Equestrian camping in the Afton, Minnesota area provides access to rolling terrain across eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The region sits at elevations between 700-1100 feet with prairie-woodland transitions creating diverse riding environments. Trail systems typically remain open April through November, with July and August temperatures averaging 83°F and moderate humidity that can affect both riders and horses during peak summer months.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve maintains miles of interconnected paths that extend beyond the equestrian sections. "Great campground, sites are spacious and spread out, electric hookups at all sites, swim pond is great for kids, and other amenities like an archery range and hiking trails are fantastic for kids," notes John H. about Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Canoeing and river activities: The St. Croix River provides excellent water recreation options. "The hike to the former Dam site is the neatest thing about the park. I recommend reading the historical information at the site of the dam," writes Erik R. about Wild River State Park Campground, which runs along the St. Croix.
Swimming in filtered ponds: Several parks offer swimming in maintained ponds. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," says Timothy S. about Lake Elmo's swimming facilities.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Highland Ridge provides excellent site separation through natural features. "All sites are gravel/dirt (except for the ADA-accessible site), and most are very generous in size. Our site (7) sloped down but leveled out with plenty of room for our campervan at the bottom. All sites are wooded with trees providing separation/privacy between sites," explains Lee D. about Highland Ridge.
Well-maintained facilities: Campgrounds in the region typically offer clean, functional amenities. "The bathrooms were nice and clean, and I especially appreciated the fact that they were cleaned daily before 6 am, a shout out to the camp host!" continues Lee D. about Highland Ridge.
Seasonal star-gazing opportunities: Clear nights offer excellent astronomy viewing in certain locations. "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," notes Katherine T. about Wild River State Park Campground.
What you should know
Shade varies significantly: Some campgrounds provide full coverage while others offer limited shade. "It's completely in the woods, and sites are FULLY shaded. Sites 28-38 are on a loop with a picnic pavilion in the middle with some openings for sun on the road and in the picnic area," explains Mary S. about Highland Ridge.
Water access limitations: Not all riverfront campgrounds provide easy swimming access. "There's a teeny somewhat treacherous path to the river- no beach or anything (water was super low when we went) - Just can get your feet wet," reports amber N. about Wild River State Park.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially for equestrian sites near Afton. "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," shares Alyssa T. about Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activity centers: Many parks offer dedicated play areas for children. "Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families. There are a bunch of things to do including hiking, horseback riding, swimming in their filtered pond, boating and an insane playground," recommends Steph H. about Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve.
Educational programs: Look for ranger-led activities during summer months. "On Saturday nights they have a campgound program for the kids and families to watch. Very organized and clean facilities. Reasonably priced," mentions Tina H. about Bunker Hills.
Site selection for convenience: For families with young children, bathroom proximity matters. "The water source was just a couple campsites down but the bathrooms were a little farther so when coming with just tents you may want to search for a closer campsite," advises Steph H. about Baker Campground.
Tips for RVers
Electric hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer electric sites, but amperage varies. "Cost is $20/$16 for electric/non-electric. This is an Army Corps of Engineers park which means you pay $10/$8 if you have an NPS Lifetime Senior Pass," explains Mary S. about Highland Ridge.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have sloping sites requiring additional equipment. "Every single site has a sign that says 'reserved,' and the hosts were off-duty. We drove around and found a relatively level site with a very long driveway," shares Laurel from Highland Ridge - Eau Galle Reservoir.
Airport proximity: For those flying in to rent RVs, several options exist near MSP. "Stayed here due to its proximity to Minneapolis airport...had an early flight the next morning. Really convenient location. No problems. Facilities were really well maintained," notes Robert B. about camping at Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Legend
