Grande Corner offers quiet, quaint campsites

This is David Steuart’s second year setting up a campsite at Grande Corner in rural Grygla. David is from Ruthton, MN, between Marshall and Pipestone, and enjoys a simpler camping experience. He is an avid outdoors man who set up camp at Grande to enjoy a few days of grouse hunting. Arriving on Tuesday, October 6th, David is making the rest area his home until Monday, October 12th, when he’ll pack up for home and head south. 

David, and his wife, make great use of the outdoors. One vacation, the two traveled by car to Alaska and spent 6 weeks there; 2/3 of that time was spent tenting! David also enjoys cross country skiing, snow shoeing and hiking at state parks. Spending six nights alone at Grande Corner doesn’t bother him, in fact, solo trips are something he really enjoys. Once he took a 12 day solo canoe trip up in Canada!

Steuart grew up by Wadena and used to live in Red Lake Falls. He got to know the Grygla area some and enjoys how quiet and flat it is. “It’s not crowded up here and I like that,” he says. “My wife teases me that I come up here with all of my friends! But I enjoy the time alone while I walk and hunt.” And a lot of walking he does! Nestled in at Grande, David gets up at 6am and heads north and spends the day walking trails. With time being spent on the Rapid River and Moose River Roads, he brings all his own food and heads back to his campsite in the evening, crawling into his tent to sleep by 8pm. You can see by the photo that his campsite doesn’t offer a lot of amenities, but that’s just the way he likes it.

Steuart retired 2 years ago; he was a branch manager at a bank and also served as Mayor of Ruthton. With plans to come back, he said, “I can’t believe more people don’t set up camp at Grande Corner…it sure is a great spot.”

Grande Corner is located approximately 12 miles east of Grygla along Highway 89. In addition to a playground, softball field and two picnic shelters, the rest area offers 4 campsites with electrical hookups, which are all big rig friendly. The spacious camping area also offers plenty of room for tenters alike and fresh water is available by an old fashioned hand pump.