The campsite was rather congested with not a large amount of privacy. The hiking itself was fairly…read moremild as we bounced along these glacial lakes and valleys. We brought our pup with us and she enjoyed it too. A great place for a more mild hiking experience, still with nice views.

What a gem! Tented here for two chilly fall nights. There is a nice lake with canoe and kayak…read morerentals, and a nice beach. Trails go around the lake, through the woods, and into the gorgeous rolling prairie hills. The campground isn't huge, which means the park never feels too crowded. I hope to visit again sometime in the summer when I can take better advantage of the lake. It's also only ~2.5 hrs from the Cities, so would also make a nice day destination for some hiking if camping isn't your thing.

This "mom and pop" resort continues to be an outstanding Minnesota vacation spot. The most…read moreimportant element in the quality of a resort are the owners. Bob & Julie Schimerowski took over the long established resort in 2017 and did a complete renovation. There are six well-cared for cabins that accommodate from two to six bedrooms. The cabins come well equipped with kitchen supplies and are air conditioned. The resort is super kid friendly (but no pets), has the perfect swimming area for kids, as well as a pristine lake. There is an abundance of fish that can be caught from the many docks. There are several pontoon boats that can be rented by the half-day, full day, or week. All other boats and equipment can be used for free. These include peddle boats, canoes, kyacks, peddle bikes, and a water slide, as well as life jackets, paddles, etc. They also have many land games from badminton to corn hole, as well as many others. There is a central lodge with many additional games, as well as ice cream, and a washer dryer (the washer/drier have small charges to use). Bob and Julie add new amenities every year. I really appreciate their responsiveness to any issue, question, or request. They are very friendly, as well as professional. This place deserves six out of five stars!

Came into the area during some incredible unseasonably warm weather (70 degrees in early November)…read moreand this place was just perfect. Nice old-school fishing and lakeside resort with both cabins and camping spots. Bob is a friendly and easy-going host. A BIG PLUS is the new pedestrian & bicycle trail that is just a few hundred yards from the resort entrance - a safe and welcome option for a little exercise after a day of hauling in the big fish!h

We have stayed at Swan Lake Resort & Campground for the last 3 years maybe a bit longer. Making…read morereservations is easy and when you can't find your confirmation emails they are very quick to respond to your emails! Its a beautiful place lots of trees and birds singing. We camp but we have had friends stay in the cabins. We stayed in the wooded sites kindling is our favorite, big sites easy to pull thru and lots of space for the dog to hang out too. Fire pit is always cleaned up and looking nice. Water and sewer hook up area is clean and looks nice too! We have stayed in the sites facing the lake too and those are nice as well. I have heard the lake is beautiful but we have not been out on the lake yet! We always look forward to our next stay!

This is a fantastic campground. There are quite a few seasonal RV sites but also plenty of short…read moreterm spots for RVs and tents. There are also some cabins. The resort is quiet and well maintained. The owners are laid back but also attentive to any questions or needs. We will be back and highly recommend for your camping adventures.

Really enjoyed this rustic/cozy restaurant. The Prime Rib dinner was very good. My wife had the…read morewalleye fish and chips. She loved it. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star is purely personal. Both the cream and straight horseradish were mediocre. The sour cream for the baked potatoe was served in a tube. The portions were very good. And, the service was great.

The cabins are clean and well stocked. owners are very nice and helpfu! The grounds are clean and…read morequiet!

I love coming here. The lake can be quiet at times…read more There are restrooms, beach, park, trails, picnic tables! Great place and continue to go back!

It's a very beautiful clean beach with a playground and lots of picnic tables. My family really…read moreenjoyed their time playing here and swimming. There are also nice public bathrooms that are kept clean too!

My family and I have been going To Mt. Carmel since my kids were barely in elementary school. Mt…read more Carmel is a beautiful family Bible camp on a large chunk of shoreline on Lake Carlos 4 miles north of Alexandria, Mn. A great swimming beach- diving dock, kayaks, canoes and a pontoon boat are there; kids are supervised by a lifeguard and there is a campfire ring as well as a sauna. No extra fees for using boats- or anything for that matter! We were looking for a Christian Camp with multiple programs for all ages and let me tell you, Mt. Carmel has something for everyone. There are Worship services in the morning and evening, Bible discussion groups, activites for the kids including crafts, games, movies- you name it. There is a gorgeous brand new Chapel overlooking Lake Carlos, and a beautiful lodge- plus 30 cabins and cottages. Mt. Carmel is one of the hidden gems in Minnesota that begs to be discovered. You can go there, be at peace, let your kids do their own thing and not have to worry about their safety or what they are doing. Their counselors are college students with a strong commitment to Faith and genuinely love teaching and being with children. This place is so wonderful- you can literally do all of the programs or do none of them. There is no pressure to participate, but you'll want to. Many of the guests have been going for generations, and there are just as many new guests who are discovering this sanctuary from the pressures of the world. The accomodations range from cottages, rustic cabins, remodled cabins, brand new cabins, RV sites and luxurious lodge rooms. A family of four can spend a week there for well under $1700, and that's with a top-tiered lodge room WITH FOOD! Cabins and cottages are less expensive and have a wonderful charm of a forgotten Minnesota. The food plans here are variable- you can go no food, some meals or full plan, which is what we do- breakfast, lunch dinner and snacks. There are a few special nights like a Hoedown or an ethnic buffet.' The food here is spectacular. Entrees range from grilled ribs and chicken to homemade lasagna to pizza to tatortot hotdish! Every lunch and dinner had homemade bread or rolls. Theres also a healthy salad bar and special diet considerations are available. My kids are a bit picky and they ate everything. They now have free WiFi too. Please treat yourself or your family to a week or weekend at Mt. Carmel- they are now open year-round for vacations, retreats and even business meetings. We have made many friends there and are so grateful we "took a chance". We usually do the same things- same restaurants, etc. This is now our most anticipated destination of our year! There is one bad thing about Mt. Carmel- my kids cry when we leave. That's quickly extinguished by the Dairy Queen in Alexandria on the way home.

my name is john daehlin. the first time i went to mt carmel was in 1964 thru 1976. it is ths one…read moreof the best memories and times of my life. which i still think and dream about today..the old cabins with the bunk beds. horse shoes with the older men, soft ball, i learned to swim at the beach. the boat house and buliding at the tennis court. i was allowed to help pick up the garbage from the dinning hall and all over the camp with the old tractor and wagon.fuel it up with the old 1920's glass gas pump....ring the dinner bell..chapel with rev bloomqist......the people were great....and being a mulatto never had an issue of being different. i am sure it is still a great place for the family.....

Love the prairie setting! There is something calming about tall waves of grass in all directions…read more We stayed three nights in the upper campground at site 7 with full hook ups. TONS of room. These campsites are big with lots of prairie in between. Loved that there was mowed grass throughout the site. (Instead of the dirt sites you get in forests.) The camper spots are gravel. The pit toilet by us was spotless and checked every morning by ranger staff. The shower building was also clean. There are prairie trails with epic views of the lake right from the campground. They were all recently mowed which we greatly appreciated! I would also recommend walking to the state record cottonwood tree. As big as you think... We did drive to the beach twice and had a fabulous time. The water seems to be much better than what the previous reviewer said 9 years ago. Maybe all the rain we got this season helped? We didn't see any issues. We will be back to this park!

After the recent rains, the hiking club trail was a bit squishy in some places. Field and woods…read morewalking. Not a lot of features to see. Some of the highlights included the visitor center. The woman working there was so nice and helpful. There is also a room full of stuffed birds and furs so you can get up close and personal with the animals of our region. The wild flowers around the center were stunning. You must stop and see the giant cottonwood tree. It's ginormous. It's amazing how big a tree can get. So cool. The pelicans that hang out at the dam were interesting to see as well. Huge beautiful birds.