Best Equestrian Camping near Dawson, MN

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Dawson, MN

29 Reviews of 6 Dawson Campgrounds

• S

  Sarah O.

  Guide

  Sep. 14, 2020

  Garvin County Park

  Beautiful park with nice hiking trails

  We stayed in the Upper Campground in the site closest to the equestrian campground. The kids loved being able to meet & visit with the horses. 

  The sites were a good size, but not much privacy or tree coverage in the area we stayed. There were a lot of trails to hike and a river/stream that they said you could wade/swim in, but we didn't go into it. 

  There were a lot of playgrounds, and one really huge one the kids wanted to play on, but with COVID-19 still going strong, we didn't use it.

• 

  Krista T.

  Legend

  Jun. 9, 2020

  Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

  A unique MN state park

  Glacial Lakes is approximately two hours from my home, which makes it an ideal campground to make an impulse day trip if the weather is right. If you are coming from the Twin Cities you pass through a lot of countryside with the occasional house or small town. Despite it being a slightly shorter drive than the trip to Duluth from my house, it felt like eternity in comparison. It also felt very very unlike the Minnesota that I’m familiar with. 

  It was a relief to get Lake Minnewaska, which is enormous and the little lake community gives you something to gape at. It also means that you are almost there- thank goodness. Glacial Lakes is relatively unknown considering its proximity to the twin cities, and the scale of its facilities definitely reflect that. 

  The entrance station was closed when we were there, but it looked nice and it is on the newer side. The parking area at the end of the road is not expansive, so come early if you are doing a day trip on amazingly nice days. I didn’t see the the group campsite or the Lower Campground(or the cabins that are in it) because the road was closed off to it, so I can’t speak on the quality of those campsites, but I’m assuming that they are nice because there is actually a restroom/shower building there. 

  I would not camp at the Oak Ridge Campground. The sites were rarely level and generally on top of each other with minimal privacy. There are also a handful of hike-in sites. Kettle Lake hike-in campsite is the iconic image of camping at this park thanks to the two little lakes that butt up right next to each other right at your campsite. I also wouldn’t camp here because there is no shade and I would cart-in, but NOT hike-in to a shadeless campsite. 

  Reviews of this park also mention a lot of ticks, so keep that in mind. There is also horse camping! Minimal shade here too, but there were some young trees. The road to the horse camping is NOT wide enough for two vehicles to pass, so if you are coming here with your equine friends cross your fingers that you don’t encounter anyone on that road. 

  We visited for the very first time on a nice day in March. The main parking area is in a wooded area, so you have to hike through quite a bit of hilly woods to get to the prairie section. This meant that there were a few treacherous icy and/or muddy spots despite the surrounding areas being snow-free. It also meant wading over a boardwalk that was covered in water that got higher on our way back from all the melting ice. 

  The prairie part was definitely beautiful and I will definitely visit again when the spring flowers are in bloom or on a nice fall day when the grass changes color. I don’t think it will be a park that I frequent often though, mostly because of the never-ending drive. We did the High Peak Trail, which was a nice point with a strong wind that almost ripped my beanie off the day that we visited.

  Read More
• 

  Makayla B.

  Guide

  Sep. 9, 2019

  Camden State Park Campground

  Nice campground on the prairie

  There are two campgrounds in this park - the upper one is on the prairie while the lower one is situated among trees along the river. We stayed in the lower campground in site 30. The lower campground is close to the playground and swimming pond but it rained the whole time we camped so we didn't use either.

  Sites in the lower campground are fairly close together and we didn't have cell service (Verizon), which wasn't a big deal.

  I brought my fat bike and bike the Bluebird and Dakota Valley trails. Both are mowed paths that go through prairie and wooded areas. The actual mountain bike trail was disappointing, it was overgrown, narrow, and hugged a high ridge.

  Our site, 30, sloped away from the parking pad. You wouldn't be able to set up.chairs under your awning at this site and the picnic table sat in a low spot that got muddy after 2 straight days of rain. There is a river that runs behind the sites in this loop. Our boys played on the rocks and had a great time.

  There are nearby train tracks and trains ran by several times a day, though luckily they don't blow the horn so we didn't notice them much.

  Read More
• 

  Emma V.

  Scout

  Jun. 1, 2018

  Camden State Park Campground

  More than camping

  Great trout stream, swimming, tubing, camping, horse trails, hiking... my kids loved it

• B

  Bryan P.

  Guide

  Jul. 8, 2022

  Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

  Baby lake bp site—choose another site?

  1. Literally right on trail. In fact, the only place to out your tent is immediately next to the trail
  2. No place to hang a hammock
  3. No water (even though youre 100 yards from lake, there is no way to access to get water to filter. Hike in all your water
  4. Its quiet
  5. Lots of ticks (its prairie after all)
• 

  Tori K.

  Legend

  Jan. 1, 2023

  Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

  Located in Central MN

  The trails in the park have nice rolling hills and offer a unique type of beauty. The campground is small, but offers some electric sites as well as some primitive sites. I do believe there were 2 or 3 cabins that I saw. Unsure if there is a group camp with this campground being so small as it is. Firewood is available at the check in/office building. There is a bathroom/shower building in the loop with the electric sites. The electric loop and primitive loops both have vault toilets. Each loop also has a few water stations to fill containers with potable water and each loop has a dumpster for disposing of waste. Not sure if there is a dump station for RVs as I typically use a tent when camping. Nice state park in Rural central Minnesota

  Read More
• 

  Samuel V.

  Traveler

  Jun. 6, 2025

  Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

  Camper Cabin stay with kids.

  Had a great stay, everything was as expected with a camper cabin. Beautiful park with great trails and a beautiful lake! Our cabin was a long ways from the shower facility which I knew going into the weekend. Parking near showers was close to non existent.

• A

  Amanda M.

  Traveler

  Aug. 15, 2020

  Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

  Ideal Campground within two hours of Twin Cities

  We booked our stay at the Lower Campground on a whim as it was one of the only campsites available in MN on a two week notice during Covid. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise! The park is perfect for a short weekend trip. Campground was well maintained with easy access to the hiking trails and a nice view of the lake. There was enough exploring to fill a day or two. The sites are close side-to-side, but trees line the outside sites and there is good back-to-back space between the inner sites. Not all sites have hammock trees though. We got very lucky with the August weather as the bugs were completely manageable both at the campground and on the hikes. The Lower Campground is the only one with electric sites, but the Oak Ridge had nice shade and space. Preferred sites in Lower Campground would be 7 for non-electric for privacy and lake views, and 14e, 16e, and 18e for electric. Bathrooms were not open for use when we came. Also, the water fill and dump stations are on the opposite side of most campers which was the only downside. There was not water supply at the dump station to rinse out the tank. But overall, it’s nice trip that’s only two hours from the Twin Cities. We enjoyed the prairie views and the lake. Will be back!

  Read More
• 

  Marcy F.

  Traveler

  Sep. 18, 2020

  Pomme De Terre Campground

  This is well worth the money!!!

  Pretty nice campground with water and electric. Bathhouse, walking trails, fishing and beautiful lake views. Some sites are a little difficult to get into but not impossible.