8 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Horse camping options near Osage, Iowa remain limited, with most public campgrounds offering general facilities but lacking dedicated equestrian amenities. Lake Louise State Park Campground, located approximately 30 miles east of Osage in LeRoy, Minnesota, provides horse camping with access to bridle trails. The park features multiple camping loops with sites that accommodate horses and trailers, though reservations are recommended during summer months when the campground operates at full capacity. Clean bathrooms and warm showers complement the camping experience, while the trail system accommodates both riders and hikers throughout the park's varied terrain.
The Cedar River corridor offers additional camping possibilities for equestrians, with several access points for trail riding throughout Mitchell County. Cedar Bridge County Park, situated along the Cedar River south of Osage, provides spacious campsites with good hiking and horse trails. The surrounding area features a mix of public lands and private ranches that sometimes permit horse access with prior arrangement. Trailer parking requires advance planning as most standard campgrounds have limited oversized vehicle accommodation. Seasonal availability varies significantly, with many facilities operating from Memorial Day weekend through early October, though some parks maintain year-round accessibility with reduced services during winter months.
"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."
"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."
"The group sites are close by and they were quite loud, but the rest of the park was nice and quiet. There is horse camping here, and the lake is nice for swimming."
"Our group of 12 stayed at one of the two group sites at Lake Louise State Park. Our site holds up to 30 and the neighboring site holds up to 50."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $18 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Mystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy."
"Has horse tie ups and great trails"
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $14 - $34 / night
Check Availability"Some girlfriends and I wanted to stay at the camp for the weekend and have a place to social distance ourselves. We rented the horse camp sites and we couldn't have been happier."
"Beautiful spaces of various size, a river runs next to it and they have duck races."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge."
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!
GuideGood time! It rained and was a little muddy, but it was nice. Site 11 is kind of small for a large tent like we have. The group sites are close by and they were quite loud, but the rest of the park was nice and quiet. There is horse camping here, and the lake is nice for swimming.
RangerMystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy. My new word while we stayed there was “Forresty” due to feeling like we had entered a different world. There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails. (Word to the wise, some of the trails are hiking/equestrian so watch your step😂) We didn’t do our homework, but if we would have known, we would have brought our fishing rods as the rivers were full of trout!!
We arrived at 2:00pm on Saturday, after a long 5 hour drive from northern Minnesota. It was amazing to watch the landscape change from iron ore mining pits to countless acres of corn and potatoes!! Check in time is 4:00pm, but our spot was empty when we arrived, so the park rangers let us set up early (Friendly and most helpful!!) We grabbed a bundle of wood for $6.00 for a campfire while we were at the park office. (that is pretty normal rates as you can’t bring in your own wood at State Parks in Minnesota) There are 3 different loops, an additional equestrian loop, and 5 cabins. We stayed in loop “C” with has bigger sites for RV’s and offers electricity. Loops “A” and “B” have smaller sites (still big!!) and both of those loops are non-electric. None of the sites are “full” hook up, but there is a dump station & fresh water fill right off the park office. The restrooms and showers are just off of the “C” loop, as was the amphitheater, and there are garbage/recycling bins every 4-5th site. The park was very noisy, but that all changed when most of the folks left Sunday. It was very peaceful the rest of the week.
There are so many things outside the park to do too!! We were not aware, but the Mystery Cave is a short drive from the state park. We took the scenic tour, and our guide Kip was fantastic!!! Hey let everyone ask all the questions they wanted to, and didn’t rush us at all!! The rate is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 5-12, and kids under 5 go for free. The pictures just don’t do it justice!! The next day we drove to Masonic Park in Spring Valley and we were amazed by the sheer size of the rock face!! There is no charge to picnic or visit there and there is one spot for camping, but you need to get permission from the city before doing so. We also toured Niagra Cave which is a longer drive, but well worth it!! The underground waterfall was super cool!! They charge $16.00 per adult, kids 4-12 are $10.00, and children under 4 are free.
All in all this was a great get away for our family, and I highly recommend staying at the park:)
ScoutSome girlfriends and I wanted to stay at the camp for the weekend and have a place to social distance ourselves. We rented the horse camp sites and we couldn't have been happier. The sites have water and electric. There are high ties for the horses. The sites have a nice gravel pad with a picnic table and fire ring at each site. There is also a dump station that we were able to use before we left on Sunday. None of us had been at this campground before and love trying new places. We are endurance riders so we are used to early nights and up at dawn for riding. This camp was so nice and quiet! We had a nice fire after dinner listening to the water and birds. There were families with children, couples of all ages and well behaved dogs everywhere! The owner Andy as so gracious answering our many emails and questions. He went the extra mile at every turn. We can't thank him and his employee(who's name I sadly can't remember) we're just absolute delights! We will absolutely be back. And we will always check here first to see if their horse sites are open before checking the state camp. It's a very short road ride to the park trails and the campground and their amenities are first rate. I can't wait to return!!!
TravelerCampsites are flat and grassy. They back up to each other so good for groups camping together. Has horse tie ups and great trails
ScoutIt’s quiet, clean, and has some pretty views of the Iowa nite sky
TravelerI’m probably a little biased. My parents started coming to this park to ride horses in the 70s. We spent at least 3wks every year here when I was a kid trail riding, hiking, even tubing down the Root River (there’s no commercial tubing available and you have to get up and walk through rocky shallow spots, so it isn’t ideal for this, but tell my 10yr old self that).
I stayed here recently in the “people campground.” I hiked 12mi in one day and had a great time. The campsite itself was great—privacy and no loud neighbors. I always make sure to stay in spots without electric if possible to escape the culture and noise that accompanies RV camping. Site #4 isn’t very level, but it backs up to the river and the access trail out of the campground. Forestville never disappoints me—I even randomly ran into my own uncle while hiking!
LegendOur group of 12 stayed at one of the two group sites at Lake Louise State Park. Our site holds up to 30 and the neighboring site holds up to 50. Our site was a beautiful spot with large shade trees, three picnic tables and two fire pits. We also had a large grassy area to play and an area to put up our tents that was away from the activities. A vault toilet was beside us but it was also for the other group site so they had to constantly walk thru our site to get to it. The trails were nice but small and the beach is not recommended. Even though it's part of a river it was very stagnant yucky water and dirty sand.
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.
Equestrian camping near Osage, Iowa encompasses several park areas with varying terrain that range from river valleys to forested uplands. The Shell Rock River Preserve offers primitive camping in a natural setting with access to the river corridor and trail systems. Seasonal temperature fluctuations affect camping conditions significantly, with summer highs reaching 85°F and winter lows dropping below freezing, creating different challenges for campers throughout the year.
Explore underground cave systems: Lake Louise State Park Campground, located about 30 miles from Osage, features cave tours in addition to standard camping amenities. "During the week, the office isn't open so it might be helpful to bring your own firewood purchased from nearby. There is no cell service (TMobile) here," advises Lacey F.
Fish for trout in local streams: The area surrounding Maple Springs Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities. "Quiet and mosquito free campground on the root river in beautiful SE MN. Near Forestville State Park and great gravel riding. Free WiFi. Hiking Trails. Fly fishing. Did I mention no mosquitoes!" notes Kim H.
Visit historical sites: Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground combines camping with educational opportunities. "It has this awesome living history 1800's village managed by the Minnesota Historical Society. There's also a very interesting cave with a museum and all the talactites, stalagmites, and underground pools you can imagine," shares Jason S.
Wade in local waterways: Camp Comfort Recreation Area provides water access directly from campsites. "The river is off a smaller dam and has great fishing. Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge," reports Chantal C.
Quiet weekday camping: Horse riders particularly appreciate the peaceful atmosphere at many campgrounds during off-peak times. At Shellrock River Co Preserve, campers note, "It's quiet, clean, and has some pretty views of the Iowa nite sky," according to Brandon P.
Diverse terrain for riding: The region offers varied landscapes from wooded areas to riverside trails. "Nice level sites with electric, picnic tables and fire rings," explains Michael W. about Pilot Knob State Park Campground, which connects to various trail systems suitable for horse riding.
Dedicated horse facilities: Some private campgrounds cater specifically to equestrian needs. At Maple Springs Campground, "The sites have water and electric. There are high ties for the horses. The sites have a nice gravel pad with a picnic table and fire ring at each site," reports Jen M., who adds, "It's a very short road ride to the park trails."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Cedar Bridge County Park offers natural habitat viewing while camping. "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," says Tim M.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds in the area have limited or no cell reception. At Clear Lake State Park Campground, despite being well-equipped, visitors should note connectivity challenges in more remote sections.
Site layouts and privacy: Campgrounds vary widely in site spacing and privacy. "All of the sites are not very private. Have some nice hiking trails and a small lake a short walk from the campground," shares Melissa A. about Lake Louise State Park.
Reservation requirements: Popular horse camping areas fill quickly, especially during summer months. "Sad that there were so many back up sites over the holiday weekend, would have liked to have been able to camp here. It being full more than a week before the holiday, shows how great it is," notes Jennifer D.
Access challenges: Some equestrian camping areas have specific entry requirements. At Shellrock River Preserve, "I couldn't find a way to drive to the campground due to gates saying hiking, horseback, and walking only," reports Elena R.
Look for playground access: Several campgrounds offer child-friendly amenities. "The playground was fun for the kids, nice beach access! Limited full hook up sites. Paved roads are great for bike riding," shares Becky M. about Clear Lake State Park.
Consider educational opportunities: Pilot Knob State Park Campground provides nature learning experiences. "Pilot knob state park is a great place for a week long stay or just a few hours! The camp ground is on the smaller side but it's clean and there is a play ground!" explains Madison L.
Check water access for safety: Not all water features are suitable for swimming with children. At Forestville Mystery Cave State Park, one camper warns, "We stopped here for the last night of our road trip because we couldn't make it home in one shot. I wouldn't stop here again because it was so wet and just a forest."
Schedule weekend activities: Some campgrounds organize family events. At Maple Springs, a camper shared, "The campground had everything we needed including a great little trout stream on the edge of the property, a hayride, movie for the family in the old red barn."
Dump station locations: RV campers should note varying dump station arrangements. For Maple Springs Campground, "There is also a dump station that we were able to use before we left on Sunday," mentions Jen M.
Site leveling considerations: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Sites are decent size. They have a a shelter and small playground. There is a spigot to fill your tanks and electric hook ups," notes Chantal C. about Camp Comfort Recreation Area.
Hookup availability for horse trailers: Living quarters horse trailers require special considerations. At Cedar Bridge County Park, "There are about 20 self-serve sites with electric and water. Self serve firewood. Dump station and dumpsters near the exit," explains Tim M., making it suitable for equestrians with larger rigs.
Seasonal availability: Campground services change throughout the year. "This is a state campground. So as most will know the sites could be better maintained. The bathrooms are updated and nice. When there is heavy rain you will however have your own pond at most sites," shares Lisa M. about camping conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Osage, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Osage, IA is Cedar Bridge County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Osage, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Osage, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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