MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Unaffected by the shutdown of state government, campgrounds operated by the Three Rivers Park District and located throughout the Metro (Minneapolis/St.Paul) area are open.

Baker Campground in Maple Plain features more than 200 campsites on the shores of Lake Independence, with swimming, fishing, boating, hiking and even golf nearby. The campground has electric and non-electric sites and restrooms with sinks, flush toilets and showers.

Weekends are booked, but there are plenty of openings during the week.

Looking for more of a rustic camping trip? Head for Lake Auburn Campground in Carver Park Reserve.

Located in Victoria, Lake Auburn Campground features 57 tent-camping sites within Carver Park Reserve’s 3,700 acres and gives campers that “up north” feel. Activities available include swimming, fishing, boating and hiking. Osprey circling overhead is a familiar sight, and other wildlife regularly make appearances.

Need to scramble to find a place for your Scouts, church youth group, or other large group to go camping?

The Three Rivers Park District has group camp hike-in, bike-in and horseback ride-in sites available at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Elm Creek Park Reserve, and Cleary Lake Regional Park. Sites are rented on a first come-first served basis.

Beyond camping, many of the parks operated by the Three Rivers Park District offer reservation picnic sites, fishing piers, paved and unpaved trails, play areas and other seasonal recreational activities.

SOURCE: Three Rivers Park District