Looking for the best horse camping near Drakesville? Whether you own a horse or are joining a tour group, equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect equestrian sites that are scenic and easy to access.
$8 - $50 / night
The Lick Creek Unit contains two nonmodern equestrian campgrounds with nonelectric campsites. Facilities include pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, gravel parking pads, water hydrants, hitching rails and shade for horses. There are also stalls for overnight stabling.
Shimek State Forest is located in Lee and Van Buren Counties in southeast Iowa near the town of Farmington. Although the forest's original and most important function is to serve as an example of forest management for Iowas citizens, recreational opportunities abound in the forest. Visitors come from a wide area to hunt, fish, hike, ride the equestrian trails, mountain bike, camp, picnic, study nature and enjoy the outdoors. Visitors can expect to find oak-hickory forests and bottomland hardwood timber forests but will also find several areas where native prairie plants can be found and about 1,000 acres which have been planted to conifers. In this extremely varied habitat wildlife is abundant. Bring your camera or spotting scope! The forest is managed by the Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau and is comprised of five separate units with a total of 9,148 acres. The forest headquarters is located about one mile northeast of Farmington on county road J56. The four lakes in the Farmington and Donnellson Units are stocked with bass, channel catfish and panfish. There are no designated swimming areas. The entire forest is open to hiking and hunting (except in the camping areas).
Normally a complex like the River Valley Lodge and Campground would begin with detailed drawings and blueprints but this one began with a dream and a concept! It would basically have been impossible to put the gentle flowing of the Des Moines River, the soaring of the eagles, the laid back atmosphere of Southeast Iowa, the glistening mirror finish of the quiet ponds, the beautiful sunsets, and the rustling of the giant cottonwoods on paper. Of course the detailed drawings and blueprints came later as required but Mother Nature had already provided the setting and Steve and Carolyn Kokjohn had provided the dream and concept.
As you have no doubt guessed, the dream and concept are now a reality and the River Valley Lodge and Campground is ready for your enjoyment. The transition from dream and concept to reality did not come quick or easily. It was the result of the combined efforts of many talented individuals and hours of their labor that made it what it is today. To all of those individuals, Steve and Carolyn say "thank you......a job well done".
The result of all this dreaming, planning, and hard work is a state of the art family oriented lodge and campground with a definite western atmosphere that will match, if not surpass, anything similar in the tri-state area. No matter if you are just a couple wanting a place to bring your horses, camp, and ride the many forested trails, a large group wanting to rent the beautiful lodge for some type of a get-together, or a horse group/organization that would like to rent the arena or even the complete campground, you will find that River Valley Lodge and Campground in Southeast Iowa is the place to go. Of course horses are not required and all campers are definitely welcome. Just remember that this complete complex is very flexible and adaptable thus we will make every attempt possible to meet your needs.
The Lick Creek Unit contains two nonmodern equestrian campgrounds with nonelectric campsites. Facilities include pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, gravel parking pads, water hydrants, hitching rails and shade for horses. There are also stalls for overnight stabling.
Shimek State Forest is located in Lee and Van Buren Counties in southeast Iowa near the town of Farmington. Although the forest's original and most important function is to serve as an example of forest management for Iowas citizens, recreational opportunities abound in the forest. Visitors come from a wide area to hunt, fish, hike, ride the equestrian trails, mountain bike, camp, picnic, study nature and enjoy the outdoors. Visitors can expect to find oak-hickory forests and bottomland hardwood timber forests but will also find several areas where native prairie plants can be found and about 1,000 acres which have been planted to conifers. In this extremely varied habitat wildlife is abundant. Bring your camera or spotting scope! The forest is managed by the Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau and is comprised of five separate units with a total of 9,148 acres. The forest headquarters is located about one mile northeast of Farmington on county road J56. The four lakes in the Farmington and Donnellson Units are stocked with bass, channel catfish and panfish. There are no designated swimming areas. The entire forest is open to hiking and hunting (except in the camping areas).
Normally a complex like the River Valley Lodge and Campground would begin with detailed drawings and blueprints but this one began with a dream and a concept! It would basically have been impossible to put the gentle flowing of the Des Moines River, the soaring of the eagles, the laid back atmosphere of Southeast Iowa, the glistening mirror finish of the quiet ponds, the beautiful sunsets, and the rustling of the giant cottonwoods on paper. Of course the detailed drawings and blueprints came later as required but Mother Nature had already provided the setting and Steve and Carolyn Kokjohn had provided the dream and concept.
As you have no doubt guessed, the dream and concept are now a reality and the River Valley Lodge and Campground is ready for your enjoyment. The transition from dream and concept to reality did not come quick or easily. It was the result of the combined efforts of many talented individuals and hours of their labor that made it what it is today. To all of those individuals, Steve and Carolyn say "thank you......a job well done".
The result of all this dreaming, planning, and hard work is a state of the art family oriented lodge and campground with a definite western atmosphere that will match, if not surpass, anything similar in the tri-state area. No matter if you are just a couple wanting a place to bring your horses, camp, and ride the many forested trails, a large group wanting to rent the beautiful lodge for some type of a get-together, or a horse group/organization that would like to rent the arena or even the complete campground, you will find that River Valley Lodge and Campground in Southeast Iowa is the place to go. Of course horses are not required and all campers are definitely welcome. Just remember that this complete complex is very flexible and adaptable thus we will make every attempt possible to meet your needs.
