Are you planning a trip to Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake with your horse? We've got you covered. Equestrian camping is the best way to experience nature. These scenic and easy-to-reach Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
Horse Required to stay at this camp.
The camp has 10 sites and a maximum capacity of 40 horses. Flush toilets are available but no showers. Horse Camp has picket lines at each site. For reservations contact the state park reservation service by phone or online.
$25 / night
Guide
Nice campground. We were dry camping in the RV since there was no water. Still a nice place for a winter getaway. Will go back in the fall!
Ranger
Smaller campsite with less spaces but right on the waters edge which provides a breeze and keeps the bugs down. Wet spring so Kathoy was terrible but works here. Trails, town which has a grocery store, place to wash cloths and a place to trade out the books I've ready for a new set. Good connectivity so easy to work from with decent bathrooms.
RangerI came in the spring it was a wet spring there were a lot of bugs. The trails are probably not maintained because it was so wet but they were almost impossible to hike on simply because of the amount of mosquitoes. The bathrooms are nice the camp spots were nice they had good signage for the archaeological stuff. It was just very hard to enjoy it because it was so overwhelmingly buggy.
ScoutHiking was great, we saw an albino deer on the hiking club trail! Site was a bit tight for our travel trailer and a tight fit to back up on the pad. Recent rain had the campsites pretty muddy but the paved spaces were well maintained.
TravelerIt nice place to camping
TravelerWe stayed in one of the walk-in sites. It was great, not too too buggy. Mostly quiet. Hiking trails in the park are wonderful and there's a lot of history to discover within the park
LegendMost sites looked shaded and like they'd be suitable for hammocks. Firewood available at the office. Highly recommended coming here for fall colors.
GuideStayed at Lakeview Campsite#1 9/30 and was visited by a skunk... next thing I know, he brought his girlfriend and the two of them scoured my site while I was trying to enjoy my campfire-- no amount of flashing my light got them to leave and I wasn't about to try to scare them off. They left when they felt like it... That's what I get for staying in their back yard, fair is fair. Heard a big animal move through camp around 3am(definitely didn't sound like a deer since it shuffled leaves and gravel so not sure what it was-- not gonna lie, I was scared AF). It was a great mix of car camping with great access to nature. Bathrooms were a short walk away and well tended. My only disappointment was the amount of microtrash all over the site.
GuideGot here just after 4pm. No one to check us in. Only place to fill with water is at the dump station( and it is really slow, got harrased by the Park Ranger about speeding our bicycles to fast through the campground, and lastly went to get firewood( you cant bring your own in and I understand that) there was no wood. And same ranger harrased son in law for chopping the wood he got into smaller pieces. And I have only been here 1 day.
RangerWe stayed here one night in a nice wooded site not far from the beaches of Mille Lacs Lake. Nice trails too. Big picnic and beach area with a roofed picnic spot. We did not use any of the park restrooms as we have a self-contained RV. Lovely views of the really big lake!
GuideThis site is great for solo or family trips because there is a lot to do: swim, playground, boating, fishing, walking. The site and restroom/shower were well kept. During the night there were some raccoons rustling around and this caused multiple campers to come over, but nobody was concerned for safety, more curious about what they were doing.
LegendSmaller 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.
ScoutWe had 44E major mistake. There was way too much traffic and apparently it was the kids hang out spot. It would’ve been ok if we had kids under 12 with us but we didn’t. NO hot water off and on. Drive to a gas station was 6 miles. Firewood was always available but a 3 mile drive from campsite. Trees around fire pit needed to be cut back. Impossible to put tent stakes in gravel ground. Beautiful flowers everywhere.
GuideThis was a nice campground on the lake. Spots are not very private in the lakeside campground. Nice hiking trails and large beach. Cell phone coverage was good.
GuidePerfect weather. Super quiet during the week.
GuideStayed 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.
GuideIt’s a beautiful camp site on Lake Mille Lacs. Quite and clean. Big beach area. Water is also very clean
GuideWe loved this camp site. Very clean. The only downside depending on your view are the bears. There was a black bear in our camp 15 minutes after we went to sleep. Then the 2nd a little guy was hanging around our site all day. Other than that we loved it!
GuideA 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.
GuideThis is a wonderful state park with parts along the shores of Mille Lacs. The park hosts various seminars throughout the week. There are several places to swim and a big playground for the little ones. Mosquitoes are thick here so come prepared.
GuideLocated just south of Mille Lacs in central Minnesota, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park is large and welcoming.
In addition to a state park and campground, the park is also on the nation register of historical sites, owing to the large number of archeological digs, revealing human activity in the area that dates back thousands of years.
The sites are large and spaced decently from each other. We could have used a little more privacy between sites, but this can be written off as an effect of being nearly in the season.
With the exception of a large family reunion, the park was quiet and you can easily find yourself alone from the crowds.
Canoes are available for rental, which allow for fishing in the Rum River. There is also an observation platform- the climb can be intimidating, but the views are well worth it!
I wasn’t able to find a spot to find a spot to fish from shore at, but that could just be my failure.
The Interpretive Center gave you a really good glimpse into the wildlife and history of the area, as well as provided an assortment of activities.
The facilities were a little time-worn, but clean, and the water in the showers heater fast.
My family and I had a wonderful time, and will be back!
LegendWhile I have seen parks and campsites with more privacy, there are so many trees (and many sites with a lake view) that it's worth a stay at Father Hennepin State Park in MN. Especially if you are rocking out with a pair of OOFOS flipflops!
CAMPGROUND REVIEW:
We've stayed at this campground a few times before, and it should seem obvious that since we keep coming back, it's not too shabby. Yes, I've seen campgrounds that have more privacy between spaces, but I don't think this place is every terribly crowded (at least not when we visit, in May). The leaves are just beginning to bud on the trees, so there is less coverage from your neighbors than in the heat of the summer, but since there are less campers, you can spread out a little bit. My only complaint, and this is the same of previous years here, is that the electric sites are so close to the tent sites that you can generally hear the generators and/or those that think that the wilderness is for loud music dance parties. Fortunately, this time, we were in our new teardrop camper and could shut out the tunes!
We were at site 7, which was the last one in this campground that sits and faces the lake. And while we've been to this site before, it's the first time we've been in our Teardrop Trailer at this park. Lucky for us, the ice was gone and the wind was pretty calm, so the icy chill wasn't too bad. Each site has a fire ring with a grate that swings back and forth, depending on if you want to chill by the flames, or grill off some burgers. The site we had was fairly level. and provided ample space to park our teardrop and our car without hanging out into the road. A picnic table rounded out the scene to provide a full on camping experience. And lovely night sounds of frogs that sang us to sleep!
There are well over a hundred sites, about 100 of them tent pads (no electric), and about 50 with electric. A few group campsites as well as 4 handicapped sites.There are 2 shower houses, 2 flush toilet buildings, vault toilets scattered around and water (in season, when it's turned on).
In Minnesota, reservations are required. We've found that if you make them in advance, and then decide to cancel the day of the reservation, there are cancellation fees and first night fees and blah blah blah. If, however, you decide to take your chances and book it the "day of", there are no online reservation fees and you can cancel without penalty if you decide to go elsewhere.
Drive in sites are approximately $23/night. Electric are about $34/night.
PRODUCT REVIEW:
Now, I have to admit, I'm an OOFOS junkie. Ever since I won a pair in my very firsts campground contest. That said, I'll never pass up the chance to review another pair! This time, I had the OOFOS Women's OOriginal Sandal. The last pair I had was a light color, and I loved the shoes, but they got dirty so quickly. Since these shoes are a type of foam, they scuff and dirty a little easier than other shoes, but the comfiness of them is off the chart, so they are totally worth having in other colors! This time, I chose black, to combat and dirt issues I might have while camping. If you can't see the dirt, it's not there, right?
OOFOS are recovery shoes, and I didn't know what that meant at first, but just wait until you put them on at the end of a hard day on your feet (long work day, long hike, etc). They literally massage the sole of your foot. I'm not joking. I can't believe how my feet feel when I change shoes. If I listen veeeeeery carefully, I can hear my feet smiling! They are sort of spongy and squishy, but not in a strange way. Like walking on marshmallows! (but not sticky). Seriously, they cushioning, higher arch and wide fashion of the shoe (yes, it's a little chunkier, not a huge fashion statement) make it stable and comfy. They hug your feet and don't slip off the way some other "slippy" flipflops can. And so lightweight! The price is a little more than I normally pay for shoes, but I'd absolutely invest in another pair if this one wears out. The bottom has some fun grippy texture that looks as if it might channel away water if you stepped in a puddle.
Quite frankly, as long as I have my OOFOS, I don't care what campground I'm staying at, but this one is good enough that I enjoy staying a little while, to look at the lake and enjoy the singing frogs!
TravelerWe had a great weekend here. There were a few trails that we walked and got to see several deer in the woods. This is a great lake for fishing and boating.
ScoutWe have camped here a few times. Kathio is a big park with lots of trails. Camp sites are decent sized and most have trees in between them. some of the sites are bigger and more secluded. All sites except hike-ins have fire pit with grill grate and picnic table. mosquitos are extra brutal mid summer here so be prepared.
GuideWe 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. I wish I was exaggerating. My husband and I tried to ignore it because we really wanted to explore the tower, hiking, and educational experiences. We lasted 20 minutes which gave us both dozens of fly and mosquito bites. Visit in the spring or fall and it would be a beautiful place to explore.
TravelerThis park isn't bad, but it's not the best state park. The campsites aren't separated much. The rangers seemed to make a lot of trips through while we were there. It was a little too chilly to checkout the beach. There is a nice big sandbox for the kids that has sand toys to play with.
GuideRight 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”!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake is Father Hennepin State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
