Jeannie B.
Guide
GuideBig Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
Beautiful Park
Many different trails for hiking, biking or equestrian. Camp sites are mostly grass. Beautiful park
Equestrian Camping near Dyersville, IA
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Yellow River State Forest offers two designated equestrian campgrounds near Dyersville, Iowa. Frontier Equestrian Campground and Creekside Equestrian Campground provide electric hookups with 30/50 amp service and water hookups for campers. Both campgrounds accommodate tent and RV camping with horses. All sites include picnic tables and fire rings where fires are permitted. Horse trailer parking is available at both locations with easy access to trailheads. The campsites maintain a clean environment despite the absence of shower facilities or flush toilets. Each campground offers convenient access for horse trailers with pull-through sites designed for rigs of various sizes.
Located approximately 70 miles from Dyersville, the Yellow River State Forest equestrian trails connect riders to miles of scenic woodland paths throughout the 8,500-acre forest. The trail system traverses varied terrain including forested ridges, stream valleys, and open meadows. Trails are well-maintained with adequate signage for navigation. Riders should bring their own water supplies for horses as natural water sources may be seasonal. All equestrian campsites require reservations, which can be secured through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reservation system. The trails remain open year-round, though seasonal conditions may affect accessibility during winter months or after heavy rainfall. Daily or annual equestrian trail passes must be purchased separately from camping fees.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Dyersville (10)
1. Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
"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."
from $16 - $25 / night
Check Availability2. South Lake Campground — Backbone State Park
from $16 - $36 / night
Check Availability3. Matsell Bridge Natural Area
"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."
4. Wakpicada Natural Area
"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."
5. Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)
"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
Check Availability6. Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
"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."
from $16 / night
Check Availability7. Jackson County Iowa Fairgrounds
8. Frontier Equestrian Campground — Yellow River State Forest
"In Yellow River State Forest,-Very nice spacious sites for horses/riders including tie-ups, fire rings, tables at each site."
from $20 / night
Check Availability9. Creekside Equestrian Campground — Yellow River State Forest
"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. Albany Campground — Volga River State Recreation Area
from $14 - $26 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 20 min from Dubuque, IA
- 55 min from Waterloo, IA
- 1 hr 1 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1 hr 19 min from Iowa City, IA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Dyersville, IA
57 Reviews of 10 Dyersville Campgrounds
- Jeannie B.Guide
Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Many things to do here
Backbone 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.
Mary S.
LegendBig Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing
This 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
- C
Carol M.
TravelerMatsell Bridge Natural Area
Beautiful and secluded, campground road closed
Off 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.
Kerry M.
RangerSix Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Two campgrounds to enjoy at Backbone State Park
Backbone State Park is unlike any other place in Iowa, having geological features uncommon in Iowa.
There are two campgrounds. I have camped in both:
Modern Campground: This is a large, modern campground with all of the standard amenities found in a modern campground… electric hookups, flush toilets, water. I have camped here twice, both times in my travel trailer. Overall, it is a nice campground with decent space in between campers, however, I tend to avoid it during the busier summer and fall colors seasons.
Primitive Campground: This is my favorite at Backbone for camping, especially in the autumn after the leaves have fallen off of the trees. As this campground is non-electric, there are not many people camping after it turns colder. I have spent many nights there alone in the primitive campground, watching RVs pull in and then leave after realizing that it has no hookups.
Nearby trout fishing: Backbone is home to one of the more popular trout streams in Iowa. The fishing is easy as most of the fish are stocked (April-October). Still, it is an enjoyable fishing trip as the stream itself is mostly rocks and gravel, with several deep holes. The water is cold and clear.
Other activities: Hiking is very popular in Backbone. I have also seen rock climbing and rappelling. There are some nice spots away from the trout stream for wading and a little swimming. Backbone State Park also has a small lake with a swimming area and boat rentals during the summer. Several nice cabins are available for those who do not want to camp.
Stuart O.GuideBig Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest
Good late season option for the self-contained camper
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, so very much like a parking lot overnight from that perspective. However, the park is situated on the valley bottom of the Yellow River Forest with beautiful tall trees, and there are fire rings. Fee was $12. First come first served basis from November through March.
- Max K.Traveler
Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Great bathroom and hiking, awful lake
We stayed here two nights. That was plenty, although it's not really the park's fault. The lake was super gross, with excessive floating moss (probably a weather issue) and EXCESSIVE goose poop everywhere. The beach was basically unusable, with goose bombs everywhere. It was better when we kayaked, but still gross.
So why the five stars? 1. The bathrooms were fantastic. 2. The camp site was really nice and plenty of room. 3. The hiking was superb. Felt like we were not in Iowa. 4. The driving through the park was also really great and I will go back this fall to look at leaves. 5. There is a cave you can explore on your own. We did. It's awesome. It's muddy. It's super cool. 6. There are some decent bouldering spots. 7. Cheap, huge bundles of firewood at park entrance. 8. Really friendly at the camp store. 9. Close to Strawberry Point. Go to town to Clayton's Pharmacy and get an old fashioned soda. Fantastic. 10. Close to Edgewood and the Edgewood Locker. Go visit and stock up on meat on the way home.
- Ashley D.Traveler
Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park
Fun for the whole family
This campground has many things to do. This place has tent, rv and cabin camping, you can choose modern or non modern camping. Fun activities include fishing, swimming in a lake and also ground fed springs, boat rentals on the lake, hiking also horse trails, rock climbing, caves, playgrounds shelters for events and parties. I am sure there are even more things to do that I didnt have the time for.
James M.LegendFrontier Equestrian Campground — Yellow River State Forest
Very nice equestrian CG near trout streams
In Yellow River State Forest,-Very nice spacious sites for horses/riders including tie-ups, fire rings, tables at each site. Self registration, trails from/ camp including stream crossings in trout streams. Manure station with tools. Some trails are multiuser.
Guide to Dyersville
Camping near Dyersville, Iowa offers diverse experiences from primitive sites to electric hookups across varied terrain. The area features numerous trout streams for fishing enthusiasts and elevation changes uncommon in the Midwest. Winter camping options remain available at several locations, though amenities may be reduced during colder months.
What to do
Explore unique geological features: At Wyalusing State Park, approximately 70 miles from Dyersville, visitors can discover interesting rock formations. "There are some really nice trails and cool rock formations, couple this with the playground and nice bathrooms it makes for an ideal campground for families with younger children," notes Connor M.
Fishing in stocked trout streams: Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities. "Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen," explains Mary S., who also mentions that stocking calendars are available for planning trips. During winter months, some areas remain accessible for seasonal fishing.
Hiking varied terrain: Backbone State Park features multiple trail options through diverse landscapes. "We loved waking up in the morning and going for a walk along the many trails, seeing deer on the trail, and the lake," says Larissa C., who visited during October when fall colors enhanced the experience.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many equestrian campgrounds near Dyersville provide generous spacing between sites. At Frontier Equestrian Campground, James M. appreciates the "very nice spacious sites for horses/riders including tie-ups, fire rings, tables at each site."
Clean facilities: South Lake Campground at Backbone State Park maintains high standards for its amenities. "Clean bathrooms, showers and spots. Beautiful park!" reports Edward B., noting that all spots are reservable, which helps with trip planning.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural areas around Dyersville support diverse wildlife. At Backbone State Park, Larissa C. mentioned "seeing deer on the trail," while other campers report opportunities for bird watching, especially during migration seasons.
What you should know
Seasonal conditions affect accessibility: Winter camping requires preparation. At Big Paint Campground, Stuart O. notes, "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."
Insect activity varies by season: Summer brings more insects to the area. At Matsell Bridge Natural Area, Carol M. warns, "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."
Water quality considerations: Some swimming areas require monitoring. At Backbone State Park, Cheryl V. cautions, "Lakewater often unsafe for swimming. To the extent the beach had weeds growing on it."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and safe hiking: Wyalusing State Park combines natural features with child-friendly amenities. Connor M. recommends, "Just keep in mind that it's on a bluff so there are some steep drop-off points that children could take a pretty nasty fall from."
Girl Scout approved sites: Backbone State Park accommodates group camping well. Rachel H. shares, "I went with a group of entering sixth grade Girl Scouts on a weekend tent camping trip to this park. The campsites were simple to access and the grounds were easy to navigate."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer learning experiences for children. At Matsell Bridge Natural Area, the ranger support provides safety and educational value. Randi C. notes, "The DNR was very nice about everything," after receiving assistance when her dog wandered off.
Tips from RVers
Electric and water hookups: Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek) provides solid infrastructure for RVs. Clint G. reports, "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."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the rolling terrain require leveling equipment. At Wanatee Park, Clint G. needed "tri-levelers" to position his RV properly, while reviews from other horse campgrounds near Dyersville, Iowa mention similar terrain challenges.
Winter camping limitations: Stuart O. found limited services at Big Paint Campground in November: "No water, electric, or dump station, so very much like a parking lot overnight from that perspective." RVers should verify winter availability of utilities when planning off-season trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Dyersville, IA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Dyersville, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Dyersville, IA is Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Dyersville, IA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Dyersville, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Dyersville, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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