Best Equestrian Camping near Gateway, AR

We booked 6 sites of horse camp for Labor Day weekend back in July. They had plenty of time to take care of sites. We got there and the grass was high on all sites. One of the guys with us brought a battery operated weed eater and started to weed eat our area when a park ranger stopped and said we weren’t allowed to weed eat only they are allowed to mow. We asked if they would mow sites and they said NO. The people right down from us on other horse site had to keep horses tied to trailer because weeds were that high you couldn’t get to horse post. One of had brought our RV with horses and were told we weren’t allowed to bring RV even though when we booked it online, it gave us the option to book RV with horses. We usually come to horse camp 5-6 times a year, but think this might be our last time going. Seems they are trying to close down horse camp.. we had reservations on Memorial Day and when we got there it was full of tent campers with NO HORSES but they were allowed to stay there. This place is turning into a joke. You pay $20 a night to get nothing but harassed by the park rangers!!

Steel Creek campground is a beautiful grass savanna orbited by 500 foot bluffs. From the campsites is a short hike through large beautiful hardwood trees. A glorious river of milky blue green waters flows at the base of the bluff around the camp's peninsula. East of Ponca this is the closest area to car/RV camp. This camp is also horse camp friendly. Many trails come through Steel Creek for backpackers, horse trails, and of course canoe/kayakers dock and launch from here. I call this base camp because there are so many trails and historic options in this upper area of the Buffalo. My one and only con is the tent camp area is open to all the other tent campers. In other words your camping side by side. Aside from that its definitely worth it!

We rolled in at 8pm on a Friday night. The sign said "campground full" but thanks to another review we disregarded this and found an open site, as did the person who drove in behind us. The 26 sites are in two layers, one closer to the parking lot, one closer to the woods, river and bluffs. Rangers patrol regularly and are very helpful. There is a ranger station beyond the horse campground which is a pleasant walk or a quick drive. We stopped there to get our National Park stamp! Easy access to a trail directly from the lot, or walk beyond the horse camp to the Old River trail head. Centerpoint Trail is a 15 minute drive away and offers access to the Big Bluff/Goat Trail. Caution drivers: the road in to the campground is windy and steep. A sign warns against bringing RVs. However there were an enormous bus and tons of horse trailers and campers at the bottom of the hill - braver people than I:) Bathrooms are clean, dimly lit at night presumably to keep bugs out. Each site has a lantern pole, fire ring and picnic table. Lost Valley Trail and shelter are a 10-15 minute drive away. Since it was raining we cooked our dinner in the shelter. Overall a beautiful place with great access to multiple trails as well as river access. Sites are a little close, but if you're fine with having neighbors 20 or so feet away, we highly recommend:)

Located within a few miles of the horse camp , this site is Aimed more at group camping, there is not as much shade as I’d like to see. It is immediately next to Erbie put in, with walking distance to both the Erbie Ford and the old community of Erbie, which includes several old homes that have been preserved, the old Erbie Church and Cherry Hill cemetery.

Both cecil Cove Trail and the main Buffalo River trail are right there. With bathrooms and a nice swimming hole, this is a local favorite. The water is seasonal, so ne aware of flash flood risks.

This is a great campsite if you’re wanting to get outdoors, but aren’t quite adventurous to go full-out. You wake up every morning to the sound of the Buffalo River coursing by just a few hundred yards away, and are greeted by the breathtaking view of the bluffs you are surrounded by!

It has running water, and even a pretty nice public bathroom. Fees are not outrageous, and there is even a site for campers with horses. Overall, it was a great experience, and I’d recommend to all! One thing to consider, however, is to make sure your car has pretty good handling and brakes— as the drive up to the entrance and down to the campsite is steep and curvy (it is paved, though)!

Exploring the Buffalo River off of Route 7 I found two campgrounds which I was very excited to have found for future visits. I explored each in detail and took a day to enjoy the trails around them.   Erbie Campground actually has two different points of interest the campground for RV and tent visitors and the Horse camp area (in a different location but named the same) for larger vehicles that need pull through access.  

The entire campsite area is first come first serve but they do have some really exciting features which make a trip here well worth leaving the house a little early to take advantage.  A boat launch is designed for smaller boats and can easily be accessed, group sites for those needing a bit more space and RV areas, though they do not have electricity of water they are designed for the larger units to fit without impeding into their recreational space.  

Though it had just rained this campground seemed very full, unlike the other one I had visited.  I noticed several larger tents and a few RVs taking advantage of the grounds which seemed to be holding firm despite a lot of water from the storms.  

The water access from this location is key as are the trails. I spent a while walking along and they seemed maintained better than many primitive trails.  All in all I was very impressed with the campground and even more so when I found out there is no fee for this campsite year round.  

TIPS:

• Bring your own toilet paper the facility only has vault toilets so you won’t want to risk not being prepared.
• Lanterns are a must, there is not really any outdoor light so it is very dark around camp at night.

This campground offers a lot of options. Including trout fishing, hiking, and swimming. Located in South Missouri it is an easy day trip into Branson Missouri or Eureka Springs Arkansas. Very well located and very well run by the state. They offer a pretty well equipped camp store along with the lodge and restaurant. This state park is gorgeous and one of my favorite places to go. They also have a nature center and trout hatchery. Park is open year round, trout tags must be purchased at the camp Store. All campgrounds have nice bathrooms and showers. Just a heads up though if you are looking for a quiet relaxing weekend make sure you avoid kids free fishing weekend! It’s a ZOO that weekend!

Worst experience in this park while waiting on our land to be ready.the owners ad claim's that the RV park is in Rogers Arkansas and is a lie. the park is located in parie creek far back in the woods very far from civilization. It was also very hard to sleep at night due to the fact that the middle of the park is the only clean side while the right side and the left side was full of meth heads yelling,fighting also cops chasing them doing almost 80mph inside the park.alot of kids running loose with no parents, grabbing things from ppls lots.animals doing there needs in my yard,me having to clean up after others,restrooms where gross I can say jail restrooms looked better.also watch ur vehicle because the owners maintenance man on drugs left$2000 damage's in my custom paint truck with a$20 lawnmower mowing rocks next to my vehicle while there was no grass at all.after I noticed it the maintenance man stopped mowing, went on hide mode..I notified the owner, she laughed,told me to contact my insurance while they did not cover custom paint so i had to pay that out of my pocket.i stayed there almost 8 months the winter was the worse you can not get up those snowy hills, curves not even on a 4wd I had to stay at a hotel to not risk my family.also it was very scary being in any kind of an emergency due to the fact that the emergency hospitals were so far enough to not make it in time..would never go back to staying there again.if your looking for a reliable RV park near Rogers there's actually a few of them close to town near hospitals,gas stations, groceries honestly that place is a joke definitely not the place to take your family..and if you guys think I'm wrong about this go and find out yourselfs

Campground Review:

River surge warning forced us to bed down for the night at the Erbie Campground along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. It was a welcome and comfortable site for our sore, wet bodies!

Our group of 9 guys had planned a canoe/kayak trip to the Current River originally but heavy spring rain flooding had left our route muddy and littered with debris. Last minute change of plans put us on the Buffalo River.

Plans were to set in at Kyles Landing and paddle to Ozark Campground for the night and then reach Carver Campground the next day. Because we were going it alone, we dumped the gear at Kyle's and then a couple of guys took one vehicle to Carver. LONG DRIVE! Much longer than we expected so by the time they got back, we were really late in the afternoon.

Some commercial guides who were pulling out at Kyle's informed us that heavy rains upstream were headed our way and would create a surge sometime in the late evening. Told us that it would not be a slow rise.

Finally put in and paddled for several hours. The river was up and running fast from the get go and canoes did tip and gear got wet. Around 8pm, we had stopped on a sandbar and as we were talking, you could see the river rising. Being about a 1/2 mile from Erbie, we decided paddle quickly there and pull out rather than chance it by going all the way to Ozark. GLAD WE DID!

River side of Erbie has a great primitive loading and unloading area. We were able to easily paddle in and carry the kayaks and canoes up about 25 yards to a safe and dry area. There was a circle road that, should we have wanted to use Erbie as our put in or final take out area, it would have made gear unloading and loading very easy. In the area of the ramp, there was a wide open space of freshly mowed meadow, a parking area, a vault bathroom and a half a dozen picnic tables. Looked like the perfect place so we pitched our tent and broke out our kitchens. Turns out that we weren't really in the camping area of the campgrounds but we didn't realize it until morning when it the light came up.

The real camping area was better equipped. Some designated spots were fairly primitive with just a grill area and a picnic table but others had full pad sites with water and electricity. The designated camping areas were nestled in trees and were nicely spaced. Many offered a very "remote" feel to them. There were at least 3 vault restroom facilities but while we were there, only the one in the parking area where we camped was open. Not sure why as there were quite a few other campers in the area. There were also several "communal" water hydrants but all were locked. Since there was no camp host that we could find, we never did find out why there wasn't water available. That was disappointing but we just may not have known the details on how to get access to the water.

Overall, the campground was well maintained, seemed safe, and the the restrooms were clean and stocked. We liked the remote feeling of the area and the river access was excellent. I would recommend Erbie to those needing a spot to stop on a float trip.

Gear Review: Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe Sleeping Pad

As a Dyrt Ranger gear tester, I was offered an opportunity to evaluate one of the sleeping pads offered by a newer but very innovative outdoor gear company named Klymit. ( https://www.klymit.com). They do other things like sleeping bags and backpacks but I believe they are best known for their pads.

Pros:

• WIDE! Allows for a restless night without falling off.
• Durable. Made from a rugged polyester fabric that has a substantial feel to it.
• Thick. This thing is flat out comfortable.
• Easy to inflate.
• Easy to deflate.
• Easy to roll-up

Cons:

• Valve system takes a little getting used to.
• Noisy if not fully inflated.

I'm not an ultra light backpacker so do keep that in mind regarding my evaluation. First the specs. The bag weighs in at 35 oz and offers an R value of 5. It is a wide 30 inches and a long 76.5 inches. It is designed with V chambers to limit air movement and comes with a cinch down bag and repair kit.

Again, not being a hardcore, ultra light backpacker, the 35 ounces wasn't a concern. As long as it is durable, warm and comfortable, a few extra ounces are worth it to me.

Being 5'9", the 76.5 inch length was more than adequate and the 30 inch width allowed me to do my normal tossing and turning without hitting ground. Fully inflated, the pad is a whopping 3 inches thick and extremely comfortable. Being so thick, I felt no discomfort when I was side sleeping. Something other pads fail at. I believe it has to do with the design as there didn't seem to be any air movement between the chambers when fully inflated.

I read somewhere that it takes 50-60 breaths to fill it up but my experience was only 25-30. You'll be blowing in and not seeing much happening and then all of the sudden it's full. Not sure if you would be able to use a pump to air it up but don't know why you would. 25 puffs and lest than 2 minutes and it is fully inflated ready for sleeping. Deflation is as simple as releasing the valve and pressing the air out.

The valves are very durable looking. I was inclined to try to "unscrew" them to open an close and that caused me some confusion in the beginning. It's more of a push/pull and a twist maneuver. Guess they expected me to be smarter that the pad!

This trip was my third opportunity to use the Insulated V Luxe. Man have things improved since my first sleeping pad! I highly recommend the Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe pad. Durable, comfortable, warm and affordable - all good things in my book!

We spent a weekend in early May in campground 1 backing right up to one of the creeks. The sound of running water alone would have me back. Electric only and not very level site but loved it! Lots to do and see at the hatchery and play in the river. Hikes were overgrown but beautiful. Highly recommend!

The campground was cleanish. The bathrooms stunk, but weren't terrible (ya gotta bring your own soap I guess). There were no trees/shade in any of the campsite so we didn't really hang out there until evening because it was too hot for the kids. And there is an annoying guy on a golf cart (camp resident) you'll meet him ;). However, there is a beautiful cold, clear river to cool off in. We had a blast with my brothers' family there. Everyone swam a lot while we were there. There are hiking trails that get you into some really cool rock formations and beautiful wildlife. The fishery up the road is a cool place to check out as well. The fish are beautiful in the lake. The firewood at the local store is way expensive, so bring your own. Everything is expensive in the area come to think of it. You'll hear of the rules from the guy in the golf cart. Ha. It's alright, but go see for yourself!

Roaring river is vast in beauty, and can cure a wandering souls need for adventure in a matter of minutes. While it has become slightly commercial and more people are visiting for the fishing and hatchery the atmosphere remains peaceful.

Roaring Rivers has three different campgrounds. Camp one is the quietest of the three. The facility is well maintained and clean. Their are plenty of things to do in the park from trout fishing to swimming, to hiking. The Fire tower trail is one that will give great views of the valley. It can be very busy during the peak times and weekends.

Fishermen will love Roaring River! If you don't fish it is okay. The area is situated in the Ozark Mountains with the campground next to the stream where they release trout. The campground we stayed at has very little shade and the spacing felt uncomfortable as it has no natural blocks from the other sites. The sirens at 7 am and in the evening are what ultimately turned me off. We awoke every morning to fishermen down by the stream waiting for the siren to tell them they could fish. The talking could be heard all the way up and down the valley.

Good trails, really beautiful water and geology (caves, bluffs). Most people here come for the fishing. The camping sites have showers and are very clean. They’re open and green and nice. Campground doesn’t stand out but the park really does.

We were turned off by the sirens at the park alerting fishermen you can fish. The campground is okay. Very open and not a lot of shade. The local ozark said are beautiful

This is a lovely park with a nice trail network to explore dense forests, watery views, and some really cool geology including little caves.

Yay: Clean and simple campground! Kind of typical state park with warm showers and a mini store, great rangers. The campsites feel private thanks to the vegetation, but do vary a little. Fishing is why most people visit, but there is more to do if you talk to the rangers a bit.

Nay: Cleanliness could be improved, but not atypical.

Surprise: We were really impressed with the beauty of this park! We heard about it from locals and we think that’s who seems to inhabit it... Great for a low key weekend or just an overnight on a tr

Wonderful! Clean!

Only gave it 4 stars, not because of the park, but the weather, low in the 30's and high in the 50-60's and terribly windy..Stayed 5 nights early April in loop 2 in our motor home. The park was terrific and very clean. Loop 2 has a brand new restroom/shower house. The staff did an exceptional job of cleaning and maintaining the park, especially after the terrible flood not even a year ago. Reservations are highly recommended as this is a trout fishing park and fills up during the summer and on weekends. At site, 20,30, & 50 amp service. No water nor sewer at site, but dump and fill stations are readily available. New this year is free wifi, although spotty and very slow during busy hours. Verizon cell is ok, ATT non existent.

Park is nice. Staff is awful. Not very accommodating