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Best Equestrian Camping near Otho, IA

83 Reviews

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area features specialized equestrian camping across two distinct campgrounds. The North Equestrian Campground and South Equestrian Campground both accommodate tent and RV camping with full hookups including electric, water, sewer, and sanitary dump stations. Each campsite includes hitching posts behind the site for securing horses. The North Equestrian Campground offers more shade with young trees providing some coverage while the South Equestrian area tends to be more open. Both campgrounds maintain asphalt roads throughout, making for easy access with horse trailers. Campsite amenities include picnic tables, fire pits/grills, and clean shower houses. The campgrounds remain operational from April 1 through December 31, with off-season camping available for $14 per night with full hookups.

Trail access directly connects campers to extensive riding opportunities throughout the 6,000+ acre recreation area. The park features well-maintained trails suitable for riders of all experience levels, with many campers noting the park's vast prairie setting provides excellent riding terrain. Multiple riding trails connect to the campgrounds, allowing direct access from campsites to the trail system. The park remains relatively quiet even when horse campers are present, creating a peaceful environment for both horses and riders. During spring and fall, the 30-amp hookups typically suffice for most rigs, though Beach Campground offers 50-amp service for those requiring higher electrical capacity during summer months. Spacious, grassy sites accommodate larger trailers and provide ample room for setting up horse equipment. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays when the equestrian campgrounds fill quickly with horse enthusiasts.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Otho, Iowa (7)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Otho, IA

83 Reviews of 7 Otho Campgrounds

  • Tom S.
    Sep. 30, 2016

    Ledges State Park Campground

    Don't fall off the ledge!

    One of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there. It's close to how I remember it.

    The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.

    What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.

    If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.

  • Wendy P.
    Jul. 19, 2018

    Ledges State Park Campground

    Beautiful hikes. Prepare for coons.

    One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.

    Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.

  • B
    Aug. 19, 2016

    North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

    Nice campground

    I stayed here at the start of the summer and had a great time. We chose to stay in the equestrian campsite (even though we didn't have horses) because it was a bit more secluded and shaded. The campsites were nice and the lake and stream were very nice as well. I was surprised to see a school of muskie while fishing, but it appeared that they were spawning at the time. If you go camping in May, make sure to bring a slightly heavier fishing pole to handle the musky. They're worth it.

  • J
    Dec. 14, 2021

    Jester County Park

    Nice, Quiet CG

    Nice CG located on the North end of Saylorville Reservoir. Camped in the upper CG site#145. Numerous shade trees, gravel pad and room for our 20' trailer and TV. CG has a kids playground, hiking trails, Equestrian Center, golf course and nature center. Plenty to do with the city of Ankeny just 15 minutes away. CG was fairly empty until around Thursday and filled on the weekend. Seniors can get$5 off per day of their reservation. Dump station is at the entrance of the CG. We camped at Jester Park in a Travel Trailer.

  • S
    Jul. 6, 2021

    North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

    North Equine Campground

    The only open site was in the North Equine Campground so we took a chance. We really did like the Campground, it was well maintained, clean and quiet. There were a few campers with horse but not many. Hitching posts behind each site which we enjoyed seeing. The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds. There was also a nice playground for the kids surrounded by a well maintained, large, grassy area. There were many empty sites because so many had no electric. It made for lots of nice open space. Unfortunately, we had no shade in the afternoon so weren't able to eat dinner outside or enjoy a fire in the evening. We are fortunate we camped in a 5th wheel so we could escape the heat, we would have left after the first night otherwise.
    We did drive through the Beach Campground and the South Equine Campground. Beach had very little shade and was primarily families with younger children. The beach looked real nice, not too crowded for a hot, July day. North Equine was where most of the horse folks were staying it was quite crowded. A very bustling area.

  • Whitney S.
    Apr. 9, 2022

    Jester County Park

    Little bit of everything

    Campgrounds amazing views airsoft gun and archery ranges snowshoeing equestrians and cross-country skiing

  • Mike C.
    Sep. 26, 2018

    Ledges State Park Campground

    Small Quant and scenic

    The views around the park are some of the very best in Iowa. Hiking trails often found you coming face to face with deer who look at you inquisitively. Fun for family as the waters over the roadways are a splash for adults and children alike. It's a hidden gem, just outside Boone Iowa.

  • Tanner H.
    Jun. 24, 2021

    Jester County Park

    Jester park is great for a weekend with friends and testing new camping gear

    This site was great, it has a reserve site to its right, (the people never showed up) and a FCFS site to the left. No one showed up there either and it was Father’s Day weekend! Super quiet and relaxing. Each site towards the front of the 400’s is BIG. You have plenty of room for 2 vehicles and two sizable tents. There was four of us and a dog.

    A couple minor complaints that I developed would be that it is right next to the golf course so there is a lot of near by traffic, and people like to cruise on motorcycles and drive muscle cars through the twisty roads. The nice bathroom in the #300s camping area is a bit of a walk BUT has showers and really clean toilets. Some of the cleanest I’ve seen at a campground in Iowa. DO NOT USE THE “TOILETS” in the #400s area, they are dirty and basically a hole in the ground.

    Another downside is that things are pretty spread out, and with it being pretty hot out we weren’t able to walk miles to get to the different trails at the park. The short trails we did walk on were nice and up kept though.

Guide to Otho

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area offers specialized equestrian camping facilities on 6,000+ acres of prairie terrain. Located near Otho, Iowa, the park maintains three distinct campgrounds open from April through December, with off-season camping available at reduced rates. The area features rolling hills with a mix of open prairie and young woodland, creating diverse riding environments across multiple trail systems.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Kennedy Park Campground provides access to multiple fishing spots with drinking water and electric hookups available. "Great fishing nice open areas and trails to explore. Lots of cool kid activities," notes a visitor to Jester County Park.

Hiking trails: The park system offers well-marked paths suitable for all skill levels. "Hiking trails were well maintained. Can't wait to come again," writes Randi about their experience at North Equestrian Campground.

Water recreation: The recreation area includes lake access points and beach areas. "Great new beach area and fishing," comments Megan H. about her visit to North Equestrian Campground, highlighting the water recreation options beyond the equestrian focus.

What campers like

Spacious sites: The campgrounds feature large, level sites that accommodate various camping setups. "Very spacious and grassy sites, clean, grill/fire pit was really very nice," notes Randi about North Equestrian Campground.

Quiet atmosphere: Despite being an equestrian-focused area, many campers appreciate the peaceful environment. "Relaxing never bored... People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet," reports Andrea H. about her stay at South Equestrian Campground.

Clean facilities: The park maintains high standards for bathrooms and campsites. "Clean bathrooms and showers," mentions Stella S. in her review of North Equestrian Campground, while another camper notes the "very clean and modern bathrooms, easy access to water."

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns affect camping comfort throughout the open season. "We had no shade in the afternoon so weren't able to eat dinner outside or enjoy a fire in the evening," reports Stephanie B. from her July camping experience at North Equestrian Campground.

Astronomy viewing: Light pollution is minimal in this rural area. "The Stars Were So Bright! This little nugget is laid out on a vast prairie... Very little light pollution," shares Staci I. about Beach Campground.

Cell service: Connectivity varies throughout the park. "Verizon 4G fluctuated between 0-2 bars. Was able to send pictures and only dropped a call once," notes Staci I. about her experience at Beach Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Certain camping areas offer dedicated play spaces. "There was also a nice playground for the kids surrounded by a well maintained, large, grassy area," mentions Stephanie B. about North Equestrian Campground.

Beach activities: The swimming area provides family-friendly recreation during warmer months. "The beach looked real nice, not too crowded for a hot July day," observes Stephanie B. at Ledges State Park Campground.

Biking opportunities: Paved surfaces throughout the campgrounds support family cycling. "The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds," notes Stephanie B. about her stay at North Equestrian Campground.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Electric options vary between campgrounds. "If you need 50 amps, you're going to want to head to the Beach Camp," advises Jeannie D., who notes that North Equestrian Campground works with 30 amps "in spring or fall."

Off-season value: Reduced rates during shoulder seasons make for economical RV stays. "Open for off season camping. 14$/night for full hookups with pull thru RV sites," shares Anna C. about North Equestrian Campground.

Big rig accessibility: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs equally. "This was a super cool state park, great amenities, level and spacious RV spots," writes Adam about South Equestrian Campground, noting the ample room for larger setups.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Otho, IA is North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 9 reviews.

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

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

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