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 near Coralville Lake, 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.
"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
"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."
"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
"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."
"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."
from $20 - $26 / night
GuideI 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
TravelerNice 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.
TravelerDriving 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
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.
ScoutWife 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.
TravelerThis 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.
ScoutIt was beautiful, full of wildlife, easy to find,not too far from highway but far away enough to not hear
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.
RangerVery 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.
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 4.7-star rating from 9 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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