Yellow River State Forest offers two equestrian campgrounds near Decorah, Iowa. Frontier Equestrian Campground and Creekside Equestrian Campground both feature spacious sites with horse tie-ups at each campsite, fire rings, and picnic tables. The campgrounds include manure disposal stations with tools provided for campers. Sites are primarily on grass with electric hookups, fifty-amp and thirty-amp service available. Campers can access water hookups and sewer connections, though there are no shower facilities or flush toilets at these equestrian sites. The campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping alongside horse facilities. Sites are well-maintained with regularly mown grass areas. Self-registration is available on-site, with reservations accepted online for most sites.
The equestrian trail system connects directly to both campgrounds, allowing riders immediate access to miles of scenic routes. Trails include stream crossings through trout waters, offering natural water access for horses during rides. Multiple trail options accommodate various riding preferences, with some designated as multi-use trails shared with hikers and bikers. The trail network provides access to three lookout points including Iowa's only fire tower. Riders encounter diverse terrain through the forest's lush landscape with colorful bird life visible throughout the trails. The campgrounds remain accessible year-round, though services may be limited during winter months. From November through March, sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with a $12 fee. The forest's valley setting with tall trees creates a peaceful environment for overnight horse camping.
$15 - $35 / night
"A very nice park located close to the Iowa border. Close to Effigy Mounds & Pikes Peak! It has great trails & campsites & lots of geocaching! Come one New Years for the annual carp drop :)"
"Camp sites are far enough away from neighbors that there is some privacy. Need a state park sticker to access. Illinois Minnesota and Iowa are all short drives away."
$12 / night
"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."
$25 - $90 / night
"Mystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy."
"Has horse tie ups and great trails"
$35 / night
"Some girlfriends and I wanted to stay at the camp for the weekend and have a place to social distance ourselves. We rented the horse camp sites and we couldn't have been happier."
"Beautiful spaces of various size, a river runs next to it and they have duck races."
"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."
$16 / night
"In Yellow River State Forest,-Very nice spacious sites for horses/riders including tie-ups, fire rings, tables at each site."
$16 / night
"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."
"There are many hiking trails, including a trail that goes on top of the bluff with views of the forest and of Wisconsin and the Mississippi River."
$20 - $75 / night
"The group sites are close by and they were quite loud, but the rest of the park was nice and quiet. There is horse camping here, and the lake is nice for swimming."
"Our group of 12 stayed at one of the two group sites at Lake Louise State Park. Our site holds up to 30 and the neighboring site holds up to 50."
$17 / night
"Access to Root River trail close by."
GuideA very nice park located close to the Iowa border. Close to Effigy Mounds & Pikes Peak! It has great trails & campsites & lots of geocaching! Come one New Years for the annual carp drop :)
GuideMany different trails for hiking, biking or equestrian. Camp sites are mostly grass. Beautiful park
LegendThis nice SP is located on the Iowa border. It was a quiet nice little get away with several trails that challenge anyone in your group. Campground was clean and well maintained.
GuideBackbone 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.
GuideGood time! It rained and was a little muddy, but it was nice. Site 11 is kind of small for a large tent like we have. The group sites are close by and they were quite loud, but the rest of the park was nice and quiet. There is horse camping here, and the lake is nice for swimming.
RangerMystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy. My new word while we stayed there was “Forresty” due to feeling like we had entered a different world. There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails. (Word to the wise, some of the trails are hiking/equestrian so watch your step😂) We didn’t do our homework, but if we would have known, we would have brought our fishing rods as the rivers were full of trout!!
We arrived at 2:00pm on Saturday, after a long 5 hour drive from northern Minnesota. It was amazing to watch the landscape change from iron ore mining pits to countless acres of corn and potatoes!! Check in time is 4:00pm, but our spot was empty when we arrived, so the park rangers let us set up early (Friendly and most helpful!!) We grabbed a bundle of wood for $6.00 for a campfire while we were at the park office. (that is pretty normal rates as you can’t bring in your own wood at State Parks in Minnesota) There are 3 different loops, an additional equestrian loop, and 5 cabins. We stayed in loop “C” with has bigger sites for RV’s and offers electricity. Loops “A” and “B” have smaller sites (still big!!) and both of those loops are non-electric. None of the sites are “full” hook up, but there is a dump station & fresh water fill right off the park office. The restrooms and showers are just off of the “C” loop, as was the amphitheater, and there are garbage/recycling bins every 4-5th site. The park was very noisy, but that all changed when most of the folks left Sunday. It was very peaceful the rest of the week.
There are so many things outside the park to do too!! We were not aware, but the Mystery Cave is a short drive from the state park. We took the scenic tour, and our guide Kip was fantastic!!! Hey let everyone ask all the questions they wanted to, and didn’t rush us at all!! The rate is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 5-12, and kids under 5 go for free. The pictures just don’t do it justice!! The next day we drove to Masonic Park in Spring Valley and we were amazed by the sheer size of the rock face!! There is no charge to picnic or visit there and there is one spot for camping, but you need to get permission from the city before doing so. We also toured Niagra Cave which is a longer drive, but well worth it!! The underground waterfall was super cool!! They charge $16.00 per adult, kids 4-12 are $10.00, and children under 4 are free.
All in all this was a great get away for our family, and I highly recommend staying at the park:)
LegendThis 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
RangerStayed here back in 2017, will be going back hopefully soon. Beautiful area! Campground is very nice, with showers and restrooms. Camp sites are far enough away from neighbors that there is some privacy. Need a state park sticker to access. Illinois Minnesota and Iowa are all short drives away. We have also snow shoes here to the ice caves in the winter. Which was fun.
ScoutThis is an amazing park on the Wisconsin/Iowa border, overlooking where the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers join. I usually try to get in at least 1 trip a year, if lucky enough 2-3. Amazing park with great views, camping, hiking, canoeing/kayaking. Very clean restrooms and showers, tent and trailer camping. If you are lucky enough to get a site on the ridge you won't be disappointed.
Yellow River State Forest provides equestrian camping options with trail access through diverse terrain near Decorah, Iowa. The forest's valley location features hardwood trees, trout streams, and hills that create natural obstacles for trail riding. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing with summer highs in the 80s, making spring and fall popular seasons for horse camping in the area.
Trail riding access points: Frontier Equestrian Campground and Creekside Equestrian Campground offer direct trail connections with varying difficulty levels. "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," notes James M. about Creekside Equestrian Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Trout streams run throughout the forest with seasonal stocking schedules. At Big Paint Campground, campers can access quality fishing spots. "Came to learn more about Tenkara fly fishing. Had a ball. Visited the 3 lookouts including Iowa only Fire tower. Bird life is colorful," reports Tori L.
Hiking trails: Non-equestrian visitors can explore miles of hiking trails with lookout points. A camper at Big Paint Campground mentions: "We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground."
Scenic overlooks: Three lookout points are accessible via the trail system, offering views of the forest and surrounding valleys. According to James M. at Frontier Equestrian Campground, "Trails from camp including stream crossings in trout streams. Some trails are multiuser."
Spacious campsites: Sites provide adequate room for horse trailers and camping equipment. "We stayed at the Big Paint Campground and had a nice time. The sites there are pretty spacious and level, but they don't feel very private because this campground is essentially just an open field with line of sight to all other campsites," explains Daphne D.
Wildlife viewing: Bird watching opportunities abound throughout the forest. One camper at Big Paint Campground notes, "Bird life is colorful. Lots of places to hike. Scenery is lush." The diverse habitat supports various bird species visible from trails and campsites.
Limited services: During winter months (November through March), amenities are reduced. "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," reports Stuart O. about Big Paint Campground.
Cell coverage gaps: Signal strength varies throughout the forest. "I had no phone service," mentions Tori L. at Big Paint Campground, while others report intermittent coverage at higher elevation points.
Off-season operations: From November through March, sites operate on first-come, first-served basis for $12 per night. "Fee was $12. First come first served basis from November through March," confirms Stuart O.
Site selection: Choose campsites away from stream banks during spring runoff periods. At Wyalusing State Park Campground nearby, "The sites are not very private. Have some nice hiking trails and a small lake a short walk from the campground," notes Melissa A.
Weather preparation: Valley locations can experience temperature fluctuations and morning dew. "It was a Colder night as we camped in 30 degree weather and freezing rain came into our campground. This along with the wind made our situation feel pretty cold," warns Connor M. about nearby camping.
Tick prevention: Tall grasses in summer months require proper clothing and regular checks. "Going in knowing that there were pit toilets and no potable water, I did not have high expectations for this campsite. I was pleasantly surprised to find it very well maintained with spacious sites," shares Tamsyn K.
Water access planning: No central water hookups mean bringing sufficient supply. "Campsites are well mown, have a picnic table and fire ring. Pit toilets. Easy access to water. Drink water and firewood are at the host A frame. There is no dump site," explains Tori L. about Big Paint Campground.
Campsite surfaces: Most sites are grass-based which may become soft after rain. "Sites are primitive with tables, fire rings/grates, pit toilets, self registration, ice/wood available across road at visitors station," notes James M.
Power management: Electric sites have 30 and 50-amp service, but hookups are limited. "Most of the sites are completely on the grass," mentions Mary S., suggesting RVers should check ground conditions before setting up, especially in wet weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Decorah, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Decorah, IA is Wyalusing State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 61 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Decorah, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Decorah, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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