Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground offers rustic equestrian accommodations in heavily wooded terrain approximately 24 miles northeast of Moose Lake, Minnesota. The campground sits at 1,100 feet elevation along the Tamarack River in an area characterized by second-growth pine and hardwood forests. Winter temperatures regularly drop below zero while summer daytime highs reach into the mid-80s with high humidity levels common during June and July.
What to do
Wildlife viewing: The forests around Saint Croix State Forest provide excellent wildlife watching opportunities. One camper noted, "We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's" at Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground.
Hiking trails: Many of the state parks have interconnected trail systems. At St. Croix State Park, a visitor shared, "Lots of trails for hiking. Cool buildings from the CCC era as well as some signs talking about camp life. There is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view."
Fishing: Shoreline fishing is accessible at several locations. At Riverview Campground, a family reported, "We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!"
Water recreation: Boating and paddling options exist on lakes and rivers throughout the region. At Father Hennepin State Park, "Canoe outfitters in park during most of the summer. A great way to spend a weekend."
What campers like
Secluded sites: Many horse campers prefer the spacing between sites at state forest campgrounds. At Boulder Campground, a reviewer mentioned, "The sites are spaced out and although it is a long drive in from the tar and gravel, it's worth the trip."
Natural setting: Riverview Campground provides access to natural areas despite being more developed. A camper noted, "The paved walking trails were nice. The swimming beach is a couple mile drive but the water was nice and cool."
Reasonable pricing: State forest camping typically costs less than state parks. One camper stated, "For $17 a night you can't beat a state forest campgrounds. This is real camping for the kids."
Clean facilities: The maintained facilities receive positive comments. A visitor to Old Logging Trail Campground mentioned, "The site we had was isolated nicely and the ground was easy for a tent set up. There was some mosquitos, but the disappeared at night which was nice."
What you should know
Bug pressure: Insect activity can be intense, particularly in early summer. A camper at Riverview explained, "We were in the riverview campground on site 36 (no hook ups). There were HOARDS OF MOSQUITOS. We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days so we could reduce the bites."
Cell service limitations: Don't count on reliable connectivity. A reviewer at Father Hennepin State Park noted, "Cell service is fairly spotty here so come with podcasts or shows downloaded ahead of time!"
Reservation requirements: Most state park campgrounds require advance booking. An experienced camper advised, "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."
Variable shade: Tree cover differs between campgrounds. A camper reported, "Because of a large wind storm several years ago, there is very limited tree coverage in the campground. As a result, the sites get very little shade and protection from the hot summer sun."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds have play areas for children. At Riverview, "There is a playground but we didn't use it. We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!"
Ranger programs: Educational activities can entertain children. A visitor to Riverview shared, "We DID have fun doing some of the activities like hunting for insects/animals in the pond with the ranger, hiking to the ranger tower, playing at the playground, and trying to catch butterflies with the ranger."
Heat preparation: Summer camping requires heat management strategies. One camper at Riverview recalled, "Spent two nights at the campground. Night one was extreme heat and humidity and night two was extreme storms."
Tick prevention: Bring appropriate insect protection. A family staying at Riverview Campground reported, "However, the second we walked out the door, you had at least 5 ticks on you. If you spent any extended amount of time outside, there were 20+."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose sites based on your rig size and needs. At Father Hennepin State Park, "My site unfortunately did not have a view of the river, but it was still nice and private!! Each campground is pretty similar (it's really more like separate loops of the same campground as opposed to actually separate campgrounds."
Limited hookups: Come prepared for minimal services. A camper at Boulder Campground advised, "Heads up! No hook up's. Vault bathrooms only."
Campground access: Some state forest roads require careful navigation. One visitor to Boulder Campground noted, "Get there early in the day because there are no reservations and it's first come first served."
Electric site availability: For those requiring power, some campgrounds offer more options. A camper observed, "The Riverview loop is 1 of 3 at St. Croix State Park. This loop is where 90% of the electric sites are, but it is also a very open campground."
