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Best Equestrian Camping near Oelwein, IA

75 Reviews

Based on review of campground data near Oelwein, Iowa, none of the listed campgrounds feature dedicated horse corrals, stalls, or specific equestrian facilities. The Albany Campground at Volga River State Recreation Area and Backbone State Park both allow pets but lack specialized horse amenities. The data shows all campgrounds are marked "NO horse-corral" in their features list. Trails throughout these parks accommodate hikers and general recreational users, but none are specifically designated for horseback riding or bridle use.

Equestrians seeking horse-friendly camping options near Oelwein may need to look beyond the immediate area or contact park management about specific accommodations. While several campgrounds offer spacious sites that could potentially accommodate horse trailers, including Backbone State Park and George Wyth State Park, none have purpose-built equestrian facilities such as corrals, highlines, or designated horse camping areas. Nearby state forests and recreation areas feature extensive trail systems, but riders should confirm trail permissions and horse access regulations before planning their visit, as many trails are designated for hiking only.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Oelwein, Iowa (12)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Oelwein, IA

75 Reviews of 12 Oelwein Campgrounds

  • Jeannie B.
    May. 23, 2021

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Many things to do here

    Backbone is a very diverse area. There are miles of trails. Is hiking your thing? What about equestrian? Maybe mountain bike trails? You can even take the family for a nice leisurely walk on the easier trails. Exploring is fun at this park because there is so much to see. The Trout stream was busy the weekend we were there. You might even want to play a round of Gulf. We have solar on our trailer so we stayed in the Six Pines campground and it was beautiful. We listened to the night animals for hours.

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    George Wyth State Park Campground

    Another bargain at an Iowa State Park

    Why Should You Camp Here?

    • Iowa state parks are a bargain! This one is $11 for a non-electric site, $16 for an electric site. (Rates go down to $6 and $11 from 10/1-4/30.) There is no separate park entry fee (unlike some states).

    • You can rent kayaks, canoes or pedal boats near the campground at Wyth Lake. And there are 3 other nearby lakes.

    • There's a small beach at Wyth Lake.

    • The Cedar River is on the edge of the campground.

    • You're so close to Cedar Falls and Waterloo which means there are craft breweries!

    • We were only there for a night but I saw this on reserveamerica.com: "The Lake-to-State Park Bike Route is a 50 mile route connecting Pine Lake and George Wyth State Park. The route primarily utilizes county highways and established bike routes and paths once inside Cedar Falls/Waterloo." 

    • We didn't do everything we could do there, because we were just passing through. Check this out: https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/george-wyth-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=IA&parkId=610125

    Amenities

    • The usual fire ring and picnic table

    • Dump station and potable water

    • Flush toilets and running water in bathrooms along with push button showers. Ok, push button showers are not ideal. Just keep pushing that button and hopefully you'll be okay with the temperature that you can't control!

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

    Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing

    This review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.

    Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?

    It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.

    Activities

    Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.

    Amenities

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.

    Cost

    You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.

    https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 21, 2026

    Matsell Bridge Natural Area

    Beautiful and secluded, campground road closed

    Off the beaten path, beautiful area but when we got there the road to the campground was closed, so we ended up parking for the night in the horse staging area instead.

  • Kerry M.
    Aug. 21, 2021

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Two campgrounds to enjoy at Backbone State Park

    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.

  • Stuart O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 13, 2024

    Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

    Good late season option for the self-contained camper

    Was very thankful to find a place to overnight in mid-November. Not a lot of free parking options in this part of Iowa. No water, electric, or dump station, so very much like a parking lot overnight from that perspective. However, the park is situated on the valley bottom of the Yellow River Forest with beautiful tall trees, and there are fire rings. Fee was $12. First come first served basis from November through March.

  • Max K.
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Great bathroom and hiking, awful lake

    We stayed here two nights. That was plenty, although it's not really the park's fault. The lake was super gross, with excessive floating moss (probably a weather issue) and EXCESSIVE goose poop everywhere. The beach was basically unusable, with goose bombs everywhere. It was better when we kayaked, but still gross.

    So why the five stars? 1. The bathrooms were fantastic. 2. The camp site was really nice and plenty of room. 3. The hiking was superb. Felt like we were not in Iowa. 4. The driving through the park was also really great and I will go back this fall to look at leaves. 5. There is a cave you can explore on your own. We did. It's awesome. It's muddy. It's super cool. 6. There are some decent bouldering spots. 7. Cheap, huge bundles of firewood at park entrance. 8. Really friendly at the camp store. 9. Close to Strawberry Point. Go to town to Clayton's Pharmacy and get an old fashioned soda. Fantastic. 10. Close to Edgewood and the Edgewood Locker. Go visit and stock up on meat on the way home.

  • Ashley D.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Fun for the whole family

    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.

Guide to Oelwein

The Oelwein area provides access to camping in northeast Iowa's rolling hills, with elevations ranging from 950 to 1,200 feet. This region features the Volga and Wapsipinicon river watersheds, creating diverse terrain for outdoor recreation. Winter temperatures often drop below 10°F while summer averages reach 83°F, making May through October the primary camping season.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Albany Campground at Volga River State Recreation Area offers fishing access within its 5,700 acres. Multiple ponds and a 135-acre lake provide fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish.

Mountain biking: Wanatee Park features access to Squaw Creek mountain bike single track. "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," notes Kris P.

Wildflower viewing: Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek) features a wildflower field to explore. As Colleen L. describes, "There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through."

Hiking: Numerous trails for non-equestrian hiking exist throughout the area. Near Harpers Ferry, Big Paint Campground offers extensive hiking options. One visitor mentions, "We stayed at the Big Paint Campground and had a nice time... it was a lovely place with nice trails and great river access. There are also some breathtaking lookout points to see the countryside."

What campers like

Quiet, affordable primitive sites: For those seeking budget-friendly alternatives to equestrian camping near Oelwein, Matsell Bridge Natural Area offers basic sites. "Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River... enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this 'best kept secret' for primitive and inexpensive camping sites," says Carol M.

Pond-side camping: Wakpicada Natural Area provides fishing-focused sites. Parker H. notes, "Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway. Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other."

Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained restrooms and showers in the area's developed campgrounds. At Six Pines Campground in Backbone State Park, one reviewer stated, "Nice sites. Bathrooms clean!" while another mentioned the "facilities, the showers, the campsites, the trails, and the lake are top quality."

Spacious sites: While equestrian camping options with dedicated corrals are limited near Oelwein, several campgrounds offer ample space. "The sites are very spacious with some shade, a fire ring, and picnic table provided," notes Clint G. about Wanatee Park.

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Several campgrounds near Oelwein operate seasonally, typically April through October. Wanatee Park is open from "April 15 to October 15" while George Wyth State Park operates "April 1 to December 31."

Weather and pest considerations: Bug activity increases in late spring. Regarding Matsell Bridge, one camper noted, "when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up."

Flooding potential: Low-lying campgrounds may experience flooding. At George Wyth State Park, Jennifer T. cautions, "because it is so close to river anytime it rains heavily there is flooding in several areas of the park. And almost every year (usually late summer, early fall) it rains enough to flood a good portion of the park."

Water quality concerns: Some lakes in the region may have water quality issues. At Backbone State Park, one review mentioned "Lakewater often unsafe for swimming. To the extent the beach had weeds growing on it."

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds: For horseback riding alternatives with children, seek campgrounds with dedicated play areas. George Wyth offers "a large sand playground area with slides and swings" according to Steve R.

Fishing with kids: Several area lakes and ponds are stocked for reliable fishing. At Backbone State Park, families can enjoy "Hiking, swimming, fishing, and resting!" as Emma N. describes.

Educational programs: Some parks offer nature education. At Wyalusing State Park, Jennifer B. shared, "The nature program was great for our son who was 2 at the time."

Scout-friendly camping: For youth groups seeking alternatives to equestrian camping facilities near Oelwein, Backbone State Park works well. Rachel H. recalls, "I went with a group of entering sixth grade Girl Scouts on a weekend tent camping trip to this park. The campsites were simple to access and the grounds were easy to navigate."

Tips from RVers

Levelness considerations: Some sites require leveling equipment. At Wyalusing, Connor M. notes their site had "fantastic views of the river and surrounding areas, but the wind is stronger at this spot because it's open. The entire campground is situated on top of a bluff."

Electric service: Most developed campgrounds offer electric hookups. Wanatee Park provides water and electric connections with a dump station upon exit, though Clint G. mentions, "Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers."

Seasonal RV access: Late fall options for self-contained RVs include Big Paint Campground. Stuart O. shares, "Was very thankful to find a place to overnight in mid-November. Not a lot of free parking options in this part of Iowa. No water, electric, or dump station."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Oelwein, IA is Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Oelwein, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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