In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, state and national park units can get crowded in a hurry. And if you’re hoping to find a campsite reservation on a summer weekend, forget about it! But what if I told you that there’s a place in the Brainerd Lakes Area – in fact, it’s on the southwest shore of Gull Lake – where you can not only get a campsite on a first-come, first-served basis, but you may even have the trails and lakeshore to yourself? Read on to learn more about this Minnesota state forest gem.

You’ll find the 25,000-acre Pillsbury State Forest stretching westward into Cass County from the southern tip of Gull Lake.
Rob Sampson/Google
Established in 1935, Pillsbury was Minnesota’s first state forest.
Libby Glimsdal/Google
The forest lies on a terminal moraine left by the last glaciers in the area, and it is comprised mostly of hardwoods and birch/aspen, with white and red pines scattered throughout. Several lakes are also located within the forest’s boundaries.
Rock Lake, for example, has a developed campground and day-use area with a swimming beach and picnic tables on its shores.
Russell Meier/Google
There are also plenty of awesome fishing spots on the forest.
The campground boasts 44 sites, 15 of which are lakeside - and they are all claimable on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted.
Ryan Coryell/Google
So, if you show up earlier in the day on a Friday (or Thursday night), you have a good chance of scoring a prime site. I camped in a state forest on a Fourth of July weekend and got a waterfront site with no trouble just by showing up on Thursday night - and the campground never filled up, even on a holiday weekend at the height of summer.

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The forest is laced with miles of trails.
Rob Sampson/Google
This makes it a perfect destination for finding some wilderness solitude when the state parks are teeming with people.
Monica Nicholls/AllTrails - Oct. 20, 2022
And at night, you can enjoy the moon, trees, and stars while relaxing beside a crackling campfire.
_Antibios/Google
The forest’s mix of trees make it an awesome destination for a fall visit, as well!
Norwegian@Heart/TripAdvisor

Another cool thing about Pillsbury State Forest is if, by chance, the campground actually fills up, you can just wander off into the woods and set up camp. That’s right – as long as you follow the rules, dispersed camping is permitted in this Minnesota state forest. Parts of the forest are popular with equestrians, so while visiting, consider a trail ride through the woods.

Have you visited or camped at Pillsbury State Forest? What is another beautiful place in Minnesota where you can escape the nature-loving crowds?

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Pillsbury State Forest, Fairview Township, MN 56468, USA