USDA Forest Service · Minnesota
Cut Foot Horse Campground
USDA Forest Service · Minnesota, United States
- Sites
- 34
- Hookups
- 33 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to October 31
- Cost
- $16.00 per night
- Max RV length
- 45 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,391 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Chippewa National Forest
- Nearest town
- DEER RIVER
- Address
- 1235 DIVISION ST., DEER RIVER, MN, 56636
- Phone
- 218-246-2123
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horse Camping, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing
34 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Cut Foot Sioux Horse Camp is located northeast of Lake Winnibigoshish. Over 120 miles of forest roads and recreation trails surround this scenic campground, making it a favorite location of campers with horses. The campground will be first-come, first-served for the entire 2025 season.
The Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe work together to co-steward resources - making the Forest a great place to recreate as well as a special place where cultural and traditional resources are protected and preserved and the Band’s treaty rights are respected.
Recreation
Many miles of trails pass through or begin at Cut Foot Horse Camp, leading horseback riders, hikers, and mountain bikers through the Cut Foot Experimental Forest. Several trails are also open to off-road vehicles. Research areas are designated by various markers. Please leave the markers as you find them.
Facilities
Unique campgrounds like Cut Foot Horse require certain restrictions to maintain water quality, minimize soil erosion and lessen any impacts on vegetation. Special attention has been paid in designating the site for horse camping.
Several single-unit campsites are available, most of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Hitching racks, picket lines and manure pits are located throughout the campground. Vault toilets and a solar-powered drinking water cistern are provided.
There is no campground host on site. The campground is patrolled regularly by Forest Service personnel and Itasca County law enforcement officers.
Natural Features
The campground lies within the Cut Foot Experimental Forest, managed in part by the North Central Research Station in Grand Rapids and the Chippewa National Forest.
A mature stand of red pine covers the area, with oak and birch trees dotting the forest. The campground has nice shade and good privacy between sites.
Nearby Attractions
Boating, swimming, and fishing are popular activities on Big and Little Cut Foot Sioux Lakes and Lake Winnibigoshish. These lakes and several others are within a few miles of the campground.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15° | 0° | -26° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 19° | 1° | -26° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 36° | 20° | -9° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 42° | 30° | 15° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 44° | 31° | 83° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 57° | 45° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 63° | 52° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 61° | 54° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 56° | 39° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 40° | 24° | 69° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 36° | 26° | 5° | 59° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 25° | 14° | -21° | 45° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- East Seelye Bay · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 14 sites
- Mosomo Point · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 23 sites
- Onegume · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 48 sites
- Deer Lake · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 50 sites
- Williams Narrows · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 18 sites
All public campgrounds in Minnesota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.