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

Equestrian Campground 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?

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

Can I have a campfire at Equestrian Campground?

Fire policies at Equestrian Campground: Use approved or local firewood. Light fires only within provided fire rings or charcoal grills; do not leave fires unattended and fully extinguish fires before leaving. Do not burn trash.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Equestrian Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Equestrian Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Equestrian Campground?

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

What activities can I do at Equestrian Campground?

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

Equestrian Campground

4 reviews

Featured in:Boating 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

Pets Allowed

RV Friendly

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

Pets Allowed

RV Friendly

Book on Minnesota DNR (Minnesota State Parks)Official Website

Equestrian Campground

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

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Campground Map

Equestrian Campground

No map location available

Weather at Equestrian Campground

Best Time to Camp at Equestrian Campground

Fall offers the best combination of cool, stable weather and peak northwoods color. Daytime highs run 50–65°F with crisp mornings dipping into the 30s–40s in September and October. Trails are generally drier and less buggy than summer, making multi-day rides and riverside fishing especially pleasant. Wildlife viewing is excellent as deer and migratory birds are active. Crowd levels ease after Labor Day, so weekdays and early October rides feel peaceful, though weekend use can still pick up. Summer brings warm days good for early morning rides before heat peaks, but mosquitoes are heavier. Spring awakens wildflowers and offers high water on the Kettle River, but trails can be marshy or muddy after snowmelt.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Fall called best season: cool stable weather and peak northwoods color.

Planning Tips

About Equestrian Campground

The Equestrian Campground sits inside Minnesota's largest state park, offering horse campers direct access to roughly 75 miles of trails through northern pine and hardwood forest along the St. Croix and Kettle river valleys. Reviewers call it a quiet, large horse camp with corrals and tie-outs, though campground-specific detail online is sparse. Primitive and RV sites are available with vault toilets, water, fire rings, and picnic tables.

This is an equestrian/horse campground offering rustic (primitive) horse-camping facilities and access for recreational vehicles and camper vans, but sites do not have utility hookups.

Historical Significance

St. Croix State Park contains extensive 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration infrastructure. Portions of the park are designated for historic significance, reflecting long use by Indigenous peoples, fur traders, loggers, and later recreational development.

Weather and SeasonsFall offers the best combination of cool, stable weather and peak northwoods color. Daytime highs run 50–65°F with crisp mornings dipping into the 30s–40s in September and October. Trails are generally drier and less buggy than summer, making multi-day rides and riverside fishing especially pleasant. Wildlife viewing is excellent as deer and migratory birds are active. Crowd levels ease after Labor Day, so weekdays and early October rides feel peaceful, though weekend use can still pick up. Summer brings warm days good for early morning rides before heat peaks, but mosquitoes are heavier. Spring awakens wildflowers and offers high water on the Kettle River, but trails can be marshy or muddy after snowmelt.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground lies within flat to gently rolling terrain covered by red, white, and jack pine mixed with aspen and birch. River terraces and marshy lowlands stretch along the St. Croix and Kettle rivers, creating diverse riding conditions from shaded forest paths to open riverside corridors. Trails can become wet or muddy after rain or during spring snowmelt. Notable park scenery includes Kettle River High Banks, an overlook with views of rapids and pine-covered cliffs, and the Two Rivers confluence area where both rivers meet. Wildlife is abundant: black bears, wolves, beavers, river otters, deer, eagles, ospreys, and many songbirds inhabit the forest and riverbanks. The park is recognized as an Important Bird Area for its riparian and forest habitats.

Geological RegionSt. Croix River valley — flat to gently rolling northern forest with pine and mixed hardwoods, river terraces and marshy lowlands along the St. Croix and Kettle rivers.

Scenic ViewsNearby scenic highlights include the Kettle River High Banks overlook (views of rapids, cliffs and pine-covered banks) and the Two Rivers area at the confluence of the St. Croix and Kettle Rivers; the equestrian campground itself is more forest-interior, and riders can trailer or ride to these viewpoints for day trips.

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsState parks reservation system (online via the state parks reservation site, typically UseDirect) and call center 866-857-2757 (hours vary seasonally).

Cancellation PolicyReservation fee for advance reservations is non-refundable; see the reservation system for full cancellation terms.

Need help booking Equestrian Campground?

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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

As a state forest-style equestrian campground, basic amenities typically include a cleared campsite area with a fire ring, picnic table, vault toilet, garbage cans and drinking (potable) water; modern facilities and utility hookups are not provided.

Potable water

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Equestrian campers have access to extensive horse trails and a broad range of park activities including hiking, paddling/boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Hiking

Fishing

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsTrail and campsite flooding or muddy conditions after heavy rain or snowmelt; presence of wildlife including black bears and other mammals (store food securely); unpaved/gravel roads may be rough for towing trailers; cell service may be limited away from main roads and overlooks.

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

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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

4 reviews

Limited Reviews

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

Online campground-specific reviews are limited; a Google review notes it is a 'quite large horse camp.' Web-sourced summaries praise the park's extensive horse-trail network and scenic river corridors while identifying occasional wet/muddy trails and long gravel roads as drawbacks.

Review Summaries

Based on 4 reviews

What Campers Love

Extensive (about 75 miles) horse-trail network; large, quiet forest with river overlooks and abundant wildlife; access to multi-activity opportunities (hiking, paddling, fishing).

Based on 4 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Horse campers who want a multi-day ride without trailering out every morning. Fall is the sweet spot: drier trails, northwoods color, fewer bugs, and wildlife active along the St. Croix and Kettle river corridors.

Skip if

No showers, no hookups, no cell signal, and gravel access roads that reviewers describe as long, dusty, and washboarded. Non-equestrian campers won't find a reason to come here over other park sites.

Campgrounds

St. Croix State Park

Equestrian Campground

About Lake Estes

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

Lake Estes, a feature of the <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=432">Colorado-Big Thompson Project</A>, is formed by <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=249">Olympus Dam</A> constructed across the Big Thompson River. The afterbay storage in Lake Estes and the forebay storage in Marys Lake enable the Estes powerplant to meet daily variations in energy demand. Recreation facilities include a nine-hole golf course, five picnic and associated day-use areas, and a marina. Good access to recreation areas. The reservoir has approximately 185 water surface acres, 213 land acres and 4 milesof shoreline. Power boating is limited, but available. Sailing opportunities. Fish species available are largely rainbow trout. Facilities are closed in winter due to ice and snow.

Directions

Site is about 2 miles east of Estes Park, Colorado.