Best Equestrian Camping near Harpers Ferry, IA

Yellow River State Forest provides two dedicated equestrian campgrounds near Harpers Ferry, Iowa. Frontier Equestrian Campground and Creekside Equestrian Campground both feature spacious sites with horse tie-ups, fire rings, picnic tables, and manure disposal stations with tools. Sites are well-maintained and clean with self-registration available. The campgrounds offer multi-user trails including stream crossings, with direct access to several trout streams for fishing opportunities. Clean, well-kept sites accommodate riders and their horses with ample space between campsites. Electric hookups, fifty-amp service, and thirty-amp service are available at both locations, though neither offers shower facilities or flush toilets.

Trail access from both equestrian campgrounds includes multi-user paths with stream crossings through the Yellow River State Forest. Trout fishing is available with seasonal stockings in the streams adjacent to the campgrounds. The park features beautiful hill terrain with numerous trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Cell service is limited in parts of the forest, allowing for a more immersive outdoor experience. Sites at both Frontier and Creekside accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space. Self-registration is required at both campgrounds, and facilities include pit toilets. The surrounding forest offers additional recreational opportunities including beautiful lookout points with panoramic views of the countryside. Firewood and ice are available at the visitor station across from the campgrounds.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Harpers Ferry, Iowa (11)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Harpers Ferry, IA

128 Reviews of 11 Harpers Ferry Campgrounds


  • Daphne D.
    Jun. 17, 2022

    Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

    Busy but beautiful

    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. Still, it was a lovely place with nice trails and great river access. There are also some breathtaking lookout points to see the countryside.

    We drove through Little Paint Campground and many of those sites were pretty small and crowded, but again, the river access and the views made it a pleasant stay. Nearby Harper's Ferry is a neat little town, so be sure to visit there!

  • Holly  M.
    Jul. 5, 2016

    Wyalusing State Park Campground

    Great Park!

    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 :)

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 13, 2023

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    the best river for canoeing / kayaking in Wisconsin

    This was our second visit to this park. On both occasions we wanted to canoe the scenic Kickapoo river. Our first trip was five years ago and we got portage service for our canoe from Titanic Rentals in Ontario. We went from there (bridge 1) to bridge 12 Which took nearly all day, but we were able to have lunch at the park's Wildcat landing, the only real and equipped picnic site along the river. NOTE; Google maps makes it look like the campground and landing are near each other. They are not. It's three miles of very steep roads, so don't think you're going to fetch anything you left behind.
     The campground is on top of the ridge, which means in the morning you will look out over a fog shrouded valley through the trees. The views from the overlooks, which are a short hike, are worth checking out. Campsite 15 is the only one with a clear view.
    There are walk in sites and the paths are wide and clear. The park provides large carts for your stuff so you can really pack stuff in and get away from it all. But the family tent and RV sites generally well spaced, check the map as some are more private than others.
     Our second trip was in August, 2023 and we canoed from bridge 12 to LaFarge (bridge 21). It was later in the season than our previous trip, and in the slightly less scenic stretch of the river. As a result, we didn't see any other boaters.
    Campsites have basic fire ring, and there are pit toilets as well as one Full facility with running water and hot showers. Firewood is available at the Ranger station.
    There's also Equestrian camping elsewhere in the park and lots of trails for both hikers and horses.
     The town of Ontario has a good general store and a couple bars, but this is pretty much wilderness and small farms. Two unique places however are Wild Things Furrier near bridge twelve. Want a coonskin cap or some smoked trout? This is the place.
     More unique than that if you want to treat yourselves, go 34 miles south to the St. Frances Hermitage restaurant. It's run by a small order of French Monks and Nuns who raise their own animals and grow the vegetables they serve. Their bakery is also delicious. This is not fast food, this is a gastronomic experience.

  • Chad K.
    Aug. 20, 2016

    Wyalusing State Park Campground

    Nice

    This 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.

  • Jeannie B.
    May. 23, 2021

    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.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Big 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

  • Kim The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2020

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    Wonderful cart in sites

    The cart in sites are fantastic at Wildcat Mountain! Each site is spacious with most heavily treed for shade. Each site has a nice large flat pad for a tent or two, fire ring, bench and picnic table. Proximity to potable water, vault or modern toilets and designated parking are all within 400 yards of all sites. 

    The park is located in the Kickapoo valley area where the driftless area is amazing to hike. You can kayak or tube down the river that is flanked by high limestone bluffs. The hiking trails are well maintained. There is also extensive horse trails, a beautiful outdoor ampitheater for viewing sunsets and access to the river right in the park. 

    The campers were respectful and quiet. Our campsite was fairly clean when we arrived. Contactless registration due to covid 19. That made getting set up quick and easy!  The cart provided was fairly big for less trips. I would happily camp here again!

  • Michael V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2022

    Wyalusing State Park Campground

    Beautiful views of the driftless and river valley below

    Stayed 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.


Guide to Harpers Ferry

Yellow River State Forest encompasses 8,500 acres of forested hills and valleys in the northeastern Iowa driftless region. The forest's landscape features steep bluffs rising up to 400 feet above river valleys, with elevations ranging from 660 to 1,060 feet above sea level. Horse campgrounds near Harpers Ferry, Iowa maintain designated campsites throughout the year, with trail conditions that change seasonally due to rainfall and snowmelt.

What to do

Trout fishing in stocked streams: Fish for trout in the streams running through Yellow River State Forest. "Visited the 3 lookouts including Iowa only Fire tower. Bird life is colorful. Lots of places to hike. Scenery is lush," notes Tori L. The forest maintains a stocking calendar for the trout streams, making them productive fishing spots from spring through fall.

Hiking to lookout points: Explore marked trails with panoramic views of the Mississippi River Valley at Wyalusing State Park. "There are miles of great hiking trails and two trails for mountain biking. While the trails to Big and Little Sand caves are lovely, they are also heavily trafficked. We found that the Mississippi Ridge Trail to be a lovely walk in the woods - without any people," shares Josh F. Most trails range from 1-5 miles with moderate difficulty ratings.

Horse trail riding: Access multi-use trails with stream crossings from the equestrian campgrounds. The terrain varies from flat river bottoms to challenging ridge climbs with elevation changes of 200-300 feet. Riders report optimal conditions from May through October, with some trail closures after heavy rainfall.

What campers like

Natural solitude: Big Paint Campground offers campsites with limited cell service and minimal development. "I had no phone service. Campsites are well mown, have a picnic table and fire ring. Pit toilets. Easy access to water," writes Tori L. Campers consistently note the quiet atmosphere, especially on weeknights and during spring and fall seasons.

Campsite spacing: Wildcat Mountain State Park provides well-separated sites with natural screening. "The sites were spaced apart far enough so you weren't on top of the other campers. Very beautiful scenery, especially from the lookout. All the fire rings come with grill racks for cooking," reports David F. Most sites accommodate 1-2 tents and have parking for one vehicle.

Horse-friendly accommodations: Frontier Equestrian Campground provides specialized facilities for riders and horses. "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," explains James M. Each site includes room for a horse trailer and vehicle with level parking areas.

What you should know

Weather variability: The driftless region experiences rapid changes in weather conditions, particularly in spring and fall. Temperature swings of 30 degrees in 24 hours are not uncommon. Pack layers and prepare for sudden rainfall even when forecasts show clear conditions.

Limited services: Most campgrounds offer basic facilities with minimal amenities. "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," reports Tamsyn K. about Big Paint Campground.

Seasonal access: Winter camping requires additional preparation as water systems are shut off and roads may be unplowed. "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," writes Stuart O. Some areas close entirely during hunting season while others remain open with specific site restrictions.

Tips for camping with families

Backbone State Park activities: The park offers diverse recreational options suitable for children. "We kayaked the Kickapoo river and stayed here for a night. We didn't reserve a site so the only spots left were the walk-in sites. There were carts to use and parking wasn't too far so it wasn't bad at all," says Joyce B. about Wildcat Mountain State Park.

Educational opportunities: Visit the visitor centers to learn about local wildlife and geology. Several areas maintain interpretive trails with information about native plants, animals, and geological formations. Rangers occasionally offer guided programs during summer months.

Kid-friendly campsite selection: Choose sites with natural play features and level ground. "All reservable spots...clean bathrooms, showers and spots. Beautiful park!" notes Edward B. about South Lake Campground. Campgrounds with designated swimming areas provide safer water access for families with younger children.

Tips from RVers

Road access considerations: Some campgrounds have steep entrance roads or tight turns. "We drove a truck so getting up/down the mountain wasn't a problem, but if you have a low car, the front end is going to get scraped at the bottom of the mountain," warns Joyce B. about Wildcat Mountain State Park.

Limited hookup availability: Electric sites often book months in advance. "Great shady spots - register online - clean bathrooms and showers - no full hookups - must fill water tanks before parking and 30/50 power available," advises Edward B. about South Lake Campground.

Seasonal camping options: Some equestrian campgrounds near Harpers Ferry offer limited availability during slower seasons. "Good late season option for the self-contained camper," Stuart O. notes about Big Paint Campground, adding that November through March sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis with a $12 fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Harpers Ferry, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Harpers Ferry, IA is Wyalusing State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 59 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Harpers Ferry, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Harpers Ferry, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.