Elm Creek Horse Camp offers equestrian camping facilities in the northern Twin Cities area. The campground connects directly to bridle paths within Elm Creek Park Reserve, allowing riders to explore wooded areas and prairie terrain without trailering. Overnight sites include dedicated horse corrals adjacent to camping areas, with trailer parking available for standard-size rigs. The terrain's natural grass surface makes for easy tent stake placement.
What to do
Trail riding from campsite: At Wild River State Park, riders have direct access to miles of trail systems. "We really enjoyed that. Would like to return to explore more of the park," notes Joanna B., who visited during winter but recommends the park year-round.
Kayaking and canoeing: The St. Croix River provides water recreation opportunities with boat access at several parks. Sarah D. describes the experience at Wild River State Park: "I was looking for a secluded backpack in site... This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot."
Archery practice: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve maintains a dedicated archery range for visitors. According to Tina H., "They have beautiful hiking trails and a swimming beach for the hotter days. They also have an archery range and on Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families."
Wildlife watching: The area's forests provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. At Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground, Scot L. reports: "We like camping in state forest for the wildlife experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's. This is nature at its finest."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Multiple campgrounds offer well-separated camping areas. At Bunker Hills Regional Park, Krista T. found: "The campground map does a good job of providing visual indicators of what a site provides. Sites that I loved: 3, 8, 10."
Clean facilities: Park maintenance receives consistent positive reviews. Duncan G. notes about St. Croix State Park's Riverview Campground: "It is a nicely maintained campground with lots of open space and nicely constructed rustic bath houses. The loop I was in had one of the new bathrooms and it was impressive...definitely an A rating."
Stargazing opportunities: The area's distance from major cities creates excellent night sky viewing. Katherine T. mentions at Wild River State Park: "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance."
Reasonable rates: Several campgrounds offer affordable options. Daniel H. notes about Boulder Campground: "For $17 a night you can't beat a state forest campgrounds. This is real camping for the kids. Get there early in the day because there are no reservations."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance booking. At Highland Ridge, Mary S. advises: "This campground is small, but almost all sites are large. There are 38 sites plus walk in tent sites A through G and a group site."
Seasonal bug conditions: Mosquitoes can be significant, especially near water. RK M. warns about St. Croix State Park: "We camped with our in laws and 3 kids this past weekend at St. Croix state Park... There were HOARDS OF MOSQUITOS. We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days."
Cell service variability: Coverage can be limited in more remote areas. Ari A. notes about St. Croix State Park: "Cell service was incredibly spotty on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Depending on where you're at, you'll get a low signal, but often it was only enough for texting."
Weather preparedness: Summer storms can develop quickly. Duncan G. recounts: "We also experienced the most intense and violent thunderstorm of my life. One lightning strike hit within 100 yards of our site. All of the campers were talking about it in the morning."
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers family-friendly water facilities. Beasty B. shares: "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart."
Junior ranger programs: Several parks offer educational activities for children. At Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, Steph H. observes: "There are a bunch of things to do including hiking, horseback riding, swimming in their filtered pond, boating and an insane playground."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. Spencer C. notes about Country Camping: "This campground is great for everyone! It's has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!"
Fishing opportunities: Easy access fishing spots accommodate young anglers. RK M. describes the experience at St. Croix State Park: "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!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection for level parking: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. About Highland Ridge, Mary S. advises: "This campground is small, but almost all sites are large. It looks like sites 28-38 can be rented for a group; the entrance was blocked off when we were there."
Proximity to services: For those needing urban amenities, certain parks offer convenient access. Robert B. says of Lake Elmo Park Reserve: "Stayed here due to its proximity to Minneapolis airport...had an early flight the next morning. Really convenient location."
Power management: Electrical hookups vary between campgrounds. Deb M. notes about Highland Ridge: "There have been quite a few trees taken out at the end of the main loop, so now sites 18-20 are VERY open. AT&T service is spotty throughout the park with either 1 or 2 bars."
Dump station access: Not all horse campgrounds offer full RV services. David G. mentions Highland Ridge: "Great campground and been here many times. Plenty of wildlife and can hear the owls talking to each other."
