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Best Equestrian Camping near Clarion, IA

41 Reviews

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area offers equestrian camping options in both North and South Equestrian Campgrounds. Horse owners appreciate the spacious, grassy sites with electrical hookups (30 and 50 amp) and convenient hitching posts behind each campsite. Though there are no dedicated horse corrals, the equestrian campgrounds provide specialized areas for those traveling with horses. Full hookup sites with water and sewer connections are available, and both campgrounds maintain modern shower facilities during the camping season from April 1 to December 31. The campgrounds remain clean and well-maintained, with paved roads throughout that accommodate horse trailers and provide easy access to the extensive trail system.

Riders access miles of multi-use trails directly from the equestrian campgrounds, allowing for varied terrain exploration through wooded areas and open prairie. Both North and South Equestrian Campgrounds at Brushy Creek connect to an extensive trail network popular with horseback riders. The park's equestrian facilities attract campers with horses throughout the season, though sites without electricity remain less utilized even during peak periods. Daily trail rides connect campers to fishing spots, the beach area, and scenic lookouts. Reservations are recommended, particularly for electric sites during summer months. The campground layout provides enough separation between horse areas and other camping sections to maintain a peaceful experience. Most equestrian sites are pull-through style, accommodating larger rigs and horse trailers while providing convenient access to water.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Clarion, Iowa (8)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Clarion, IA

41 Reviews of 8 Clarion Campgrounds

  • B
    Aug. 19, 2016

    North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

    Nice campground

    I stayed here at the start of the summer and had a great time. We chose to stay in the equestrian campsite (even though we didn't have horses) because it was a bit more secluded and shaded. The campsites were nice and the lake and stream were very nice as well. I was surprised to see a school of muskie while fishing, but it appeared that they were spawning at the time. If you go camping in May, make sure to bring a slightly heavier fishing pole to handle the musky. They're worth it.

  • S
    Jul. 6, 2021

    North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

    North Equine Campground

    The only open site was in the North Equine Campground so we took a chance. We really did like the Campground, it was well maintained, clean and quiet. There were a few campers with horse but not many. Hitching posts behind each site which we enjoyed seeing. The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds. There was also a nice playground for the kids surrounded by a well maintained, large, grassy area. There were many empty sites because so many had no electric. It made for lots of nice open space. Unfortunately, we had no shade in the afternoon so weren't able to eat dinner outside or enjoy a fire in the evening. We are fortunate we camped in a 5th wheel so we could escape the heat, we would have left after the first night otherwise.
    We did drive through the Beach Campground and the South Equine Campground. Beach had very little shade and was primarily families with younger children. The beach looked real nice, not too crowded for a hot, July day. North Equine was where most of the horse folks were staying it was quite crowded. A very bustling area.

  • Andrea H.
    May. 15, 2020

    South Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

    Relaxing never bored

    First time camping at south campground. Loving it so far! Restrooms/showers and playgrounds are all still closed due to covid but there is still plenty to do! Walking, hiking and exploring. People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet.

  • B
    Jun. 11, 2022

    Shellrock River Co Preserve

    It’s nice quiet to listen to old podcast. Have a fire. Not much more is needed

    It’s quiet, clean, and has some pretty views of the Iowa nite sky

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 25, 2023

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Layout of campground would be challenging if full

    General: A mixture of tent (non-electric) and electric sites, mostly arranged in several rows. 

    Site Quality: Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site). A fire pit and picnic table complete the site. Most of the sites are too close together for our liking, however, when we were there (a Monday at the end of August, the day before school started), we were only one of three sites occupied so for our stay it didn’t matter. 

    Bathhouse: Basic but clean. My biggest complaint is there were no hooks or shelves for toiletries by the sinks. The showers looked nice but we did not use them. 

    Activities: Horseback riding (there are trails for this), hiking, fishing. Although we did see several trailheads, I did not have a map so didn’t explore them. There is an observation tower, but it is a two-mile walk/drive from the campground (on paved roads; I didn’t try to find hiking trails to get there). 

    Misc: A shout-out to the great host, Pam, who greeted us as we arrived. The observation tower, entrance gates, and picnic shelter were all constructed by the CCC and were beautiful. It almost seemed like the campground was an afterthought as it is outside the entrance gates and nowhere near the tower. The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 15, 2021

    North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

    The Stars Were So Bright!

    Camped here in order to be close to Fort Dodge first thing in the morning.  I stayed in the Beach Campground.  It's not on the beach, but close to it.  There are 3 total campgrounds in the park.  My choice was a very well manicured campground.  The shower house was not open yet due to the time of year, but the drop latrine was open, very clean and well lit.

    This little nugget is laid out on a vast prairie.  Most sites have younger trees that provide some shade.  This is not the big wooded type park.  There are trails to get you out and away from the "park" and closer to the rustic woody nature.

    Fire rings are all adjustable, sites are well kept and they offer "buddy sites" that are 2 sites really close together for those times when you bring friends, but have too many tents/vehicles to fall into the rules.

    Verizon 4G fluctuated between 0-2 bars.  Was able to send pictures and only dropped a call once.

    Very little light pollution

  • M
    Aug. 26, 2018

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Camping in the woods near town

    Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park. Plenty of hiking trails, playground for the kids, and an amazing sand bottom swimming pond surrounded by sand beach. Golf is also nearby at The New Ulm Country Club which is open to the public. Nice level sites with electric, picnic tables and fire rings.

  • Vanessa H.
    Sep. 11, 2022

    Clear Lake State Park Campground

    Great spot

    We love coming to Clear Lake! The campgrounds are always very well kept, bathrooms very clean! Easy access to the lake, and the town has so much to do during the summer months!

Guide to Clarion

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area offers multiple equestrian camping options within 45 miles of Clarion, Iowa. The north, south, and beach campgrounds sit at approximately 1,150 feet elevation in Webster County's rolling landscape. Horse campsites remain available even during peak summer periods, with electrical and full hookup options that stay operational from April through December.

What to do

Trail riding access: North and South Equestrian Campgrounds at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area connect directly to extensive multi-use trails. "Walking, hiking and exploring. People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet," notes Andrea H. about the South Equestrian Campground.

Fishing spots: Multiple ponds and a 690-acre lake provide fishing opportunities near the horse camping areas. "I was surprised to see a school of muskie while fishing, but it appeared that they were spawning at the time. If you go camping in May, make sure to bring a slightly heavier fishing pole to handle the musky," advises Brandon C.

Beach access: The beach area connects to the equestrian trails via daily rides from both North and South Campgrounds. At Clear Lake State Park, "there is easy access to the lake, and the town has so much to do during the summer months," according to Vanessa H.

Horseback rentals: While personal horses require hitching posts at campsites, local stables offer day-rate rentals for visitors without horses. Kennedy Park provides seasonal rentals with direct access to separate trail systems not connected to Brushy Creek.

What campers like

Off-season value: Horse camping areas offer significant value during spring and fall. "Open for off season camping. 14$/night for full hookups with pull thru RV sites," reports Anna C. about North Equestrian Campground at Brushy Creek.

Spacious sites: The equestrian campgrounds feature larger than standard sites to accommodate horse trailers. "Great for tent camping, very spacious and grassy sites, clean, grill/fire pit was really very nice," shares Randi about the North Equestrian Campground.

Shower facilities: The modern shower buildings receive consistent positive feedback. At Pilot Knob State Park, "bathhouse was clean and showers were individual room with timed lights, motion sensors kept the shower interesting," reports Lisa P.

Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution makes for excellent stargazing from horse camping areas. "Very little light pollution" at Brushy Creek means "the stars were so bright," according to Staci I.

What you should know

Non-horse campers welcome: You don't need horses to use the equestrian campgrounds. "We chose to stay in the equestrian campsite (even though we didn't have horses) because it was a bit more secluded and shaded," explains Brandon C. about Brushy Creek's North Equestrian area.

Site availability patterns: Non-electric sites remain less utilized even on summer weekends. "There were many empty sites because so many had no electric. It made for lots of nice open space," notes Stephanie B. about North Equestrian Campground.

Seasonal closures: While camping is available April through December, shower buildings close earlier. Water systems winterize by mid-October depending on temperature forecasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Clarion, IA is North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 9 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Clarion, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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