Best Cabin Camping near Mount Vernon, IA

CG offers standard electric/water sites with dump station, tenting, cg host onsite, showers/restrooms, soda, playground, 2 luxury cabins, kayak/paddle boats/concessions at beach during in season, god fishing, world class disc golf course.

CG is primarily RV but tents can setup and there is a luxury cabin in CG. Showers/restrooms, wood available, host onsite, overflow parking, standard sites, trails nearby, Pool open during season, golf course nearby, well maintained. PRIDE Lake nearby for paddling and fishing. Pioneer Village cultural site at north end.

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.

This has been one of my favorite state parks in Iowa to camp thus far. I've tent camped in April and cabin camped in October. The cabin camping was the better of the two experiences, mainly due to the unusually chilly overnight temperatures in April. During the warmer months you can rent canoes from the concession stand. Climbing/rappelling is also allowed in the park via registration at the park office.

We stayed in a family cabin that sleeps up to 4 people. You have to reserve cabins and there is a 2 night minimum stay, but the price is extremely reasonable. These cabins also offer heat and A/C. Our cabin had a common area with a kitchenette.The bathroom included a toilet and shower. The small, but cozy bedroom included a mattress - you're responsible for bringing your own linens - along with a sink. Additional amenities included stove, frig, microwave, pots and pans, and even a small coffee maker. And, the couch in the common area pulled out into a futon, providing extra sleeping space. Outdoor amenities included a fire pit and picnic bench. Bonus: The back of our cabin area looked out onto Backbone Lake.

We purchased firewood in Strawberry Point, a small town just a short drive from the park. Iowa requires that firewood be obtained within the county you're staying in due to the Emerald Ash Borer epidemic.

We fished for trout and hiked along several trails in the park. The Devil's Backbone was our favorite mainly because of the scenery along the bluff. It was the perfect way to view the changing leaves and watch the Maquoketa River flow by.

While we did have neighbors on either side of us, the noise level was minimal, and everyone was respectful of parking spaces as there is a common parking area in front of the cabins.

This is a beautiful spot to visit especially in autumn.

Cabin sits at end of campground lane with covered porch, parking for 3 cars, ADA accessible. Cabin has 2 sleeping rooms, sleeping loft, and sofa. Capacity is 10, with all kitchen amenities. Has fire pit, wood available in campground, tables, and gas grill with rental. Playground nearby, park has seasonal pool, garden of course, trails, Pride Lake for fishing and paddling.

This cabin has all modern conveniences with two sleeping rooms, full service, kitchen, living room, with sofa, sleeper, and fireplace, ADA bathroom and a covered porch overlooking the lake. There’s a gas grill, fire pit, picnic table for outdoor recreation. The park offers kayak rentals, paddle boat rentals, swimming beach in season, and concessions.

This modern cabin offers to better bedrooms, full service, kitchen, living room, with sofa, sleeper, and fireplace, ADA bathroom, covered porch with chairs and view of the lake, fire pit, and picnic table outside. Park offers, kayak and paddleboard, rentals, concessions, and a swimming beach in season.

Neat, newer cabins nettled along the sand pit lakes. Well maintained park with bike trail running through, fishing, hiking, paddling all within areas of cabins. Cabins have hard drives, shared fire rings, very nice views from porches.

Park is a nature preserve with only 1 cabin for rent (Kestrel Cabin) sleeping six. Cabin offers modern amenities: stove, oven,micro, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee pot, toaster, ADA access, shower. AC/heat, covered porch, firewood, picnic table, Charcoal grill, trails. Park is also site of nature center with live animals, an observatory, access to Wapsipinicon River.

Cabin 1- sits above Railroad Lake surrounded by prairie planting. Lake system offers fishing, paddling, paddle boats,and seasonal swim beach with concessions. Trails, disc golf, camping grounds also. Cabin offers sleeping for 8, good kitchen, covered porch, ADA accessible.

Cabin sits atop hill overlooking Railroad Lake surrounded by prairie. Lake complex offers fishing, paddling, swim beach, concessions, etc. Trails in park, disc golf, Wildlife etc. Cabin sleeps 8, full service kitchen with serving and cooking ware. Outside gas grill, fire pit with grill, picnic table, firewood available . Overflow parking nearby.

Lake Restoration is currenlty underway! These modern cabins have everything a family needs. Site has parking including handicap and overflow, fire pit, tables, grill, covered porch overlooking lake and prairie, firewood, ice, concessions at cg office or beach/boathouse( when open), world-class disc golf, fishing, trails, playgrounds nearby. Cabins are within West Lake Park.

Cabin sleeps 6, full modern kitchen, ADA accessible, fire ring, grill, wood at no cost, picnic table, hard surface parking for 2 cars, bird feeder for viewing, River Trailhead right outside Kestrel Cabin! No city like that so night sky shines with stars. Trails wind and through forests and prairie areas. Outdoor/ environmental programs offered. Wapsi River access for fishing, paddling, etc.

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.

Primitive tent sites include: tables, fire rings, parking, water and firewood nearby, shelter for rent, seasonal host, visitor parking, 2 modern cabins adjacent.

Neat park with lots of paddling, fishing, hiking, beach. Cabins are newer, ADA accessible, and face lakes for great shore access and shared fire pits.

Cabin sleeps 6, has all amenities including firewood at no cost! Education center onsite with live animals, trails, open year round, Wapsipinicon River below bluff offers paddling, fishing. Menke Observatory offers sky programs.

Wooded sites, host onsite, wood available, dump station, clean restrooms, wildlife, trails, shelter with fireplace, and 2 cabins available. Pool, Pioneer Village, gold course, Pride Lake, fishing, bike and horse trails.

Clean facilities including: golf course, historical pioneer village, miles to hike, Pride Lake is smaller but fun to fish, has both horse and bike trails, a model airplane field, and 3 cabins.

Camp offers site for all tastes: primitive and modern cabins and lodges, tents for small or large groups and couples. Hard roads, fire pits, tables, water, showers, supplies. Surrounded by nature with forest, prairie, and lake.Trails, and even guided activities.

Campground office with wood available, snacks, bait. Beach has kayak, paddle-boats, and fishing boat for rent. world class disc golf course, 4 lakes with good fishing, 2 large cabins sleeping 8 each! Greta staff. 

Update- 2021- lake complex closed for restoration project

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.

Great scenery and views! Fun trails, great beach, lighthouse, boat docks, cabins, caves, and much more. Absolutely loved this place! Had a blast got lots of great pics and memories! Loved the trails but most of all the amazing views/scenery! Fun family oriented park!

The park specializes in environmental education and the Eagle View Eco Center with exhibits and native live animals, trails, prairie, observatory, amphitheater, 1 mile stretch of the Wapsipinicon River with paddling access, a modern cabin that sleeps 6, ADA accessible. Limited primitive camping by authorization only. LNT principles.

We stayed in the cabins, which were in great condition and spacious. The camp sites look very roomy, and they are spread out in several sperate area which helps minimize congestion. Beautiful area that is well secluded, especially since it is so close to the city.