The best camping near Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Forestville/Mystery Cave adventure.

100% (2 reviews)
100% (2 reviews)

Discover the allure of Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park.  

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Community favorites near Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

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Top-rated campgrounds near Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

100%
(335)

Quarry in the Mississippi Bluff

4 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Dakota, MN
This is a very private location. In its former life this property was a limestone quarry. Evidence of it's history remain with high rock walls on both ends of the property. In the center of the property is about 5 acres that is flat and covered with wildflowers and small trees. There are several good options for camping in this area. Surrounding this area is another 15 acres of hills and trees great for hiking and enjoying the beautiful view of the Mississippi River below. There is a boat ramp just a mile down the hill for boating or fishing on the Mississippi and the city of La Crosse, WI and La Crescent, MN are each only about a five minute drive. Great River Bluffs State Park and countless other recreational opportunities are just minutes away.
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$29
 / night
97%
(263)

The Edge

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents160 acres · Rochester, MN
This 160 acre farm used to be a sod farm, and then a Christmas tree farm. Camping provided is in the remnants of the uncut Christmas tree forest. 
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$25
 / night
100%
(67)

Gossman Goat Grazing Ranch

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents42 acres · Preston, MN
We have a lovely piece of property to come enjoy a getaway at. We enjoy all of the peace and quiet around here. The night sky is unbeatable in my eyes. We have a small hobby farm with lots of very tame animals. We have 42 acres to roams with lots of trails within the woods that are filled with aged oak trees and many young maple trees. Our property is filled with lots of wild flowers and wildlife. We are locate 3 miles from the root river if you enjoy fishing or going for a float down the river. There are two caves in our area that are a must see while you are visiting. I you like to hike there is a state park 14 minutes from us that have many miles of hiking trails and horse trails. If you are more the small town strolling type of person we have lots of small towns around us that are filled with shops and lots of great food! There is a large system of bike trails in our area that make a very fun way to check out some of the small towns. If you have a family with kids we have a lot of fun activities you can do with your kids, like spending time with the goats, chickens and ducks, playing on our playground, or taking a nice walk through the woods looking for fossils!
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$30
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88%
(20)

Valley Angus Farm

10 sites · RVs, Tents560 acres · Spring Valley, MN
We offer the DESIRABLE DOZEN: 1. Staying in a beautiful 1918 Farm House 2. Staying in a cool 1880 Barn Mow 3. Canoeing 4. Fishing 5. Campfires along the creek 6. Hayrides over the Oak Savannah hills and pastures on the 400 acres 7. Biking on the asphalt regional bike trails that pass through the farm 8. Hunting 9. Grilling Angus Beef raising on our farm 10. There are 400 acres for your pets to enjoy 11. Touring around on the JD Gator side by side (Like a golf Cart) 12. Hiking the trailsLearn more about this land:We have an 1880 Barn Mow you can stay in and a pine cabin too. Also, you could stay in the 1918 Farmhouse. Pitch you tent along spring fed Spring Valley Creek with your own picnic area and campfire with privacy. You are a 3 minute walk from the main farmhouse with wifi, water, electric, food, shower, and refrigerator. Hayrides, farm tours and cookouts with our home raised angus beef available. Limestone bluff tour. Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum nearby. Mystery cave 12 minutes away.
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$48
 / night
99%
(250)

Bluff Hollow Camp on the Root River

1 site · RV, Tent8 acres · Stewartville, MN
The property is one of a kind. The Driftless Region starts right here in SE Minnesota. It is secluded with mature trees, beautiful bluffs, fishing, kayaking! It is a nature lovers dream!
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$55
 / night
100%
(360)

Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Houston, MN
Welcome ; Located in southeast Minnesota's Driftless region of hills, valleys, fields and forests, we are a grass based working dairy farm with over 100 acres of woodland, including an extensive trail system and campsites in our wooded acres. What makes this woodland special is it's quiet, secluded setting and over 6 miles of hiking / skiing trails. Our farmstead sits three quarter of a mile off the paved county highway on our well maintained gravel driveway. Each of our campsites are secluded from the others with their own sawdust compost toilets, picnic tables, fireplaces, and firewood. Two of our sites require 4WD with a minimum of 6 inches ground clearance to access, and two are accessible with 2WD. If you do not have 4WD we can help transport your gear while you enjoy the walk in. There are plenty of woodland birds, deer, turkeys, raccoons and squirrels sharing the woods with you. At night it is common for owls to visit the campsite area to say hello, and coyotes talking in the distance. The winding trails through 100 acres of woodland offer a variety of woodland habitats, from Old growth Maple to mixed hardwood, to dense brush, to the edges of open pastureland. Bring your fat bike or mountain bike for an enjoyable ride. For winter users there is a mix of easy, moderate, and challenging winter cross country skiing or snowshoeing / hiking on the property. However the Rock Bottom Cabin is our only heated and insulated site and is available for winter booking. Winter access is walk in only with snow on the ground or in the forecast. We can help transport gear. This property is part of a working pasture-based dairy farm and guided tours of the dairy and cattle are available when scheduling allows. Children 12 and younger are free at our campsites. No need to be counted as guests , but please let us know when requesting to book. We do not allow non-booked visitors to our campsites due to the secluded, remote location, and accessibility.
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$30
 / night
100%
(6)

Cedar Springs

1 site · Lodging10 acres · Decorah, IA
The property has been in my family for over 40 years and was originally settled in the mid 1800's. It is about 10 acres and is primarily wooded with Cedar, Oak, Maple, Hickory and Birch. The topography is diverse, having steep heights, easy flats and everything in between; which makes hiking fun and interesting. The lower College Drive side features a historic limestone homestead and quarry, also a fossil rich creek-bed and rustic (4WD) road to the top. The upper property (Hwy. 52 access) offers a secluded forest as well as a spacious meadow. The woods are filled with birds and many other indigenous wild animals. We are only a half mile from towns edge and two miles from its center (also a five minute drive from Luther College). The Decorah area is well known for its scenic natural beauty and has extensive hiking trails, biking trails, cross-country ski routes, rivers, creeks and hunting areas. People come here year round for our outdoor recreation and beauty. Canoeing, Kayaking, Fishing, Tubing, X-country skiing, and Trail Riding are very popular activities around here. Bring a side-by-side or ATV and have a blast both on the property and around the area. Decorah has several museums, a movie theater, 2 golf courses and bowling alley in addition to dozens of charming shops and several restaurants. You'll never get bored staying at Cedar Springs.
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$90
 / night
100%
(8)

Frickson Family Farms, LLC.

4 sites · Lodging, RVs180 acres · Dakota, MN
The farming lifestyle, and knowing that this is how we intended to raise our family, led us to transition into the farm-to-table business, selling our products to our family, friends and the public. Together Andy & Darienne, along with their 3 children, work as a team to raise all of the animals and crops. Our land and animals are all handled with proper care. There is no other way we could envision our life than right here on the farm with our children, raising wholesome food for ourselves and others. Come enjoy the beauty overlooking our crop land, shop our farm store, and look at all the livestock. Including cattle, pigs, chickens & goats. We are conveniently located off of Interstate 90 along the Mississippi between MN & WI. Our Farm store is stocked with our home raised fresh & frozen meat - beef, pork, chicken and many other locally sourced food items including honey, Maple syrup, dried goods, dairy, eggs, and more. Seasonal produce as available (Sweet corn & pumpkins in fall) •Electric available for 4 RV’s •Water for 4 RV's not available winter months - hiking trails through our forest new for 2023 (Fire wood provided, donations appreciated.) We Accept all major cards (credit/debit), cash, check or Venmo. Things to do: •Enjoy our state park located 3 miles from our farm if you enjoy hiking or biking. 30 acres of hiking trails through our woods new for 2023 •Feel free to bring your utv and cruise our county roads. •Enjoy an amazing burger (provided by our farm) & drinks at THE SHED Bar and Grill located 4 miles from our farm. •Schedule a tour of the historic Pickwick Mill located about 5 miles from our farm. *Please keep in mind this is a working family farm, there are kids, tractors and equipment running daily, and the smell of farm fresh air. Campsites are located in a private area to allow our campers privacy. Thanks, Andy & Darienne Frickson Frickson Family Farms
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$30
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99%
(316)

Ranch Retreat

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Winona, MN
Our ranch has been in our family for 14 years and prior to that belonged to one family for over 200 years. Jolene (me, - owner) and my two sons, Riley and Logan put a lot of time and dedication into our ranch. Our ranch is located on 40 acres where anyone can find their little piece of “peace.” We pride ourselves on taking excellent care of our guests, making them feel at home the instant they step onto our land. We will do our best to accommodate your needs in any way possible. Our WIFI is not always 100% reliable. If you absolutely need WIFI at all times during your stay, please bring another option with you, such as a hotspot on your cell phone, in case ours is not dependable. From the crew who loves to share a little piece of our life on Stone Roller Road, – Jolene, Riley, Logan, Scotch (the yellow lab) Hops (the chocolate lab) and Scrappy (the late ranch dog)
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$32
 / night
100%
(10)

Aefintyr

13 sites · Lodging, Tents14 acres · Altura, MN
Aefintyr is a campground located on Whiskey Hill in the Whitewater River Valley near the town of Elba, MN. The land was used for personal recreation for several years. I've spent countless hours hiking and enjoying observing the seasons, plants, fungus and animals. The vision of a campground was inspired by many camping and backcountry spots throughout the United States, all of the amazing things in the woods, the beautiful blufftop valley views, proximity to a multitude of outdoor activities and adventures. Camps are spacious, secluded and designed to immerse guests in the surrounding woodland.
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$37
 / night
88%
(13)

Lionheart

3 sites · RVs, Tents36 acres · Millville, MN
Our land is a unique find with a little bit of everything. With river access, you can enjoy swimming/water activities and wind down with the wildlife sounds and campfire crackle. We have a few standup paddle boards, and river tubes available to rent and farm fresh eggs to purchase and enjoy with your morning campfire breakfast. The best on the Zumbro! Come experience life outdoors on the river :)
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$39
 / night
100%
(27)

New Hartford trout camp

1 site · RV, Tent48 acres · Dakota, MN
Secluded valley site located where two trout streams come together. There is a large section of private access, as well as 1 mile of public access to the trout stream.
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$30
 / night

The best camping near Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park guide

Overview

About

This place is so thoroughly awesome, you won’t be able to decide whether to spend the day above ground or below. If you stay up in the sunshine, you’ll experience Forestville, a restored 1800s village operated by the Minnesota Historical Society, complete with old general store, historic bridge, bizarre sinkholes, and limestone cliffs that rise above the Root River. Venture to the lower depths of Mystery Cave and you’ll find an underground turquoise lake, a collection of gnarly stalagmites and stalactites, and a generally breezy 48 degree escape from the midwestern humidity above ground. The park service offers several ways to explore the caves, from photography tours and geological expeditions, to “wild caving,” which involves crawling around on your knees with a flashlight. Whichever you decide, it’s pretty much impossible to be disappointed by this southern Minnesota gem.

When to go

The best time to visit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers a full bloom of activities, though it can be quite busy. Winters are less crowded but prepare for chilly temperatures and limited access.

Know before you go

  • Check the latest park updates for any closures or changes in accessibility, especially in light of the Highway 67 closure.
  • Remember that GPS systems may not have updated road information; follow provided directions to reach your destination within the park.
  • For a smooth visit, arrive with your camping gear and supplies, as amenities may be limited.
  • Always prioritize safety by staying on marked trails and following park guidelines.
  • Engage with the park's social media for event updates and to enhance your visit.

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