenac Backpack permits open up

The Frontenac Backpack hike

Distance
1.25 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1 night

Frontenac Backpack landmarks

  1. 1Pleasant Valley Lakelet / Prairie Loop Trail

    The trail DNR puts both backpack sites on, a mile and a quarter from the ranger station lot.

  2. 2Lake Pepin

    The Mississippi's widest natural stretch, below the park's bluffs.

  3. 3Bluffside Trail

    DNR: "2.7-mile loop... Descend 425 feet of staircases and switchbacks to the rocky shore of Lake Pepin." DNR asks for extra caution on it.

  4. 4In Yan Teopa rock

    The rock formation the Bluffside loop climbs back up to.

Two backpack sites above Lake Pepin, walked in from the park trail system.

Why it matters

Two sites is the entire backcountry inventory of a park on one of the busiest migration corridors in North America. The cart-in campground next door has six; this is the quieter, further-out half of the same park.

The feeling

Bluff-top hardwoods above the widest part of the Mississippi, a mile and a quarter out on the Pleasant Valley Lakelet trail, with two screened-off sites, primitive toilets and, in DNR's own words, "campers will hear noises from the highway and trains."

Frontenac Backpack hike highlights

  1. 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."
  2. "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."
  3. The Minnesota reservation system lists this facility as "Backpack Campsites" with two units, Backpack #BP1 and #BP2.
  4. Minnesota DNR's published backpack rate at Frontenac is $22 per site, per night, plus tax.
  5. "Seasonal availability varies by park." The booking calendar shows which nights are open.
  6. DNR puts the whole facility in one paragraph: "Two backpack sites located one and one-quarter miles from the designated parking lot at the ranger station. Located on Pleasant Valley Lakelet/Prairie Loop Trail. Each site has primitive toilets. Staff try to make sure there is toilet paper and firewood available at the sites but visitors should call to confirm before staying. Neither site is good for hammock camping. Drinking water is available at the ranger station. These sites are secluded from other campsites, but campers will hear noises from the highway and trains."
  7. Read the "staff try to make sure" clause literally: DNR is telling you to ring the park before counting on toilet paper or firewood being there.
  8. Season: "The park and campground are open year-round."
  9. Neither site takes a hammock, in DNR's own words. Bring a tent.

How hard the Frontenac Backpack hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required1/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5

Best for: Hikers of moderate fitness willing to put in the effort.

Recommended experience: Basic hiking experience. Start with shorter trails if new to hiking.

Trailhead information

Ranger station parking lot

Primary

DNR: the two backpack sites are "one and one-quarter miles from the designated parking lot at the ranger station," on the Pleasant Valley Lakelet/Prairie Loop Trail.

  • No restrooms
  • Water on site

Before you rely on this water

DNR: "Drinking water is available at the ranger station" for these sites, from a tap it describes as running the whole year, behind the wood shed. There is no water at the sites themselves, so carry a mile and a quarter of it, and ring the park first, because a supply that is on today is not a supply that is on in November.

Parking

A Minnesota state park vehicle permit must be displayed on any vehicle left here.

Nearest Services

Frontenac and Lake City.

When to hike Frontenac Backpack

Best time to visit

Same park, same answer: DNR says "visit the park in spring or fall and you'll be in one of the best spots in the country to view bird migrations," with warblers concentrated in the first part of May and eagles common fall through spring. The park and campground are open year-round. Two units means the 120-day window and the 8 a.m. release decide a summer weekend.

Frontenac Backpack rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • A pack; no cart is provided for the backpack sites
  • A Minnesota state park vehicle permit for the car you leave at the trailhead
  • Water, or a way to treat it: DNR says these sites "typically" have water, which is not the same as always
  • A camp stove, and a meal plan that works on it. Minnesota DNR closes fire rings at short notice, and its Tettegouche notice of 2026-08-10 read "Camp stoves are permitted for cooking."

Recommended gear

  • Binoculars for the flyway
  • Water containers: DNR's "typically" is doing real work in its amenity list

Rules & regulations

  1. 01All campsites require a reservation. Minnesota DNR: "All campsites require a reservation. Please make a reservation online or call 866-857-2757."
  2. 02Reservations open 120 days before arrival, and same-day bookings are allowed. On the day a date first becomes available, online reservations cannot be made before 8 a.m.
  3. 03The reservation fee is $8.00 online and $10.00 by phone, non-refundable. There is no fee for a same-day booking.
  4. 04Camping check-in is after 4 p.m. and checkout is by 4 p.m. If you have not checked in by 11 a.m. on the second day of the reservation, DNR may cancel it.
  5. 05"A campsite's occupancy is limited to one camping group of six people or less, one camping shelter, and one vehicle." More than that needs the park manager's prior approval.
  6. 06Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and generators may not run in those hours.
  7. 07Park hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days a year, and "only campers with a reserved campsite are allowed in the park after 10 p.m."
  8. 08Every vehicle entering a Minnesota state park must display a valid year-round or one-day state park vehicle permit.
  9. 09Firewood transport is regulated. DNR allows wood bought at this park for use in this park, Minnesota Department of Agriculture certified firewood anywhere on DNR land, and an uncertified bundle only if it is not ash and was harvested in the county where you will burn it: "be sure to keep your receipt and the bundle label to show proof of purchase."
  10. 10Firewood from home, pallet wood, and painted, stained or metal-bearing lumber are all prohibited, and "collection of firewood in state parks is not allowed."
  11. 11Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter, or in a portable enclosure, and must be personally attended at all times.
  12. 12It is illegal to consume or display intoxicating liquors in Minnesota state parks.
  13. 13Fireworks and metal detectors are not permitted.
  14. 14Hammocks need trees at least 12 inches in diameter and straps at least an inch wide, one hammock per tree, hung over mowed and cleared ground.
  15. 15You may pick edible fruits and mushrooms for personal consumption; picking wildflowers or other plants is not allowed.
  16. 16Campfires here run on a live burning restriction that moves with fire danger, so a fire ring at the site is not permission to use it. The authority is this park's own Camping & Lodging page, https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/frontenac/camping.html. Read it in the week you travel, not the week you book.
  17. 17Read 2026-08-10, that page carried: "Attention visitors - fire danger is very high!" and "Campfires are not allowed in backcountry (hike-in/backpack and boat-in) campsites, even if there is a fire ring." DNR sells this facility as a backpack site, which is the half of that sentence the ban names.

Hazards & considerations

  • DNR: "Trails range from easy to difficult. Use extra caution on the Bluffside Trail."
  • DNR says outright that "neither site is good for hammock camping."
  • Supplies are best-effort: "Staff try to make sure there is toilet paper and firewood available at the sites but visitors should call to confirm before staying."
  • It is secluded, not silent: "These sites are secluded from other campsites, but campers will hear noises from the highway and trains."

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Frontenac Backpack.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Frontenac Backpack · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

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Frontenac Backpack FAQ

How do I get a Frontenac Backpack permit?

PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Frontenac Backpack cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Frontenac Backpack permits use a reservation system.

When is the best time to visit Frontenac Backpack?

Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the Frontenac Backpack permit?

This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.

What if I can't get a Frontenac Backpack permit?

Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.

Frontenac Backpack trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

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Alternatives to a Frontenac Backpack permit

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Frontenac Cart-In Campground

    Six cart-in sites in the same park, with a cart provided at the parking area.

    Tradeoffs

    Three times the sites and no pack needed, at $24 instead of $22.

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    Afton Hike In Campsite

    A single hike-in site in the St. Croix bluffs, closer to the Twin Cities.

    Tradeoffs

    One site instead of two, so it sells out harder.

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