Is Equestrian Campground - Horse Required first-come first-served or reservation?

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required 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 Equestrian Campground - Horse Required?

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at Equestrian Campground - Horse Required?

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

What amenities are available at Equestrian Campground - Horse Required?

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required offers: Restrooms, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Equestrian Campground - Horse Required?

Popular activities at Equestrian Campground - Horse Required include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

3 reviews

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

RV Friendly

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Minnesota State Parks 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

RV Friendly

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Minnesota State Parks Official Website

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites. A non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation (call center $10 / web $8).

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

888-646-6367; 651-296-6157 (general); Reservations: 866-857-2757

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

No map location available

Nearby places

Onamia

Wahkon

Nearby supplies

Onamia and Wahkon

Weather at Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

Best Time to Camp at Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

Each season paints Mille Lacs Kathio in different colors and offers unique adventures. Summer brings long trail-riding days paired with refreshing dips in nearby waters, while autumn transforms the hardwood forests into a brilliant tapestry of reds, golds, and oranges—a spectacular backdrop for horseback exploration. Winter shifts the park into a snowy wonderland perfect for cross-country skiing and winter recreation. Because campground and trail opening dates can vary by area and season, check the official campground webpage before planning your visit to ensure facilities and trails will be ready for you and your equine companion.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Seasonal info: summer best for equestrian camping; trails dry and rideable, pleasant temps noted.

Planning Tips

About Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

Saddle up for an unforgettable stay at the Equestrian Campground, where you and your horse can explore the scenic trails of Mille Lacs Kathio State Park together. This horse-required camping area offers the perfect basecamp for riders, with reservations required to secure your spot. Don't miss climbing the park's iconic 100-foot fire tower for sweeping views across the rolling hardwood forest toward the shimmering expanse of Mille Lacs Lake.

Equestrian-designated campground (horse required) with horse facilities and access to dedicated equestrian trails; trailers are reported to be parked at the Trail Center lot.

Historical Significance

Mille Lacs Kathio protects significant archaeological sites and has a long Indigenous (Dakota and Ojibwe) and Euro-American history, interpreted at the visitor center.

Weather and SeasonsEach season paints Mille Lacs Kathio in different colors and offers unique adventures. Summer brings long trail-riding days paired with refreshing dips in nearby waters, while autumn transforms the hardwood forests into a brilliant tapestry of reds, golds, and oranges—a spectacular backdrop for horseback exploration. Winter shifts the park into a snowy wonderland perfect for cross-country skiing and winter recreation. Because campground and trail opening dates can vary by area and season, check the official campground webpage before planning your visit to ensure facilities and trails will be ready for you and your equine companion.

Natural Features and SceneryMille Lacs Kathio State Park unfolds across a landscape sculpted by ancient glaciers, where dramatic eskers rise above tranquil wetlands and intimate lakes nestle among groves of aspen, birch, maple, and oak. The terrain's gentle rolling hills create perfect riding country through diverse hardwood forests. The Equestrian Campground itself offers an open layout with ample room for trailers and horses, though riders should note that sites have limited shade and sparse grass—ideal for easy management but you may want to bring shade structures for sunny days.

Geological RegionGlacial landforms and eskers; mixed hardwood forest and wetlands

Scenic ViewsA 100-foot fire tower provides sweeping views over the forest canopy and toward Mille Lacs Lake on clear days.

Best Campsites

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsPhone reservations (866-857-2757) and online reservations (state parks reservation website)

Cancellation PolicyReservation fees are non-refundable (call center $10 / web $8); see the reservations policy and FAQ for details.

Best CampsitesSpecific best sites within the equestrian campground are not documented. Visitor reports describe many horse sites as open, close together, and lacking shade.

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Basic on-site amenities include vault toilets, potable drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables and garbage cans. Horse campsites may also have picket lines and compost bins for manure disposal; reservation required for campsites.

Potable water

Flush toilets

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

The campground provides direct access to extensive multi-use trails and water-based recreation in the park, including equestrian-specific trails. The park also features a historic fire tower and opportunities to explore lakes and streams.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSeasonal biting insects such as deer flies have been reported; sites may be exposed with little shade.

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

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

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

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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

3 reviews

Limited Reviews

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

Limited reviews and reports indicate the equestrian campground is basic and open in character: users praise access to extensive equestrian trails and park resources but note the horse camp sites are very exposed and utilitarian.

Review Summaries

Based on 3 reviews

What Campers Love

Direct access to dedicated equestrian trails (reported ~27 miles), proximity to extensive park trails, historic features such as the fire tower, and access to fishing and boating on nearby lakes.

Based on 3 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Make a reservation in advance; expect exposed, open sites and bring shade, water and appropriate horse tack. Horse camps may have picket lines and compost bins for manure disposal—bring bags or plan...

Based on 3 reviews

Camper Quotes

The horse camp is basically a parking lot. Most of the sites are wide open, no shade, no grass, and on top of each other.

Based on 3 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Riders who want trail mileage over comfort will find this works well in summer: picket lines, manure compost bins, and trailer-friendly open layout make logistics straightforward, even if the sites feel like a gravel lot.

Skip if

The exposed, shadeless sites bother people fast on hot days, and there's no electric or dump station hookup, so riders who need even modest comfort infrastructure should look elsewhere in the park system.

Campgrounds

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

About Arrowrock Reservoir

Context for the broader area surrounding Equestrian Campground - Horse Required, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

Arrowrock Reservoir is formed by <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Arrowrock+Dam">Arrowrock Dam</a> which is part of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Boise%20Project">Boise Project</a>. The Reservoir is managed by the <A HREF="http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_RU4?ss=110402&navtype=forestBean&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=null&ttype=main&pname=Boise%20National%20Forest%20-%20Home">Boise National Forest,</a> (<A HREF="http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/boise/map.html">Boise National Forest map</a>). This 18 mile narrow canyon reservoir of 3,150-acres has limited access to 60 miles of shoreline. Boating, canoeing, windsurfing, and fishing are the major recreation activities at Arrowrock, located east of Boise. The reservoir is only 30 minutes from Boise and provides access to the city's nearest national forest. Fish species include rainbow trout, kokanee, yellow perch, whitefish, and the protected bull trout. Season open year-round. Reservoir acre feet and total reservoir capacity and cubic feet/second release rates for rivers below <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/boipaytea.cfm">Boise & Payette River Basins</a> reservoirs and select river locations are updated daily and graphically provided. Site offers: vault toilets, boat ramps and dock, parking, and dispersed camping.

Directions

Follow Idaho 21 to Mores Creek Bridge, about 18 miles, then take the road to the right to Arrowrock Dam.