Little Paint Campground, near Harpers Ferry, Iowa, is a fantastic spot for those who love the great outdoors and want to experience some quality time in nature. This campground is surrounded by beautiful scenery, with a trout stream running right alongside it, making it a prime location for fishing and cooling off on warm days.

The sites here are primitive, which means no electric hookups, but they come with picnic tables and fire rings for your campfire needs. Visitors have raved about the shaded areas and the spaciousness between sites, allowing for a bit of privacy while still being close to the action. One camper noted, “Great sites for those who are all within walking distance to stocked trout streams!”

If you’re into fishing, you’re in luck. The nearby streams are stocked and accessible, making it a great spot for both beginners and seasoned anglers. Reviewers have highlighted the peaceful atmosphere, especially during the week, and the easy access to hiking and equestrian trails in the surrounding Yellow River State Forest.

While the campground doesn’t offer drinking water or showers, it does have pit toilets and trash bins to keep things tidy. Just a heads up, cell service can be spotty, so be prepared to unplug and enjoy the tranquility. Whether you’re pitching a tent or rolling in with an RV, Little Paint Campground is a solid choice for a rustic getaway.

Campers can enjoy spending the night under the stars in one of the campgrounds in the Paint Creek Unit. Reservable campsites can be found in all four campgrounds. The Big Paint and Little Paint campgrounds are non-modern and have nonelectric campsites and vault toilets. The Little Paint campground also has two sites which are for use only by chaperoned organized youth groups.

There is no drinking water located in the campgrounds at Yellow River State Forest but it is available at the A-frame information center located on State Forest Road near Big Paint Campground approximately four miles off Highway 76.

Little Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

Waterville, IA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Waterville camping trip.

Waterville

The Best Camping Near Waterville, Iowa

The campground runs next to a trout stream and can be busy on weekends but with fishing, hiking, horse trails, the only setback is its primitive but being in the valley and near effigy mounds it's a winner at 9$ a night. 

Little paint 

This was a quick stopover so I can't comment on the park overall.  It is nestled in the woods not far from the Indian Mounds area in Iowa.  I stayed at Little Paint Campground.  There are pit toilets, but the water said not for drinking.  A small river runs by the camp.  The park has hiking and equestrian trails.  There wasn't cellphone service at the campground, I had to drive out of the park and up the hill by the small church to get reception.  Water is available as you enter the park on the right side by the information stand.

A nice surprise in NE Iowa

Iowa only has a few state forests and this one has something the others do not... trout fishing.

There are actually three campgrounds in YRSF... one on Little Paint Creek, one equestrian campground on Little Paint Creek, and a campground on Paint Creek. I have stayed at both non-equestrian campgrounds multiple times. All of them, including the equestrian, have easy access to trout fishing. All are primitive - non-electric.

  

Little Paint Creek:

This is the larger of the two non-equestrian campgrounds. While there are no electric sites, there are many sites suitable for a small to large RV or camper. I generally camp in a tent here. Most of the sites are large with plenty of space between adjacent sites. Many are right next to the trout stream. This trout stream is excellent for beginners. It is stocked, and there are multiple pools that are easily accessible with one that is handicap accessible. The stream can get busy when the stock truck arrives. It is popular with fly fisherman as well as spinners and power-bait. The campsite itself is usually pretty quiet. There are several pit toilets available.

  

Paint Creek:

This is my favorite of the two sites and I have camped many nights here, mostly in a tent but once in a small camper. The trout stream is bigger than Little Paint and offers more challenging fishing. Fly fishing seems to be most successful but I catch most of my trout on an ultralight spinner rig. The campsite itself is usually pretty quiet and not very busy, but it can get more busy during Iowa deer season. There are two pit toilets available.

  

I have stayed in these campsites in spring and autumn months.

Nice state forest with trout fishing

Stayed in 2 primitive tent sites: table, fire ring, shaded. Great sites for hat are all within walking to stocked trout streams! CG is in valley, cooled air, shaded, cold water streams to cool off. Pit toilets, trash bins, self registration with some sites reservable.

Photos of Little Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

Real photos from real campers