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Minnesotans loved getting out into the great outdoors SO MUCH last year that a new campground is being built at one of the state's most popular areas.

One of the few activities that was actually encouraged during the pandemic summer of 2020 was getting out and enjoying the many incredible state parks and recreation areas that can be found here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

My wife and I took a quick four-day trip up to the Duluth and the North Shore to do some hiking and exploring late last June and hit up some incredible sights at Cascade River State Park, Jay Cooke State Park and the Superior Hiking Trail. And while the week of the 4th of July usually is busy up north, it was even busier last year.

It's with that in mind, perhaps, that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that it's adding a new campground to one of our state's most scenic parks: Split Rock State Park in Two Harbors. According to this MPR story, the DNR is finishing up construction of a new drive-in campground, called Shipwreck Creek Campground, near Beaver Bay. It will offer Split Rock State Park's first drive-in campground (where you can drive your vehicle right into your own site).

Currently, the story notes, there are only walk-in campsites available at Split Rock. And while there WAS a noticeable uptick in Minnesotans getting out and using our state parks last year, this new campground isn't a result of the pandemic-- it had actually been on the DNR's drawing board for years. In fact, construction had was already underway before the pandemic hit last year. The new campground is slated to have 46 sites with electric service, plus a modern shower and bathroom facility.

Just don't go trying to book a site for your big trip up to the North Shore during the 4th of July this year, though. The new Shipwreck Creek campground isn't expected to open until the fall, MPR said. In the meantime, speaking of road trips, driving Highway 61 along the North Shore is one of my favorite things to do, have you checked out Minnesota's Must-Drive road? Keep scrolling to check it out-- as well as the Must-Drive roads in every other state too!

Listen to Curt St. John from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5
and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 103.9 The Doc

See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State

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