I have spent at least a week every summer at Lake Carlos State Park for almost all of my adult life. But what we have never done is go by ourselves on a family trip. So last year when Hubby’s birthday rolled around, we thought, “Why not try a Camper Cabin?” We had visited one at Big Bog State Park the year before for my birthday and had a blast. (Blog incoming.) So in March, right before everything got all crazy with Covid, we took a winter camping trip to Alexandria, MN.
Winter Facilities
In winter, you have access to the cabin you rent, a two-stall pit toilet building, a frost-free water spigot, and occasional access to other buildings and services (check their website for availability before your trip.) As you can see by the above picture, the cabin was very well appointed and had lots of natural light. We were in the Raccoon Hollow cabin which has two full size bottom bunks and two twin sized top bunks. The mattresses are plastic coated so you can sanitize them before putting out your bedding. We just used our sleeping bags, but sheets would work well too. The second bottom bunk we used to hold our gear and the kiddos also made it a fort to play in the extra space. There is also a built-in picnic table with benches that can comfortably seat four. The cabin comes equipped with electric heating, a fan, a main light, and a light for each bed. It was a cold weekend, and I can tell you we were kept very warm even in the middle of the night, so if you are worried about camping in winter with kiddos, this is a great option. I would also recommend a camper cabin to a couple wanting to get away and spend some time together, it was quite cozy.
What Can You Do?
We kept our tradition of going on a hike, and it was actually really fun! The winter trails for hiking were well broken in and even though they had melted and refroze recently, we were able to find snow cover to walk on when things got icy most of the way. It was very quiet and we got to see the forests of Minnesota in a whole new way. There are lots of fun things to stop and look at on the trails and the kids really liked exploring. The only word of warning I would give is that the trails around the lake can be very very windy in the winter. With the limited tree cover and the icy conditions, we had to each grab a child’s coat and help hold them up as we tried to finish our hike. In the end, the wind blew so hard W fell over as I was holding onto him which knocked me down and I fell into B. No one was hurt too badly but it did prove a sour end to our hike. As for other activities there are lots of things to do and see in Alexandria and the surrounding area, but we just stayed in. We brought a lot of board games and had a couple movies downloaded to watch on my phone. The nice thing was that winter hiking really tires you out, so we all had a nice nap in our cozy cabin, which I loved.
What’s It Like on The Outside
One of the best things I can imagine for renting a cabin in the summer is the built-in screen porch and deck on the cabin. There are lights so you can sit out at night and plenty of space to set up some camp chairs. For us, it was a bit too cold to enjoy, but we did do some cooking outside so the space was very handy. The picnic table is similar to the ones you find in most campsites and there is a fire ring with a grate. There was plenty of space for the kids to play and the staff even had piled up some snow on one end so there was a fun hill for them to climb. You are allowed to use a electric crock pot inside the cabin, but you cannot do any other cooking inside. We did a fish fry the first night on the end of the picnic table on our camp stove while the kids played inside. It was a bit crazy and cold, but Hubby and I had a blast hanging out together outside and the kids got to play on the bunks inside which they loved. Most of the meals we brought were ready to eat, which I recommend if you do not enjoy hanging out in the cold while you wait for things to get hot enough to cook. I would highly recommend at least doing one meal over the fire roasting hot dogs or brats. We do this on almost every trip and its always delicious and fairly easy to pull off. And doing it in the cold somehow imparts an amazing flavor to the meal you never get any other way!
Is A Winter Camper Cabin Trip Right For You?
For almost everyone, I would say yes. If you are new to camping or don’t have a lot of equipment, it’s a great introduction. If you are a tent camper who wants to still explore the State Park system when its cold out, this is a great way to still experience the great outdoors. If you normally camp in a trailer, you get a similar feel and space albeit with a few less frills. The only reservations I have would be for the hard-core camper and those with pets that come camping. A hard-core camper may not enjoy the comforts the cabin offers. If you would never consider an electric site in the summer, a cabin complete with heat, lights, and electric outlets may not be your cup of tea. For those with pets, no animals are allowed in the cabins or porches, so this would not be a good option for you any time of year. We have loved both of our stays in camper cabins and will continue to use this option for when it is too cold to tent camp! Have you tried a Camper Cabin before, how did it go? Let me know in the comments below.
