Jeannie B.
Guide
GuideBig Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
Beautiful Park
Many different trails for hiking, biking or equestrian. Camp sites are mostly grass. Beautiful park
Equestrian Camping near Arlington, IA
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Yellow River State Forest offers equestrian camping at two dedicated campgrounds near Arlington, Iowa. Frontier Equestrian Campground and Creekside Equestrian Campground provide campsites specifically designed for horse owners. Both campgrounds feature electric hookups with fifty-amp service, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. The campgrounds accommodate tent and RV camping with adequate space for horse trailers. While no designated horse corrals are provided, both equestrian campgrounds are positioned for direct access to the forest's trail system. The trails remain clean and well-maintained throughout the riding season, making them suitable for both novice and experienced riders.
Located approximately 35 miles from Arlington in Harpers Ferry, these equestrian campgrounds connect riders to an extensive network of bridle trails throughout the 8,500-acre Yellow River State Forest. Riders can explore varied terrain including wooded ridges, river valleys, and scenic overlooks. Water access points along the trails provide natural watering opportunities for horses. Though there are no permanent stalls or wash racks, the spacious campsites allow for portable corrals or highline setups. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak riding seasons in spring and fall when trail conditions are optimal. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities despite being primitive sites without shower houses. Firewood is available for purchase at nearby stores, as outside firewood is prohibited to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Arlington (10)
1. Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
"There are miles of trails. Is hiking your thing? What about equestrian? Maybe mountain bike trails? You can even take the family for a nice leisurely walk on the easier trails."
"Backbone State Park is unlike any other place in Iowa, having geological features uncommon in Iowa. There are two campgrounds."
from $16 - $25 / night
Check Availability2. South Lake Campground — Backbone State Park
from $16 - $36 / night
Check Availability3. Albany Campground — Volga River State Recreation Area
from $14 - $26 / night
Check Availability4. Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
"Many different trails for hiking, biking or equestrian. Camp sites are mostly grass. Beautiful park"
"There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included."
from $16 / night
Check Availability5. George Wyth State Park Campground
"** Iowa state parks are a bargain! This one is $11 for a non-electric site, $16 for an electric site. (Rates go down to $6 and $11 from 10/1-4/30.)"
"On Cedar Valley bike trail (100+miles of interconnecting bike trial. major Hwy on two sides of park, sleeping in a tenet it was very noisy at night. and a train track close by (again at night)"
from $16 - $24 / night
Check Availability6. Frontier Equestrian Campground — Yellow River State Forest
"In Yellow River State Forest,-Very nice spacious sites for horses/riders including tie-ups, fire rings, tables at each site."
from $20 / night
Check Availability7. Creekside Equestrian Campground — Yellow River State Forest
"Clean, well kept sites with tie-ups, tables, fire rings, manure station and tools, multiuser trails including stream crossings. Trout fishing is good with seasonal stockings."
from $20 / night
Check Availability8. Matsell Bridge Natural Area
"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."
9. Black Hawk County Park
"Right on the bike trail.. Hot showers.. Good place to camp..."
10. Wakpicada Natural Area
"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."
Drive Time
- 55 min from Waterloo, IA
- 1 hr 4 min from Dubuque, IA
- 1 hr 8 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1 hr 29 min from Iowa City, IA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Arlington, IA
68 Reviews of 10 Arlington Campgrounds
- Jeannie B.Guide
Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Many things to do here
Backbone is a very diverse area. There are miles of trails. Is hiking your thing? What about equestrian? Maybe mountain bike trails? You can even take the family for a nice leisurely walk on the easier trails. Exploring is fun at this park because there is so much to see. The Trout stream was busy the weekend we were there. You might even want to play a round of Gulf. We have solar on our trailer so we stayed in the Six Pines campground and it was beautiful. We listened to the night animals for hours.
Mary S.
LegendGeorge Wyth State Park Campground
Another bargain at an Iowa State Park
Why Should You Camp Here?
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Iowa state parks are a bargain! This one is $11 for a non-electric site, $16 for an electric site. (Rates go down to $6 and $11 from 10/1-4/30.) There is no separate park entry fee (unlike some states).
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You can rent kayaks, canoes or pedal boats near the campground at Wyth Lake. And there are 3 other nearby lakes.
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There's a small beach at Wyth Lake.
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The Cedar River is on the edge of the campground.
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You're so close to Cedar Falls and Waterloo which means there are craft breweries!
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We were only there for a night but I saw this on reserveamerica.com: "The Lake-to-State Park Bike Route is a 50 mile route connecting Pine Lake and George Wyth State Park. The route primarily utilizes county highways and established bike routes and paths once inside Cedar Falls/Waterloo."
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We didn't do everything we could do there, because we were just passing through. Check this out: https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/george-wyth-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=IA&parkId=610125
Amenities
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The usual fire ring and picnic table
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Dump station and potable water
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Flush toilets and running water in bathrooms along with push button showers. Ok, push button showers are not ideal. Just keep pushing that button and hopefully you'll be okay with the temperature that you can't control!
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- Mary S.Legend
Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing
This review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.
Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?
It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.
Activities
Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.
Amenities
Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.
Cost
You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.
https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130
- C
Carol M.
TravelerMatsell 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.
Kerry M.
RangerSix Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Two campgrounds to enjoy at Backbone State Park
Backbone State Park is unlike any other place in Iowa, having geological features uncommon in Iowa.
There are two campgrounds. I have camped in both:
Modern Campground: This is a large, modern campground with all of the standard amenities found in a modern campground… electric hookups, flush toilets, water. I have camped here twice, both times in my travel trailer. Overall, it is a nice campground with decent space in between campers, however, I tend to avoid it during the busier summer and fall colors seasons.
Primitive Campground: This is my favorite at Backbone for camping, especially in the autumn after the leaves have fallen off of the trees. As this campground is non-electric, there are not many people camping after it turns colder. I have spent many nights there alone in the primitive campground, watching RVs pull in and then leave after realizing that it has no hookups.
Nearby trout fishing: Backbone is home to one of the more popular trout streams in Iowa. The fishing is easy as most of the fish are stocked (April-October). Still, it is an enjoyable fishing trip as the stream itself is mostly rocks and gravel, with several deep holes. The water is cold and clear.
Other activities: Hiking is very popular in Backbone. I have also seen rock climbing and rappelling. There are some nice spots away from the trout stream for wading and a little swimming. Backbone State Park also has a small lake with a swimming area and boat rentals during the summer. Several nice cabins are available for those who do not want to camp.
Stuart O.GuideBig Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
Good late season option for the self-contained camper
Was very thankful to find a place to overnight in mid-November. Not a lot of free parking options in this part of Iowa. No water, electric, or dump station, so very much like a parking lot overnight from that perspective. However, the park is situated on the valley bottom of the Yellow River Forest with beautiful tall trees, and there are fire rings. Fee was $12. First come first served basis from November through March.
- Ashley D.Traveler
Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Fun for the whole family
This campground has many things to do. This place has tent, rv and cabin camping, you can choose modern or non modern camping. Fun activities include fishing, swimming in a lake and also ground fed springs, boat rentals on the lake, hiking also horse trails, rock climbing, caves, playgrounds shelters for events and parties. I am sure there are even more things to do that I didnt have the time for.
- Max K.Traveler
Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Great bathroom and hiking, awful lake
We stayed here two nights. That was plenty, although it's not really the park's fault. The lake was super gross, with excessive floating moss (probably a weather issue) and EXCESSIVE goose poop everywhere. The beach was basically unusable, with goose bombs everywhere. It was better when we kayaked, but still gross.
So why the five stars? 1. The bathrooms were fantastic. 2. The camp site was really nice and plenty of room. 3. The hiking was superb. Felt like we were not in Iowa. 4. The driving through the park was also really great and I will go back this fall to look at leaves. 5. There is a cave you can explore on your own. We did. It's awesome. It's muddy. It's super cool. 6. There are some decent bouldering spots. 7. Cheap, huge bundles of firewood at park entrance. 8. Really friendly at the camp store. 9. Close to Strawberry Point. Go to town to Clayton's Pharmacy and get an old fashioned soda. Fantastic. 10. Close to Edgewood and the Edgewood Locker. Go visit and stock up on meat on the way home.
Guide to Arlington
Frontier Equestrian Campground and Creekside Equestrian Campground offer specialized horse camping facilities within Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry, Iowa, approximately 60 miles northeast of Arlington. Both campgrounds accommodate tent and RV campers with horses, providing electric hookups, water connections, fire rings, and picnic tables at each site. The campgrounds feature level parking areas designed for horse trailers with ample room for unloading. Fires are permitted in designated rings, and pets are allowed throughout both equestrian campgrounds. Campers consistently report excellent trail access directly from the camping areas. The primitive nature of these facilities means there are no showers available, though basic toilets are provided.
The Yellow River State Forest trail system connects riders to extensive bridle paths winding through diverse terrain including hardwood forests, open meadows, and scenic overlooks. Both equestrian campgrounds serve as primary access points to the forest's trail network, allowing riders to set out directly from their campsites without trailering horses to separate trailheads. The reservation system accommodates both individual campers and organized group rides with advance booking recommended during peak seasons from late spring through early fall. Riders must bring their own water and feed for horses, as no on-site supply services exist at the campgrounds. The forest maintains well-marked trails that accommodate various riding skill levels, with routes ranging from short loops to extensive day-long excursions through the 8,500-acre property.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Arlington, IA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Arlington, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Arlington, IA is Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Arlington, IA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Arlington, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Arlington, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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