Fort Ridgely Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Camping is available seasonally from April through late October.

About

Fort Ridgely Campground sits within Fort Ridgely State Park, a historically significant location on the Minnesota River south of Fairfax. The campground offers 49 sites with varied options: 22 semi-modern sites, 15 electric sites, 9 rustic sites, 3 walk-in sites, and a group camp. One of the most popular sites is #37, a non-electric location on the creek bank. Fort Ridgely Creek bisects the park and is stocked with rainbow and brown trout in early April. The campground features a bathhouse and shower facility built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A separate equestrian campground with 14 sites provides convenient access to the Fair Ridge Trail for horseback riders. The park also offers a rentable farmhouse that sleeps six. Beyond camping, visitors can explore the historic Fort Ridgely site, which was the location of two battles during the Dakota War of 1862. The park includes a museum, cemetery, monuments, and ruins of the original fort. Recreation opportunities include hiking 8 miles of trails, horseback riding, fishing, golfing on a 9-hole course with panoramic views of the Minnesota River Valley, and various day-use facilities including a CCC-built picnic shelter, amphitheater, playground, and ball fields.

Directions

Located off State Highway 4, six miles south of Fairfax or twelve miles north of Sleepy Eye in Nicollet County.

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