No horse-friendly campgrounds specifically designed for equestrian camping are available near Clarksville, Iowa based on the provided data. The seven campgrounds listed in the area (Camp Comfort Recreation Area, George Wyth State Park, Black Hawk Park, Clear Lake State Park, Shellrock River Preserve, Cedar Bridge Park, and Albany Campground) all indicate "NO horse-corral" in their features list. While these campgrounds accommodate tent and RV camping with various amenities such as electric hookups, shower facilities, and water access, none provide dedicated equestrian facilities.
Campers seeking places to stay with horses would need to look beyond the immediate Clarksville area. Shellrock River Co Preserve, while free and accommodating to tent and RV camping, doesn't offer horse-specific facilities according to visitor reviews. Trail riders frequently look for campgrounds with designated horse corrals, highlines, or paddock areas. Cedar Bridge County Park receives positive reviews for its hiking and horseback riding trails, but lacks the infrastructure specifically for overnight horse camping. Clear Lake State Park Campground, though well-reviewed for its spacious sites and lake access, similarly does not advertise equestrian-specific accommodations or trail access points designed for mounted riders.
"Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge."
$16 - $24 / night
"** 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)"
"Right on the bike trail.. Hot showers.. Good place to camp..."
$18 - $38 / night
"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!"
"Clear lake state park is a nice campground. It does get very busy during peak season and traffic is continuous. It is clean and close to the beach. Down town and other shopping is a short drive away."
"Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees. There a gravel track that goes along a large river. Trees everywhere so bring bug spray. Quiet, peaceful. Not private but worth it."
"Dump station and dumpsters near the exit. Clean bathrooms and showers. Lots of space at each campsite. Good hiking and horse trails."
"It runs along the Cedar River and has a put in for paddlers nearby. It is situated right off the blacktopped road."
$14 - $26 / night
TravelerYou will love this park. There are about 20 self-serve sites with electric and water. Self serve firewood. Dump station and dumpsters near the exit. Clean bathrooms and showers. Lots of space at each campsite. Good hiking and horse trails. Sitting right on the Cedar River, it’s a great location to kayak and tube. Cheap at $20 a night. We showed up at 8:00 on a Fryevening and spots were available!
LegendWhy Should You Camp Here?
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).
You can rent kayaks, canoes or pedal boats near the campground at Wyth Lake. And there are 3 other nearby lakes.
There's a small beach at Wyth Lake.
The Cedar River is on the edge of the campground.
You're so close to Cedar Falls and Waterloo which means there are craft breweries!
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."
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
The usual fire ring and picnic table
Dump station and potable water
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!
ScoutIt’s quiet, clean, and has some pretty views of the Iowa nite sky
ScoutNice park with some easy hiking trails and great bike paths. Both also good for any runners. All are really flat and would be easy for older people or young children to do. There is also a beach that is open seasonally and docks dotted throughout for fishing boats or kayaks. Really nice for kayaking and paddleboarding. Not much if any current (unless your in the river portion) which makes it smooth for anyone to do including kids. Campground isn't bad. Usually very clean and the hosts are nice. There is a nice playground in the middle and we've rarely had any noise problems. If you plan it right you can get a site right next to the Cedar River. Really pretty in the evening. That being said, because it is so close to river anytime it rains heavily there is flooding in several areas of the park. And almost every year (usually late summer, early fall) it rains enough to flood a good portion of the park. In 2 out of the last 3 years it's even been bad enough to close the park completely. And it is fairly close to the highway. That's good for convenience sake of getting in and out of the park, but it does mean there is some road noise in the parts of the park.
GuideNice campground with some non-electric sites on bank of Cedar River, clean shower house and flush toilets. 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)
LegendThis is a larger county campground that has nice sized sites that look very well maintained. It runs along the Cedar River and has a put in for paddlers nearby. It is situated right off the blacktopped road.
GuidePerhaps it is just a season, but there were tremendous amount of mosquitoes at the campground during our visit. Lots of stagnant water, lake, etc. Reasonably priced, however, and close to Cedar Falls. The bathroom were a little sketchy and the noise from the highway was quite loud. OK stay for a night.
ScoutThis has so much to do. Fishing, kayaking, boating, swimming and camping. Great park in campground and two more parks in area. Off a main highway, but you feel like you are a long ways from no where. If you are a biker there is a wonderful bike path. It will take you all the way through Cedar Falls and Waterloo you could bike all day long. Nice little cozy places to enjoy lunch along the bike trail.
ScoutWe 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!
Campers visiting Clarksville, Iowa can choose from several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The area features the Shell Rock River and Cedar River watersheds with elevations ranging from 850 to 1,100 feet. Most campgrounds operate from April through October, with limited winter camping options available at Black Hawk County Park. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F to 85°F with higher humidity levels during peak camping season.
Hiking and biking trails: At George Wyth State Park Campground, visitors can access extensive trail systems. "There is a hard trail that is part of 150 miles of bike trails in the Waterloo & Cedar Falls area," notes Steve R. The trails are relatively flat and accessible for various skill levels.
Fishing opportunities: Camp Comfort Recreation Area provides excellent fishing access. "The river is off a smaller dam and has great fishing. Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge," according to Chantal C. The Shell Rock River is known for smallmouth bass and channel catfish.
Water recreation: Clear Lake State Park Campground offers beach access and water activities. "Nice beach access! Paved roads are great for bike riding," reports Becky M. The lake supports swimming, boating, and paddling with rental options available seasonally.
Spacious sites: Clear Lake State Park receives positive feedback for its layout. "Sites not too level, but spacious. Camped in mid April and park was not very busy which was nice. Full hook up sites and W/E only sites," reports Victoria G.
Clean facilities: Black Hawk County Park maintains good amenities according to Travis R., who notes it "has plenty of fishing access archery gun range. Boat access. Decent shower/bathroom facilities."
Affordable options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate Shellrock River Co Preserve as a no-cost alternative. "Free, 3 day max stay," mentions Ax H., who describes it as a "Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees."
Weather concerns: George Wyth State Park experiences periodic flooding. Jennifer T. warns, "Because it is so close to river anytime it rains heavily there is flooding in several areas of the park. And almost every year it rains enough to flood a good portion of the park."
Limited equestrian facilities: None of the campgrounds near Clarksville offer dedicated horse camping amenities. While Cedar Bridge County Park has horse trails, Tim M. mentions the focus is on "good hiking and horse trails" without overnight horse camping infrastructure.
Reservation timing: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during summer. "Reserve early!" advises Lisa M. about Clear Lake State Park. Most campgrounds allow reservations 3-6 months in advance through online systems.
Playground access: George Wyth State Park offers recreational facilities for children. "For little ones, there is a large sand playground area with slides and swings. There is a sand beach to swim, where they also rent kayaks & canoes," notes Steve R.
Water safety considerations: Camp Comfort Recreation Area provides water access but requires supervision. Chantal C. mentions, "The river is off a smaller dam and has great fishing. Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge."
Shower temperature: Prepare children for shower facilities that may not be ideal. At George Wyth, Heidi H. notes, "the showers are the type that don't allow you to mix your own water temperature, and they only stay on for a few seconds every time you press the button."
Electric options: Most campgrounds offer electrical hookups with varying amp services. Cedar Bridge County Park provides "about 20 self-serve sites with electric and water" according to Tim M., who appreciated the "dump station and dumpsters near the exit."
Site levelness: Be prepared for some uneven terrain at Clear Lake State Park. Victoria G. mentions, "Sites not too level, but spacious. Camped in mid April and park was not very busy which was nice. Full hook up sites and W/E only sites."
Limited full hookups: At Clear Lake State Park, Becky M. notes, "Limited full hook up sites. I wish there were more full hook ups that you could reserve." Consider water and electric sites if full hookups aren't available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Clarksville, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Clarksville, IA is Camp Comfort Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Clarksville, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Clarksville, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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