Are you planning a trip to Carlton with your horse? We've got you covered. It's easy to find Carlton campgrounds for horse camping with The Dyrt. These scenic and easy-to-reach Carlton campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
$17 / night
Riverview has a mowed, semi-shaded to shaded sites (42 electric). This is the preferred campground for RVs.
$25 - $35 / night
Traveler
It’s very very secluded from the near by town
On days that the moonlight is not out bring flashlights because when the moon is not shining it’s pitch black
Keep in mind the driveway trail is not lit up but the showers are very clean and up to date And very clean they are fully stocked in hand soap & toilet paper the have sinks for washing ur utensils and pans and ect
Legend
This was a one night stop over on the way to Grand Portage and Isle Royale. It is a nicely maintained campground with lots of open space and nicely constructed rustic bath houses. Apparently, the bath houses are under renovation. The loop I was in had one of the new bathrooms and it was impressive….definitely an A rating. The site spacing is good but not a lot of landscaping for privacy. The mosquitoes were voracious! That has been my experience throughout MN.
We also experienced the most intense and violent thunderstorm of my life. One lightning strike hit within 100 yards of our site. All of the campers were talking about it in the morning. My poor dog was a basket case and could not even eat her dinner. Their reservation system could not find St. Croix without the period.
Guide
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 and it's first come first served. The campground was clean and in better shape than any state park campgrounds I have been to.. The sites are spaced out and although it is a long drive in from the tar and gravel, it's worth the trip. A beautiful lake and lots of trails. There are many ATV trails on the way in, but the ATVs are not allowed in the campground. Most likely on busy weekends you were going to hear them in the distance. Mid week it was quiet and there was only three other people there and this remote campground.
LegendThis park has a ton of camping available, particularly if you don't need electricity and have a smaller rig because then you can get into more of the campground loops. (There is electricity here, but there are many more sites without.)
The sites in the Old Logging Campground were close together but many had vegetation between them offering some privacy. Site 207 was especially tucked in but it's a tight spot, so probably best for a van or tent.
The park itself has a lot to offer being right on the St. Croix River, plus there are hiking trails, a paved bike path, a fire tower you can climb, an old CCC camp area you can tour, and more. Also, canoe and kayak rentals are available. And this is all within the state park boundary since, at 34,000 acres, the park is the largest in the Minnesota state park system.
Some of the loops have old bathhouses that desperately need to be replaced, but they are in the process of doing so, which means some loops have great new bathrooms and showers. (If you stay in the upper 200s, sites, you'll have one of these new bathrooms right away, but more are being built.) Cell service was incredibly spotty on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Depending on where you're at, you'll get a low signal, but often it was only enough for texting-- don't think about using the web or social media or getting any work done while you're here.
Overall, we enjoyed our weekend at this park and would come back for another getaway if we had the chance and it wasn't a workday.
GuideThis was my first solo tent camping night in June 5, 2020. There were some horse flies when I parked but they didn't seem to hang out in the shade of my campsite. There was a very loud bird making calls until about 1am... Maybe a whip-poor-will. Otherwise a serene spot tucked back in the walk in site.
Directions to the walk in sites were a bit unclear when driving in but I eventually made it there.
ScoutWe were here in Sept and back again at the end of Oct. Wonderful forests, pleasantly, quiet. Beautiful views along the Tamarack river. We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's. This is nature at it's finest. I will be back. Heads up! No hook up's. Vault bathrooms only.
ScoutThe site we had was isolated nicely and the ground was easy for a tent set up. There was some mosquitos, but the disappeared at night which was nice. The trail near by was nice, but driving into the park and finding a trail were better. The fire tower was also cool!
ScoutWe camped with our in laws and 3 kids this past weekend at St. Croix state Park, we were in the riverview campground on site 36 (no hook ups). Sites were pretty open but small. There were HOARDS OF MOSQUITOS. We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days so we could reduce the bites. The paved walking trails were nice. The swimming beach is a couple mile drive but the water was nice and cool. There is a playground but we didn't use it. We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids! There is kayak and canoe rental on the weekend. The showers and bathrooms were very clean.
GuideWe had a terrible experience last year trying to camp here, BUT it’s not the campgrounds fault!
Unfortunately we chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster. It was also a very hot weekend. We showed up and set up camp and within the first hour our dog was clearly stressed by all the bugs. He ended up hiding in the car and soon after his face swelled up and he got very sick. Within 3 hours of showing up we had to pack up and head home to get him safe and comfortable. Do not fret, our boy was okay and thankfully the family across from us (in an RV) has Benadryl for their dog they gave to us. We don’t travel or camp without proper bug spray and meds for our dog now so lessons were learned.
Long story short we would love to come back when the bugs aren’t as bad!
GuideOur family went up and rented Guest House 1. The house was great! It had everything we needed in the kitchen, a grill out front, picnic tables, fire ring, plenty of sleeping for our extended family. However, the second we walked out the door, you had at least 5 ticks on you. If you spent any extended amount of time outside, there were 20+. It was terrible, as my sister was pregnant and didn't want to risk it and we had a 1, 2, and 4 year old. We spent a large part of the weekend searching each other like primates and picking bugs off. Since the weather wasn't the best, we didn't feel as bad missing out on being outside.
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, and trying to catch butterflies with the ranger. That being said, we have had several conversations with others who have also said it was the worst tick experience they have ever had and will not choose to go back again.
Guidewe spent a weekend at the park and had a. great time. Lots of trails for hiking. Cool buildings from the CCC era as well as some signs talking about camp life. There is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view. Campsites were nicely angeled for easy parking. Fire ring and table at each site. Nice modern bathrooms as well.
TravelerOur scout troop camped for a weekend her. Our site was very spacious, and had close access to a well maintained outhouse and walking distance to indoor toilets and showers. The main disadvantage to this site was, no trees.
GuideThe Riverview loop is 1 of 3 at St. Croix State Park. This loop is where 90% of the electric sites are, but it is also a very open campground. There is a modern restroom and shower, it is also located near a nature store.
GuideThis is Minnesota’s largest state park and has over 200 camp sites. But where we were, we were secluded from most people. Not from the mosquitos. You had to defend against them. But clean park. Would go back for sure.
GuideClean, fairly private sites. Easy to get in and out. Walk in sites available. Canoe outfitters in park during most of the summer. A great way to spend a weekend.
ScoutLots to do, hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, interpreter programs
GuideSpent two nights at the campground. Night one was extreme heat and humidity and night two was extreme storms. Because of a large wind storm several years ago, there is very limited tree coverage in the campground. As a result, the sites get very little shade and protection from the hot summer sun, and the lack of vegetation means that sounds from around the campground can be heard throughout. Water fountain is centrally located and bathrooms are adequate. Shower facilities are mediocre, but do provide sufficient privacy, and were relatively clean. Lots of trains and hiking areas. Interesting nature center and convenient camp store.
Horse camping in Minnesota offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the companionship of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds that cater to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the scenic trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Carlton, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Carlton, MN is Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park with a 4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Carlton, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Carlton, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
