Equestrian camping near Altura, Minnesota offers riders direct access to some of southeastern Minnesota's most notable trail systems. The region sits within the Driftless Area, characterized by deep river valleys, limestone bluffs, and hardwood forests that remained untouched by glaciers during the last ice age. Elevation changes along riding trails typically range from 650 to 1,300 feet, creating varied terrain that challenges both horses and riders.
What to do
Cave exploration: 5 miles from camping. Visitors staying at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground can take the walking tour of Mystery Cave. "If you get the chance, go do the the 1 hour walking tour of Mystery Cave - well worth the entry fee. If you go on weekend probably need to make reservations," advises Jim C. The cave maintains a constant 48°F temperature year-round.
Trout fishing: Available in park streams. Anglers can access good fishing spots directly from Maple Springs Campground. One visitor noted the campground has "a trout stream running past" and another mentioned the "river runs next to it and they have duck races." Fishing licenses required and available online or in Preston, 3 miles away.
Historical tours: 4.5 mile round trip hike. The historic village at Forestville offers living history demonstrations during summer weekends. "On top of that it has this awesome living history 1800's village managed by the Minnesota Historical Society," writes Jason S. Tours typically run 10am-4pm, with costumed interpreters demonstrating 19th century skills.
What campers like
Large, level sites: Accommodates most rigs. At Chester Woods Park, campers appreciate the spacious areas. "Good level campsite and in walking around all the ones in the electric loop looked pretty level," notes one reviewer. Another mentioned, "Nice park for everyone's type from tents, cabins and all size RV's."
Clean facilities: Recently updated shower houses. Multiple campgrounds maintain excellent bathrooms. Mark N. observed Chester Woods has "Clean bathrooms and showers. Best value I've seen for fire wood." Similarly at Maple Springs, visitors find "Clean, friendly, with a trout stream running past" and "Clean showers and bathroom near office."
Trail access: Direct connections to riding paths. Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge provides basic access to trail systems. "Access to Root River trail close by," notes Scott S. The campground remains "usually slow except during hunting season," making it ideal for riders seeking quiet trail experiences.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Prepare for offline time. Cell service varies dramatically across campgrounds. At Forestville, "There is NO CELL SERVICE in the campground - no Verizon, ATT or T-Mobile. Wifi down at the ranger office," reports Jim C. Similarly, Maple Springs has "little to no phone service unless you have a cell booster."
Water access considerations: Not all sites have hookups. Many campgrounds require bringing water for horses. Chester Woods has "water and septic hook ups" but others like Haycreek Valley Campground may have unusual setups: "Our site was rather odd as the electric and water post was on the opposite side of our camper. Our standard water hose and electrical cord wouldn't reach."
Seasonal popularity: Book early for weekends. Horse-friendly sites fill quickly during prime riding seasons. The experience at Maple Springs was positive for one group: "We rented the horse camp sites and we couldn't have been happier. The sites have water and electric. There are high ties for the horses."
Tips for camping with families
Creek exploration: Shallow water access points. Kids enjoy wading in the creeks at multiple campgrounds. At Chester Woods, "The beach was great and clean. Fishing was great," reports Erik O. Swimming areas typically have gradual entry points safe for supervised children.
Nature programs: Weekend educational events. Forestville offers family-friendly cave tours and historical programs. "There's also a very interesting cave with a museum and all the stalactites, stalagmites, and underground pools you can imagine," describes Jason S. Programs typically run Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Hayrides and outdoor movies: Evening entertainment. Whippoorwill Ranch Kampground and Maple Springs offer organized activities. One visitor to Maple Springs mentioned they enjoyed "a hayride, movie for the family in the old red barn, and a church service in that same barn on Sunday."
Tips from RVers
Dump station locations: Plan accordingly. Several campgrounds have unusual dump station setups. At Chester Woods, "Electric only at the camp sites but have water and dump station on site," while at Maple Springs, "There is a dump station that we were able to use before we left on Sunday."
Electric-only sites: Water fill procedures. Most equestrian campsites offer electric but not full hookups. At Chester Woods, Kevin notes there are "30 & 50 amp service but no water hookup (fill when you come in) and dump tanks when leaving."
Extension cord requirements: Bring extras. Some sites have oddly placed hookups. At Haycreek Valley, one camper shared, "Our standard water hose and electrical cord wouldn't reach so we ended up backing up the hill to get next to the water and filled our tank for the weekend. Thankfully a neighbor had a 30' extension that we borrowed."
