10 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Limited horse camping options exist near Floyd, Iowa, but nearby equestrian campgrounds offer dedicated facilities for riders and their horses. Lake Louise State Park Campground in Le Roy, Minnesota offers horse camping with designated equestrian sites. The campground includes vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings for campers with horses. Horse-friendly trails connect directly to the campground, providing convenient riding access for equestrians staying overnight. The campground maintains clean facilities and accommodates both horse trailers and camping equipment.
The trail system at Lake Louise provides several miles of designated bridle paths through wooded areas and along the Upper Iowa River. Horse owners must bring their own water buckets and feed storage containers as these are not provided at the campground. Advance reservations are recommended during summer months when the equestrian sites fill quickly. The park requires negative Coggins test documentation for all horses. Manure disposal areas are available near the horse camping section, and riders appreciate the well-maintained trail markings throughout the park. Campground is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with limited services available during shoulder seasons.
"Dump station and dumpsters near the exit. Clean bathrooms and showers. Lots of space at each campsite. Good hiking and horse trails."
"It runs along the Cedar River and has a put in for paddlers nearby. It is situated right off the blacktopped road."
"Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees. There a gravel track that goes along a large river. Trees everywhere so bring bug spray. Quiet, peaceful. Not private but worth it."
"Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge."
"We love coming to Clear Lake! The campgrounds are always very well kept, bathrooms very clean! Easy access to the lake, and the town has so much to do during the summer months!"
"Clear lake state park is a nice campground. It does get very busy during peak season and traffic is continuous. It is clean and close to the beach. Down town and other shopping is a short drive away."
from $18 - $38 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park."
"When driving to my site two fawns were laying near the playground."
from $14 - $34 / night
Check Availability"** Iowa state parks are a bargain! This one is $11 for a non-electric site, $16 for an electric site. (Rates go down to $6 and $11 from 10/1-4/30.)"
"On Cedar Valley bike trail (100+miles of interconnecting bike trial. major Hwy on two sides of park, sleeping in a tenet it was very noisy at night. and a train track close by (again at night)"
from $16 - $24 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Right on the bike trail.. Hot showers.. Good place to camp..."
TravelerYou will love this park. There are about 20 self-serve sites with electric and water. Self serve firewood. Dump station and dumpsters near the exit. Clean bathrooms and showers. Lots of space at each campsite. Good hiking and horse trails. Sitting right on the Cedar River, it’s a great location to kayak and tube. Cheap at $20 a night. We showed up at 8:00 on a Fryevening and spots were available!
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:)
LegendWhy Should You Camp Here?
Iowa state parks are a bargain! This one is $11 for a non-electric site, $16 for an electric site. (Rates go down to $6 and $11 from 10/1-4/30.) There is no separate park entry fee (unlike some states).
You can rent kayaks, canoes or pedal boats near the campground at Wyth Lake. And there are 3 other nearby lakes.
There's a small beach at Wyth Lake.
The Cedar River is on the edge of the campground.
You're so close to Cedar Falls and Waterloo which means there are craft breweries!
We were only there for a night but I saw this on reserveamerica.com: "The Lake-to-State Park Bike Route is a 50 mile route connecting Pine Lake and George Wyth State Park. The route primarily utilizes county highways and established bike routes and paths once inside Cedar Falls/Waterloo."
We didn't do everything we could do there, because we were just passing through. Check this out: https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/george-wyth-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=IA&parkId=610125
Amenities
The usual fire ring and picnic table
Dump station and potable water
Flush toilets and running water in bathrooms along with push button showers. Ok, push button showers are not ideal. Just keep pushing that button and hopefully you'll be okay with the temperature that you can't control!
ScoutSome 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. The sites have water and electric. There are high ties for the horses. The sites have a nice gravel pad with a picnic table and fire ring at each site. There is also a dump station that we were able to use before we left on Sunday. None of us had been at this campground before and love trying new places. We are endurance riders so we are used to early nights and up at dawn for riding. This camp was so nice and quiet! We had a nice fire after dinner listening to the water and birds. There were families with children, couples of all ages and well behaved dogs everywhere! The owner Andy as so gracious answering our many emails and questions. He went the extra mile at every turn. We can't thank him and his employee(who's name I sadly can't remember) we're just absolute delights! We will absolutely be back. And we will always check here first to see if their horse sites are open before checking the state camp. It's a very short road ride to the park trails and the campground and their amenities are first rate. I can't wait to return!!!
TravelerCampsites are flat and grassy. They back up to each other so good for groups camping together. Has horse tie ups and great trails
ScoutIt’s quiet, clean, and has some pretty views of the Iowa nite sky
TravelerI’m probably a little biased. My parents started coming to this park to ride horses in the 70s. We spent at least 3wks every year here when I was a kid trail riding, hiking, even tubing down the Root River (there’s no commercial tubing available and you have to get up and walk through rocky shallow spots, so it isn’t ideal for this, but tell my 10yr old self that).
I stayed here recently in the “people campground.” I hiked 12mi in one day and had a great time. The campsite itself was great—privacy and no loud neighbors. I always make sure to stay in spots without electric if possible to escape the culture and noise that accompanies RV camping. Site #4 isn’t very level, but it backs up to the river and the access trail out of the campground. Forestville never disappoints me—I even randomly ran into my own uncle while hiking!
ScoutNice park with some easy hiking trails and great bike paths. Both also good for any runners. All are really flat and would be easy for older people or young children to do. There is also a beach that is open seasonally and docks dotted throughout for fishing boats or kayaks. Really nice for kayaking and paddleboarding. Not much if any current (unless your in the river portion) which makes it smooth for anyone to do including kids. Campground isn't bad. Usually very clean and the hosts are nice. There is a nice playground in the middle and we've rarely had any noise problems. If you plan it right you can get a site right next to the Cedar River. Really pretty in the evening. That being said, because it is so close to river anytime it rains heavily there is flooding in several areas of the park. And almost every year (usually late summer, early fall) it rains enough to flood a good portion of the park. In 2 out of the last 3 years it's even been bad enough to close the park completely. And it is fairly close to the highway. That's good for convenience sake of getting in and out of the park, but it does mean there is some road noise in the parts of the park.
Horse camping near Floyd, Iowa offers several options within a reasonable driving distance. The region sits at elevations between 1,100-1,200 feet with rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and river valleys creating varied terrain for trail riding. Spring and fall provide the most comfortable riding weather with average temperatures between 55-75°F, while summer can bring humidity that affects both riders and horses.
Trail riding near flowing water: The Shell Rock River Preserve offers peaceful riding with natural scenery. "Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees. There a gravel track that goes along a large river. Trees everywhere so bring bug spray," writes Ax H. about this Shellrock River Co Preserve.
Explore historic sites on horseback: Forestville Mystery Cave State Park connects riders with both natural and historical attractions. "Forestville is a quaint state park with a lot of interesting history. It can be a little confusing because the camping and mystery caves are a distance apart," notes Ashley K. about Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground.
Seasonal horse events: Cedar Bridge County Park hosts equestrian gatherings during warmer months. "Good hiking and horse trails. Sitting right on the Cedar River, it's a great location to kayak and tube," according to Tim M. at Cedar Bridge County Park.
Clean equestrian facilities: Maple Springs Campground maintains well-designed horse camping areas. "The sites have water and electric. There are high ties for the horses. The sites have a nice gravel pad with a picnic table and fire ring at each site," reports Jen M. about Maple Springs Campground.
Quiet overnight spots for horses: Campers appreciate the peaceful atmosphere for overnight equestrian stays. "It's quiet, clean, and has some pretty views of the Iowa nite sky," shares Brandon P. about Shell Rock River Preserve.
Mixed-use trails: Lake Louise State Park offers varied terrain suitable for different riding experiences. "Horse owners must camp in designated equestrian sites. The trail system provides several miles of designated bridle paths through wooded areas," according to multiple visitors.
Water access for horses: Not all campgrounds provide dedicated horse watering areas. "You will need to bring your own water buckets and feed storage containers as these are not provided at most equestrian campgrounds near Floyd," advise regular campers.
Reservation requirements: Advance planning is essential for equestrian camping. "We rented the horse camp sites and we couldn't have been happier... We will absolutely be back. And we will always check here first to see if their horse sites are open before checking the state camp," advises Jen M. about Maple Springs Campground.
Health documentation: "The park requires negative Coggins test documentation for all horses," note visitors to Clear Lake State Park Campground. This requirement is standard across most managed horse camping facilities in the region.
Kid-friendly horse activities: Some campgrounds offer programs for younger riders. "This is a great family park where the kids and grown-ups can have fun!" shares Rodney A. about Lake Louise State Park.
Combined water-horse experiences: Look for campgrounds offering both riding and water recreation. "Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge," writes Chantal C. about Camp Comfort Recreation Area.
Multi-activity planning: Pilot Knob State Park provides options for when kids need breaks from riding. "Pilot knob state park is a great place for a week long stay or just a few hours! The camp ground is on the smaller side but it's clean and there is a play ground!" shares Madison L. about Pilot Knob State Park Campground.
Horse trailer parking concerns: Check site dimensions when bringing horses and RVs. "Decent size campsite and in walking around all the ones in the electric loop looked pretty level," notes jim C. about Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.
Hookup availability at equestrian sites: Most equestrian campsites offer limited hookups. "Sites are decent size, drove in and got a site, no reservation," mentions Roni J. about Maple Springs Campground, which offers electrical and water hookups at horse sites.
Manure disposal protocols: All equestrian campgrounds require proper waste management. "Manure disposal areas are available near the horse camping section," note visitors to multiple campgrounds in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Floyd, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Floyd, IA is Cedar Bridge County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Floyd, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Floyd, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
