Elm Creek Horse Camp is located in the northwest metro area, approximately 25 miles from West St. Paul. The camp sits within Elm Creek Park Reserve's 4,900 acres of diverse terrain featuring hardwood forest, wetlands, and prairie landscapes. Winter temperatures often drop below 10°F while summer camping sees highs in the 80s with moderate humidity levels.
What to do
Explore extensive trail systems: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve offers 2,000 acres with multiple lakes and dedicated activity areas. "Just east of St. Paul - 2000 acres with 2 lakes and a swimming pond," notes Robert G. The park includes specialized features beyond typical trails, including "an archery range and hiking trails [that] are fantastic for kids" according to John H.
Visit nearby attractions: Baker Campground provides access to multiple recreation options. "There are a bunch of things to do including hiking, horseback riding, swimming in their filtered pond, boating and an insane playground," writes Steph H. The campground connects to extensive biking networks as Matt H. mentions: "A lot of biking trails. Nice clean bathrooms. Nice park for kids just a small hike away."
Enjoy water activities: Wild River State Park offers river-based recreation about an hour from West St. Paul. "This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing," explains Sarah D. The river setting creates unique camping opportunities with "beautiful views to the east" and sites "circled by flowers, brush and trees."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Bunker Hills Regional Park receives praise for its secluded camping areas despite proximity to the city. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious," writes Doug B. Krista T. adds: "I went to this park for the first time last weekend, and I spent the entire time just saying 'wow'. I had never been here before, despite it only being 20 minutes away."
Quality facilities: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve maintains high standards for campers. "Top of the line campground. Surprisingly well spaced sites, facilities modern and clean. Trees galore," notes MalibuDave42 L. The infrastructure receives consistent praise: "The camp office was so easy and friendly! Well placed sites nestled near lovely walking trails - Very nice water hook ups and electric- well maintained!" says Kimberly L.
Seasonal activities: Ann Lake campground in Sand Dunes State Forest offers year-round appeal. "Sites are large with varying degrees of privacy. Well spaced out, just some have less undergrowth," notes Kari P. The campground provides options for different camping styles as Johnny H. explains: "Lots of close camp sites for larger groups near the entrance. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. There are a few walk-in sites that I absolutely love."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds near West St. Paul require advance booking, especially during summer weekends. For Highland Ridge, Deb M. advises: "Make sure to enter 'Highland Ridge Campground' into your GPS instead of 'Eau Galle Rec Area.' That's the day use area of the park that's about a 20 minute drive around the lake from the campground."
Site selection matters: When choosing equestrian campsites, consider specific site features. At Baker Campground, Alison O. notes about Campsite C1: "One of the standout features is the beautiful rain garden. It adds a touch of tranquility to the surroundings, with its lush greenery and vibrant blooms attracting local wildlife." For tent camping at Ann Lake, Ashley V. cautions: "We arrived after sundown and in the morning, we realized we wouldn't have picked the site if we would have seen all the problems with it."
Weather considerations: Equestrian camping facilities remain open from spring through fall with varying conditions. At Baker Campground, "We spent two nights in the campground. It was fairly busy, but we still felt secluded despite a full campground," reports ERolf P. Winter camping is limited but possible at select parks, as Joanna B. experienced at Wild River State Park: "The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent. The sites were far enough apart and it looked like it would be more private when the leaves come in."
Tips for camping with families
Choose family-oriented facilities: Baker Park Reserve receives high marks for families with children. "For our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids," writes Heather V. The park offers "great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," according to Bryan S.
Consider proximity to water features: Several parks offer swimming areas designed for younger visitors. Timothy S. highlights Lake Elmo's unique water feature: "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming." At Bunker Hills, families appreciate the variety as noted by Arielle P.: "Perfect for kids, they have a water park with a wave pool, a disc golf course, a golf course, several pavilions with grills, a few playgrounds and plenty of trails."
Look for educational opportunities: Wild River State Park provides nature learning experiences. "Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over the water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical," Sarah D. recounts. The park offers wildlife viewing opportunities as "a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip."
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Haycreek Valley Campground provides options for RVs but requires planning. "Our site was rather odd as the electric and water post was on the opposite side of our camper. Our standard water hose and electrical cord wouldn't reach," cautions Karin W. At Ann Lake, Andy L. advises: "30' class C motor home. Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides. Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking."
Utilities and hookups: RV campers should verify available connections before booking. Dale Y. notes about Haycreek Valley Campground: "The Dyrt is wrong. There are no sewer hookups at this campground. They have a dump station and will pump for a fee." At Highland Ridge, Mary S. explains: "Cost is $20/$16 for electric/non-electric. This is an Army Corps of Engineers park which means you pay $10/$8 if you have an NPS Lifetime Senior Pass."
Cell service considerations: Digital connectivity varies across equestrian campgrounds near West St. Paul. For Highland Ridge, Deb M. reports: "AT&T service is spotty throughout the park with either 1 or 2 bars, although in the spring and fall when there's few leaves on the trees, service is fine." At Ann Lake, Andy L. mentions: "2 bars of 4g service made it a little difficult to pay online over the phone. No reception in lower elevation sites."
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