3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Governor Dodge State Park offers equestrian camping at its dedicated Equestrian Campground located in Wisconsin, approximately 45 miles northwest of Scales Mound, Illinois. The facility accommodates tent and RV camping with sites that can handle horse trailers. Trails throughout the park are accessible for horseback riding with riders enjoying well-maintained paths through the park's varied terrain. The trails connect to the campground allowing direct access for riders without needing to transport horses by vehicle once at the campground. The facility maintains excellent cleanliness standards in shower and bathroom facilities.
The park's extensive trail system features paths specifically designated for horseback riding where visitors can explore wooded areas and bluffs. Riders frequently spot wildlife while traversing the diverse landscape. Twin Valley Campground within Governor Dodge provides additional camping options near the equestrian facilities, though it requires driving to access the equestrian area. Multiple reviews mention the well-maintained horse trails and quiet camping experience at the equestrian sites. For those traveling with horses from the Scales Mound area, Governor Dodge State Park represents the closest established option for combined camping and trail riding, with reservations recommended during peak season as the equestrian campground received high ratings from horse owners who appreciate the spacious sites and trail access.
"Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range."
"It has a large lake with three boat launches, a main one with a motor ramp, a canoe launch near the marshy end, and a fishing pier."
Available this weekend
from $19 - $110 / night
"This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."
"There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."
from $10 - $30 / night
"Two good lakes for kayaking/canoeing/fishing/swimming. Lots of good hiking trails and they are working on a big improvement to the equestrian campground."
"The sites on the "inside" of the loop are rather close to one another. 21 has a nice view of the lake, and you can walk back to the fence to look over the bluff 24 is quite private and very large 26,"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $21 - $39 / night
"Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing. Hidden gem of Wisconsin. The campsites are pretty private, nestled in trees. Some shaded, some have sun and shade."
"Site 271 was just enough of a walk to feel remote but not so far that I couldn't carry all my stuff."
Available this weekend
from $21 - $39 / night
"We saw an article about "Dutch Days" in nearby Fulton on www.OnlyInYourState.com, (first weekend in May) and thought it looked like fun."
"We enjoyed the beautiful lake and cute restaurant/gift shop. We liked the different loops of campsites with pit toilets every where and a nice modern bathroom/shower house also."
from $20 / night
"Beautiful, quite and clean park with hiking trails and horse trails."
"This is a nice campground that winds around through some light woods. Campsites have electric hookups. There are certainly lots of picnic tables. We saw more than one per site."
from $15 - $25 / night
"Nice long trail, friendly people, and a cute little ice cream shop that was a lifesaver after a long hike."
from $39 / night
TravelerCampground is nice spacious and we’re well divided. The drive from the entrance of Governor Dodge to cox hollow was a good 2-3 miles but was very scenic.
ScoutFirst of all I have never paid so much for a state campground. By the time they were done tacking on fees it $72 a night, $15 extra for being out of state. There is only one dump station for over 320 sites. There was no water available in the campground, they were all torn up. Fortunately, the weather was fairly cool so we didn't need to run our air. Every time we tried to run more than 2 things at a time it tripped the 30 amp breaker. Very dissapointed for the price paid.
GuideWe stayed at site 116 for 1 night. The site had privacy trees all around and a long driveway. It's a pretty hilly site, so be prepared to level out in a camper. It was a busy weekend and the beach was packed, for the end of May. There is a place to get ice cream too! The bathhouses are newer and everything is clean. Would recommend if you enjoy a busy and beautiful state park.
RangerI camped here in late spring and the park wasn’t too busy. Allot of elevation in the park and great lookout spots. Some gated up caves on the north end of the bluff. Great sunsets and sunrises!
LegendBig private sites but the toilet is a hike.
ScoutCame July 2024 for our annual camping trip with 12 people and 6 cars at Group Camp 204.
Main complaints from the group were there were too many kids for our camping experience and the swimming beach was small for the amount of people there during the day. The campground itself is further from major stores (~15-20 min), gas, and ATM’s for replenishing ice, needing to grab something from the store, or grabbing more cash for boat rentals.
Biggest pro from the group was being secluded from the other sites and rarely hearing other sites. We occasionally saw folks from 203 coming to use the pit/vault toilets but that didn’t bother us. We also rented a 12 person pontoon from Cork Down Saloon Boat Rentals and that was great!
We likely won’t return but had a great time while there!
TravelerCamped here in May 2024. Campsites were good and bathrooms were clean enough. What really makes this campground is the lake. There’s a nice beach for kids and adults to relax at and lots of kayaks on the water.
TravelerWe went Memorial Day weekend and got a tent site at Hickory Hill. I would recommend the Pine Ridge area for a quieter night, but it was all booked up when we went. For RV campers Hickory Hill was great! Paved roads, clean pump out area, and nice shower house. We were in site 148 which was quite nice. Great shade and dense woods separated us from the RV area.
TravelerGreat park for water activities and hiking! Also had nice shower facilities.
Governor Dodge State Park's Equestrian Campground sits about 45 miles northwest of Scales Mound, Illinois in Wisconsin's driftless region. The area features limestone bluffs and valleys carved by ancient glacial activity, with elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet. Horse camping facilities in this region connect directly to trail systems through wooded terrain.
Trail riding through diverse terrain: At Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground, riders can explore rolling hills and glacial features. "Beautiful glacial area with rolling hills and wonderful views. Lots of hiking trails and nature programs for all ages," notes Jeanne M. The park offers approximately 10 miles of trails through prairie and woodland areas.
Lakeside activities: Twin Valley Campground provides access to two lakes where horses can cool off after riding. "Great state park for a family camping vacation, tons of stuff to do. Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing," reports Meg S. The campground connects to both Cox Hollow Lake and Twin Valley Lake.
Wildlife viewing: Forest preserves near Scales Mound offer opportunities to spot deer and other animals while riding. "There are lots of wildlife to enjoy... Beautiful park and tons of hiking," says Mallory M. Early morning and dusk provide optimal wildlife viewing times along wooded trail edges.
Private, spacious sites: Morrison-Rockwood State Park campsites offer room for horse trailers. "Our campsite was spacious but some are open and too close together. Good for one night unless you have your own boat," reports Joanne I. Sites in the 80s loop provide the most privacy with mature trees.
Clean facilities: Equestrian campgrounds maintain good standards for both humans and horses. "The (and I cannot emphasize this enough) CLEANEST campground bathrooms I've ever seen! Even the vault toilets were amazingly clean," writes Stacie H. Facilities include wash stations suitable for gear cleanup.
Trail access: Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve offers direct trail connections from camping areas. "Beautiful, quite and clean park with hiking trails and horse trails," notes Jeff C. The preserve maintains designated bridle paths separate from hiking trails.
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds near Scales Mound require advance booking. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, "we have only been to this campground one time because we wanted to try something new," mentions Meg K. Reservations are essential during summer weekends, with bookings opening 6 months in advance.
Variable campsite conditions: Ground may not be level at all sites. "Check your site before booking! One section of sites is like an open field? No trees and full view of others," advises Amy W. Sites specifically designated for horses typically have more room but may lack shade.
Weather preparedness: The driftless area experiences rapid weather changes. "It rained all week before we arrived the site we were on could have used some more gravel as it was little muddy for the first day," reports Jeremy S. Spring and fall bring the most unpredictable conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Scales Mound, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Scales Mound, IL is Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 36 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Scales Mound, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Scales Mound, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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