Lake Carlos State Park Campground

Open — The campground is open year-round with the upper campground available for winter camping. Modern showers and flush toilets operate seasonally; vault toilets are available during the off-season.

About

Lake Carlos State Park Campground encompasses 121 campsites divided between two distinctive areas, each offering unique camping experiences. The lower campground features 75 sites located directly on the north shore of Lake Carlos, with 59 sites equipped with electric hookups. This area provides convenient access to the swimming beach, boat ramp, amphitheater, and interpretive center, with deeper water and mooring posts along the sandy shoreline. The upper campground is nestled in the northeast corner of the park within a shaded maple-basswood forest, offering 47 campsites with 22 electric hookup sites. This more secluded area sits near the park office and Pioneer Group Camp. The park also features an equestrian campground with seven sites accommodating up to 30 people, two group camps (Pioneer and Lakeview) hosting up to 85 people combined, and the Hidden Lake Group Center for up to 60 guests. Sculpted by ancient glaciers, the park's diverse landscape includes tamarack bogs, marshes, woodland ponds, and pristine lakes. Clear and deep Lake Carlos provides excellent swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. The park offers extensive recreational activities including nine miles of horseback trails, hiking paths through old-growth forests and restored prairies, and six miles of groomed cross-country ski trails in winter. Modern facilities include flush toilets with seasonal showers, vault toilets for off-season use, and a dump station.

Directions

Located on County Road 38, approximately 10 miles north of Alexandria in Douglas County, Minnesota.

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