We are heading way way pack in my past to our first family camping trip. This trip may be from a few years ago but lives in our memory very freshly and is one I think of often. We were borrowing almost all of our camping equipment and were not fully sure what we would do with our weekend at the state park. In the end it went really well and we learned a lot! I think that Father Hennepin State Park is a great first time and family park. There are great facilities and it’s a fairly easy park to get to. Follow along below as we walk down memory lane and you get a rundown of all the must do’s at this awesome park!
Camping and Facilities
So first off, the sites are mostly well shaded and of a nice size. The site we had was near the bathroom, which was really nice with little kids, and it was also very private. We did put our tent on the vehicle spur but it was super long and very flat so it was not an issue. As with all drive in sites we had a large picnic table and our site did come with electricity. The bathroom facilities were large and well appointed for state park facilities. There are several open areas for picnics, a volleyball court, and a playground. This is also a good park for fishing as there are two boat launches and a boat cleaning house. I really felt that this park gave an air of a close knit neighborhood as we explored it. There are also flat paved roads which are great for riding bikes on.
Exploring Nature Along the Trails
Father Hennepin does not have a ton of parks as compared to some other state parks, but they are all excellent. Hiking along Mille Lacs Lake is breathtaking and with a gentle breeze from the lake you don’t have to worry too much about the bugs from the wooded area you are hiking through. If you go all the way out to Pope’s point, you have a great place to stop for a rest and see a quite part of the lake. If you are very lucky, you can even see some ducks! These trails are great for both beginners and families to enjoy. I also think this is a great park to pack a hiking picnic for as there are so many common areas and the trails are not so long that you have to worry about keeping your food cold. Take a look at my recent post about my tips and tricks for hiking lunches.
A Great Time Doing Nothing At All
We learned on this trip that the style of camping that we really enjoyed was very go with the flow, with a bit of hiking and cooking. We found so many opportunities to just spend time together not doing much of anything at all. Some of the parks we have been to have had so much to do and see that we felt like we were running from one thing to the next to get it all done (I hate FOMO so much!) but this park really let us just explore at our own pace. The kids loved the volleyball court as the swimming beach happened to be closed when we were visiting, but as no one wanted to play volleyball we let the kids play with their sand toys in it. Mom and Dad got a good hour of time to just sit and chat and they had a ball. I recommend planning on not having a plan for at least part of your trip to Father Hennepin as this park will give you plenty of inspiration to spend some time with each other and nature.
A Great First Time State Park
So is this park right for you? I think for almost everyone, yes! There are great opportunities for first time or brand new campers as the sites are generally nice and large and well shaded and the park is fairly easy to get to. Families, especially those with young kids, will find lots of activities to do and areas to explore that do not require super long hikes. If you want to do some hard core hiking, you will be disappointed, but the trails they do have are absolutely beautiful and worth your time! We will always have a special place in our hearts for Father Hennepin state park as it was the beginning of our family camping journey and I think you will like it to! Have you been this park before? Let me know in the comments below.
