Pilot Knob State Park Campground in Forest City offers camping facilities across 48 sites with a combination of electric and non-electric options. Sites accommodate tents, RVs, and limited glamping setups. While the campground does not feature dedicated horse corrals, it does permit pets and offers access to hiking trails that connect to the surrounding area. The campground maintains clean bathhouses with showers and provides water access points throughout the grounds. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables on mostly level terrain. The campground layout features several rows of sites with varying degrees of shade from mature trees. Recent improvements have enhanced the shower facilities, though some reviews note the campground could benefit from additional maintenance.
Clear Lake State Park Campground provides another option in the region with electric hookups and spacious pull-through sites that can accommodate larger vehicles. The paved roads throughout the campground support easy navigation with horse trailers, though sites are positioned relatively close together during peak season. The campground connects to a nearby beach via a short walking path through wooded areas. Water access is available for animals, and the surrounding area offers opportunities for trail riding. The park maintains clean facilities with warm showers and modern restrooms. Visitors note that despite being a popular destination, the campground remains surprisingly quiet even during summer weekends. The park's proximity to Clear Lake offers additional recreational opportunities for campers, including fishing and boating activities after trail rides.
$14 - $34 / night
"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."
$18 - $38 / night
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Really nice spot almost overlooking the lake (Through the trees), had fire ring, picnic tables and room for quite a lot of tents! For me and my family it was perfect!"
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!
ScoutIt’s quiet, clean, and has some pretty views of the Iowa nite sky
LegendGeneral: A mixture of tent (non-electric) and electric sites, mostly arranged in several rows.
Site Quality: Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site). A fire pit and picnic table complete the site. Most of the sites are too close together for our liking, however, when we were there (a Monday at the end of August, the day before school started), we were only one of three sites occupied so for our stay it didn’t matter.
Bathhouse: Basic but clean. My biggest complaint is there were no hooks or shelves for toiletries by the sinks. The showers looked nice but we did not use them.
Activities: Horseback riding (there are trails for this), hiking, fishing. Although we did see several trailheads, I did not have a map so didn’t explore them. There is an observation tower, but it is a two-mile walk/drive from the campground (on paved roads; I didn’t try to find hiking trails to get there).
Misc: A shout-out to the great host, Pam, who greeted us as we arrived. The observation tower, entrance gates, and picnic shelter were all constructed by the CCC and were beautiful. It almost seemed like the campground was an afterthought as it is outside the entrance gates and nowhere near the tower. The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied.
TravelerLocated by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park. Plenty of hiking trails, playground for the kids, and an amazing sand bottom swimming pond surrounded by sand beach. Golf is also nearby at The New Ulm Country Club which is open to the public. Nice level sites with electric, picnic tables and fire rings.
LegendThis is a larger county campground that has nice sized sites that look very well maintained. It runs along the Cedar River and has a put in for paddlers nearby. It is situated right off the blacktopped road.
ScoutWe 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!
ScoutClear 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. Lots of families camp here. Spots are nice.
ScoutI was exhausted when I arrived but couldn’t find a way to drive to the campground due to gates saying hiking, horseback, and walking only.
GuideGreat campground. Family and friends get together a must here. Close to the beach, town and the lake has great fish. Reserve early!
Pilot Knob State Park Campground sits on elevated terrain and provides access to a network of hiking and multi-use trails. Sites accommodate tents, RVs, and cabins with varying levels of amenities. The campground remains open year-round with 48 total sites at budget-friendly rates between $10 for non-electric and $18 for electric sites. The campground connects to a 700-acre park featuring a historic observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Wildlife watching: Pilot Knob State Park offers opportunities to observe local wildlife throughout the seasons. "When driving to my site two fawns were laying near the playground," notes Roger, a recent visitor to the park. The diverse ecosystem supports deer, turtles, and various bird species.
Fishing opportunities: Clear Lake State Park Campground provides excellent fishing access with multiple species available. "The lake has great fish," reports Lisa M., who frequently visits the park. Anglers can expect productive fishing from shore or boat, with the lake being a popular destination for both casual and serious fishing enthusiasts.
Paddling: Clear Lake offers ideal conditions for kayaking and other water activities during summer months. "We were happy to discover that despite being a full campground, it was quiet at almost all hours of the day and night. It was, however, an entirely different story on the lake itself, where boats gathered all day to party!" writes Lee D. about their experience at Clear Lake State Park Campground.
Horseback riding trails: The region offers several multi-use trails suitable for equestrian camping near Leland, Iowa. While dedicated horse corrals aren't available at most campgrounds, several parks maintain trails that accommodate riders. These trails often connect to larger networks, providing extended riding opportunities for those bringing horses to the area.
Budget-friendly camping: Shellrock River Preserve offers free camping with basic amenities. "Secluded free camping with port a potty, fire rings and a shelter. My AT&T service worked enough for a podcast but not streaming," explains Tammie C. about this cost-effective option. The preserve allows stays up to three days in a large grassy field surrounded by walnut trees.
Spacious sites: Cedar Bridge County Park provides generously sized campsites with hookups. "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," shares Tim M. about this Cedar Bridge County Park, which offers approximately 20 self-serve sites with electric and water.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities at Pilot Knob State Park Campground. "Beautiful campground. Well maintained. Nice facilities. You can't beat this place for the price. Nice hiking trails too," comments Eric J. The park maintains modern shower facilities with individual shower rooms that include timed lighting.
Family-friendly atmosphere: Many campgrounds in the region cater to families with children. "The playground was fun for the kids, nice beach access!" writes Becky M. about Clear Lake State Park. Multiple reviewers note the welcoming environment for families with children of various ages.
Limited cell service: Cell reception varies significantly between campgrounds in the area. At Shellrock River Preserve, campers report limited connectivity: "My AT&T service worked enough for a podcast but not streaming," according to Tammie C. Visitors planning to work remotely should research connectivity options before arrival.
Site layout considerations: Campground configurations vary widely across the region. "The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied," notes Lee D. about Pilot Knob State Park. Similarly, at Clear Lake: "The paved roads leading to the sites are very narrow and would appear to be one-way but are not designated as such, resulting in some confusion."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "It being full more than a week before the holiday, shows how great it is," Jennifer D. explains about Clear Lake State Park. Making reservations several months in advance is recommended, especially for holiday weekends and summer stays.
Weather impacts: Local weather patterns can affect site conditions. "When there is heavy rain you will however have your own pond at most sites," Lisa M. reports about Clear Lake State Park, indicating drainage issues during wet periods.
Shower temperature management: Parents should test shower temperatures before children use facilities. "It's hard to control the temperature in the showers, too hot for little kids to stand directly in the water," warns Becky M. about Clear Lake State Park Campground. Consider bringing shower shoes and supervising young children.
Playground accessibility: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds for children. "There is the town of Forest City just a few miles away and it has pretty much everything you need for a stock up for your next adventure!!" reports Madison L. about Pilot Knob, which offers a playground within the campground area.
Beach activities: Water access provides additional entertainment options for families. "Family loved the fishing," mentions Lisa P. about her stay at Pilot Knob. Many campgrounds offer direct or nearby access to swimming areas, making them suitable for multi-day family outings.
Nature observation opportunities: The region offers educational wildlife viewing chances for children. Visitors to Pilot Knob "Got to see turtles laying eggs and deer were all around," according to Lisa P., creating natural learning experiences for young campers.
Site leveling requirements: RV campers should prepare for variability in site levelness. "Sites not too level, but spacious," notes Victoria G. about her experience at Clear Lake State Park. Bringing leveling blocks is recommended even at campgrounds advertising level sites.
Electric hookup options: Different amperage options exist across campgrounds. At Bright Lake County Park, RVers will find more primitive camping without electrical hookups, while Pilot Knob offers 30-amp service. "For $12/night on a 30AMP hookup, I really can't complain," reports Jacob B. about his stay at Pilot Knob.
First-time setup locations: New RV owners find certain campgrounds more accommodating for initial setup experiences. "If you are picking up a camper from Lichtsinn RV in Forest City they offer to let you stay on their lot with electric hookups during your pick up. But, we found it a little more private and less intimidating to set up camp down the road just a few miles at Plot Knob State Park," shares Michael W.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer dump stations, requiring planning for longer stays. Cedar Bridge Park provides a dump station near the exit, while some smaller preserves have no such facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Leland, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Leland, IA is Pilot Knob State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Leland, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Leland, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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