
Maplewood Boat-In Site Permit
Maplewood State Park (MN) · Minnesota
A single boat-in site that Minnesota DNR does not describe on any page it publishes. One site means one booking: every taken night is a sold-out night.
Get an alert when Maplewood Boat-In opens on your dates.
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 Maplewood Boat-In were gone within 10 minutes.
Maplewood Boat-In reservation dates
- max group size
- 6people
How to get a Maplewood Boat-In permit
As of September 2026, Maplewood Boat-In in Maplewood State Park (MN), Minnesota requires a permit issued via reservation. Maplewood Boat-In is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Maplewood Boat-In permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Otter Tail Lakes, MN
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.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
More on Maplewood Boat-In: Live availability activityWhen Maplewood Boat-In permits open up
The Maplewood Boat-In hike
Maplewood Boat-In landmarks
- 1Maplewood lakes
The chain of lakes in the park's hardwood hills, with two boat accesses in the park.
- 2Hallaway Hill Trail
DNR: "0.6 miles, one way — Hike up to a lovely overlook on South Lida Lake and the Maple-Leaf Hills."
- 3North Country National Scenic Trail
DNR: a "five and one-half mile segment" runs through the park.
One boat-in site in the Maplewood hills: open or gone, never half.
About this permit
This one comes with a warning that governs the whole page: Minnesota DNR does not describe this facility anywhere. Its Maplewood Camping & Lodging page lists Drive-in Sites, Electric Sites, an RV length limit, Backpack Sites (3), a Horse Camp and a Group Camp, and no boat-in category at all; the park map and guide PDF has none either. The only record of it is the state reservation system, which returns FacilityId 1100 as "Boat-in Sites" with one unit, "Boat-in #P1", and stores its latitude and longitude as 0.0, 0.0. The booking system does not place it on the map.
Ask the park for the put-in, the crossing distance, the season, water and toilets, and the cost.DNR's backcountry fee table lists Maplewood at $22 a night, but that table covers "backpack and watercraft sites over a half mile from parking" and DNR nowhere says this site is over half a mile from parking, so that band is not claimed for it.
One thing DNR does publish that is definitely about this site: its 2026 burning restriction names the boat-in category by name. Call the park before you commit to a night here.
Why it matters
A single boat-in unit is the tightest inventory shape there is: every taken night is a sold-out night, so a cancellation alert does the work here.
The feeling
One unit, a boat, and a park of hardwood hills and lakes.
Maplewood Boat-In hike 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 "Boat-in Sites" and it holds one unit, Boat-in #P1. A single unit means every taken night is a sold-out night.
- Minnesota DNR's published backcountry rate at Maplewood is $22 per site, per night, plus tax.
- "Seasonal availability varies by park." The booking calendar shows which nights are open.
- DNR's burning restriction names boat-in sites by name. See the campfire rules below.
- DNR lists the park's boat launches: "Boat Access | 2 in the park."
- If you want this site, ring the park before you book.
When to hike Maplewood Boat-In
Best time to visit
DNR's line for the park is that "the park is known for its wonderful fall colors," and water and the shower building run to the third week of October, weather permitting. The booking calendar shows which nights this single unit is open.
Maplewood Boat-In rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A boat, and life vests for everyone aboard
- Dry bags
- 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
- A second choice of night: one unit is the tightest inventory shape there is
- A wind plan for the crossing
Rules & regulations
- 01All campsites require a reservation. Minnesota DNR: "All campsites require a reservation. Please make a reservation online or call 866-857-2757."
- 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.
- 03The reservation fee is $8.00 online and $10.00 by phone, non-refundable. There is no fee for a same-day booking.
- 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.
- 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.
- 06Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and generators may not run in those hours.
- 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."
- 08Every vehicle entering a Minnesota state park must display a valid year-round or one-day state park vehicle permit.
- 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."
- 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."
- 11Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter, or in a portable enclosure, and must be personally attended at all times.
- 12It is illegal to consume or display intoxicating liquors in Minnesota state parks.
- 13Fireworks and metal detectors are not permitted.
- 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.
- 15You may pick edible fruits and mushrooms for personal consumption; picking wildflowers or other plants is not allowed.
- 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/maplewood/camping.html. Read it in the week you travel, not the week you book.
- 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 boat-in site, which is the half of that sentence the ban names.
Hazards & considerations
- Ring the park before you commit to a night here, and ask about the put-in, the crossing, water and toilets.
- DNR's visitor tips for the park: "Hikers, bring a park map and compass when hiking the trails." "In an emergency call 911."
- DNR alert, updated July 7: "Heavy rainfall (2") was received the night of July 6th. Park Drive is closed for repairs... Trails may have downed trees and washouts."
- Open water. DNR prohibits air mattresses, inner tubes and other non-Coast-Guard-approved flotation devices in state park waters outside designated areas.
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Maplewood Boat-In.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Maplewood Boat-In · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Maplewood Boat-In FAQ
How do I get a Maplewood Boat-In permit?
PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Maplewood Boat-In cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Maplewood Boat-In permits use a reservation system.
When is the best time to visit Maplewood Boat-In?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Maplewood Boat-In permit?
This permit has a demand score of 8/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
What if I can't get a Maplewood Boat-In 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.
Maplewood Boat-In trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Maplewood Boat-In permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Maplewood Backpack Campsites
Three walk-in sites in the same park at the same rate.
Tradeoffs
Three chances a night instead of one, and no boat needed.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Glendalough Canoe-In Campsites
Three paddle-in sites on Annie Battle Lake, where no motors are allowed.
Tradeoffs
Same price, three units, and a quieter crossing.
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