It's situated on the beautiful St. Croix river, and it's variety of hiking trails is wonderful. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. If you are using your boat for fishing only, the boating fee is waived. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Hastings, Washington County • Daily or annual park fee required. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area: 3 yurts along the west side of Yawkey Mine Lake. Moonlite Motel . Seemed like it was just set in an open field that is not very pretty at all. There are water spigots throughout the area with drinkable water, though. Park Potpourri: Afton State Park . The rugged, rolling landscape of this park provides excellent hiking and skiing opportunities with scenic overlooks of the St. Croix River. Afton State Park, Hastings: See 107 reviews, articles, and 118 photos of Afton State Park, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 19 attractions in Hastings. There are also four cabins which you can stay in too. I've visited a few state parks close to the metro area and I think this one is by far the more challenging and most active state park. Sugar bush cabins at lake afton. Later, we drove next door to Afton Alps, the ski area, and watched a really good fireworks display with some of their yummy cocoa. Afton State Park is unique with its camping in that they’re pack-in and walk-in campsites here—not car camping or RV sites. Plenty of wildlife and not very many people. Home Page About Your vacation starts here! Minnesota DNR. Early land survey notes Afton State Park in Hastings, Minnesota: 1 reviews, 20 photos, & 0 tips from fellow RVers. I am planning to come back during the fall to watch the trees change colors. ), Hiking & Trail Running in Afton State Park, Hiking in Mississippi Gateway Regional Park. “Different amenities offered, some … So bring a book and your hammock and relax for awhile! 24 camp sites, 1 canoe-in site, 4 Camper Cabins with electricity, 2 yurts, and 2 rustic group camps. Educational sites, Farms, Nature & Wildlife Areas. Eric and I visited Afton State Park January 16-17, 2015. There are yurts and cabins at this park available to use – reservations fill up quickly! Situated in Afton, this cabin is within 12 mi (20 km) of Bernice State Park, Little Blue-Disney State Park, and National Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum. Afton State Park – a great place to stay if you like camping, cabins, or yurts – website and information. Not many options for handicapped persons to enjoy. Plus they provide you free fire wood, you just have to cut it ur self ( they provide you a saw and a cutting stand). There is varied terrain and you can take an easy... In the warmer months, this park that overlooks the St. Croix River is known for its dense forested trails and gorgeous prairie flowers. Afton has three canoe campsites. It was the BEST New Years ever. (I’m not sure why that one is a canoe site, except maybe popularity demanded a third site and there wasn’t another spot left on the river. If tents aren’t your thing, Afton has two yurts and four cabins for rent, too. But if you choose the walk-in tent sites, you’ll definitely get the feel for what it’s like to carry all your gear on your back for a fair bit, including up some pretty steep terrain. You really work those leg muscles. Besides maintaining TCO and her other blog, All content and photos ©2020 Brodin Press LLC unless otherwise noted, Founder & Publisher of Twin Cities Outdoors, Hiking the Snowshoe Trails at Afton State Park, 11 Gift Ideas for Outdoor Lovers in 2020 (Kids, Too! From mountainside retreats to lakeside getaways, Tennessee State Parks cabins offer affordable overnight travel surrounded by sprawling forests and vast lakes. Afton’s summer map gives you a good overview of the area and where the various camping sites are located. New Years day was awesome too. I don't fish or ski and motorized boats that go any faster than a pontoon boat make me nervous. Sharon loves going to local parks and natural spaces to hike, paddle, camp, snowshoe and cross country ski. Although the parking lot was full we had no problem... AFTON STATE PARK 6959 PELLER AVENUE SOUTH HASTINGS, MN 55033 WASHINGTON COUNTY 651-436-5391 AFTON.STATEPARK@STATE.MN.US. Afton State Park has Yurts and camper cabins available to rent. Bartels calls the camper cabins a simple set-up with bunk beds. Afton State Park 6959 Peller Ave South Hastings, MN 55033 (651) 436-5391 (Phone) (651) 436 ... Croix River, the campground is a strenuous 3/4-mile hike from the parking lot. The main entrance is off 70th Street and St. Croix Trail South. Posted on June 5, 2014 by Josh. Like all our state parks, the camping fees are cheap. Multifamily Cabin. This was my and Eric’s first “winter camping” experience. AFTON STATE PARK. The cabin accommodates 10-12 people. The park landscape is rolling glacial moraine and bluff land. We love to walk the trails here, especially along the river. 704 New York Ave, Hwy 34 West, Creston Afton State Park, Hastings: See 106 reviews, articles, and 118 photos of Afton State Park, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 19 attractions in Hastings. A great and affordable way to camp in comfort! Camping. LEARN MORE. - See 105 traveller reviews, 115 candid photos, and great deals for Hastings, MN, at Tripadvisor. Two of them are right along the shore, and the third is up a steep hill off the river. This would be a great park to cross-country ski We loved the camper cabins! There tons of little beaches by the st. Croix river. Afton State Park: Wonderful Camper Cabins - See 107 traveler reviews, 118 candid photos, and great deals for Hastings, MN, at Tripadvisor. Afton State Park features camper cabins and yurts available for rent year-round. This would be a great place for an introduction to backpacking—whether it’s yourself, your kids or new campers. The Prairie Walk interpretive trail, oak savannas and wooded river valley offer an interesting contrast of wildlife habitats. Managed by iPage. The trails go through varied terrain and there is also a variety of walkways, some more challenging and some that would be possible even for those with disabilities. It doesn’t feel exactly like wilderness, since it’s only 40 minutes from downtown St. Paul and there are plenty of visitors. Cabins at Tennessee State Parks Get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life by retreating to a State Park and spending the weekend with friends and family in one of our cabins. Glendalough State Park… Backbone State Park, 2-bedroom, four cabins available, year-round; Black Hawk State Park, 4-bedroom, one cabin, year-round $100/day, $600/week. Firewood is available for a fee. 1. Today the park totals 1,702 acres. I can already imagine renting one of these for a couple days when we have plenty of snow for some quiet camping with snowshoeing or cross country skiing. There are a couple group campsites for tents, and one that accommodates small trailers. Green Valley State Park, Creston 641-782-5131 LEARN MORE. Afton State Park: Camping & Lodging. Be sure to book ahead of time! Established in 1969 and surrounding the Afton Alps Golf & Ski Resort, this state park is about 45 minutes southeast from the Twin Cities area, near the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. Plus you don't have to worry about over crowded beaches and whatnot. Walnut, Hwy 34 East, Creston 641-782-1644. There is varied terrain and you can take an easy... All sorts of outdoor activities close to the Cities, Ask monkeythoughts about Afton State Park, Hotels near Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, Hotels near University of Wisconsin - River Falls, Hotels near University of Wisconsin, River Falls, Hotels near Dakota County Technical College, Hotels near Minnesota School of Cosmetology, Hotels near Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, Historic Downtown Hastings: Tickets & Tours‎, Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center: Tickets & Tours‎, Spring Lake Park Reserve: Tickets & Tours‎, St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park: Tickets & Tours‎. Very rustic with no showers, electricity or flushies. With 1,600-acres of forested ravines, rolling grasslands, and views of the spectacular St. Croix River Valley, Afton State Park has everything for the outdoor … 8. There isn’t a good place to launch within the park itself that we could see. No flushies except in the Visitor’s Center (which isn’t close to any of the camping), no showers, no electricity. This past New Years Eve we did something different and rented a camper cabin there for two nights. • The campground is backpack-only and is a strenuous ¾-mile hike from the parking lots. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Holiday Motel. Then we went back into our warm cabin and rang in the New Year with the count down and some bubbly. A drive from the cities but not if your from cottage grove or Woodbury. I thought it would be the most ideal to bring children to play and swim. The two-story, 4+ bedroom cabin has a full kitchen, full baths, heating and air conditioning, and fireplaces. Your best bets for activities while you’re camping here are hiking and swimming, unless you launch a canoe or kayak from another location and paddle over to a canoe site. Afton Iowa, 50830. The first thing Renee said when we walked down to the beach: “What a great place for a hammock!” There are several mature trees right on the waters edge at perfect hammock-stringing distance from each other. AFTON STATE PARK 6959 Peller Ave. South Hastings, Minnesota 55033 Phone: 651-436-5391 Toll Free: 888-646-6367 . Make a Reservation. Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. VISITOR TIPS • Wear good hiking shoes. It's a great place to walk the dogs too (on leash of course). read more. Green Valley State Park Cabins. Upcoming events include Fall colors hikes, candlight walks, owl walks by … I came to the park thinking that it was going to be flat and consistent paths. Afton State Park in Hastings is rated 10.0 of 10 at Campground Reviews. This was our first visit and we loved it. Afton State Park is right on the St. Croix river with beach access and has a pretty large campground you can backpack into and a group camp. The trails are perfect for hikers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. Afton State Park is in southeast Washington County right on the St. Croix, about halfway between Interstate 94 to the north and Hastings to the south. 2179 180th Street, Afton 612-718-2566 LEARN MORE. Then, we built a roaring fire and made s'mores and took pictures to be blown up for our wall. Farmhouse 1910. It’s quite a climb, especially if you were to try taking your canoe or kayak up there!). They're set away from the main camping area and beach but close to beautiful walks and the south end of the river walk. Click here for more price and reservations info. read more, My husband and I went here for a nice long hike. These are set up for year-round use with heat. more. Since the parks establishment in 1969, Afton has given hikers, backpackers, trail runners, and cross-country skiers alike the opportunity to explore in a quiet, natural setting. Skiing. Afton State Park was established in order to preserve valuable public recreational land on the St. Croix River. The park’s trails plunge into deep ravines and climb up to ridge tops where you can overlook the St. Croix River Valley. Afton State Park is in southeast Washington County right on the St. Croix, about halfway between Interstate 94 to the north and Hastings to the south. No lifeguard is on duty. I think it would be even beautiful in scenery. Afton state parks allows for horse riding, cross country skiing, hiking, swimming , biking, and backpacking. NOTE: The DNR website says Afton only has one canoe camping site, but the map shows three. The only bummer was that we couldn’t bring our dog into the camper cabin. The state purchased the property in 1968 and it became a state park in 1969. There are no playgrounds, stores or other fancy city stuff like some of the regional parks and private campgrounds have. Are you a paddler? Camping in a yurt is such a fun experience--especially when it's as adorable as the one at Afton State Park in Minnesota! Tent sites are just $15-23 (2018 prices) with yurts and cabins going for $50/55 weekdays and $65 on the weekends. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Trails traverse remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. Dogs are allowed in the park and at the campgrounds, but not in the cabins … The yurts don’t have electricity, but the cabins do (more info on them here). This park has hills! We were very disappointed at this park. Afton State Park: 2 yurts near the camper cabins. Cabin 1 Cabin 2 Site powered by Weebly. 35 reviews of Afton State Park "I'm still trying to figure out how after having lived in the Cities for most of my life I had never once come to the Afton State Park (it's just south of Stillwater on the St. Croix River and less than 30 minutes from the 'burb you know I love2hate: Woodbury). Afton State Park: Gorgeous State Park! It was cold out, but we played games and ate Nachos that we had brought in our crock pot. My first camping trip this year was in Afton State Park with Mya. If you are looking for an outdoor adventure Afton State Park has something to offer you. Two of these sleep 6, the other two sleep 5 and are wheelchair accessible. So…maybe it deserves a paddle over to find out for ourselves! Afton State Park is located 10 miles north of Hastings in Minnesota’s Washington County. I walked passed the fields where backpackers could day hike and then camp out for the night (of course you have to inform the park first) but if you're not up for the boundary waters, this would be a good alternative. Definitely call ahead to make reservations for the yurts and cabins as weekends are likely to be busy year-round. Situated in the St. Croix River Valley, Afton State Park is an easy 40-minute drive from the Twin Cities metro area. Sep 5, 2020 - Located near St. Paul, this 1,700 acre-park offers camping, hiking, biking, swimming and cross-country skiing. How to Get There. If you’re thinking of a backpacking trip with your family somewhere, this would be a nice way to get a feel for it. This was our first visit and we loved it. And a couple of the trails allow biking along with hiking so that’s another option. • The swimming beach is a ½-mile walk from parking areas. Boaters must obtain a boat permit at the park office before putting the boat in the water. If you feel out of touch with the natural world because of too much city, Afton State Park will help you mark the seasons. Although the parking lot was full we had no problem... My husband and I went here for a nice long hike. Email: ... Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. It’s also the most rustic campground in the 7-county metro area. We love Afton State Park with it's many hiking trails and backpacking campground. - See 105 traveler reviews, 115 candid photos, and great deals for Hastings, MN, at Tripadvisor. Wow, I was so wrong. Skiing on Lake Afton is permitted from sunup to sundown only. Then we returned to our cabin, took a brisk night time walk marveling at all the stars as the snow crunched underfoot. Afton State Park holds semi regular naturalist programs and activities. Tag Archives: Afton State Park Camper Cabins Avian and Animal Adventures at Afton State Park. Cabin 1 & 2. Anyone who read our blog last summer may recall that we have a special fondness for state parks, especially those that hold new and exciting birds. Along the St. Croix River in Hastings, Afton is about 40 minutes southeast of Minneapolis and offers backpack camping, paddling, picnicking, swimming, geocaching, hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, a visitor center with interpretive displays, and more. AFTON STATE PARK. During the winter, Afton State Park offers 18 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails and keeps its water and toilets available. But there’s a small educational nature display in the Visitor Center. Darryl Starbird's Rod & Custom Hall of Fame Museum is 11.1 mi (17.9 km) away. For the uninitiated, that means you’ll park your car in the lot, then pack your gear up to a mile to your site! Click here for more price and reservations info. There are horseback riding trails at this park ; The visitors center offers rental snowshoes in the winter for winter activities! It overlooks the st croix river. Sometimes you want to take advantage of both the trails and just sitting around with friends. Afton State Park, Hastings: Address, Phone Number, Afton State Park Reviews: 4.5/5 If you’re a birder or love wildflowers, you’ll find plenty of that here. Check prices on Cabins in Afton Tonight Sep 20 - Sep 21 Check prices in Afton for tonight, Sep 20 - Sep 21 Tomorrow night Sep 21 - Sep 22 Check prices in Afton for tomorrow night, Sep 21 - Sep 22 Next weekend Sep 25 - Sep 27 Check prices in Afton for next weekend, Sep 25 - Sep 27 Open shelters with or without electrical outlets are strategically located throughout the park. Definitely call ahead to make reservations for the yurts and cabins as weekends are likely to be busy year-round. Afton State Park: Very nice state park. 800 So. 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