Equestrian camping at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers dedicated sites for horse owners located approximately 70 miles north of Brook Park, Minnesota. The facilities are designed for campers with horses who need direct access to the park's trail system. All equestrian sites require advance reservations.
What to Do
Trail riding along St. Croix River: Trails at Wild River State Park provide scenic routes for horseback riding. "I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," notes Joanna B.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The forests near St. Croix State Forest Boulder Campground offer excellent wildlife observation possibilities. "We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's," reports Scot L.
Climb the observation tower: The fire tower at Old Logging Trail Campground provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. "The fire tower was also cool!" mentions Adam, who visited the park and enjoyed this elevated vantage point.
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground offers good separation between equestrian sites. "We stayed in one of the walk-in sites. It was great, not too too buggy. Mostly quiet. Hiking trails in the park are wonderful," shares Ashley H.
Sandy riverbanks for water access: Many riders appreciate the natural beach areas. "Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," explains David G. from Country Camping Tent & RV Park, where the Rum River provides additional riding and recreation opportunities.
Star-gazing opportunities: Clear night skies offer excellent celestial viewing. "The star gazing area was great!" reports Katherine T., highlighting one of the benefits of equestrian camping in the less developed areas around Brook Park.
What You Should Know
Seasonal insect conditions: Horse owners should be prepared for bugs during peak summer months. "There were HOARDS OF MOSQUITOS. We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days," warns RK M. at Riverview Campground.
Limited services at equestrian sites: Most horse-friendly campgrounds have minimal facilities. "For $17 a night you can't beat a state forest campgrounds. This is real camping for the kids. Get there early in the day because there are no reservations," advises Daniel H.
Terrain variations: Trail conditions can change seasonally. "We snowshoed and skied. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," explains a winter visitor, indicating the multi-season accessibility of some trails.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Ann Lake Campground offers facilities for children when not riding. "Great biking around the grounds for youth," notes Ashley V., though she cautions, "Broken glass under picnic table, grill on fire pit was broken."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer learning experiences for young riders. "We DID have fun doing some of the activities like hunting for insects/animals in the pond with the ranger, hiking to the ranger tower, playing at the playground," shares Sara P.
Wildlife encounters for children: Many children enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat. "We spent an entire day hiking and it was decent hiking along the river... We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites!" reports Kate H.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for trailers: Choose sites with adequate space for both living quarters and horse trailers. "The sites we had was fairly level and provided ample space to park our teardrop and our car without hanging out into the road," notes Amy G., indicating the importance of sufficient parking areas.
Power considerations: Not all equestrian sites offer electrical hookups. "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off then it was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max," explains an RVer about managing electrical needs.
Early arrival recommended: "We've found that if you make them in advance, and then decide to cancel the day of the reservation, there are cancellation fees and first night fees," advises a camper, suggesting flexible planning for those traveling with horses.
