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Best Equestrian Camping near Fergus Falls, MN

64 Reviews

Maplewood State Park Campground and Lake Carlos State Park Campground offer dedicated equestrian camping areas near Fergus Falls. Maplewood's horse campground provides spacious sites with room for horse trailers and direct access to riding trails that wind through the park's 9,200 acres. Sites accommodate horses with tie-out areas, and the campground is designed to separate equestrian campers from the main camping loops. Horse droppings remain visible on shared trails where riders frequently travel between wooded areas and prairie landscapes. The equestrian sites include standard amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, with vault toilets nearby.

Lake Carlos State Park features site H3 in its equestrian campground, which provides electric hookups but offers minimal shade for horses. The equestrian campground contains only three non-electric sites, with the remaining sites offering electricity for campers with horse trailers. Trails throughout the park accommodate both horseback riding and hiking, with mountain biking permitted on some shared pathways. The horse-friendly sites are positioned away from the main campground areas, providing a more specialized experience for equestrians. Riders appreciate the variety of wooded trails and open areas available for exploration, though the campground can become busy during peak seasons. Both parks require advance reservations through Minnesota's state park reservation system.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Fergus Falls, Minnesota (5)

    1. Maplewood State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    Erhard, MN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 863-8383

    "Several rangers directed us here so we stopped in before we left Minnesota. The ranger was very helpful and set us up with a quiet campsite."

    "We had electric hook up, fill with water near the dump station. Our site was big and private on Grass lake facing west so we saw great sunsets sitting in our site."

    2. Beers Hike-In Site

    1 Review
    Erhard, MN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 863-8383

    $22 / night

    "The walk is an easy walk. There is a nice fire pit and good area for fishing right at the site. Also there is a picnic table and a vault toilet. Surprisingly there was toilet paper there!"

    3. Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Carlos, MN
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 852-7200

    "I am from a suburb of Twin Cities metro area in Minnesota and we wanted to go camping with my in-laws who have horses."

    "Lots of screaming kids the weekend we were here, but we found the quiet trails. Lower campground offers no privacy, but a newer shower house and views and access to the lake."

    4. Hankinson Hills Campground

    5 Reviews
    Hankinson, ND
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 683-4342

    $10 / night

    "There’s a loop for horse camping and a loop for non horse camping. Each site has a fire ring and a nice table, most spaces have trees to provide shade."

    "The campground is well maintained and the trail had just been mowed. Unfortunately there are stickers and poor tuck found a number of them. We still had fun."

    5. Pomme De Terre Campground

    4 Reviews
    Chokio, MN
    50 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 208-6500

    "Bathhouse, walking trails, fishing and beautiful lake views. Some sites are a little difficult to get into but not impossible."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Fergus Falls, MN

6 Photos of 5 Fergus Falls Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Fergus Falls, MN

64 Reviews of 5 Fergus Falls Campgrounds

  • Allison K.
    Jul. 11, 2019

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful but a bit crowded

    I am from a suburb of Twin Cities metro area in Minnesota and we wanted to go camping with my in-laws who have horses. We needed a park that was close and had equestrian camping so we decided to go to Lake Carlos State Park.

    Lake Carlos State Park is roughly 2.5hours from the Twin Cities and is a beautiful getaway for a weekend trip. You can leave after work on a Friday and still have time to make it to the park, set up and still be able to cook dinner and enjoy a s’more or two.

    We booked site H3 in the equestrian campground which was a VERY open site right off the main loop in the equestrian campground. It was very sunny and barely any shade for the horses. The site were in was electric and there were only three non-electric sites in the equestrian campground. The other sites were awesome for shade but were still super open to everyone.

    There were great trails for hiking and horseback riding. They also allowed mountain biking on the trails.

    The staff at the office were super friendly and they talked to us for about 15 minutes. Their store in the office was pretty great and they had everything from toys for the kids to s’mores stuff and stickers specific to the park. The firewood was pretty fast burning and cost 6$ a bundle so it was pretty spendy since we cook only over the fire.

    The main campground was VERY busy and jammed packed. The sites were too close together and open for my comfort.

    The beach was very dirty and there were army worms everywhere crawling on everything.

    We took a little bike ride to the group camp which was an amazing area with a very nice shelter with electric.

    All in all, this is a good park to go to if you are looking for a park close to the twin cities metro area.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2018

    Maplewood State Park Campground

    Spread out over a large area, a horse and fishing spot.

    Several rangers directed us here so we stopped in before we left Minnesota. The ranger was very helpful and set us up with a quiet campsite. The drive in was a few miles but it gave a view of the variety of ecosystems in the park. 

    Site 33 is by itself on the access road to a small non-electric loop. This meant no distraction for my dog and let the bird song entertain us. There is a very long walk to a restroom but water is close by. The site is large and has enough room for two cars. This is a great site as long as you don’t mind the walk. 

    We tried out hiking along one of the trails. The grass was long and we quickly found ticks crawling up our leg. More trimming of the trails would make hiking more pleasant. There are trails for horses and mountain bikes. Another draw is the lake. Bring your boat or rent one. There is even a place to clean your catch. 

    The sites in the main loop have little privacy. That, coupled with the hiking trails, made this a not so high recommendation. It would go over higher with fishermen.

  • B M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2020

    Maplewood State Park Campground

    Amazing park Big Waterview Site one of my favorites

    We stayed 7 nights really wish we had booked a few weeks. Our site was #16. We had electric hook up, fill with water near the dump station. Our site was big and private on Grass lake facing west so we saw great sunsets sitting in our site. Our bump out was facing the water when we backed in so sitting at the dinette in the camper we had a great view of the lake. Our table & fire pit were behind the camper with a great view of the water & sunset. The small birds were amazing, the sound of the Loons and an occasional muskrat will swim by.  Every morning we had a Chipmunk warm itself up on a tree behind the camper when the sun hit that spot. The big Maple trees everywhere is nice very lush campground. When the sun set we kicked up a bonfire and took it all in. 

    There are several docks on grass lake and a big dock on Beers lake you can fish from. We launched the Kayak at the boat ramp on Beers lake it's a nice ramp and not busy. We didn't get on Lake Lida it's much bigger and lots of go fast boats we prefer no wake. The bigger fish are on Lida.

    There are 8 lakes in the park which 3 or 4 have easy water access to launch a canoe or Kayak. Each lake has different fish in it. Our favorite was Beers lake it had some calm coves in it, we caught some Crappies, pan fish & Bass on this lake. They say it also has Walleye and Northern Pike. Lots of beavers & muskrats swimming interesting to watch. There is a hike or boat in site on Beers lake it's nice. 

    Grass lake has Pan fish, crappie, Northern Pike & more it's a smaller lake. Bass lake has trout, imagine that!

    There is a 5 mile drive in the parks around some lakes that was nice we saw Swans with babies, Loons, and beavers. We loved this park. There are so many trails and so much to do.

    There is a fish cleaning station, restrooms, boat ramps, canoe rentals, a swim beach and picnic area tat Lake Lida just a great place. We will go back & spend a few weeks next time were from Florida so it's a ways to go but will do it again. 

    The ranger that would drive through in the evenings was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, the area & 2 other parks he works at.  Someone had 2 campers in one site he told them it wasn't allowed (I think we all know that) he made one book a spot & move. It was the only noise we heard was their dogs in that site when no one was there they barked the entire time. Glad he made the one camper move it got quiet again. We did have some people try to walk through our site we asked them not to. They had to walk between the camper & the truck I would think it was common sense. 

    There is an Equestrian campground there and trails around the lakes to ride your horses on, a few water access spots for them to wet their hoofs. 

    There is a town close by Pelican Rapids, the drive there is nice and it's a small town but a nice grocery store (Larry's), Liquor store, a drug store a few gift shops & good ice cream. 

    I'm so happy we found this campground we will return.

  • Spencer F.
    Jul. 29, 2017

    Maplewood State Park Campground

    Maplewood

    Extremely buggy in mid July which is expected. This park has many trails that wind through woods, prairies, and around lakes. The campsite we stayed was a back packing site called "GRASS". It had a pit toilet and a small shelter which the other backpacking sites did not have. Many horse back riders shared the trailers with us which was cool to see except for the horse droppings that remained on the trails.

  • Katie L.
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Hankinson Hills Campground

    Beautiful stay in the grasslands

    Well maintained campground, has water and multiple vault toilets. There’s a loop for horse camping and a loop for non horse camping. Each site has a fire ring and a nice table, most spaces have trees to provide shade. Verizon works okay, not great but I had a bar or two. Can hear trains running by every so often. Only downside was the abundance of biting flies and mosquitoes.

  • Keith L.
    Oct. 30, 2021

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Nice campground with one problem.

    There are plenty of campsite in the lower area that are very close to the water and good for RV people who do not care for privacy (like camping on a golf course).  If you want privacy, go for the upper area which is completely forested with plenty of trees and brush between sites.  I was in site 17 and was totally pleased... With one exception.

    I paid full price for this site.  But, the restrooms. showers, and water were shut off.  If I am paying full high season rates, I want full services!!!!!!  I appreciate there is no padlocked gate keeping people out in the off season.  But, if it easy to turn off the water, showers, and bathrooms, it should also be easy to create a reduced rate for reduced services.  Some other County, State, and Federal campgrounds charge nothing for no services off season camping.  What is Minnesota's problem?  Give people what they pay for!!!

    This is purely a ripoff.  It left me with a very unpleasant memory of this area and Minnesota.

  • Amie N.
    May. 9, 2018

    Maplewood State Park Campground

    Great Park for Everyone

    I have a special love for this park so I maybe a bit biased. I have had great experiences here during every season. From great lakes to kayak and fish on, to trails that are beautiful to hike, snowshoe or cross country ski this park has something for everyone.

    There is a main campground for those who want more of a community experience, campgrounds that have sites spaced out to provide more privacy, remote sites you can hike out to and even a horse campground (and trails marked for trail riding). They also have camper cabins and the main campground is open year round.

    Ive stayed mostly in the knoll loop and always had a good experience. Trees and shrubs between sites adds a good amount of privacy for campers. There is a vault toilet in the center of the loop for campers to utilize.

    Only located an hour from Fargo, ND and Pelican Rapids, MN is just a hop, skip and a jump away if you need to grab any forgotten supplies!

    The one thing I will say is properly store your food. There are some overly active raccoon robbers around at this park.

  • Jill W.
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Busy park, quiet trails

    Lots of screaming kids the weekend we were here, but we found the quiet trails. Lower campground offers no privacy, but a newer shower house and views and access to the lake. Upper campground has a handful of sites that are tucked into the woods and are really quite lovely.

  • Makayla B.
    Oct. 1, 2020

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Busy park with great lake access

    The lower campground has electric sites and is situated along Lake Carlos but there is little privacy between sites (126 and 127). We camped with another family so it was nice to have the open space between our sites where the kids could play and run. The boat launch was quite busy and there seemed to be a lot of people not staying in the campground who use the park for the day. The hiking trail along the lake was busy but once we got a little farther out the trails were quiet and peaceful. The highway outside the park was loud at night, it sounded like people were drag racing the Friday and Saturday nights we stayed.

Guide to Fergus Falls

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 catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.

Equestrian campgrounds include ample amenities

  • At Hankinson Hills Campground, you'll find well-maintained sites with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for a comfortable stay with your horse.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • Maplewood State Park Campground offers miles of hiking trails and great fishing opportunities, making it an ideal location for both you and your horse to enjoy the outdoors.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like designated loops

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Fergus Falls, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Fergus Falls, MN is Maplewood State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 26 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Fergus Falls, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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