I'd like to seek the wisdom of those more familiar with camping on State Forests in Minnesota and/or Wisconsin. We have a 30' Motorhome and totally enjoy State Parks & Army Corps of Engineer parks. We are fine without campground utilities.We drove through several beautiful State Forests in Northen MN over the weekend - they were practically empty and that made us a bit nervous. Are these State Forests safe for a family in a motorhome? I do not carry any weapons with me when camping and would not know what to do if threatened. Late at night do these places fill up with people that could be of concern to my family? Or do they remain peaceful and just under-utilized?I talked with a State Park ranger who was patrolling a forest & he just said "If you have any trouble, just call me." but I'd like to avoid trouble in the first place.From your experience, do you encounter "issues" in State Forests that you would not in State Parks? Has your personal safety ever felt threatened?Thanks much, I'd like to learn from your experiences!

Most criminal elements are not going to go to a state forest in order to cause problems. Just like anywhere, check out your surroundings when you park. If something causes you to have concerns, leave.Keep your doors locked at night, and don't leave valuables laying outside or they might disappear. One of the biggest problems is people leaving coolers outside at night. Bears like to rummage through them, and teens have been known to "borrow" them when there are adult beverages in them.

Can't speak for Minnesota or Wisconsin, but we have never felt unsafe at state or federal parks here in the four corner states. There are plenty of times that these parks are somewhat empty during the week which doesn't bother us, heck we prefer it that way as we can chose a site to our liking.We do boondock often and for the most part have always felt safe, but under these conditions we always keep an eye on our surroundings. We have a couple of hunting rifles we carry when boondocking in the wild of the mountain west, mostly for protection against mountain lions, coyotes, and such.

Have been to numerous State Parks in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. We like to go during the week when crowds are gone. Never felt unsafe.

We've stayed in forest campgrounds throughout the country and absolutely love them. You sometimes find less campers because they need hookups nowadays. :)

The Northern ones don't fill up like the ones closer to the cities do. We love the ones up North.

Safety of Minnesota & Wisconsin State Forests | Good Sam Community

TucsonJim
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2015
Most criminal elements are not going to go to a state forest in order to cause problems. Just like anywhere, check out your surroundings when you park. If something causes you to have concerns, leave.

Keep your doors locked at night, and don't leave valuables laying outside or they might disappear. One of the biggest problems is people leaving coolers outside at night. Bears like to rummage through them, and teens have been known to "borrow" them when there are adult beverages in them.
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2015
Can't speak for Minnesota or Wisconsin, but we have never felt unsafe at state or federal parks here in the four corner states. There are plenty of times that these parks are somewhat empty during the week which doesn't bother us, heck we prefer it that way as we can chose a site to our liking.

We do boondock often and for the most part have always felt safe, but under these conditions we always keep an eye on our surroundings. We have a couple of hunting rifles we carry when boondocking in the wild of the mountain west, mostly for protection against mountain lions, coyotes, and such.
MURPHY55347
Explorer
Jul 13, 2015
Have been to numerous State Parks in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. We like to go during the week when crowds are gone. Never felt unsafe.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jul 13, 2015
We've stayed in forest campgrounds throughout the country and absolutely love them. You sometimes find less campers because they need hookups nowadays. :)
Kafn8td
Explorer
Jul 13, 2015
The Northern ones don't fill up like the ones closer to the cities do. We love the ones up North.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Jul 13, 2015
The biggest problem on state and federal forest lands in northern states is poachers. And they don't like to be anywhere near people where they can be seen or recognized.
profdant139
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2015
We have camped for several hundred nights during the last ten years, in all sorts of places. We have never felt threatened. We have sometimes been annoyed by drunken loud folks in campgrounds near major urban areas, playing music and laughing and singing.
Old_Days
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2015
We have camped at most of the state parks in Wisconsin, they are safe your biggest concern will be that some have very small sites plus with a TC or Motorhome you will have to look out for low branches.
EsoxLucius
Explorer
Jul 15, 2015
I have camped at three Wisconsin State Forest campgrounds, a couple of Minnesota State Forest campgrounds, been in many National Forest campgrounds in both states, and boondocked many times in National Forests in both states. Never have I been concerned for our safety, although were disturbed a couple of times by partying youngsters (even when I was a partying youngster myself).
bobsallyh
Explorer II
Jul 15, 2015
Emptiness is probably related to no-hookups. We do the places you are talking about out West and friends we know can't understand how we make it work without using the umbilical cord. If it doesn't have a hookup they sure aren't going. eaves more room for you and me.