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.

Can I see photos of campsites at Group Camp before I book?

Yes! Group Camp has 6 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Group Camp?

Group Camp does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Group Camp?

Fire policies at Group Camp: Light fires only within fire rings and charcoal grills. Do not leave fires unattended; extinguish all fires before leaving. Do not burn trash. Use approved or local firewood to prevent spread of forest pests.. 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. 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, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Group Camp

4.21

29 reviews

Group Camp

Top 8% in MNSpring

Peace & Quiet

Featured in:Fall 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

Book on Minnesota DNR - 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

Book on Minnesota DNR - Minnesota State Parks Official Website

Group Camp

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites. A non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation ($10 by phone, $8 online)....

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Group Camp

Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.

Campground Map

Group Camp

No map location available

Weather at Group Camp

Best Time to Camp at Group Camp

Summer brings the most reliable camping conditions, with warm days perfect for river activities and comfortable evenings around the fire. Like most Minnesota state park campgrounds, this group site operates seasonally, with opening and closing dates adjusting to weather patterns. Check the park's current webpage or Minnesota's ParkFinder tool for this year's specific availability window before planning your trip.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

4.0 / 5

Top 8% in MN

Abundant wildlife and wildflowers noted; good river access in spring (some inference).

Planning Tips

About Group Camp

Gather your group beneath the pines at this wooded campground where the day's adventures seamlessly transition into evening campfires and naturalist programs. With mature forest surroundings and easy river access, this reservable group site creates the perfect basecamp for connecting with nature and each other.

Visitor reports describe wooded individual sites and at least one group campsite (this listing is a Group Camp). Specifics about RV or cabin accommodations are not consistently documented in the official source.

Weather and SeasonsSummer brings the most reliable camping conditions, with warm days perfect for river activities and comfortable evenings around the fire. Like most Minnesota state park campgrounds, this group site operates seasonally, with opening and closing dates adjusting to weather patterns. Check the park's current webpage or Minnesota's ParkFinder tool for this year's specific availability window before planning your trip.

Natural Features and SceneryTowering pines create a cathedral-like canopy over your campsite, while short, meandering trails invite exploration through the forest. The Mississippi River flows nearby with convenient boat landing access for paddlers and anglers. Keep your camera ready—previous visitors have spotted drumming woodpeckers, sun-basking turtles, sleek mink along the shoreline, and carpets of wildflowers that give way to berry patches as the seasons progress.

Scenic ViewsWooded campsite views with access to scenic stretches of the Mississippi River and nearby boat landing/dock; short trail overlooks and forested scenery.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsMinnesota State Parks reservation center (online and call center); phone reservation hours and online booking available via the park reservation system.

Cancellation PolicyA non-refundable reservation fee applies to advance reservations; additional cancellation details are provided on the Minnesota State Parks reservations policy and FAQ.

Best CampsitesVisitor reports highlight wooded, roomy, private sites; specific sites (reported as Sites 1 & 2) are noted for proximity to the boat landing but may be affected by nearby overflowing dumpsters in some reports.

Need help booking Group Camp?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Sources indicate basic rustic campground amenities including vault/pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, a boat landing/launch and a nearby beach area (per secondary sources and visitor reviews). No reliable information about showers, potable drinking water, dump stations, hookups, Wi‑Fi or cell coverage was available in the official source.

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

Group Sites

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

The site is used for short hiking, paddling/boating and fishing, with opportunities for wildlife viewing; a small beach/boat launch is noted in secondary sources.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSources note typical outdoors hazards including mosquitoes and ticks, and occasional raccoon or black bear activity; follow food storage guidance and park rules. Fires are permitted only in designated fire rings or charcoal grills and must not be left unattended.

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 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

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

4.2

29 reviews

Satisfactory

Group Camp is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors generally describe the campground as a quiet, rustic, wooded spot with scenic river views, short hikes and good paddling/boat access. Reviews praise privacy and natural beauty but note limited facilities and occasional wildlife and insect issues.

Review Summaries

Based on 29 reviews

What Campers Love

Quiet and secluded setting; scenic river views and photogenic mature forest; short interpretive hikes; boat landing/canoe launches and fishing access; wooded, roomy campsites with fire rings and...

Based on 29 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring supplies (ice not always available on site), store food securely (raccoons and occasional bears reported), expect mosquitoes in summer, check staff/office hours before arrival and plan for...

Based on 29 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Very quiet, secluded and peaceful — many visitors report being the only people there."; "The river is the focus of this park and it's hard to find a prettier section."; "Horrible too many mosquitoes...

Based on 29 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

Groups planning a paddle-and-campfire trip will get the most from this place. The boat landing is the real draw, spring and fall bring the best conditions, and the wooded sites give a full troop or club genuine separation from other campers.

Skip if

No potable water, no showers, vault toilets only, and summer mosquitoes that reviewers call relentless. Families expecting any modern conveniences, or anyone who needs reliable facilities for young kids, will find the rustic setup genuinely limiting.

Campgrounds

Schoolcraft State Park

Group Camp

About El Vado Reservoir

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

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=El+Vado+Dam">El Vado Dam</a> and Reservoir, features of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Middle Rio Grande Project">Middle Rio Grande Project</a>, are located on the Rio Chama about 160 miles north of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Recreation at El Vado Reservoir is managed by the New Mexico Division of Parks and Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The Park is open 24 hours and is a fee area. The boat ramp is located at the north end of reservoir via State 95, and is limited to high water use. No concessionaires. No food service. No lodging within park. Nearest lodging 23.5 miles from headquarters to Chama. Year-round fishing for rainbow and brown trout. State license and trout stamp required. Kokanee salmon season Nov. 1-Jan. 31. Stream fishing downstream from dam. Boating must conform to New Mexico regulations.

Directions

The Park headquarters are located 14.5 miles southwest of Tierra Amarilla via State 112 and 4.5 miles of gravel road to park.

Download area map (PDF)