1 campground with availability next weekend
Scott County Park's Southeast Corner Campground offers primitive equestrian camping with hard surface parking for vehicles and horse trailers. The site includes picnic tables, fire rings, charcoal grills, and designated horse tie-ups adjacent to trailheads. Sites are positioned in an open area with some shaded sections available. The campground features an outhouse but no potable water. Equestrian trails connect directly to the camping area, providing immediate access for riders. The primitive nature of the facilities is offset by the convenience of recycling stations nearby and direct trail access from campsites.
Located within the larger Scott County Park system, the equestrian camping area provides riders access to a network of bridle paths through diverse terrain. Trails accommodate various skill levels and connect to broader park features. While the campground itself has minimal amenities, the main park area offers additional facilities including firewood purchase, ice, concessions, and recreational opportunities like fishing and paddling at Pride Lake. The historical Pioneer Village located at the north end of the main park provides an additional destination for campers. Campground reviews note the balanced blend of open space for horses and shaded areas for comfortable camping, particularly during summer months when tree cover becomes valuable.
"Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range."
"It has a large lake with three boat launches, a main one with a motor ramp, a canoe launch near the marshy end, and a fishing pier."
Available next weekend
from $18 - $110 / night
"There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."
"Campsites a little close to others and sound traveled. Trails were way nice and the scenery was beautiful-lots of deer!"
from $10 - $30 / night
"We saw an article about "Dutch Days" in nearby Fulton on www.OnlyInYourState.com, (first weekend in May) and thought it looked like fun."
"We enjoyed the beautiful lake and cute restaurant/gift shop. We liked the different loops of campsites with pit toilets every where and a nice modern bathroom/shower house also."
from $20 / night
"Tucked away in the southeast corner of Scott County Park – yes, the same park that already has more campgrounds than a camping catalog – lurks a little-known equestrian primitive campground."
"Site is located in the very SE corner of the park with: charcoal grill, fire ring, outhouse, picnic table, recycle station adjacent, tie-up, hard surface for RV. No water onsite. Trails available."
from $15 / night
"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."
"Nice long trail, friendly people, and a cute little ice cream shop that was a lifesaver after a long hike."
"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."
GuideWe stayed at site 116 for 1 night. The site had privacy trees all around and a long driveway. It's a pretty hilly site, so be prepared to level out in a camper. It was a busy weekend and the beach was packed, for the end of May. There is a place to get ice cream too! The bathhouses are newer and everything is clean. Would recommend if you enjoy a busy and beautiful state park.
TravelerOff 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.
LegendThis campsite has a hard parking lot surface, picnic table, charcoal, grill, firing, and a pit toilet, horse tie up. Trail access starts here, recycling station is adjacent, and Scott County Park Road is just to the south.
LegendTucked away in the southeast corner of Scott County Park – yes, the same park that already has more campgrounds than a camping catalog – lurks a little-known equestrian primitive campground. It’s the sort of place that feels like you stumbled onto a secret level in a video game: no hookups, no frills, just you, your horse and the occasional squirrel judging your life choices. If SOC-Fox is the Brady Bunch middle child (see my review for this CG), this one is the mysterious cousin who shows up at family reunions in cowboy boots and doesn’t say much.
The sites? Bare-bones, as expected. You’re not here for 'glamping.' You’re here for space to tie up your horse, throw up a tent and feel like you’ve traveled back to 1883 (minus the dysentery). Fire rings are your only luxury item here, and if you’re expecting bathhouses with spa vibes, forget it. You’ll find pit toilets that are … serviceable. Let’s call them ‘character-building.’ Roads in here are gravelly but manageable if you take it slow, but you don’t really want to be coming here if you’re toting a 5th wheel or driving an RV as this area is really more geared for mi tent pitchin’ bredren who want the opportunity to ‘rough it’ ... ideally with their noble steeds.
What makes it shine, though, are the equestrian trails. Miles of riding paths crisscross through woods, open meadows and rolling hills. Even if you’re not on horseback, you can hike them and pretend you’re in a Western where the budget ran out before they gave you an actual horse. And because this campground is the least famous of the seven, you’re more likely to get actual peace & quiet. No cannonballing kids, no RV generators humming in the night, just plenty of crickets, the odd, stray coyote and your horse deciding 2 a.m. is the perfect time to shuffle around loudly.
Insider Tips? Giddy-up, here’s a few: (1) Bring your own water as there’s no magic spigot here; (2) If you want solitude, this is the place. It’s basically the anti-aquatic center; (3) Hungry after a day on the trail? Eldridge’s Grille on the Green dishes out hearty comfort food, and you won’t even have to tie your horse out front; and (4) If you need supplies, hit the Tractor Supply in nearby Eldridge. They won’t blink when you walk in smelling like hay and campfire.
Happy Camping!
LegendBig private sites but the toilet is a hike.
ScoutCame July 2024 for our annual camping trip with 12 people and 6 cars at Group Camp 204.
Main complaints from the group were there were too many kids for our camping experience and the swimming beach was small for the amount of people there during the day. The campground itself is further from major stores (~15-20 min), gas, and ATM’s for replenishing ice, needing to grab something from the store, or grabbing more cash for boat rentals.
Biggest pro from the group was being secluded from the other sites and rarely hearing other sites. We occasionally saw folks from 203 coming to use the pit/vault toilets but that didn’t bother us. We also rented a 12 person pontoon from Cork Down Saloon Boat Rentals and that was great!
We likely won’t return but had a great time while there!
TravelerCamped here in May 2024. Campsites were good and bathrooms were clean enough. What really makes this campground is the lake. There’s a nice beach for kids and adults to relax at and lots of kayaks on the water.
LegendThe site offers a hard service to park on, picnic table, fire, pit, charcoal, grill, outhouse, horse tie up, and equestrian trailhead. There is a recycling dump station nearby, and open space with shaded tree area. The park itself offers trails for hiking and biking, a pool, golf course, campgrounds, historical Pioneer Village, amenities, including firewood, ice, concessions. Pride Lake offers paddling and fishing.
TravelerWe went Memorial Day weekend and got a tent site at Hickory Hill. I would recommend the Pine Ridge area for a quieter night, but it was all booked up when we went. For RV campers Hickory Hill was great! Paved roads, clean pump out area, and nice shower house. We were in site 148 which was quite nice. Great shade and dense woods separated us from the RV area.
Scott County Park's Southeast Corner Campground provides equestrian camping options with direct access to bridle trails. This area offers hitching posts, hard-surface parking, and basic facilities for horseback riders. While the sites sit in an open setting, some shaded areas are available through adjacent tree cover. The campground serves as an access point to the wider Scott County Park trail network.
Trail riding with horses: At Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground, riders can access dedicated equestrian trails directly from the campground. "Site has hard surface for vehicle/trailer, table, grill, non potable water, outhouse, tie-up, trails, shade trees," notes James M. The trails connect to the broader park system and accommodate various skill levels.
Fishing and paddling: Lakes near La Motte provide opportunities for water recreation. At Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground, campers enjoy water activities. "What really makes this campground is the lake. There's a nice beach for kids and adults to relax at and lots of kayaks on the water," says Ryan K. The park offers boat rentals and accessible shorelines.
Hiking through diverse terrain: The region features hiking trails through wooded areas and rolling hills. "Camped here in May 2024. Campsites were good and bathrooms were clean enough," notes Ryan K. about Yellowstone Lake State Park. Trails accommodate day hikes of various lengths and difficulty levels, with marked routes through forests and prairie sections.
Secluded campsites: Many campgrounds offer privacy between sites. At Morrison-Rockwood State Park, "Our site was huge, flat and private - no trouble finding flat ground to pitch the tent," reports Amy R. The park features wooded sites with natural barriers between camping areas.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. "The (and I cannot emphasize this enough) CLEANEST campground bathrooms I've ever seen! I'm not squeamish and have been camping for years so my expectations for campground bathroom cleanliness is well calibrated but these bathrooms (even the vault toilets!) were amazingly clean!" writes Stacie H. about Morrison-Rockwood State Park.
Lake access: Water features enhance camping experiences in the region. "Beautiful wooded campground with easy access to fishing & swimming. Lots of hiking trails and nature programs for all ages," says Jeanne M. at Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground. Lakes provide spots for fishing, swimming, and boating depending on the season.
Seasonal flooding: River-adjacent campgrounds may experience high water. At Matsell Bridge Natural Area, one camper reported: "By the 3rd morning the river had risen to the point of flooding out our campsite. The DNR let us switch sites for our last night." Check water levels before planning trips, especially in spring.
Insects can be intense: Bugs vary by season but can be challenging. "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," advises Carol M. at Matsell Bridge Natural Area.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies across horse campgrounds near La Motte, Iowa. Some campgrounds have adequate service while others have limited or no coverage. "AT&T and Verizon cell service worked fine," reports Amy W. about Morrison-Rockwood State Park, but other more remote areas may lack reliable connections.
Playground-adjacent sites: Some campgrounds offer sites near play areas. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, "We stayed on the tent loop, where the sites were very large and mostly shaded," notes Nilsa S. The park offers both playground access and space for family activities.
Beach access: Swimming areas provide summer recreation. "We had a lot of fun there playing in the water on the beach however my son who was five at the time got a really bad bacterial rash from the water," shares Meg K. about Lake Le-Aqua-Na. Check water quality reports before swimming, especially during hot weather.
Bike-friendly roads: Paved campground roads work well for younger cyclists. "Paved roads so was good for bike riding and plenty of access to the lake for fishing," mentions Ben W. at Morrison-Rockwood State Park. The flat terrain at many campgrounds allows for safe biking within campground boundaries.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Beautiful glacial area with rolling hills and wonderful views. If camping with a trailer or RV check to make sure you will get a campsite that is level enough for your vehicle. Lots of the campsites are uneven and larger vehicles may have issues getting level," advises Jeanne M. at Rockwood State Park Campground.
Dump station access: Waste disposal facilities may have wait times. "The line to clean out the tanks was long and blocks the way in and out. The roads need repair, many potholes," notes Bill L. at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area. Plan extra time during busy checkout periods.
Electric hookup availability: Most equestrian campgrounds near La Motte, Iowa offer limited or no electric hookups. The primitive nature of these sites means RVers should prepare for dry camping. "We tent camped for $20 a night," mentions Briana B. about Rockwood State Park Campground, which also offers electric sites at different rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near La Motte, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near La Motte, IA is Jackson County Iowa Fairgrounds with a 2-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near La Motte, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near La Motte, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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