Equestrian camping near Columbia Heights, Minnesota offers access to diverse ecosystems including oak savannas, riverfront trails, and prairie lands. Located within 30 miles of the metropolitan area, the region experiences hot summers with average highs of 83°F in July and cold winters dropping below 10°F, making May through October the primary camping season. Most horse-friendly campgrounds maintain flat, level sites with adequate space for trailers and corrals.
What to do
Horseback riding on dedicated trails: Crow Hassan Park Reserve features extensive equestrian-focused trails through sandy prairies and wooded areas. "This is my all-time favorite park to bring my horse to, and it's her favorite trail too. Seriously, when we head back to our trailer she will stop and refuse to proceed. Do a 180 on the trail and she is happy to trot away from the trailer," notes one rider.
Tubing and water activities: Country Camping Tent & RV Park provides river access with equipment rentals. A camper mentioned, "This place does have 30amp and 50amp hook ups and has pull through spots and sewer sites so that needs to change on this app. Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!" The Rum River offers clean water with "very clean and sandy bottom" according to a recent visitor.
Night sky viewing: Several campgrounds offer designated star-gazing areas away from city light pollution. Wild River State Park maintains a dedicated star viewing area, with a camper reporting: "We 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."
What campers like
Extensive trail networks: Wild River State Park connects to multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "The park is huge and beautiful. We snowshoed and skied. 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," reports one winter camper.
Secluded backcountry sites: Lake Maria State Park offers hike-in sites ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 miles from parking areas. "This site was nearly surrounded by a lake which lended to a lot of bugs, but was absolutely gorgeous! We could see one other camper in a different site, but it still felt like you were in the wilderness," shares a camper about their lakefront experience.
Clean, modern facilities: Many parks in the region maintain well-serviced bathrooms and shower facilities. At Baker Park, "The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent. The sites were far enough apart and it looked like it would be more private when the leaves come in." Several campgrounds offer heated bathroom facilities for early spring and late fall camping.
What you should know
Insect activity varies seasonally: Mosquitoes and black flies can be intense from late May through July. At Lake Maria State Park, one visitor warned: "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos... Even though we'd sprayed everyone down the bugs must have felt safety in numbers because we were covered in welts in no time flat."
Reservation systems and fees: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially for equestrian sites. Bunker Hills Regional Park charges separate park and campsite fees, with one visitor noting: "Your reservation fee does NOT include the daily parks fee of 7 dollars just FYI." Plan for additional reservation charges ranging from $5-10 per booking.
Variable site privacy: Campground layouts differ significantly in terms of site separation and screening. "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites," explains a Lake Maria camper, highlighting the importance of researching specific sites before booking.
Tips for camping with families
Accessible swimming options: Baker Park Reserve offers family-friendly swimming areas with beach access. A frequent visitor shares: "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be. The sites are about as private as the typical state park, so not very, but that is offset by all the other positives this campground has to offer."
Dedicated play areas: Several campgrounds maintain playgrounds and activity centers. At Country Camping, one family noted: "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most definitely go again! A ton for the kids to do!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Schedule early morning or dusk walks for optimal wildlife sightings. Wild River State Park offers abundant wildlife viewing, with one camper reporting: "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls." Bring binoculars for bird watching and animal spotting.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring additional equipment. At Ann Lake in Sand Dunes State Forest, an RVer with a 30' class C motorhome observed: "Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking. Fire rings and picnic tables at each site. Sites range from open and flat to secluded and a little hilly. Most sites are fairly private and well spaced."
Road access limitations: Several campgrounds have narrow access roads with overhanging branches. "Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides," warned one RVer at Ann Lake. Check campground maps or call ahead to confirm your rig can navigate the entrance roads safely.
Connectivity challenges: Cell service varies widely between campgrounds and even between sites. "Higher elevation sites for air tv reception. 2 bars of 4g service made it a little difficult to pay online over the phone. No reception in lower elevation sites," reported an RVer at Ann Lake, suggesting careful site selection based on connectivity needs.
