17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent camping options in northeastern Iowa include several primitive campgrounds near Guttenberg, with Yellow River State Forest offering multiple backcountry sites. Camp Glen Wendel and Camp John Schultz within the forest provide dedicated tent camping areas accessible by hiking trails. Frenchtown County Park and Joy Springs County Park offer additional tent camping locations in the vicinity, though with limited amenities.
Most tent sites in the Yellow River State Forest require hikers to pack in their supplies along established trails. Fire rings and benches are standard at designated campsites, but potable water is primarily available only at headquarters. Campers should carry their own water when heading to backcountry sites. The primitive camping areas generally lack showers and flush toilets, with some locations having no facilities whatsoever. Sites are typically situated on natural terrain with minimal development, maintaining the wilderness experience.
The backcountry tent camping areas provide notable solitude with limited encounters with other campers. Trails within Yellow River State Forest connect multiple camping areas, making it suitable for multi-day backpacking trips. Echo Valley State Park Campground offers tent sites adjacent to a trout stream with good separation between campsites. As one camper described, "Yellow River has great backpacking sites. Park near ranger station and hike in or grab a map and find a smaller parking location near the trail you want to explore." The forest environment features dense tree cover, offering shade during summer months and protection from wind. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area, adding to the immersive tent camping experience.
"My friend and I were eager to test out some new backpacking gear for the first time in advance of a larger trip this summer."
"Yellow River has great backpacking sites. Park near ranger station and hike in or grab a map and find a smaller parking location near the trail you want to explore. Great scenery."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Hiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects."
"Awesome campground, if you require electric bring a generator. Water is available but needs to be carried in. we loved the lack of cell phone reception!"
from $20 / night
"People driving around the pond didn't even know we were there! The camping spot was beautiful (although you have to watch out for nettles). Great fishing while we were there too."
"There are pit toilets at the upper sites, near the pavilion."
"The hiking trail was perfect for a morning stroll with my dog and coffee and there certainly is a petting zoo (my German Shepard was a little uncertain about the goats)"
from $5 / night
Check Availability"Primitive and private. Pond for recreation, fishing, and swimming. Kids be sure to try the rope swing. "
"The farm was cute and a wonderful place to get outside and be in nature. The hosts were very accommodating and professional! We will definitely be returning, 10 stars!"
from $24 - $45 / night
"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."
LegendUnique hike or paddle primitive site. Native forbs and wildlife surrounding the area. Two parking sites to hike in or access by river. Site is along river, has table, fire ring, latrine. Pack in, pack out and Leave No Trace.
ScoutNice 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. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this "best kept secret" for primitive and inexpensive camping sites. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site. Good for RV, trailer or tent camping… level ground and lots of shade. Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water.
LegendHiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects. Leave No Trace ethics include: minimizes fire impacts by gathering only dead, down, wood. Sounded by nature atop of hill hike near Fire tower ( only fire tower in Iowa), cell reception is found up here.
LegendGeneral: This is a small (29-site) county park campground situated along the North Fork Maquoketa River. Nine of the sites are reservable, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Some sites are primitive, and some have water and 30-amp electricity hookups. There is one ADA-accessible site with a paved camper pad.
Site Quality: Most sites are level. The camper pads are gravel/grass, but not all are clearly defined. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring.
Bath/Shower: The bath/shower house was closed when we were there in November but there are vault toilets about a quarter mile from the campground (in the day-use area) that were very clean and well-stocked when we were there.
Activities/Amenities: Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds (one in the day-use area and one by the campsites). There are two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a dump station.
We were tent camping in November on a backpacking trip so we didn’t take advantage of any of the activities but would return in our van on a future camping trip. We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!
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
LegendCampground is well maintained, restrooms, showers, recycling station, fire wood available, campground host onsite, resident park ranger, standard RV sites, some electric tent sites otherwise primitive with fire rings and tables. Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails.
LegendThis campground also goes by the name of Holbert. Small campground but free with a handful of picnic tables and campfires. The vault toilets were cleanish, thou older. This campground is next to a pretty little creek that you can play and fish in. The campground is really just a series of campsites strung out along the creek and road. It was pretty quiet while I was there, not many campers at all. There are no hookups for RV’s/campers so it is primarily tent camping or dry camping. There is an interesting story about how this camping area has come to be: the land was donated by Ella Ellis in memory of her husband William Ellis. They apparently loved the land and wanted to make sure it was never developed and could be enjoyed by all. A lovely story.
RangerMud Lake is a wonderful county park near Dubuque. Beautiful views of the Mississippi River. We stayed one night on our way to Minnesota. The sites are mostly sunny. The park streets are gravel with gravel sites. The park is quiet except for the occasional train from the nearby tracks. Great value for $21. Electric and water hookups. Marina and boathouse next door.
Stayed in campsite #35 which has no shade. It was a gravel site which shares a pull-through with site 36. There was more than enough parking for my TT and truck and grass on either side. The site included: picnic table and fire ring. Utilities were located in the rear. 20A/50A electric and water. Site was level. Neighbors were nearby.
AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 2 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 47 Mbps down, 1.3 Mbps up. Verizon data VERY SLOW. No WiFi.
Would stay here again. We camped at Mud Lake Park in a Travel Trailer.
GuideWe stayed at this campground for 7 nights with W/E hook ups. Dump available on entrance/exit. The site was a level rock pad witch was very spacious with a fire ring and picnic table. Nearest grocery store was within 5 miles. The bathrooms and shower were very clean with lots of hot water. There is hiking in the park and very little road noise.
Northeastern Iowa offers secluded tent campsites near Guttenberg, Iowa with terrain characterized by steep hills and deeply carved valleys. Yellow River State Forest encompasses over 8,500 acres of rugged landscape with elevation changes up to 300 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F, while spring and fall camping provides cooler temperatures and fewer insects.
Trout fishing opportunities: Echo Valley State Park Campground provides direct access to a designated trout stream with minimal competition from other anglers. "Came in late but found a spot, only 6 first come first serve camping sites. I was a quarter mile from the next nearest site," notes one camper at Echo Valley State Park Campground.
Backpacking training: Yellow River State Forest trails serve as ideal preparation for longer expeditions. "Great park with a few longer trails for backpacking. Have used these trails/this park to prepare for longer trips. Wonderful spots to camp and the creeks are very clean and pretty," reports a visitor to Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry.
Night sky viewing: The lack of light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. "Great spot to view the stars. Awesome for kids," mentions a camper about the primitive sites at Camp Glen Wendel.
Secluded sites: Many campsites offer exceptional privacy, with significant distance between neighbors. "I've backpacked here multiple times and have only run into other people once or twice. Hidden gem," shares a backpacker at Camp Glen Wendel.
Fishing access: Multiple locations provide opportunities to catch bass and panfish. One visitor to Wakpicada Natural Area notes, "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."
Stream proximity: Several campsites allow visitors to set up within hearing distance of running water. "There is a nice trout stream, with a few sites right by the stream," according to a review of Echo Valley State Park Campground.
Primitive conditions: Most backcountry sites lack modern amenities. "Camp John Schultz includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects," explains a visitor to Camp John Schultz.
Water access: Potable water availability varies significantly between locations. "Camp Glen Wendel is about 1 mile in from self camp registration at HQ. Sites have fire rings and benches, some more spacious than others. Potable water is at HQ near registration kiosk," notes one camper.
Trail conditions: Expect variable trail conditions depending on recent weather. "There are some thin trails down steeper hillsides, so make sure to take it slower if the ground is muddy," advises a regular visitor to Camp Glen Wendel.
Farm-based alternatives: For families wanting more amenities while tent camping near Guttenberg, consider private farm stays. A visitor to Gardner Family Farm reports, "The farm was cute and a wonderful place to get outside and be in nature. Pond for recreation, fishing, and swimming. Kids be sure to try the rope swing."
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening hours provide the best wildlife spotting opportunities for children. "Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects," mentions a Camp John Schultz visitor.
Camping boundaries: Several parks have designated youth camping areas separate from general camping. "Sites have fire rings and benches, some more spacious than others. This Camp has wonderful stands of coniferous trees," notes a camper at Camp Glen Wendel.
Site limitations: Most tent campsites near Guttenberg are not suitable for larger recreational vehicles. "It is most suitable for tent, truck, or teardrop camping... large RVs would not do well," explains a visitor to Worthington Sportsman's Club.
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging roads that may be difficult for trailers. "Certainly a tent oriented campground, RVs would have a difficult time," notes an Echo Valley State Park visitor.
Limited hookups: RV campers should prepare for primitive camping conditions. "No showers or dump station. But it was great," mentions a visitor regarding Camp Glen Wendel facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Guttenberg, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Guttenberg, IA is Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry — Yellow River State Forest with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Guttenberg, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Guttenberg, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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