The Dyrt can help you find the perfect horse camping site near Princeton. Camping with horses is a beautiful way to experience nature. Search horse campsites and discover top-rated spots, as reviewed by other campers.
Access to the Equestrian area is one half mile east of the park entrance on 270th Street. A Scott County Recycling Station is located in the equestrian area parking lot.
A registration and information office is located at the south entrance off of 270th St. Open late April through mid-October. Select campgrounds/campsites are designated as "Reservable". All other sites are rented on a first-come-first-serve only basis. Please have your site number and identification with you when you register. Campground Hosts are located at each campground to assist you. Senior citizen (62 and over) and County resident discounts available. Concessions and firewood for sale. Gift Cards for sale - they make great presents and can be used anywhere in the Scott County park system. NOTE: All park gates are locked and no visitors allowed after closing time.
$15 / night
Primitive area with water & 20 amp electrical service and RV pads with water, electricity and sewer hook-ups.
Camp the way you like. We understand that some people like to pitch a tent and cook over an open fire, and others just don’t. That’s okay with us because we have campsites for both. The only restriction is that equestrians must utilize the designated sites within the Horse Corral campground, all others may utilize any campsite of their choosing regardless of their camping unit. Only one camping unit is allowed per site, "children's tents are considered a camping unit".
District policy does not allow staff to issue refunds of any kind on reservations or the relocation/switching of reserved sites, reservations require a two-night minimum.
All campers must secure a camping permit and check-in (reservation or no reservation) at the Park Office before they set-up camp.
$20 - $26 / night
$8 / night
Campgrounds with multiple campsites along the canal can be found at Lock 21, North Day Use Area
Equestrian camping is restricted to the south side of the Lock 21 area. Equestrian campers are asked to bring a shovel to clear their own horse droppings, which may be pushed off to the side of the trail. There is no tethering to trees.
If you are not familiar with the canal it may be confusing trying to find the campsites. Stop by the Hennepin Canal Visitor Center to pick up a detailed map of the canal, which shows all of the country crossroads. You can also call the visitor center and ask to be mailed a copy: 815-454-2328. I
$8 / night
Legend
Primitive site offers table, fire ring, grill, tie up, outhouse, open space, hard surface parking. Trail is adjacent.
Legend
Located literally just a few stone’s throw due west of the tiny town of Wyanet, which is just a few miles west of better-known Princeton, you will access this little spec of undisturbed primitive camping bliss first via the major Highway 80, running east-west, and then, eventually via Route 6, which is more like a well-paved country backroad than anything else. While you will be hard pressed to find Hennepin Canal Lock 21 on your GPS, trust me, if you simply head west out of Wyanet, you will eventually find this jewel in the middle of nature.
If you didn’t already know, the Hennepin Canal, and its series of locks & dams will eventually connect you with two of the most amazing rivers in the entirety of the US: the mighty Mississippi as well as the murky depths of the Illinois River – both of which are great for kayaking BTW. Should you choose to follow the canal in its entirety, you will be ushered through the minuscule townships of Mineral, Sheffield, Wyanet, Tiskilwa and Bureau – all of which are fairly emblematic of small Midwestern blue-collared towns that still to this day possess an equal amount of charm and hospitality, which the area is very well known for.
Given that you can’t actually make a reservation here (or at any of the campgrounds along the Hennepin Canal for that matter) as this spot and the 5 others that make up the Hennepin Canal Lock camping options are only offered on a first-come, first-served basis, one thing is for certain: if you planned to truly ‘get away from it all’ you really can ‘have your cake and eat here too’ at Hennepin Canal Lock 21. While there is no actual check-in or check-out time, occasionally there is a park ranger that will come by to check on the location and collect those $8 nightly fares, although we never came across a ranger during our entire canal-navigating weeklong journey. You should also note that all of the campgrounds up and down the canal are class C camping, meaning that these primitive camping sites do not have showers or electricity, so either bring your own or, better yet, learn to live without these conveniences for a few days and actually embrace the opportunity to connect with nature.
As you arrive, ultimately via Route 6 & Route 34, you will need to hang a left (coming westbound from Wyanet), where after just a short jig heading due south, you will find the first of 5 camping areas on either side of the main road you are driving down. On the right, in addition to the camping area, you will discover the first of 3 restrooms and just slightly beyond that, the boat launch. If instead of turning right to follow this first encampment, you head left, following the Hennepin Canal, you will see a small camping area on your immediate left, followed by a water spigot, after which you will come across another much larger camping area that has the second restroom facility. Opposite of these 2 camping areas on the other side of the road, there are 2 small camping areas that run right along the canal. If you go back to to the main road, from which you just came, and continued south across the little land bridge and hang another left, you will go around a small pond that will eventually present the third and final restroom facility as you go up a slight incline, where on your immediate right will be the sixth and final camping area that has been reserved for equestrian campers, of which there’s about 4-5 individual sites complete with a wooden hitching post to tie your horses down.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Of all the camping options up and down the Hennepin Canal, while Canal Lock 21 is likely the largest and has more campsite offerings, it is still very basic and primitive, apart from the restroom, boat launch, picnic tables and fire rings that you will find. If that bothers you or you are simply looking for a spot with more space to explore, then likely the Hennepin Canal camping options aren’t for you, and instead, you may want to look just a bit further afield to another amazing place called Johnson-Sauk SP; (2) Should you grow weary of fixing ‘franks & beans’ again for dinner over your roaring fire, while there isn’t much out in these parts, if you are looking for some local fare, over in nearby Wyanet, you’ll find an abundance of just 3 options: Casey’s for well-made, fresh pizza; Harley-K’s Filipino Restaurant, which might actually just shock you!; or Ecky’s Tap, which is fairly darn amazing actually, but only serves up booze. For anything else, head on into Princeton, where there’s tons of options; (3) There is no potable drinking water anywhere at any of these locks up and down the Hennepin Canal apart from at the Visitors Center, so ensure you bring your own water or a filtration system; (4) Should you have your own kayak or canoe, the Hennepin Canal is very nice to explore, although at times difficult to navigate, especially when you come to each of the sets of locks and dams. If that is bothersome and you simply want to get some oaring in without having to take your watercraft in and out of the water every 30 minutes or so, then head on over to Goose Lake just southwest of Hennepin, which is a fantastic lake to explore and has some decent fishing as well; and (5) If you are on the look-out for simply amazingly fresh meats to ‘slap on the Barby’ then head on over to Wyanet Meat Locker, which has fresh venison, pheasant and of course, all of the typical Midwestern carnivore fare like brats, Ribeyes, burgers and pork chops, which all would be DELISH on that flip-open BBQ grill you have back at Canal Lock 21.
Happy Camping!
Ranger
This park is pretty huge so make sure you know which campground you’re going to. The sites here are all shaded (at least in the Pine Grove section I was in). I was next to a large shower house that had plenty of hot water and everything was super clean. The park staff were very friendly and helped me get to the campsite I needed. Beware that if you come after 10pm, there is no way to pay for your spot so you’d have to choose a random spot and come back the next morning to pay.
The sites themselves are HUGE and some of them would accommodate the largest camping rigs you could imagine. Everything in Pine Grove is 50 amp. There are playgrounds for your kids to play in. Cell service was excellent for Verizon and AT&T. Not sure about T Mobile. 60mbps down and 16 up for AT&T.
Guide
This campground is a lovely gem! Most of the camp sites are fairly secluded from one another by distance and from surrounding foliage (see pic). The exceptions would be sites 55-64 that loop around the playground. We, unfortunately, didn't know this and so had site 61. It was nice little spot with plenty of shade but I was a bit jealous of those with more secluded spots, especially since we are tent campers and all of the others on the loop were big RVs.
The pros:
- The campground hosts were lovely. Friendly but not overbearing, as some can be.
- The on site restaurant/bait shop/ boat rental was very convenient! Husband forgot to pack something and the little bait shop had what we needed. Plus, we were able to buy firewood there, too.
- Lovely scenery! The hiking trails were well maintained and there were lots of beautiful flowers, bird, and butterflies. We even saw a raccoon!
- The (and I cannot emphasize this enough) CLEANEST campground bathrooms I've ever seen! I'm not squeamish and have been camping for years so my expectations for campground bathroom cleanliness is well calibrated but these bathrooms (even the vault toilets!) were amazingly clean! There weren't even spiderwebs on the ceiling of the shower house. Just *chef's kiss*
- The water from the pump was very clean.
The cons:
- Lack of privacy/seclusion for the 55-64 sites along the loop.
- For that same loop, since it circles the playground, if kids playing noises bother you, might want to choose a different site.
- The food at the restaurant was meh. It was fine- it was sustenance. Nothing to write home about.
- LOTS of big RVs. It wasn't an issue for us on this trip, but on other camping trips sometimes being surrounded by big RVs just isn't a great vibe.
LegendSite 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.
LegendWe saw an article about "Dutch Days" in nearby Fulton on www.OnlyInYourState.com, (first weekend in May) and thought it looked like fun. The nearest campground at Thomson causeway recreational area was closed both for repairs and for flooding so this was our best choice.
It was not crowded this early in the season, though most of the sites are pretty private and that wasn't an issue. We stayed in the 60's loop which is more open than most since it has the playground. There's only one shower building, which is clean and well-kept, and it is on the 80's loop, though there are paths to it from the others.
There are a few pull-through sites, but I'm not sure they're indicated. The ADA sites are large and well paved, though the tables do not have wheelchair overhangs.
Fire rings are hit and miss, our site had a low square pit with a non-adjustable flip-over grill, other sites had taller, circular rings, check site photos.
There are two trails downhill to the lake from the 60's loop, no lakeside campsites.
The lake is small but pleasant and stocked with fish. There are boat rentals available and a small restaurant and general store.
We went on day trips to Fulton and Clinton, IA. Eagle point park has a good view of the Mississippi, but more spectacular views are at Mississippi Palisades State Park, a 50 min drive.
If you don't feel like cooking, a great choice is the Candlelight Inn(s), half an hour to the east or west in Clinton, Sterling or Rock Falls. A great family restaurant/ steakhouse famous for it's "Chicken George" (they'll give you a free sample to get you hooked)
GuideWe enjoyed the beautiful lake and cute restaurant/gift shop. We liked the different loops of campsites with pit toilets every where and a nice modern bathroom/shower house also. There were several camp hosts scattered among the camp site loops. Our campsite had a more open feel than some of the others. It wasn’t as heavily treed and we liked that. The sites were very well spaced apart. There were many well worn paths that lead to the lake, but it was too wet from previous rain for us to explore those. We did enjoy walking along the various loops among the trees. We will definitely return and bring some friends with us next time.
GuideBeautiful, spacious and quiet campground. Park rangers and staff are so kind and respectful of keeping the areas cleaned up and cared for! Lots of tree shade for picnicking, hiking trails, and even a pool! Bathrooms were always stocked and cleaned, plus they have HOT SHOWERS! Woohoo! Such a wonderful time at Scott County Park! Can’t beat it! :D
Legend
Main CG has gravel lanes, showers, fire rings, tables, electric, nearby lodge and shelter with Cedar River access.
GuideWe needed to stay in Davenport area for the night (traveling from South Dakota to Maryland) and the reviews were high so we stopped here. Did not disappoint- very quiet, huge lot, clean and manicured, large bathhouse. Next time, we will hopefully stay for longer so we can try out the amenities!
LegendThis small campground has separate space for equestrian campers and those without horses. There are picnic tables, vault toilets and water. The campsites are all on grassy areas with trees at the edges. This gives you some shade depending on the time of day. The grassy sites were a bit unexpected. We saw tire marks showing that people drove into the grass to set up camp. Some of the sites were completely separate from anyone else by the camp road. You were entirely visible to anyone else in the park but it was empty during our stay.
The Hennepin Canal Trail goes right through camp. On a previous visit I rode my bike along the crushed gravel trail. With a few connecting roads, I traveled from a Chicago suburb to the Mississippi River. While I didn’t see any horses then we did see a couple riding on the trail today.
This is a good spot for an overnight rest but there isn’t much more to the amenities than the campsites.
LegendSite has hard surface for vehicle/trailer, table, grill, non potable water, outhouse, tie-up, trails, shade trees. Located in SE corner of Scott County Park. Firewood, ice, concessions can be found in main park along with pool, golf, Pride Lake for fishing and paddling. Historical Pioneer Village is located at north end of main park.
Legend
CG has nice corral with day use and camping sites: shelter available, elect pull in sites fire rings, wood available in park, tables, trails Lake George for fishing, paddling, boat rental.
Scoutfirst timers/ young kids- yes. Primitive campers- no. My husband had never been camping. I grew up with very primitive camping- no electricity, only pit toilets, sometimes fresh water, and no showers (milk jug showers!) Little by little, I’m warming him up to camping. This is a great place for new campers, families of young kids, or just looking for an easier trip. There’s a shower house with flush toilets, warm showers, and surprisingly CLEAN! The site was medium size. Enough room to spread out. Ground was flat so finding a tent site was no problem. Electric hookup worked. Picnic table was good. Check your site before booking! One section of sites is like an open field? No trees and full view of others. But these surround a playground- also very nice. Glamping with young kids? These sites would be a perfect. AT&T and Verizon cell service worked fine
TravelerEnjoyed almost 2 weeks at West Lake Park, part of the Scott County, IA park system. Helpful staff, park rangers make daily patrols, nice spots, many with shade trees & decent room. There are numerous walking trails & is minutes away from the heart of downtown. Overall, a great RV parking experience & would return back again!
ScoutPretty location for boating or relaxing. Limited hiking with poor maps. Adequate pit toilets throughout campgrounds. One shower house with flush toilets that was decent. Concessions with snacks and boat rentals, but closed on Mondays--even holidays. Our campsite was spacious but some are open and too close together. Good for one night unless you have your own boat.
GuideWe stayed in the Pine Grove Campground, Lot #15 from Sunday, July 25, 2021 - Wednesday, August 4, 2021. This campground is electric hookup only. On our site we were able to just fit our camper and truck with not a whole lot of extra room but other sites had a longer driveways able to accommodate a larger rig. We have a 25' camper for reference. We absolutely loved camping here!
The campgrounds are well maintained. Cleaning Day is Monday... they come around to clean the bathrooms and refill products, empty the dumpsters, and clean out the fire pits.
We did not get any pictures of the bathrooms but they are very clean, 4 toilet stalls and 3 showers. The only issue I had with the shower was it was just a stall... not much room to put your clothes and towel, but they did provide a shower caddy to put your soaps and such on. I ended up using a bag I could hang on the hook provided on the door to keep my stuff dry while showering.
The campground was pretty quiet and sparse until Friday rolled around and it filled up fast! All but one site was full! Everyone was very friendly and there were a ton of kids that were playing and riding around on their bikes. It was fun to watch everyone having a good time!
The park is very well patrolled by the Park Rangers, you see them driving around all the time to check and make sure everything is in order.
We rode around on our electric bikes, strolling through the campgrounds, stopping at the lake to take in the view, stopping at the memorial to check it out. The roads are slightly narrow, just enough for 2 cars to pass each other so make sure you are looking out while riding your bike. We also did one of the hiking trails. It was a nice trail just big enough for one person (or person on a bike) to walk through so you have to walk in a single file line. We also stopped at the Pioneer Village to check it out. They do expect you to leave a $2 donation per adult and $1 donation per child, but this is based on the honor system. You put your money in a little lock box. It was very cool to see how things were done back then! We would definitely recommend stopping by, and definitely stop in the ice-cream shop and get a cone!
The pool was open while we were there but we did not partake. It was really hot out so the pool was packed! It looks really nice from the road, it has 2 water slides and a small child area fashioned similar to a splash park.
Traveler
Nice long trail, friendly people, and a cute little ice cream shop that was a lifesaver after a long hike. Beautiful scenery, firewood available for $6 a bundle, water, electricity and fairly clean bathrooms with showers. We tent camped for $20 a night.
TravelerIf you want to spend a lot of your time just relaxing at camp, this is a great spot. Our site was huge, flat and private - no trouble finding flat ground to pitch the tent. It rained a lot, unfortunately, but the host stopped by and made sure we knew how to find the shower house for shelter if the weather became dangerous. We had a couple hours when the rain paused long enough for a short hike. There is a small lake for fishing and paddling, and a restaurant in the park (ended up being vital since I forgot to pack coffee). Site had electric and was a short walk to privy and water.
TravelerWe camped the last weekend in April and we loved it. The pad was uneven but we got our pup leveled out. We couldn't hike as much due to some hunting still going on but we made due. We will be back to this camp ground.
Traveler
Plenty of room! Multiple campsites along the canal. Very clean & well maintained. Boat ramp. Clean, well kept restrooms with Handicapped access & parking. Yes, there is mosquitoes. But if you want to fish right from your campsite, you gotta expect that! Theres some stagnant seaweed along the shoreline but the water has a strong flow. Fishing is good! Bull-heads, sun fish, big mouth bass are abundant. Grills, picnic tables & garbage cans at every camp site. A few spots have plenty of room for multiple tents or a large RV. Shade trees, soft grass, a nice trail to walk & great views. The stars in the night sky are breathtaking! This isn't some posh camping for someone looking to get a resort-feel. But if you want to fish, have a clean bathroom & enjoy relaxing with lots of room, this is the place! Only $8 a night.
TravelerThis has always been a nice and well maintained park. Although theres a small "lake" here, Ive never had great luck catching much. Pool is nice and updated. Park rangers are always frequently present and patrolling. This a great park for camping and walking trails.
GuideWe took a chance. We wanted to camp last minute and it was the only place taking reservations. We would definitely come back.
ScoutOnce there was a time where almost every weekend from spring to fall I would camp here with my family. Scott County Park has been the standard from which I judge all other campgrounds.
When you come into the park you check in at the entry station. The people there always friendly and knowledgeable. This is also where you can purchase firewood if you want to.
For tent camping, I preferred Wilderness over Incahaias mainly because Wilderness feels much more private, as some of the individual sights towards the back are surrounded by bushes/trees. Wilderness is primitive and Incahaias has electric hookups.
By far though I spent most of my youth at the Pine Grove campsite. Electric service is 30 Amp and there is a dump station and potable water up front. My father had a 28' travel trailer and he never had a problem backing it into whatever spot we had. We played a lot on the playground there and rode our bikes wherever.
There is a trail head on the west of the campsite that we would always take to hike to Walnut Grove Pioneer Village.
Pioneer village if you've never been was the absolute bees knees as a kid to go to, especially since you can hike to get there! I loved climbing around in the train cars, eating icecream/candy canes, and watching the blacksmith work. Sometimes they'll have shootouts in the street which was always a blast pun intended! :) I would say kids older than maybe 10 might think the experience is kind of lame though.
Scott County Park also has a public pool as well. The last time i swam here i do not believe the pool was heated but now it is! They also did not have the big water slides.
The picnic shelters at Scott County Park are also great. I've been to them many times over the years for graduations, family reunions, birthday's etc.
I cannot speak about the golf course or the Bald Eagle site (For dedicated RV and travel trailer users) as I have never been to either, but both places seem fairly busy and Bald Eagle is open year round!
I haven't been here in a few years but I'll be back soon enough!
TravelerVery big campsites, sites where more like a rainbow then flat but more then enough space to back up. Plenty of shade very friendly
ScoutWe just got home from our first visit @ morrison rockwood park and it was fun. We had site 57 which is in a loop which goes around a playground. It was great for the kids who could go play and the sites in this loop provide plenty of space and privacy. We used only our camper for the amenities so i cant comment on the bathrooms or shower houses but they looked nice. Paved roads so was good for bike riding and plenty of access to the lake for fishing.
TravelerCamp sites are clean and we'll spaced
Camping near Princeton, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Princeton, Iowa, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Princeton, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Princeton, IA is Scott County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Princeton, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Princeton, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
