Rice Lake State Park Group Campground

Open — Open year-round and available by reservation through the Minnesota State Parks reservation system.

About

Rice Lake State Park Group Campground provides a secluded, primitive camping experience for groups of up to 60 people in southeastern Minnesota. The walk-in group site is nestled in a wooded area and accessed by a short walk of less than 60 yards from the dedicated parking area. The site includes multiple picnic tables, a fire ring, and a vault toilet, offering basic amenities in a rustic setting. The group campground is connected to the main campground by both road and trail, and provides convenient access to the park's extensive trail network. Campers can explore nearly five miles of trails that wind through towering oak forests, restored prairies, and along the shoreline of Rice Lake. The park is particularly popular for birdwatching, as the shallow lake and marshy edges attract abundant waterfowl during spring and fall migrations. Rice Lake State Park sits on land where American Indians once harvested wild rice, and today the 750-acre lake remains a major wetland area. The group campground's location offers a peaceful setting under tall hardwoods, with opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and paddling. An Adirondack-style shelter located just east of the group campsite on a remote section of trail provides a quiet resting spot for hikers.

Directions

Located in Rice Lake State Park, 7 miles east of Owatonna in Steele County, Minnesota. The group campground is accessed via a short walk-in trail from its dedicated parking area, connected to the main campground by road and trail.

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