Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek) offers equestrian-friendly camping options just minutes from North Liberty, Iowa. Located in Marion, this county park sits at around 800 feet elevation with terrain that varies from wooded areas to prairie restoration zones. The park maintains rideable trails from April 15 to October 15 with both reservable and first-come, first-served campsites.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: Horse riders looking for trail adventures can visit Loud Thunder Forest Preserve Horse Corral Campground where riders can access connecting trail systems. As James M. notes, the "CG has nice corral with day use and camping sites" and there's "Lake George for fishing, paddling, boat rental."
Explore wooded areas: The forests around Matsell Bridge Natural Area provide peaceful nature experiences. Randi C. mentions, "The DNR was very nice about everything" and explains that when river levels changed, "The DNR let us switch sites for our last night."
Fishing spots: Multiple parks in the area offer excellent fishing opportunities. At Wakpicada Natural Area, Parker H. reports "Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other. I consider it a little hidden gem."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Equestrian and non-equestrian campers appreciate the well-maintained camping areas at Wanatee Park. Kristy E. shares, "This is a newer campground so is a mixture of mature and young trees. It is very clean and well cared for."
Privacy between sites: Many horse campgrounds near North Liberty provide good spacing between campsites. Colleen L. notes about Wanatee Park, "There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through."
Affordable options: Budget-conscious campers find reasonable rates at several area parks. Keith B. mentions that at Keokuk County Belva Deer Park, it's "$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance."
What you should know
Weather considerations: The North Liberty area experiences high humidity in summer months. At Lake Iowa County Park, Clifton B. warns, "Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August. Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did."
Seasonal flooding: Parks with river access may experience periodic flooding. Carol M. explains about Matsell Bridge, "Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River" but notes timing is important as "when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad."
Registration systems: Most equestrian campgrounds near North Liberty use self-registration. Brett S. notes about Wanatee Park, "Half of the campgrounds is first come first serve, the other half is reserve only."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids enjoy spotting animals at various parks. Wendy D. mentions about Lake Iowa County Park, "Nice, quiet and affordable. Saw lots of deer and rabbits right outside our door."
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play areas for children. Clint G. explains that Wanatee Park offers "very spacious [sites] with some shade, a fire ring, and picnic table provided" with stores conveniently located "within 5 miles."
Trail difficulty levels: For families with younger riders, consider trail difficulty before planning horseback activities. Kris P. says about Wanatee Park, "The best thing about this campground is it's access to the squaw creek man bike single track. The sites are nice, and easy access to town if you forgot stuff."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area offers equestrian-accessible sites with varying levelness. James M. describes it as having "gravel lanes, showers, fire rings, tables, electric, nearby lodge and shelter with Cedar River access."
Campfire smoke management: Consider site location if sensitive to smoke. Randall K. at Lake Iowa County Park shares, "Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed" due to sites being "pretty close together."
Electric options: Several parks provide hookups for those requiring electricity. Leslie P. advises about Lake Iowa County Park, "if you can try and get sites, 67-70. They have beautiful views" while still providing necessary amenities.
