Best Equestrian Camping near Lanesboro, MN

R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest offers several horse-friendly camping options in the Lanesboro area. The Reno Horse Campground within the forest provides rustic tent sites specifically for equestrians, accessed via hiking trails rather than direct vehicle access. The camping area features sites with fire rings and allows pets, though it lacks developed amenities such as electric hookups, drinking water, or toilet facilities. Equestrians particularly appreciate the direct access to the forest's extensive trail system designed for horseback riding. The trails wind through hardwood forests and connect to other recreation areas within the state forest system, making this location particularly popular with trail riders seeking longer adventures.

Located near Preston, Forestville Mystery Cave State Park and Maple Springs Campground provide additional options for equestrians visiting the region. These campgrounds accommodate both horses and riders with varying levels of amenities. At Maple Springs, horse owners can access water and electric at designated equestrian sites that include high ties for horses. The campground provides convenient trailer parking and offers a short road ride to connect with the state park trail system. Horse trailer parking is available at designated areas, with some campgrounds requiring advance horse camping reservations, particularly during peak summer weekends when equestrian campsites fill quickly. The campground's proximity to the Root River and surrounding trail systems offers varied terrain for riders of all experience levels.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Lanesboro, Minnesota (11)

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Lanesboro, MN

1 Photos of 11 Lanesboro Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Lanesboro, MN

48 Reviews of 11 Lanesboro Campgrounds


  • Ashley K.
    Jul. 18, 2018

    Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground

    Caves for days.

    Forestville is a quaint state park with a lot of interesting history. It can be a little confusing because the camping and mystery caves are a distance apart. I highly recommend going to the caves. They are very intriguing but bring a jacket because it is quite cold down there. Lanesboro MN is close by too which is a cool town to visit with small town shops and cool bars.

  • TyAnn J.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground

    Family friendly adventures await among the tall oakes and maples

    Mystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy. My new word while we stayed there was “Forresty” due to feeling like we had entered a different world. There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails. (Word to the wise, some of the trails are hiking/equestrian so watch your step😂) We didn’t do our homework, but if we would have known, we would have brought our fishing rods as the rivers were full of trout!!

    We arrived at 2:00pm on Saturday, after a long 5 hour drive from northern Minnesota. It was amazing to watch the landscape change from iron ore mining pits to countless acres of corn and potatoes!! Check in time is 4:00pm, but our spot was empty when we arrived, so the park rangers let us set up early (Friendly and most helpful!!) We grabbed a bundle of wood for $6.00 for a campfire while we were at the park office. (that is pretty normal rates as you can’t bring in your own wood at State Parks in Minnesota) There are 3 different loops, an additional equestrian loop, and 5 cabins. We stayed in loop “C” with has bigger sites for RV’s and offers electricity. Loops “A” and “B” have smaller sites (still big!!) and both of those loops are non-electric. None of the sites are “full” hook up, but there is a dump station & fresh water fill right off the park office. The restrooms and showers are just off of the “C” loop, as was the amphitheater, and there are garbage/recycling bins every 4-5th site. The park was very noisy, but that all changed when most of the folks left Sunday. It was very peaceful the rest of the week.

    There are so many things outside the park to do too!! We were not aware, but the Mystery Cave is a short drive from the state park. We took the scenic tour, and our guide Kip was fantastic!!! Hey let everyone ask all the questions they wanted to, and didn’t rush us at all!! The rate is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 5-12, and kids under 5 go for free. The pictures just don’t do it justice!! The next day we drove to Masonic Park in Spring Valley and we were amazed by the sheer size of the rock face!! There is no charge to picnic or visit there and there is one spot for camping, but you need to get permission from the city before doing so. We also toured Niagra Cave which is a longer drive, but well worth it!! The underground waterfall was super cool!! They charge $16.00 per adult, kids 4-12 are $10.00, and children under 4 are free.

    All in all this was a great get away for our family, and I highly recommend staying at the park:)

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2019

    Pietrek County Park

    Nice little county park

    This was an interesting little campground sandwiched between the road and the Trempealeau River. The backstory on the park is that the gentleman who originally owned the land had asked that when he died that it be preserved as a wildlife area. His death came much sooner than anyone thought, and the family worked with the county to donate the land to the county as a park. There are about six tent only sites set back near the river, with three of them in close proximity to each other (I think it is used as a group camping area). When I was there the sites were poorly maintained and only had two fire pits and tables for all six sites combined. There are 25ish RV type sites with either just electric or electric and water. Some of these sites are set up back to back in an open field, which is not very appealing. The grass had been let to grow very long before the recent cutting, so it was like walking through freshly mown hay. There is a horse arena (very muddy when I was there), and it looks like you can camp with your horses on the edge of the RV area. The showers were really nice and fairly new.

  • Hannah H.
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Lake Louise State Park Campground

    Lake Louise Summer

    Good time! It rained and was a little muddy, but it was nice. Site 11 is kind of small for a large tent like we have. The group sites are close by and they were quite loud, but the rest of the park was nice and quiet. There is horse camping here, and the lake is nice for swimming.

  • Brian K.
    May. 7, 2017

    Chester Woods Park

    Great weekend spot!

    Chester Woods is a county park just east of Rochester, MN. It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground. The campsites have nice, soft ground for tents, and electrical outlets are available. It can get noisy on the weekend, but the sites are nice along the edge of the campground.

    The lake offers the opportunity to fish for panfish, catfish, and bass. There are a lot of submerged trees from before the Creek was dammed that provide good habitat in deep water, and there is also good shoreline structure and weed beds. There is a fish cleaning house next to the campground which has electric lighting, but no running water.

  • J
    Jun. 2, 2020

    Maple Springs Campground

    Wonderful gem near Forestville state park

    Some girlfriends and I wanted to stay at the camp for the weekend and have a place to social distance ourselves. We rented the horse camp sites and we couldn't have been happier. The sites have water and electric. There are high ties for the horses. The sites have a nice gravel pad with a picnic table and fire ring at each site. There is also a dump station that we were able to use before we left on Sunday. None of us had been at this campground before and love trying new places. We are endurance riders so we are used to early nights and up at dawn for riding. This camp was so nice and quiet! We had a nice fire after dinner listening to the water and birds. There were families with children, couples of all ages and well behaved dogs everywhere! The owner Andy as so gracious answering our many emails and questions. He went the extra mile at every turn. We can't thank him and his employee(who's name I sadly can't remember) we're just absolute delights! We will absolutely be back. And we will always check here first to see if their horse sites are open before checking the state camp. It's a very short road ride to the park trails and the campground and their amenities are first rate. I can't wait to return!!!

  • Megan L.
    May. 26, 2021

    Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground

    Open land, surrounded by trees

    Campsites are flat and grassy. They back up to each other so good for groups camping together. Has horse tie ups and great trails

  • Annie V.
    Aug. 7, 2020

    Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground

    Best Memories of My Childhood

    I’m probably a little biased. My parents started coming to this park to ride horses in the 70s. We spent at least 3wks every year here when I was a kid trail riding, hiking, even tubing down the Root River (there’s no commercial tubing available and you have to get up and walk through rocky shallow spots, so it isn’t ideal for this, but tell my 10yr old self that).

    I stayed here recently in the “people campground.” I hiked 12mi in one day and had a great time. The campsite itself was great—privacy and no loud neighbors. I always make sure to stay in spots without electric if possible to escape the culture and noise that accompanies RV camping. Site #4 isn’t very level, but it backs up to the river and the access trail out of the campground. Forestville never disappoints me—I even randomly ran into my own uncle while hiking!


Guide to Lanesboro

Horse camping in Minnesota offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian enjoyment, with several campgrounds catering specifically to horse enthusiasts.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

Equestrian campgrounds include essential facilities

  • Maple Springs Campground offers electric hookups and a general store, making it convenient for horse campers to stock up on supplies.
  • The Chester Woods Park features large sites with access to walking trails, allowing for enjoyable rides through scenic landscapes.
  • Lake Louise State Park Campground provides a peaceful setting with facilities for both horse camping and family activities, ensuring a well-rounded experience.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and tie-ups

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lanesboro, MN is Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 18 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Lanesboro, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.