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Best Equestrian Camping near Monticello, IA

47 Reviews

The Equestrian Campground at Scott County Park offers primitive camping for horse owners approximately 50 miles southeast of Monticello. Located in the southeastern corner of the park, the campground provides picnic tables and allows both tent and RV camping with horses, though it lacks horse corrals and hookups. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground. The primitive nature of the facilities means no drinking water, electric hookups, showers or toilets are provided, so equestrians should come prepared with sufficient water for themselves and their horses. The campground's rustic setting creates a peaceful environment for riders looking to connect with their horses away from more developed facilities.

Trail riders can access the park's extensive trail network directly from the campground area. The surrounding Scott County Park offers wooded terrain suitable for day rides, with trails winding through natural areas. Drive-in and walk-in access makes the campground suitable for horse trailers and equipment. While not reservable, the campground typically has available space for visitors arriving with horses. Riders should note the lack of dedicated horse facilities means bringing portable corrals or highline equipment is necessary. Scott County Park's location provides a starting point for exploring eastern Iowa's equestrian trails, though the basic amenities require self-sufficient camping skills. The primitive conditions attract riders seeking a more natural camping experience with their horses rather than full-service equestrian facilities.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Monticello, Iowa (7)

    1. Matsell Bridge Natural Area

    3 Reviews
    Anamosa, IA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 892-6450

    "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."

    2. Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    29 Reviews
    Dundee, IA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 924-2527

    $12 - $25 / night

    "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."

    "Backbone State Park is unlike any other place in Iowa, having geological features uncommon in Iowa. There are two campgrounds."

    3. Wakpicada Natural Area

    1 Review
    Central City, IA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 438-6616

    "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."

    4. Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

    6 Reviews
    Marion, IA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 892-6450

    $23 - $33 / night

    "We camped at this park for 9 nights with W/E on site with a dump upon exit/entrance.  Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers. "

    "There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through."

    5. South Lake Campground — Backbone State Park

    2 Reviews
    Dundee, IA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 924-2527

    $12 - $25 / night

    6. Jackson County Iowa Fairgrounds

    1 Review
    Maquoketa, IA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 652-4282

    7. Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

    5 Reviews
    Long Grove, IA
    50 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 328-3282

    $15 / 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."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Monticello, IA

47 Reviews of 7 Monticello Campgrounds

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2025

    Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

    Scott County Park’s Secret Saddle Spot

    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. 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!

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 11, 2025

    Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

    Open primitive County park site

    The 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.

  • 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.

  • Kerry M.
    Aug. 21, 2021

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Two campgrounds to enjoy at Backbone State Park

    Backbone State Park is unlike any other place in Iowa, having geological features uncommon in Iowa.

    There are two campgrounds. I have camped in both:

    Modern Campground: This is a large, modern campground with all of the standard amenities found in a modern campground… electric hookups, flush toilets, water. I have camped here twice, both times in my travel trailer. Overall, it is a nice campground with decent space in between campers, however, I tend to avoid it during the busier summer and fall colors seasons.

    Primitive Campground: This is my favorite at Backbone for camping, especially in the autumn after the leaves have fallen off of the trees. As this campground is non-electric, there are not many people camping after it turns colder. I have spent many nights there alone in the primitive campground, watching RVs pull in and then leave after realizing that it has no hookups.

    Nearby trout fishing: Backbone is home to one of the more popular trout streams in Iowa. The fishing is easy as most of the fish are stocked (April-October). Still, it is an enjoyable fishing trip as the stream itself is mostly rocks and gravel, with several deep holes. The water is cold and clear.

    Other activities: Hiking is very popular in Backbone. I have also seen rock climbing and rappelling. There are some nice spots away from the trout stream for wading and a little swimming. Backbone State Park also has a small lake with a swimming area and boat rentals during the summer. Several nice cabins are available for those who do not want to camp.

  • Max K.
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Great bathroom and hiking, awful lake

    We stayed here two nights. That was plenty, although it's not really the park's fault. The lake was super gross, with excessive floating moss (probably a weather issue) and EXCESSIVE goose poop everywhere. The beach was basically unusable, with goose bombs everywhere. It was better when we kayaked, but still gross.

    So why the five stars? 1. The bathrooms were fantastic. 2. The camp site was really nice and plenty of room. 3. The hiking was superb. Felt like we were not in Iowa. 4. The driving through the park was also really great and I will go back this fall to look at leaves. 5. There is a cave you can explore on your own. We did. It's awesome. It's muddy. It's super cool. 6. There are some decent bouldering spots. 7. Cheap, huge bundles of firewood at park entrance. 8. Really friendly at the camp store. 9. Close to Strawberry Point. Go to town to Clayton's Pharmacy and get an old fashioned soda. Fantastic. 10. Close to Edgewood and the Edgewood Locker. Go visit and stock up on meat on the way home.

  • Ashley D.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Fun for the whole family

    This campground has many things to do. This place has tent, rv and cabin camping, you can choose modern or non modern camping. Fun activities include fishing, swimming in a lake and also ground fed springs, boat rentals on the lake, hiking also horse trails, rock climbing, caves, playgrounds shelters for events and parties. I am sure there are even more things to do that I didnt have the time for.

  • Matt S.
    Jul. 18, 2017

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Backbone SP is one of the best in Iowa

    I have visited a lot of Iowa parks and campgrounds. Backbone is one on my favorites. Backbone is the oldest state park in Iowa. You can take your canoe out on the lake or hit some of the hiking trails. There are cabins for rent if you don't want to sleep in a tent.

    Click on the following link to download the trail maps: www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/parks/trailmaps/trails_backbone.pdf

    This is a great place to stay but make sure you get your reservations in early if you plan on staying on the weekend. If you want it to be quiet and prefer less crowds but you still want to enjoy the park, I highly suggest taking some time off of work during the week and avoiding the weekend.

    This is a special place, the facilities, the showers, the campsites, the trails, and the lake are top quality.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2020

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Many different camping options

    There are two campgrounds at this park (the first state park in Iowa): a primitive one and a “modern” one. The primitive one (Six Pine) only has a pit toilet and each site has a fire grate and a picnic table. The modern campground (South Lake) has 30 amp, 50 amp, and tent sites. The electric sites are very close together (too close for our liking) so we opted for a tent site. We were in a loop with about six sites, and while the site size was generous and spaced a decent distance apart, there was no delineation between sites and no specific place to park your vehicle (and you cannot park on the road). These sites were also decidedly bumpy and not level; it took us about 15 minutes of maneuvering our van around to find a reasonably level spot. 

    The restrooms were six separate rooms, each complete with toilet, sink, and shower; they were clean. 

    We drove around the park and saw the balanced rock (meh) and I walked the short distance to the mouth of the cave. There was good signage to find the cave but once there, no information about the cave and its safety (or not) was available so I opted not to explore its dark and wet interior! There are seven trails in the park; the East Lake trail was a treat to hike. It hugs the lake for about two miles and while you can veer off onto the Bluebird Trail, I enjoyed hiking out and back for a different view. You can also hike from the South Lake campground to the beach– about a mile but the trail does start and stop, and you have to walk on the road for a bit. You can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats but we did not take advantage of this. We also did not swim so I cannot speak to the quality of the lake (other reviewers took issue with this). There is also a CCC museum, but it was not open while we were there. 

    We stayed one night which was sufficient for us. It might have been nice to stay longer if we decided to rent kayaks or hike different trails.

  • Macel C.
    Jul. 14, 2020

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Backbone

    Lots a hiking trails... nice trout fishing. Kids love the river crossing. Be aware of night life, the raccoons like to come and join you at the camp fire.
    All been said., nice little gem in Iowa.

Guide to Monticello

Equestrian camping opportunities exist within a 50-mile radius of Monticello, Iowa, in the eastern portion of the state. The area features rolling hills, hardwood forests, and proximity to several waterways including the Wapsipinicon and Cedar Rivers. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer months typically see highs in the 80s with moderate humidity, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions.

What to do

Explore riverside trails: Matsell Bridge Natural Area offers access to the Wapsipinicon River where campers can enjoy fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation. "Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site," notes Carol M.

Visit historic attractions: Backbone State Park contains Iowa's oldest state park with unique geological formations. "We hiked on the famous Backbone trail - a really fun hike that isn't too incredibly long. The grounds were well kept and we had a phenomenal time," shares Rachel H., who visited with a Girl Scout troop.

Fish local waters: Several campgrounds provide access to stocked fishing areas. At Wakpicada Natural Area, Parker H. reports, "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."

What campers like

Natural privacy: The primitive equestrian camping areas offer more seclusion than standard campgrounds. At Matsell Bridge Natural Area, Randi C. noted, "The 4th of July weekend it was us, one other camper and the random one nighters," highlighting the uncrowded atmosphere even during peak holidays.

Accessibility to trails: Wanatee Park provides direct access to bike and hiking paths. Kris P. comments, "The best thing about this campground is its access to the squaw creek man bike single track. The sites are nice, and easy access to town if you forgot stuff."

Wildlife viewing: The wooded settings create opportunities for nature observation. At Backbone State Park, Larissa C. reported, "We loved waking up in the morning and going for a walk along the many trails, seeing deer on the trail, and the lake."

What you should know

Bug protection required: Insects can be problematic during warmer months. At Matsell Bridge Natural Area, one camper advises, "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."

Water conditions vary: South Lake Campground at Backbone State Park requires planning for water access. Edward B. notes, "No full hook ups - must fill water tanks before parking and 30/50 power available."

Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally. Wanatee Park runs from "April 15 to October 15," requiring winter enthusiasts to seek alternative locations during colder months.

Weather preparedness: Eastern Iowa experiences rapid weather changes. At Backbone State Park, David B. shared, "It rained as we came in but nothing the park could have done to fix that. It was good for a nights rest and no commotion."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Monticello, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Monticello, IA is Matsell Bridge Natural Area with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Monticello, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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