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Equestrian Camping near Cuyuna, MN

6 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Walter E Stark Horse Campground in Pillsbury State Forest offers primitive camping accommodations for horseback riders approximately 13 miles southwest of Cuyuna. This equestrian campground features basic facilities including vault toilets, trash collection, and picnic tables, but lacks drinking water, electrical hookups, and shower facilities. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with drive-in access. Sites cannot be reserved in advance and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Open from April 1 to October 31, the campground maintains a simple setup focused on practical horse camping rather than luxury amenities.

    The Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Equestrian Campground provides another horse-friendly option approximately 40 miles southeast of Cuyuna. This campground offers reservable sites suitable for both tent and RV camping with accessible drive-in access for horse trailers. Basic facilities include vault toilets and picnic tables, though the campground lacks electrical hookups, running water, and shower facilities. Big-rig friendly design accommodates larger horse trailers and RVs. Trails in the surrounding area allow for day rides through forested terrain. Mosquito protection is essential during summer months when visiting either of these horse campgrounds, as the wooded environments can harbor significant insect activity.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Cuyuna (6)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Crow Wing State Park Campground

      3.9(27)25mi from Cuyuna58 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Excellent map signage on the hiking trails too. Clean and tidy vault toilets. There is access to the extended bike path from this state park as well."

      "Tent camp here once and a while, but finally got around to officially doing the hiking club trail."

      from $24 - $80 / night

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      2. Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

      4.1(14)28mi from Cuyuna43 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Stayed in Petaga (drive in) spot #52."

      "This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping."

      from $25 - $35 / night

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      3. Father Hennepin State Park Campground

      4.3(21)33mi from Cuyuna107 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Right on Lake Mille Lacs, one of Minnesota’s largest. Walking distance from the bakery and bar! Newer, updated facilities. Boat access. Lake side sites (if you book early enough)."

      "Smaller sites and a little privacy in the lake campground. The ones next to the waters edge have a nice view and are more completely in the shade. The inner sites have more sun."

      from $24 - $68 / night

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      4. Walter E Stark Horse Campground - Pillsbury State Forest

      5.0(1)27mi from CuyunaRVs

      "It is very sufficient for what you need if you are staying with your horses. It is a primitive campground with running water out of spigots and vault toilets."

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      5. Equestrian Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

      Be the first to review28mi from Cuyuna10 sitesRVs, Tents

      from $25 / night

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      6. Twisted Willow Farmstay

      Be the first to review38mi from CuyunaRVs, Tents

      from $30 - $60 / night

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Cuyuna, MN

    1 Photos of 6 Cuyuna Campgrounds

    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Cuyuna, MN

    63 Reviews of 6 Cuyuna Campgrounds

    • Sarah D.
      Mar. 3, 2025

      Crow Wing State Park Campground

      Good Base Camp for Exploring the Cuyuna Area

      I was looking to take a solo camping trip for the weekend and paddleboard on the Cuyuna Mine Lakes. I booked the trip pretty late because of a lot of different factors, but Crow Wing State park still had plenty of availability. The park is nothing spectacular, but it was nice, wooded, and the staff were great. It was my first time solo camping in awhile, so I opted to stay at a state park where there would be rangers. I noticed that the rangers stopped and talked to me night one, and remembered me- which made me feel very safe as a solo female camper. The campground was overall pretty quiet, and my site was wooded so that I normally could not see other campers from my site, which was great! It felt decently quiet . If you visit in the summertime, expect hellish mosquitoes and pack accordingly!

      You can join the hiking club trail straight from the campground, which was nice- I went on a few beautiful sunset walks to watch the sunset over the river

      The bathroom and shower were clean and easily accessible.

      The park was a 20-30 minute drive from the Cuyuna Mines area, so I was able to easily drive over Saturday morning and spend the day paddleboarding.

      This park is not one of the most spectacular in Minnesota, but I had a great stay and it was very relaxing. It was great for a weekend getaway for a solo female camper looking to do some paddle boarding in the area

    • Andrea S.
      May. 19, 2018

      Father Hennepin State Park Campground

      Great getaway from the city

      Right on Lake Mille Lacs, one of Minnesota’s largest. Walking distance from the bakery and bar! Newer, updated facilities. Boat access. Lake side sites (if you book early enough). You can hit Mille Lacs State Park if you want to knock them both out on one trip! This park seems to attract a lot of long term campers, as I’m sure it’s pretty reasonable to stay at the lake all summer. We went mid-July I think and the trees were literally raining caterpillars… it was tough to want to hang out in our tree canopy-covered site. Sooo.. we ventured outside of the park more at this one.

      There was a festival going on in a town west of here that had a couple rides and a really fun patio bar. If you do decide to venture out at night, ask the bartender for the limo driver’s number; he’s the city’s “uber”!

    • Scott M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 19, 2021

      Walter E Stark Horse Campground - Pillsbury State Forest

      Plenty of Space

      We were staying in the area so we took a look at the campground. It is very sufficient for what you need if you are staying with your horses. It is a primitive campground with running water out of spigots and vault toilets. Some excess firewood in the middle and plenty of space for your horses. The hitching posts were mostly in the shade but not all were. It is separated in two different parts but for the most part you can find shade unless this gets completely full. 

      We walked some trails and went up to lost lake...disappointed to see someone took apart a camper and left it there in a pile. The black flies were bad on our walk, but it did have some nice views along the way. Loads of raspberries along the road so we stopped in the shade and had a couple snacks. Lots of trails to hike and ride in the area and plenty of signs to warn you not to spook the horses which I think is good. 

      We did stop in at the local ranch and asked about the programs they offered. We are thinking to come back in the winter when they have sleigh rides.

    • Scott M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 19, 2021

      Father Hennepin State Park Campground

      Great Area

      Smaller sites and a little privacy in the lake campground. The ones next to the waters edge have a nice view and are more completely in the shade. The inner sites have more sun. The beach is long and rocky but ample enough to swim in. It is a busy place because of its location close to the cities and other areas up there. The electric hook ups were well maintained. Bathrooms were nice and clean and vault toilets are scattered throughout the park. Trails are there to hike and walk. Water to swim and plenty of bike paths. 

      Maple grove is the more primitive site and lots more coverages between camp sites.

    • K
      Aug. 30, 2020

      Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

      Great spot not too far from the Cities

      Stayed in Petaga (drive in) spot #52. The spots were pretty private - the surrounding campsites were definitely visible through the trees, but there was plenty of distance so you weren't overhearing everyone's conversations or anything. The site was very roomy! It was a short walk to the bathrooms, water was nearby. The paths to the overlooks on the Rum River were close as well. The inner campsites are RV hookup sites, and the sound definitely carried when someone came later at night to set up their RV. We lucked out with great weather, and bugs were not bad (some mosquitoes but not overwhelming). Campsites have easy access to the trails that connect to the west interpretive center. Some things were closed due to COVID (including the fire tower), but bathrooms were open. No boat rentals right now either, but the river looked like a great, calm spot to kayak.

    • Allison K.
      Aug. 1, 2019

      Crow Wing State Park Campground

      Nice smaller State Park

      Crow Wing State Park is a good choice if you are looking for something close to the Twin Cities metro area in Minnesota. with this park being just under two hours away from the Twin Cities metro area it’s an easy choice for a nice weekend getaway. If you’re looking to stay for a long extended time it’s also a good choice as it offers electric and water. The electric sites are pretty open and close together so if you like to be secluded and not see other campers from your campsite I wouldn’t use this park. The electric sites are really on top of each other and don't feel like you are camping to me. The non-electric sites are pretty nice and secluded from each other which would make this park a park I would bring my tent to instead of my travel trailer. There is also a group camp That is separate from the main camping area.

      The park office offers ice and firewood for sale. Firewood is 6$ a bundle at the park office. The only firewood you can use is the approved firewood in the local area or scrap lumber. See the Minnesota Firewood law.  Canoe rentals are offered at the park office for $15 for a half-day and $25 for a full day. There is also a water fill station and a dump station for your travel trailer or RV. This is a good park for hiking and exploring. 

      If you wanna stay close to the Twin Cities metro area this is a good park for you!

    • Jeff G.
      Jun. 29, 2019

      Father Hennepin State Park Campground

      Nice spot on the lake

      A nice surprise We had site #50 in Lakeview Campground, this site is located on the rise and had nice breezes, close to showers, lake and playground.

      Town of Isle is very close by along with other small towns dotted around the lake. Casino within 30 minutes.

    • Brian C.
      Jun. 25, 2018

      Crow Wing State Park Campground

      A Very Confused Campground

      The thing about State Parks is that they don't always know what they want to be.

      Are they here to celebrate nature, and provide a moments breath away from the pace of urban life? Are they here for historical facts? Are they for revenue?

      Crow Wing State Park suffers from this dilemma. While the tent sites are nice and spacious, the RV sites are stacked one on top of another, with no illusion of privacy. The weekend we were there, they were pretty full, but noise coming from other campers was acceptable.

      There are plenty of water spigots, and toilet/shower facilities. The facilities are clean, but old.

      There is an almost constant booming, however, coming from Fort Ripley, just down the river. The Fort serves as training for everything from the national guard, to state police, to the DNR. At one point, we could clearly hear live rounds being fired.

      The walks and paths were well maintained, except that some were flooded out due to recent heavy rains. The area dedicated to the Old Crow Wing Village was well done.

      What causes me the most confusion though, is that someone made the call to cover the roads with sand, instead of the traditional crushed stone. So, never mind that the sand made it harder to walk up hill to the water and showers, it got everywhere. When we tore down camp, I emptied enough sand from my tent, that I could have added a fresh layer to a cat's litter box.

      I am very conflicted about this park. It is very pretty, but when you get right down to it, the little quirks that surround it add up. I'm not sure if we will be back. Not that we won't, it's just that we won't be rushing back.

    • Crystal R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 12, 2026

      Father Hennepin State Park Campground

      Cozy little state park right on the water!

      I stayed here last summer (2025)and am planning on staying here this summer as well.

      The park is smaller than it's sister park Mille Lacs Kathio, but it definitely has some things that are better about it!

      I stayed in the Maplewood campground, which I recommend if you like quiet and privacy. The sites are further apart and give you a more "in the woods" feel. The other campground (lake view) is more traditional RV style camping where the sites are fairly close. However they have some sites (small and close together) that have views directly of the lake, if that's your thing.

      I stayed at site 96 which was verrrrry deep and felt pretty private. It's backed up to the woods so you don't have anyone behind you. It has a nice tent pad, and plenty of space for canopies or other equipment. It's a short walk down to the water too, where there's a fishing pier really close by, and a large beach a little further down. I went in very early June and the mosquitoes honestly weren't terrible yet, but the caterpillars were everywhere! There were caterpillars all over my tent, in my sandals I left outside my tent, on my car, etc. When I found one I just relocated them to a safer area in the woods. Lots of deer, you can hear owls at night, squirrels etc. It is bear country, but I didn't see any bears. I kept my food locked up in my car.

      One night it was kind if windy and you could hear the waves on the lake from the tent, so that was kinda cool.

      I have t mobile and had decent service here as well.

    Guide to Cuyuna

    Pillsbury State Forest and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park provide the primary equestrian camping options near Cuyuna, Minnesota. Located within an area known for its unique iron-rich soil and dense northern forests, horse campgrounds near Cuyuna offer trails through varying terrain from flat forest paths to more challenging hillside routes. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day with overnight lows in the 50s, creating comfortable conditions for both horses and riders during peak season.

    What to do

    Trail riding on the Paul Bunyan Trail: Access this 120-mile paved route from Crow Wing State Park Campground, which connects to multiple smaller trails. "Great state campground, good hiking trails, Paul Bunyan Bike Trail passes through park(120 miles long). Crow Wing town site interesting," notes reviewer Big Craig.

    Canoeing the Mississippi: Paddle sections of the river accessible from several campgrounds. "Great access for canoeing and kayaking the Mississippi water trail. If you start at Kiwanis Park in Brainerd- you can make it to crow wing in four hours leisurely, or three fairly easily," writes HollyRose M. about Crow Wing State Park.

    Visit historical sites: Explore the old town site at Crow Wing State Park. "Historic town site great biking trail. Great state campground, good hiking trails," says Big Craig. Another camper mentions, "Historic signs describing the old town are along the beginning part of the trail near the picnic area. Kinda fun to read about and feel what old settlements were like!"

    What campers like

    Riverside camping locations: Father Hennepin State Park Campground offers waterfront sites. "The campground we stayed in was the Lakeview. Right next to the lake, the sunset is amazing if the weather is good. There is even a paved trail next to the lake that leads to a floating dock and beyond," notes Amy G.

    Secluded walk-in sites: More private options are available for those willing to carry gear. "This park is an easy drive from the Twin Cities and offers great cart-in sites. The sites are large and an easy 1/4 mile walk with complete privacy," reports Amber S. about Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.

    Spacious horse camping areas: Walter E Stark Horse Campground in Pillsbury State Forest provides ample room for equestrian campers. "It is very sufficient for what you need if you are staying with your horses... plenty of space for your horses. The hitching posts were mostly in the shade but not all were," notes Scott M.

    What you should know

    Insect preparation essential: Black flies and mosquitoes can be intense during summer months. "We were really excited about our luck finding a practically empty state park in July for a Thursday impromptu camping trip. Before we even stopped the car the deer flies were pelting the windows. Hundreds," warns Emily G. about Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.

    Limited facilities at horse campgrounds: Equestrian sites offer basic amenities only. "It is a primitive campground with running water out of spigots and vault toilets. Some excess firewood in the middle and plenty of space for your horses," explains Scott M. about Walter E Stark Horse Campground.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cuyuna, MN?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cuyuna, MN is Crow Wing State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 27 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cuyuna, MN?

    TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Cuyuna, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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