Equestrian camping near Milaca, Minnesota offers riders access to wooded trails and seasonal facilities within a 30-mile radius of town. Located in central Minnesota's Mille Lacs County, the area sits at approximately 1,070 feet above sea level within the Rum River watershed. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F, while spring and fall can see significant temperature swings, affecting trail conditions and campground accessibility.
What to Do
Trail riding along the St. Croix River: At Wild River State Park Campground, riders can explore trails that showcase river views and diverse terrain. "The park is huge and beautiful. We snowshoed and skied. I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise," notes Joanna B.
Hiking with non-riding companions: For mixed groups with non-riders, Father Hennepin State Park Campground offers alternative activities. "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," reports Amy G., who adds that "there are 2 shower houses, 2 flush toilet buildings, vault toilets scattered around."
Overnight prairie rides: Crow Hassan Park Reserve offers unique prairie riding opportunities with designated equestrian sites. "The best place to be bug-free happens to be the sandy prairie trails, the wooded areas are nice but you may want to hustle out of there if you don't have enough bug protection," advises Krista T.
What Campers Like
Secluded sites for overnight stays: Lake Maria State Park Campground features walk-in sites that provide privacy for horse owners. "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites," writes Tori K.
Convenient amenities: Bunker Hills Regional Park provides facilities that make longer stays more comfortable. "Huge waterpark, miles of bike trails," notes Tiffany W., while another visitor mentions that "the campground was big with privacy between the camp spots. There were nice trails to help explorer the regional park. The bathrooms were nice and clean."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground offers riders chances to spot local fauna. "We 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," reports Daniel R., highlighting the wilderness experience available to equestrian campers.
What You Should Know
Seasonal insect populations: Summer brings heavy insect activity to most area trails. "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon. We prepared the kiddos for a quick grab and run and jumped out of the car," warns Steph H. about Lake Maria in summer months.
River access considerations: When camping with horses near water, be aware of water access points. "The river is very clean and sandy bottom," notes David G. about Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River.
Weather preparedness: Spring and fall camping requires additional planning. "I stayed in the campground in late March, 2025. This is a big park with a diversity of hiking, equestrian, and canoeing options. It was cold, rainy, and that turned into 5" of snow," reports Erik R. about his experience at Wild River State Park.
Tips for Camping with Families
Site selection for privacy: Choose sites away from main thoroughfares for a better experience with children. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious," notes Doug B. about Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Multi-activity options: Select campgrounds with alternative activities for non-riders. "A 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," says Jeff G. about Father Hennepin State Park.
Safety considerations: Know which campgrounds have ranger patrols. "The park is patrolled by rangers and the local sheriff after closing hours. Very safe place to camp. Perfect for kids," reports Arielle P. about Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Check campground road conditions before bringing large rigs. "30' class C motor home. Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides," warns Andy L. about Ann Lake, noting that even with challenges, "campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking."
Hookup availability: Electric sites are limited at some horse-friendly campgrounds. "This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping. The beauty of this campground, is that while the campsites available are in a row, there's plenty of space between sites and some of them are even pulled through," explains Amy G. about winter camping at Mille Lacs Kathio.
Generator restrictions: Be aware of generator policies that may affect horse campers with RVs. "Went on a busy summer weekend. Beautiful rustic campsites but even sites that you can't drive directly up to were still too close to all of the RVers with loud generators," cautions Chris D. about Ann Lake.
