Kilen Woods State Park Custom Search   This is a nice park in a nice area, but we were shocked by our experience. My brother and I showed up late at night a few days before Memorial Day weekend and paid the vehicle + camping fee via envelope. There were many signs about dates and various rules/regulations, but to the best of our interpretation, we were camping within the spirit of the rules by putting up a single tent and a modest campfire built with firewood purchased at a local gas station which claimed to be approved for state park use. We camped responsibly and with above average     respect for the campground. We left no garbage, made no mess, had no kids, no alcohol, no music, and only planned to spend the night then be on our way. To our surprise, we were woken up at 6:45 in the morning by an armed DNR officer asking 'What are you doing in MY park?', then proceeding to harass us through the tent window about our time of arrival, for having used gas station firewood, for being short a couple bucks in the envelope (there were no fee charts posted), and primarily because we had apparently showed up a few days before the camp was officially open for camping, something we should have known by deciphering the cryptic signage at the registration office (which also stated 'Office Closed: Campers Must Self Register'). He interrogated us for about 5 minutes (as we lay in our sleeping bags), threatened 'most state   officers would have you arrested', then backed off and said 'I'll let it go' as he walked back to his DNR truck (with lights flashing to alert everyone of this horrible situation). Says DF       Review Guidelines   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available in and near Kilen Woods State Park.   Lakes in and near Kilen Woods State Park Spirit Lake, Dickinson County, 13 miles away East Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County, 17 miles away West Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County, 19 miles away   Campgrounds in and near Kilen Woods State Park Jackson KOA Kampgrounds, Jackson, 7 miles away Pioneer Beach Campground, Dickinson County, 15 miles away Cenla Campground, Spirit Lake, 17 miles away Lake Okoboji Untd Mthdst Camp, Spirit Lake, 17 miles away Vick's Corner World, Spirit Lake, 18 miles away   Public Lands in and near Kilen Woods State Park Mini-Wakan State Park, Iowa, 12 miles away Gull Point State Park, Iowa, 20 miles away Trappers Bay State Park, Iowa, 24 miles away   Hotels near Kilen Woods State Park Super 8 Jackson MN, Jackson , 7 miles away Econo Lodge Jackson, Jackson , 7 miles away Super 8 Windom, Windom , 7 miles away AmericInn Jackson, Jackson , 8 miles away Super 8 Spirit Lake/Okoboji, Spirit Lake , 17 miles away   Ski Areas near Kilen Woods State Park Riverside Hills, Iowa , 24 miles away, 190 foot drop, 3 lifts, 6 runs