Best Equestrian Camping near Rochester, MN

Maple Springs Campground provides dedicated equestrian campsites near Preston, Minnesota, approximately 30 miles southeast of Rochester. The campground features high-ties for horses at each of the horse camp sites, allowing riders to secure their animals safely during overnight stays. Electric hookups and water access points serve these specialized sites, which include gravel pads with fire rings and picnic tables. The sites accommodate both horse trailers and camping equipment with sufficient space for maneuvering and parking. Horse owners report the campground remains remarkably mosquito-free compared to other regional options, making for more comfortable camping experiences. The equestrian sites are located in a separate, quieter section from the main camping area, providing a more peaceful environment for horses and their owners.

The Root River State Trail and Forestville Mystery Cave State Park equestrian trails connect directly to Maple Springs Campground via a short road ride. Riders enjoy access to miles of scenic wooded paths and open countryside, with trail systems accommodating various riding abilities and preferences. A small trout stream runs along the edge of the property, providing water access for horses. The campground's proximity to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park makes it an excellent base camp for exploring the park's extensive bridle path network. Riders particularly appreciate the well-maintained trails that connect directly from the campground to wider trail systems without requiring horse trailer transport. The horse camping area offers spacious sites that can accommodate multiple horses per party, making it suitable for group equestrian camping trips. Seasonal availability runs from mid-April to mid-October, with peak riding conditions typically occurring in late spring and early fall.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Rochester, Minnesota (11)

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Rochester, MN

2 Photos of 11 Rochester Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Rochester, MN

53 Reviews of 11 Rochester Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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:)

  • David E.
    Sep. 10, 2022

    Haycreek Valley Campground

    Outside of City but Not Far for Access

    Nice campground outside of Red Wing, MN with a bar/restaurant and other features. Access to trials for bikes and horses. I stayed in the horse camp without a horse but it was a nice area.

  • 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.

  • O
    Jun. 30, 2020

    Haycreek Valley Campground

    Our favorite campground

    We have been going to Haycreek for over 15 years for horse camping. The trails are shaded, no bugs, friendly campers and staff. They have electric and water hookups for horse campers, and they have overflow for horse campers. The trails here are amazing.

  • Nick G.
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Cannon River Wilderness Area

    Perfect place Found a great site

    For free the area is awesome right by the river. We found a site tucked away from people which is what we like. We set up hammocks right next to the river. The hike from parking is not bad at all about a 10 minute walk from parking to the farthest site.

  • 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 Rochester

Horse camping in Minnesota offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, perfect for those looking to explore the great outdoors with their horses.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like spacious sites and trails

  • At Chester Woods Park, equestrian campers can enjoy large sites and access to numerous walking trails suitable for horses.
  • Haycreek Valley Campground features electric and water hookups specifically for horse campers, ensuring a comfortable stay.
  • Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge offers a primitive camping experience with access to horse trails, ideal for those seeking a more rustic adventure.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

Equestrian campgrounds include scenic views and essential facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rochester, MN is Chester Woods Park with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

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

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