We had a wonderful stay at Lake Elmo at the rustic site. There was plenty of flat space for our tent. They provide a fire ring and picnic bench. We arrived after 8pm and the check in processes was a little unclear and they were out of maps, which was only challenging because it was dark and we had not been to the site before.
Lots were small
Our campground was on the outer ring over looking the prairie. It's a very beautiful prairie too! Me and my friends stayed here for the Cotopaxi Questival and it was a perfect location. The campsite was nice and clean and ground was leveled.
For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond. This man made pond is a sandy bottom and surrounded by a nice sand beach. Large built in umbrellas are available for sun coverage and there is a concession stand and bathrooms with showers. And yes, as I mentioned the water is filtered! No gross goose poop or green algae to deal with! Next to the swim pond is a giant playground with fun for the big and little kids. Other amenities include archery, horse trails, paved and grass trails, camper spots, rustic spots and hike in camping spots. In winter the xc ski trails are lit for evening skiing. Or let's be honest early afternoon. It is Minnesota and the suns down by 4 In the Winter! They also have a newer Nordic center that's open all year round and includes a locker room with showers. The hike in camp spot we chose was on a small lake so it had a nice breeze and made it easy to bring a kayak or paddleboard and hop right in. There is also a boat launch for your larger toys! The trails in the park are quite impressive for its size. We enjoyed a 5 mile loop off the Nordic center and right past the camp spot. A picnic table and fire pit as well as nice flat tent pad were provided. If you're coming in from out of town then you're just a 5 minute drive from Woodbury and all the amenities you'd ever need but the park feels miles away from it all.
Campsite was nice, pretty private with trees and it was near a walking trail. There is a lot to do in this country park reserve: hiking, walking, horseback riding, playgrounds, swimming, fishing, etc! There is a HUGE area for hiking, it's so large that you rarely come across another person during your hike. It varies from prairie to wooded area. The lake is good for fishing, and there is a pool for children next to a playground.
Camped here while visiting the Twin Cities for a weekend and saved a ton of money opposed to staying in a hotel. Nice showers and average camp sites. We will be staying here again next time we visit.
I went here for our annual church picnic for years. We camped only a couple times, but it was a nice experience. Huge campground, at least much bigger than I expected! Sites are rather large and there is a decent amount of space between sites. I checked out one of the nature programs and it was very informative and enjoyable. The hiking is wonderful. This park is so unique because it’s definitely a nature experience but is so close to the suburbs and downtown St Paul.
