Equestrian Campground - Horse Required

About

Located within the 10,000-acre Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, this equestrian campground serves as a base camp for horseback riders exploring one of Minnesota's premier trail systems. The 10 campsites are designed specifically for horse camping, with each site equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and hitching rail or high line for securing horses. Basic amenities include access to water for both campers and horses, vault toilets, and manure disposal bins. The park's horse trail system covers over 27 miles through diverse terrain including rolling hills, hardwood forests, and scenic lake shorelines. Trails pass near Ogechie Lake, Shakopee Lake, and along portions of the Rum River. The campground accommodates up to six people and one horse trailer or tent per site. Riders aged 16 and older must possess a valid Minnesota Horse Pass to use DNR-managed horse trails. Mille Lacs Kathio holds significant archaeological and cultural importance, containing evidence of 9,000 years of human habitation. The park sits within the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe people, adjacent to the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation. Beyond horseback riding, the park offers interpretive programs at the historic fire tower and access to fishing, canoeing, and wildlife viewing.

Directions

From Onamia, take US Highway 169 south for 1 mile, then turn west on County Road 26. Follow CR 26 for approximately 1 mile to the park entrance at 15066 Kathio State Park Road.