Lake Carlos Sate Park - Horse Camp

Tented overnight at the lower campground (very busy for a week day in August) not much privacy but family friendly crowd. Higher campground had much more space and privacy but no lake view. Showers and bathrooms at lower campground are clean and spacious with hot water. Friendly staff and great trails! Spent most my time at the west side of the park, walked the hidden lake trail, and red oak trail... Tented overnight at the lower campground (very busy for a week day in August) not much privacy but family friendly crowd. Higher campground had much more space and privacy but no lake view. Showers and bathrooms at lower campground are clean and spacious with hot water. Friendly staff and great trails! Spent most my time at the west side of the park, walked the hidden lake trail, and red oak trail and maple basswood trail from the lower area campground, than drove to the north parking lot and took the Forestry trail to the prairie pothole trail to the prairie ridge trail. Wild flowers where everywhere, a little past their peak in August but still present. My only regret is I didn't have a boat/watercraft to enjoy the huge lake, I saw many fish jumping along the shore. If I didn't want to hike as much as I did I would have rented a canoe for sure! It was surprisingly quiet at night, loved smelling and seeing the fires at near by campsites as I didn't stay up to have one myself. The far west overlook was well worth the hike, a bench at the top of a hill, would be AMAZING for star gazing if you can get there safely in the dark.

Lake Carlos SP, Carlos, MN We had reserved a hip camp just off I 94 but it was just a very run down RV park and a total rip off for $58 . So we found Lake Carlos and drove the 10 miles to the park and since it was a Sunday night we scored a great non electric camp site on the lake for $25 plus $7 entry fee plus tax. It was worth it to enjoy a beautiful place . .There’s a paved path to hike or bi... Lake Carlos SP, Carlos, MN We had reserved a hip camp just off I 94 but it was just a very run down RV park and a total rip off for $58 . So we found Lake Carlos and drove the 10 miles to the park and since it was a Sunday night we scored a great non electric camp site on the lake for $25 plus $7 entry fee plus tax. It was worth it to enjoy a beautiful place . .There’s a paved path to hike or bicycle as well as hiking trails but it was muddy from the recent rains so we stayed with the paved areas. They have clean restrooms with showers and plugs for blow dryers. Although we were just passing through this is definitely a park where you could spend a couple days. There is boating on the lake and the water is very clear and clean.

This was one of my favorite state parks to camp! We camped here early in September and while the campground was full, it did not feel crowded. There is a lot of room to spread put and enjoy the shore and the lake. The kids spent hours playing in the water and skipping rocks. We stayed in the lower campground. The water spigot were tricky to locate as they are in the middle of the campsites instead... This was one of my favorite state parks to camp! We camped here early in September and while the campground was full, it did not feel crowded. There is a lot of room to spread put and enjoy the shore and the lake. The kids spent hours playing in the water and skipping rocks. We stayed in the lower campground. The water spigot were tricky to locate as they are in the middle of the campsites instead of along the road. Its best to locate these while its still light out and not while you are ready to put out your fire. The bathrooms were clean. In the women's bathroom near the boat docks the water pressure was a little low and showers took a bit to warm up, but thats camping for you. The sites at the lower campground are close together so you are cozy with neighbors. It is a great MN vibe though and we felt safe there. The park ranger patrolled regularly. The upper campground is more wooded and spread out but farther from amenities. The staff was so friendly and the office is open later than others in the state. We visited the center that had coloring sheets for the kids and some fun information about the lake and area. We enjoyed some of the trails but ran out of time so we will be back!

This was one of my favorite state parks to camp! We camped here early in September and while the campground was full, it did not feel crowded. There is a lot of room to spread put and enjoy the shore and the lake. The kids spent hours playing in the water and skipping rocks. We stayed in the lower campground. The water spigot were tricky to locate as they are in the middle of the campsites instead... This was one of my favorite state parks to camp! We camped here early in September and while the campground was full, it did not feel crowded. There is a lot of room to spread put and enjoy the shore and the lake. The kids spent hours playing in the water and skipping rocks. We stayed in the lower campground. The water spigot were tricky to locate as they are in the middle of the campsites instead of along the road. Its best to locate these while its still light out and not while you are ready to put out your fire. The bathrooms were clean. In the women's bathroom near the boat docks the water pressure was a little low and showers took a bit to warm up, but thats camping for you. The sites at the lower campground are close together so you are cozy with neighbors. It is a great MN vibe though and we felt safe there. The park ranger patrolled regularly. The upper campground is more wooded and spread out but farther from amenities. The staff was so friendly and the office is open later than others in the state. We visited the center that had coloring sheets for the kids and some fun information about the lake and area. We enjoyed some of the trails but ran out of time so we will be back!