Whether you want to lounge around or leave your tent at home, hammocking is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors. Hammocks are lightweight, easy to transport, and a great option for campers looking to pack less gear. Use them to enjoy a book by the lake or as a minimalist way to spend a night outdoors.
Hammocks are allowed in public use areas at state parks, state recreation areas, forest recreation areas, state trails, and state water trails.
Hammock Use:
- Hammocks are allowed in public use areas: Campsites, picnic areas, state trail and state water trail trailhead areas, state trail corridors, and other day use areas.
- Spending the night: Whether using a hammock or not, camping is only allowed in designated camping areas (i.e. any of our campsites, including walk-in, cart-in, drive-in, and group sites)
- Hanging your hammock:
- Hammocks must be hung over mowed areas*.
- Trees used must be at least 12 inches in diameter (about the width of a dinner plate) at the point a hammock is attached.
- Use straps at least 1-inch wide to attach hammock. You can buy straps at most of our park Nature Stores.
- If the tree bark shows damage, additional padding may be required for the strap.
- Hang only one hammock per tree. Stacking (more than one hammock on top of each other) and wheel spokes (multiple hammocks tied to one tree and set up in different directions) are not allowed.
- The commissioner may post some use areas closed to hammock use for environmental protection, cultural resource protection, or visitor safety reasons.
When in doubt, ask our staff!
*Mowed Area: An area where grass is mowed, brush is cleared, or vegetation is otherwise managed to delineate a space open to public use, such as a campsite or picnic area.