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Equestrian Camping near Glenwood, MN

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    Equestrian Campground at Sibley State Park provides primitive camping facilities for horseback riders near Glenwood, Minnesota. The campground features toilets and accommodates both tents and RVs with big-rig friendly access. The sites are accessible via drive-in routes and require reservations. While the campground does not offer drinking water or electric hookups, trash collection is available. The campground maintains a 3.5-star rating from visitors who appreciate the opportunity to camp with their horses in a natural setting with direct access to park trails.

    Located approximately 18 miles from Glenwood, the Equestrian Campground connects to Sibley State Park's trail system, which winds through diverse terrain including woodland and prairie landscapes. El Rancho Manana Campground in Richmond offers an alternative horse-friendly option about 38 miles from Glenwood with more amenities including electric hookups, water, and shower facilities. Both campgrounds provide adequate space for horse trailers with convenient parking areas near the campsites. Horse owners should bring their own water containers as drinking water is not available directly at the Equestrian Campground. The state park trails allow for extended riding opportunities through mixed terrain with connections to scenic overlooks and lakeside views.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Glenwood (6)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

      4.0(13)10mi from Glenwood55 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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. "

      "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."

      from $22 - $150 / night

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      2. Lake Carlos State Park Campground

      4.5(28)25mi from Glenwood132 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      from $25 - $100 / night

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      3. Oak Ridge Campground — Sibley State Park

      4.1(20)28mi from Glenwood56 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Away from the lake is another campground in the oak savanna section of the park, and this campground seems quieter with more spacious sites, although they are more open."

      "Sibley State Park isn't the most amazing park in Minnesota, however it's still a very nice little campground!"

      from $25 - $35 / night

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      4. Pomme De Terre Campground

      4.5(4)26mi from GlenwoodRVs, Tents, Cabins

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

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      5. Equestrian Campground — Sibley State Park

      3.5(2)27mi from Glenwood9 sitesRVs, Tents

      "We thoroughly enjoyed the hiking trails here. Plenty of space to socially distance. Equestrian camping area is nice and plenty of horse trails too."

      from $25 / night

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      6. El Rancho Manana

      3.5(4)43mi from GlenwoodRVs, Tents

      "You can spend extra money to go horseback riding on trails. The sites are very close together not much privacy."

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    View all 6 campgrounds

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Glenwood, MN

    9 Photos of 6 Glenwood Campgrounds

    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Glenwood, MN

    71 Reviews of 6 Glenwood 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.

    • Stephanie B.
      Jun. 14, 2020

      Equestrian Campground — Sibley State Park

      Mt Tom and new beach area

      We thoroughly enjoyed the hiking trails here. Plenty of space to socially distance. Equestrian camping area is nice and plenty of horse trails too. The biggest hit for me was the newly remodeled beach area on Lake Andrew. Plenty of space and a nice “fishing” pier to hang out at. They rent kayaks there too!!

    • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 9, 2019

      Oak Ridge Campground — Sibley State Park

      Forest meets prairie

      This state park uniquely showcases an ecologic transition zone between hardwood forest, savannah, and prairie. There are also local history connections. As a bird watcher, I was very excited to see birds here that I dont usually see at home in northern Minnesota, and to learn a bit more about glaciation in this area and about prairie and savannah habitats. The park has self guided hikes, educational nature programs, and learning kits for birding and more that you can check out at the ranger station. The lakeshore is pretty, and the lakeside campground is green and leafy with mature trees but the campsites are very close together, and the beachfront and bath house are currently closed for renovation which puts a damper on waterfront activities. Away from the lake is another campground in the oak savanna section of the park, and this campground seems quieter with more spacious sites, although they are more open. The park’s camper cabins are located here and are in a very pretty setting tucked into a little hill, though a bit of a walk to the bathrooms and showerhouse. At both campgrounds there are nice ADA sites which are level, spacious and accessible, and also close to the bathrooms. I was at a conference in nearby Willmar, and this park is a good alternative for lodging if you need to be in the area. If you are really into learning more about prairies and local glacial geology, the nearby Prairie Environmental Learning Center is fantastic to visit, and lots of prairie pothole WMAs are also closeby for waterfowl watching

    • Krista T.
      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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • B
      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)

    Guide to Glenwood

    Sibley State Park offers equestrian camping facilities near Glenwood, Minnesota with direct access to dedicated horse trails. Located in prairie and woodland terrain, the park sits at an elevation of approximately 1,350 feet. Summer temperatures average 70-85°F with frequent evening thunderstorms during July and August.

    What to do

    Trail riding opportunities: Sibley State Park's Equestrian Campground connects riders to approximately 12 miles of designated horse trails. "Very nice quiet horse camp. Could use more horse trails, only about 12 miles worth of trails for horses," notes Cody T. of the Equestrian Campground.

    Paddleboarding and kayaking: Lake Andrew at Sibley State Park has clear, calm water perfect for paddlesports. "Our favorite part of this trip was renting stand up paddle boards. The lake water was crystal clear and glass like calm," according to Tessa Z. who visited Glacial Lakes State Park Campground.

    Mount Tom hiking: The highest point in the area offers panoramic views. "We enjoyed skiing the hiking club trail and ended up hitting almost every trail in our stay. I assume this park would be equally beautiful in the summer. What a beautiful state park!" writes Joanna B. who camped at Lake Carlos State Park.

    What campers like

    Prairie landscape views: The rolling grasslands create unique camping experiences. "Beautiful park with rolling prairies. Oak Ridge campground is prettier, quieter, and more private than the Lower campground. Site 28 and 30 don't have tree cover, but have beautiful views of the rolling hills," reports Mike O. from Glacial Lakes State Park Campground.

    Fishing opportunities: The lakes and river systems support multiple fishing spots. "Overlooks the Pomme De Terre River, free to camp, wayside rest and with canoe drop in," says Jaime N. about Pomme De Terre Campground.

    Wildlife viewing: The mixed prairie and woodland habitats support diverse animal populations. "We saw beavers swimming; They were not fearful of campers," notes Joe W. who camped at Glacial Lakes State Park.

    What you should know

    Bug preparation essential: Insects can be intense during summer months. "Site was a bit buggy, but very manageable with bug spray and a Thermacell. The bugs on the hiking trails were unrelenting even with lots of deet bug spray - I was planning to hike 5 miles but had to stop after 2," warns Mike O. about his experience at Glacial Lakes.

    Water access varies: Not all campgrounds provide drinking water on-site. For the horse camps especially, water containers are necessary. "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," advises Bryan P. from Glacial Lakes' backcountry site.

    Wind conditions: Lake exposure can create challenging camping conditions. "The strong wind off the lake made fishing from shore nearly impossible," reports Dave T. about his stay at Oak Ridge Campground in Sibley State Park.

    Tips for camping with families

    Beach facilities: Lake Andrew's swimming area has been recently updated. "The biggest hit for me was the newly remodeled beach area on Lake Andrew. Plenty of space and a nice 'fishing' pier to hang out at. They rent kayaks there too!!" shares Stephanie B. about visiting Sibley State Park's Equestrian Campground.

    Cabin options for mixed weather: Several parks offer cabin accommodations when tent camping isn't ideal. "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," notes Samuel V. who stayed at Glacial Lakes.

    Proximity to amenities: Some campgrounds offer easy access to nearby towns. "We did go into Starbuck which is 5 miles away. Very impressive beach, groceries and a DQ all an easy drive away," mentions Lisa H. after camping at Glacial Lakes State Park.

    Tips from RVers

    Camping pad terrain: RV sites vary in levelness and ground conditions. "We tent camped in the non electric sites in the Lower Campground. They were shady thank goodness, but not very flat or large. Your tent will be on rocks, not grass," warns Lisa H. about Lake Carlos State Park Campground.

    Dump station locations: Some campgrounds have inconvenient dump station placements. "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," notes Amanda M. from Glacial Lakes State Park.

    Alternative equestrian options: El Rancho Manana in Richmond provides another option for horse camping with more amenities. "On site horseback riding was great. Unfortunately, during COVID, the bar was not available. Can't wait to stay during one of the music events," mentions Jesse H. from El Rancho Manana.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Glenwood, MN is Glacial Lakes State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 13 reviews.

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

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

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