Loud Thunder Forest Preserve-Horse Corral Campgrounds provides equestrian-specific facilities with drive-in access for both tents and RVs. The campground features electric hookups, sewer connections, and amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and trash disposal. Located in Illinois near the Iowa border, this horse-friendly destination maintains toilets and a sanitary dump station for overnight guests. The campground remains particularly quiet midweek, allowing for peaceful trail riding experiences with minimal campsite noise.
Located approximately 70 miles from Coralville Lake, Loud Thunder connects to multiple riding trails suitable for various skill levels. The preserve accommodates horse trailers with dedicated parking areas adjacent to campsites. Reservation policies allow securing sites in advance, ensuring availability during popular riding seasons. Matsell Bridge Natural Area offers another option for horse camping enthusiasts, though without dedicated corrals. These campgrounds provide essential facilities for travelers with horses, including sufficient space for temporary containment systems. Proper manure management and adherence to posted trail regulations ensure continued access to these valuable equestrian resources in the region.
$23 - $33 / night
"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."
"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."
$15 - $20 / night
"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."
"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. "
"The good: The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife."
"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."
"12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance."
$20 - $26 / night
"CG has nice corral with day use and camping sites: shelter available, elect pull in sites fire rings, wood available in park, tables, trails Lake George for fishing, paddling, boat rental."
TravelerOff 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.
RangerCampground Review:
Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area is 675 acres, nestled between rolling fields of corn, dairy farms, native prairie, and the Cedar River. 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. The main campground has electrical hookups, picnic benches, fire rings, modern restroom facilities including showers, a dump station, playground, and firewood for purchase. There are 24 sites, and they run $20 per night.
The primitive campground area sits along Chicken Creek and offers four, tent-only sites, and is just off the main campground. The sites are well spaced and surrounded by large trees. These are walk in sites with parking in the main campground. It’s a short hike in from the parking area, and within walking distance of the restrooms and firewood. Primitive sites are $10 per night.
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. If you don’t have your own, you can rent kayaks and canoes through the Muscatine County Conservation office. There is also a large shelter, which is reservable along with day use picnic areas, playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, and vault toilets. There’s large, open expanses of grassy fields and oak shade trees; perfect for relaxing on a hot summer day.
The river campground sits right along the Cedar River and allows easy access to fishing along with a boat ramp. This campground is a short hike to the old Saulsbury Bridge and Lodge. The bridge has a small gazebo-like structure and bench which provides a nice view of the river. There are vault toilets in this campground, but the modern restrooms are within walking distance as well. There are 10 sites in this campground and run $17 per night.
All campsites are self-registration and are on a first come, first served basis. There is a campground host on duty in the main campground and the park officer lives on site. Dogs are allowed, but must be on leash in the campgrounds and on trails. However, they are allowed to run in the designated hunting areas. These areas are marked with signs. If you plan to hike during hunting season, it’s a good idea to wear bright colors/blaze orange so you are visible to hunters and not mistaken for a deer or other wildlife.
This park also has prairie/natural habitat restoration areas that, in spring and summer, attract Monarch butterflies, and an abundance of birds including indigo bunting, red headed woodpecker, and goldfinch. In the colder months you can spot bald eagles flying along the river. There are also deer, wild turkey, and pheasants. While there, we walked around the campground areas that were open and over to the day use area along Chicken Creek to roast marshmallows. We hiked the short distance out to the Saulsbury Bridge to watch the Cedar River flow by and caught a beautiful sunset.
The one downfall to this park is the possibility for flooding. When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds.
A call ahead to the conservation office to check on closures is a good idea. We had hoped to camp at a primitive site, but learned the trail leading into the campground was under water, which also meant the river campground was closed as well. Though there was some water over the road in the main campground, it was minimal and we were able to choose an electrical site. We opted to car camp as we were only staying one night. Only about a third of the campground was filled and we had no one on either side of us which meant for a more quiet camping experience.
This is one of my favorite local areas to hike and camp that’s close to home. It offers a full picture of Iowa’s varied landscapes and outdoor activity opportunities.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. On this camping trip, I tried out VivoBarefoot Primus Trail SG Womens sneakers. VivoBarefoot’s goal is to provide an environment that allows the feet to remain in their natural state while providing a protective shoe. https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/womens/off-road/primus-trail-sg-womens?colour=Olive
ScoutI stayed at the main site that google maps took me to. Three spots but the park is big there might be more sites around it. It is near skunk river I only stayed there for a night but where I was to get to the river you have to hike or bike to it. I’ve heard you can ride horses here. They have fire rings, picnic tables, and a bathroom that’s deep and composting. No sinks or showers. Bugs were wild at night but it is summer. No one disturbed us and it was free the best park of it all. Hoping to make it back there to go through the trails. I believe you can hike and camp too in the area.
GuideNot 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.
ScoutNice 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. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this "best kept secret" for primitive and inexpensive camping sites. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site. Good for RV, trailer or tent camping… level ground and lots of shade. Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water.
GuideThe good: The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. 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. The bad: 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. Once down to the water trail are easy to walk. I would say if you can try and get sites, 67-70. They have beautiful views.
GuideWe 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. The sites are very spacious with some shade, a fire ring, and picnic table provided. The nearest grocery store was within 5 miles. The bathhouse and showers were clean with lots of hot water.
ScoutA little pricy for tent camping. Ten dollars per tent per night and you’re restricted to the primitive area. It’s not bad if you’re just wanting to get away for a little bit but stay close to town. Otherwise if you’re looking for a better get away from it all I’d recommend some place else.
ScoutI loved this campground. 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. You can hear the highway, but overall the campground was very quiet.
Equestrian camping near Coralville Lake offers diverse terrain for trail riding in eastern Iowa. The area maintains several dedicated horse-friendly facilities within a 70-mile radius of Coralville Lake. Most horse campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter accessibility depending on weather conditions.
Trail riding at Matsell Bridge: The natural area features multiple interconnected trails through wooded areas and along the Wapsipinicon River. "Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River... Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge," notes Carol M. about Matsell Bridge Natural Area.
Fishing with access: Lake Iowa County Park provides opportunities for anglers near campgrounds. "The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife," reports Leslie P. about Lake Iowa County Park.
Mountain biking from camp: Several campgrounds connect directly to singletrack trails. "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," writes Kris P. about Wanatee Park.
Wildlife viewing: Many equestrian camps feature abundant wildlife observation opportunities. "We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through," notes one Lake Iowa County Park camper.
Quiet midweek stays: Horse campgrounds typically offer more solitude on weekdays. "When i visited we were the only campers there an it was awesome!" shares Ryan about Wakpicada Natural Area.
Shower facilities: Clean shower houses make longer horse camping trips more comfortable. "The shower house and showers were clean with lots of hot water," states Clint G. about Wanatee Park, while another camper notes "$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance" at Keokuk County Belva Deer Park.
Seasonal flooding concerns: River proximity means potential campsite flooding. "Though there was some water over the road in the main campground, it was minimal and we were able to choose an electrical site," explains Jessica H. about Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area.
Insects can be intense: Pack appropriate repellent, especially in late spring. "Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up," warns a Matsell Bridge camper.
Site separation varies: Some campgrounds place sites close together. "The 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," cautions a Lake Iowa visitor.
Playground access: Several equestrian campgrounds include play areas for children. "We really enjoyed the long weekend here. Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August," notes Clifton B. about Lake Iowa Park.
Wildlife education: The diverse habitat supports learning opportunities. "This area has something for everyone," shares Kristy E. about Wanatee Park, mentioning "the Cedar river and the wapsicon for fishing."
Fishing options for kids: Stock ponds provide good fishing for younger anglers. "Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway. Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds," notes Parker H. about Wakpicada Natural Area.
Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at some horse-friendly sites. "Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers. The sites are very spacious with some shade," explains a Wanatee Park visitor.
Hookup variations: Electric service differs between campgrounds. "CG has nice corral with day use and camping sites: shelter available, elect pull in sites fire rings, wood available in park," explains James M. about Loud Thunder Forest Preserve.
Limited big rig access: Many horse campgrounds have size restrictions. "This is a newer campground so is a mixture of mature and young trees. It is very clean and well cared for," notes a Wanatee Park visitor about the access roads and site sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Coralville Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Coralville Lake is Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek) with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Coralville Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Coralville Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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