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Equestrian Camping near Amana, IA

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    None of the campgrounds in the data explicitly show horse facilities. Wakpicada Natural Area, Lake Iowa County Park, Matsell Bridge Natural Area, Wanatee Park, Keokuk County Belva Deer Park, and Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area do not list horse corrals or dedicated equestrian facilities in their features. According to the provided JSON data, all these campgrounds have "NO horse-corral" listed in their features. While the parks offer various recreational opportunities for hikers, campers, and nature enthusiasts, none appear to have specialized accommodations for horses.

    Several of the parks offer trail systems and natural areas that could be enjoyed by visitors. Lake Iowa County Park features wildlife viewing opportunities where campers report seeing deer and rabbits near their sites. Wanatee Park provides access to bike trails and is noted for its spacious sites with some shade. Matsell Bridge Natural Area offers a rustic setting along the Wapsipinicon River with opportunities for primitive camping.

    Visitors interested in outdoor activities near Amana, Iowa would find options for tent, RV, and in some cases cabin camping at these locations. Many parks provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to bathrooms. Some parks like Lake Iowa County Park and Wanatee Park feature shower facilities that reviewers note are particularly clean and well-maintained. For those seeking horseback riding opportunities, it would be advisable to contact local park authorities directly to inquire about trail riding regulations or nearby equestrian facilities, as the provided data does not indicate specialized horse camping options in this area.

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Amana (6)

      1. Lake Iowa County Park

      4.6(8)20mi from AmanaRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Wife and I will likely return and see more of the Amana communities in the fall."

      "Not too far off the highway.  Very clean and quiet.  The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake.  "

      2. Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

      4.7(9)22mi from AmanaRVs, Tents

      "We camped at this park for 9 nights with W/E on site with a dump upon exit/entrance.  Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers. "

      "There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through."

      from $23 - $33 / night

      Check Availability

      3. Matsell Bridge Natural Area

      4.3(4)34mi from AmanaRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up."

      4. Wakpicada Natural Area

      5.0(1)32mi from AmanaTents

      "Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway. Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren’t right next to each other."

      5. Keokuk County Belva Deer Park

      5.0(1)33mi from AmanaRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance."

      6. Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

      3.5(4)42mi from AmanaRVs, Tents

      "Located in Muscatine County in southeast Iowa, this rec area offers well-maintained campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking/canoeing and seasonal hunting. There are three separate campgrounds."

      from $15 - $20 / night

      Check Availability

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Amana, IA

    27 Reviews of 6 Amana Campgrounds

    • mThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

      I arrived after dark. Crept in slowly as its dark. Loop B. Found a spot easy. I’ll drop the envelope on the way out. Some minor road noise. Dark! Quiet! So far, excellent. I plan to head out early. I would stay here again. $25water/electric. Cash in iron ranger. Haven’t used the restroom. Perhaps in the morning. Lovely clear night sky

    • TThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 12, 2026

      Lake Iowa County Park

      Nice campground

      Nice quiet campground. The front looks like more long timers and it was a little noisier up there but I drove to the back loop and it's nice and quiet back here. PLENTY of 50/30/20 amp hookups and the shower house in the back was nice. Water was just lukewarm but it was hot out so no problem. Might be less pleasant in colder weather though. Pull through spots available. I would stay here again for sure.

    • RThe Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 21, 2026

      Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

      Very nice basic campground

      Driving thru. Stayed for a quick stop over. County Park. Loop A takes reservations. Loop B first come first served. It was a long trek to the bathroom and showers which were well maintained. Great price $35

    • CThe Dyrt Pro User
      Mar. 21, 2026

      Matsell Bridge Natural Area

      Beautiful and secluded, campground road closed

      Off the beaten path, beautiful area but when we got there the road to the campground was closed, so we ended up parking for the night in the horse staging area instead.

    • Clifton B.
      Aug. 18, 2025

      Lake Iowa County Park

      Very nice campground off the beaten path

      Wife and I met friends here in August 2025.  This was the middle between us & them as we live in CO and they live in NY.  The campground was very well maintained.  Shower rooms & restrooms were very clean and all were functional.  We really enjoyed the long weekend here.  Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August.  Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did.  Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees.  Wife and I will likely return and see more of the Amana communities in the fall.

    • Brett S.
      May. 19, 2025

      Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

      Awesome Place

      This is our go to campground! We have stayed at this campground several times and plan to several more times! Half of the campgrounds is first come first serve, the other half is reserve only.

    • Mandy F.
      Oct. 10, 2024

      Lake Iowa County Park

      Wasn't free

      It was beautiful, full of wildlife, easy to find,not too far from highway but far away enough to not hear

    • Ken G.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 23, 2024

      Lake Iowa County Park

      very nice and clean. Lots of sites but well spaced

      Not too far off the highway.  Very clean and quiet.  The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake.  Couldn't see the lake from where we camped, but nice woody area behind our campsite.  Nice little visitor area.  Lots of trails to walk with the dog including a nice trail along the lake.

      Great place to spend one night.  If I had more time, I would have gone paddle boarding or fishing on the lake.

    • Randall K.
      Aug. 9, 2024

      Lake Iowa County Park

      Great spot for a great price

      Very well kept campground! Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong?

      Only issue is that the spots are pretty close together. Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed. At 3am we decided we needed to move to an electric site because it was too much to have the windows open. I felt really bad for anyone in a tent. I coughed all the next day.

      The campground was not that busy so there is no way I would stay here on a busy holiday weekend due to the spots being too close. If a few people make a fire you better shut down all your windows. No sleeping in the cool, night air here.

      But this is an issue at other places too. Just never experienced anything on this level before. Esp considering no one in our section even had a fire going.

      I wish campgrounds would start banning these fires. But that’s a topic for a later date.

      Other than that it was a great spot.

    Guide to Amana

    Campgrounds near Amana, Iowa offer options for overnight stays in Iowa's rural heartland, characterized by rolling hills and river valleys at elevations between 700-850 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons, with summer humidity levels frequently reaching 80-90%, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Most campgrounds are situated along waterways like the Cedar River, Wapsipinicon River, and various lakes or ponds.

    What to do

    Fishing opportunities: Access the Wapsipinicon River at Matsell Bridge Natural Area, where campers find secluded spots with riverside access. "The 4th of July weekend it was us, one other camper and the random one nighters... Overall very good experience," reports Randi C.

    Mountain biking trails: Ride the single-track trails connecting to Wanatee Park. "The best thing about this campground is it's access to the squaw creek man bike single track. The sites are nice, and easy access to town if you forgot stuff," notes Kris P.

    Kayaking and canoeing: Paddle along Chicken Creek at Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area where non-motorized boats are welcome. "There are three separate campgrounds... Across the road from these two campgrounds is the main boat access and fishing dock for Chicken Creek. Only non-motorized boats are allowed here," explains Jessica H.

    Wildlife viewing: Spot local wildlife at Lake Iowa County Park where trails lead through diverse habitats. "There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife. We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through," shares Leslie P.

    What campers like

    Clean shower facilities: Lake Iowa County Park maintains exceptional bathhouse facilities. "Shower house and bathrooms were really nice! Wasn't expecting to want to take a shower but couldn't pass up the opportunity when we saw them. Very hot water," says Claudia M.

    Quiet atmosphere: Wakpicada Natural Area offers peaceful camping with minimal crowds. "Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other. I consider it a little hidden gem," writes Parker H.

    Proximity to bike trails: Wanatee Park connects to extensive regional trail systems. "Very well kept and quiet campground... Lots of opportunity to ride the numerous bike trails nearby and hike in wanatee park and nearby pinicon," notes Kristy E.

    Natural settings: Matsell Bridge Natural Area provides rustic camping along the river. "Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River... take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this 'best kept secret' for primitive and inexpensive camping sites," advises Carol M.

    What you should know

    No horse facilities available: None of the campgrounds near Amana, Iowa offer dedicated horse camping facilities or corrals. For equestrian-friendly options, you'll need to travel beyond the immediate area.

    Seasonal flooding concerns: River-adjacent campgrounds like Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area may experience closures due to high water. "When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds," reports Jessica H.

    Summer humidity challenges: Prepare for high humidity from June through August. "We were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August. Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did. Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees," explains Clifton B.

    Campfire smoke concerns: Sites at Lake Iowa County Park can be close together, affecting air quality. "Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed. At 3am we decided we needed to move to an electric site because it was too much to have the windows open," warns Randall K.

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas for children. "There are 24 sites, and they run $20 per night... There's a playground, and firewood for purchase," mentions Jessica H. about Saulsbury Bridge.

    Wildlife education: Use Lake Iowa County Park's trails for nature learning opportunities. "Not too far off the highway. Very clean and quiet. The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake... Lots of trails to walk with the dog including a nice trail along the lake," shares Ken G.

    Site selection matters: For families wanting lake views, be strategic about site selection. "Very few sites have a view of the lake. To walk to the lake or near by pond you must go down hill, which could be a problem for any one with mobility issues... I would say if you can try and get sites, 67-70. They have beautiful views," advises Leslie P.

    Tips from RVers

    Hookup options: Keokuk County Belva Deer Park offers both primitive and serviced options. "$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance," notes Keith B.

    Level sites: Check campground reviews for site levelness information. "We camped at this park for 9 nights with W/E on site with a dump upon exit/entrance. Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers," shares Clint G.

    Site spacing considerations: Wanatee Park offers well-spaced sites. "There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through. Bathrooms are stationed without so it's never a far walk and the shower house was really nice," explains Colleen L.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Amana, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Amana, IA is Lake Iowa County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 8 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Amana, IA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Amana, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.