Is Group Camp first-come first-served or reservation?

Group Camp accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Group Camp?

Yes, Group Camp has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Group Camp?

Fire policies at Group Camp: Follow state park rules regarding fires and use only local or approved firewood to prevent the spread of harmful pests. See park rules for details.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Group Camp?

Pets are not allowed at Group Camp. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Group Camp?

Group Camp offers: Restrooms, Showers, Electrical Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Group Camp?

Popular activities at Group Camp include Hiking, Swimming, Boating. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Group Camp

4 reviews

Group Camp

Featured in:Primitive Camping Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricShowers

Book on MinnesotaStateParks Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricShowers

Book on MinnesotaStateParks Official Website

Group Camp

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Purchase a vehicle permit to get a year of unlimited visits to state parks and recreation areas. Reservations for state park campsites can be made...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Group Camp

No map location available

Weather at Group Camp

Best Time to Camp at Group Camp

Summer brings highs around 70–85°F and the warmest lake water, making it the peak season for swimming, boating, and evening programs. The prairie greens up, and long days stretch campfire time well into twilight. Early summer sees heavy mosquitoes and blackflies, especially after rain. Reviewers consistently mention relentless bugs in humid conditions. Holiday weekends fill the electric sites. Dry spells occasionally trigger fire restrictions midsummer.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Peak season: warm 70–85°F, green prairies, warm water and pool make summer best for activities.

Planning Tips

About Group Camp

Group Camp at Glacial Lakes State Park sits among rolling glacial terrain in central Minnesota, offering primitive group camping with electric hookups, showers, and access to prairie and oak savanna trails. Reviewers praise the shady, spacious sites and nearby swimming pool, though mosquitoes and cold showers are common complaints.

Designated group campground with tented camping spaces and a mix of rustic (non-electric) and electric sites; includes a group shelter.

Weather and SeasonsSummer brings highs around 70–85°F and the warmest lake water, making it the peak season for swimming, boating, and evening programs. The prairie greens up, and long days stretch campfire time well into twilight. Early summer sees heavy mosquitoes and blackflies, especially after rain. Reviewers consistently mention relentless bugs in humid conditions. Holiday weekends fill the electric sites. Dry spells occasionally trigger fire restrictions midsummer.

Natural Features and SceneryGlaciers carved this landscape into hills and kettle lakes thousands of years ago, leaving a mix of oak woodlands and native prairie grasslands. The valley overlook offers wide views across the surrounding terrain, and trails wind through wildflower-dotted prairies that turn lush and green in summer. The lakes themselves are glacial remnants. Calm, clear water good for swimming and paddling. After rain, the soil stays soft and wet, holding moisture from the humid climate.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsUseDirect (Minnesota state parks reservation system)

Best CampsitesRustic sites away from the electric loop offer more privacy and quiet. Electric sites are small and close together. One reviewer called them "condo central". With little screening between neighbors. Non-electric sites also lack seclusion, so if you want space, ask the park office for specific site numbers on the outer edges of loops.

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Group camp area with picnic tables and pit (vault) toilets, showers (reported cold), electric campsites reported nearby, and a sand-bottom, filtered, lifeguarded swimming pool in the park. Unpaved hiking trails provide access to valley overlooks.

Showers

Electricity hookups

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

Group Sites

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Unpaved hiking trails and an overlook, swimming at a sand-bottom filtered pool, river floating/tubing on the Cottonwood River, and picnicking are commonly cited activities.

Hiking

Swimming

Boating

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsUse only local or approved firewood to prevent the spread of harmful forest pests; follow posted state park rules to reduce hazards and protect resources.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

0.0

4 reviews

Limited Reviews

Group Camp has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors praise shady, spacious campsites, good hiking trails, a valley overlook, swimming pool and convenient location; common complaints include heavy mosquitoes, crowded electric sites, cold showers, and the presence of pit toilets in the group area.

Review Summaries

Based on 4 reviews

What Campers Love

Shady, spacious campsites; pleasant hiking trails and valley overlook; convenient location near town; lifeguarded sand-bottom pool; group shelter and plentiful picnic tables.

Based on 4 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring heavy-duty insect repellent; choose rustic/non-electric sites for more privacy; be prepared for cold showers and pit toilets at the group camp; check pool status and local rules (e.g., golf...

Based on 4 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Bathrooms and tented camping space! Nice unpaved trails for hiking.” — Google review. • “Plenty of parking and very large. This group camp has its own shelter and plenty of picnic tables....

Based on 4 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

Groups who want a lifeguarded sand-bottom pool, real trail access to a valley overlook, and electric hookups will get good value here. Summer is the peak window, and the spacious shaded sites hold a crowd well.

Skip if

Cold showers and vault toilets are the only bathroom option at the group area, and early summer brings heavy mosquitoes after every rain. Anyone in a large RV expecting water or sewer hookups will also come up short.

Campgrounds

Glacial Lakes State Park

Group Camp

About Pinewood Lake

Context for the broader area surrounding Group Camp, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

Pinewood Lake is located about 12 miles southwest of Loveland, Colorado. The Lake and Dam are a small part of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Colorado-Big+Thompson+Project">Colorado-Big Thompson Project</a>, one of the largest and most complex ever constructed by Reclamation. The reservoir has approximately 97 water surface acres, 142 land acres and 3 miles of shoreline. It stores, regulates, and diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Continental Divide to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains.Developments at the Lake include 3 campgrounds with 18 campsites and 1 boat-launch ramp. Access is good. Only no-wake power boating is allowed. Primary recreational activities include fishing, camping, and boating. Primary sport fish available are rainbow trout. Facilities and campgrounds are closed in winter due to ice and snow.

Directions

Off county road 18E about 12 miles southwest of Loveland, CO.