Best Equestrian Camping near Wapello, IA

Recent Equestrian Reviews in Wapello

27 Reviews of 8 Wapello Campgrounds

• 

  Travis R.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 18, 2024

  Big Hollow Recreation Area

  Full Featured Camping

  This site has a large number of mostly cement camper spots, including pull through. There is a large playground and shower house. Primitive camping for single or group spots. Campgrounds also include a shooting range, beach, equestrian trails, canoe rentals, and launch, and I saw a sign for primitive cabins, though I didn't have time to check those out. This is the .most full service camp site that I have seen in Iowa so far.

• 

  Travis R.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 17, 2024

  Big Hollow Recreation Area

  Really excellent campground

  Lots of cement camping pads, playground, and shower house. Primitive single and group camping sites. Canoe rental and shooting range.

• 

  James M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 12, 2024

  Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

  Primitive Equestrian site

  Primitive site offers table, fire ring, grill, tie up, outhouse, open space, hard surface parking. Trail is adjacent.

• K

  Keith B.

  Scout

  

  May. 31, 2024

  brinton timbers park

  Great park no showers though

  I stayed at the main site that google maps took me to. Three spots but the park is big there might be more sites around it. It is near skunk river I only stayed there for a night but where I was to get to the river you have to hike or bike to it. I’ve heard you can ride horses here. They have fire rings, picnic tables, and a bathroom that’s deep and composting. No sinks or showers. Bugs were wild at night but it is summer. No one disturbed us and it was free the best park of it all. Hoping to make it back there to go through the trails. I believe you can hike and camp too in the area.

• 

  Greg K.

  Guide

  

  May. 5, 2024

  Bentonsport

  17$ Bentonsport campground

  Beautiful river views. Amazing camp hosts. Showers,toilets,30/50/110 power water on sites to share water and dump on property. Mid 1800's town right there and businesses open. There is a blacksmith, a Indian artifact museum and gift shops. Historical walking bridge that is amazing. No wifi.. poor Internet although I did have one bar so could be worse .I have total by Verizon.

• 

  James M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 9, 2023

  Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

  Open CG with minimal amenties

  Site 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.

• 

  Lesley R.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 29, 2022

  River Valley Horsecamp

  Family Equine Fun

  Camped here for a family reunion. Open sites near the Des Moines river and local road meant spots were just for sleeping. Excellent barns, accommodations, well-kept grounds and animals. Nearby locals kind and welcoming. Excellent time spent with family and horses, will return again.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 26, 2022

  Bentonsport

  Not sure what to make of this campground

  Down the road from the sleepy little town of Bentonsport, IA is this small riverfront campground. On a Sunday afternoon in October, there were several RVs but almost all of the riverfront sites (which I would consider prime) were empty. But there were also chickens (apparently belonging to one of the campers) and two horse and buggies (I thought they might have been statues and then one of the horses whinnied!). There was no camp host or anyone else to speak with about the campground. 

  The view of the Des Moines River and the Bentonsport Bridge was beautiful, and it is an easy and short walk into town, although the town does not offer much in the way of amenities (unless you like fudge, and then you have to pick some up at Addie Mays in the Greef General Store). As far as restrooms go, there appeared to be only a small outhouse. I did not check it out since it looked like I would have had to walk through someone’s site to access it. If you have a fully contained RV, the river sites would be nice but otherwise, this campground does not have much to offer.

• 

  James M.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 25, 2022

  Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

  Primitive CG along Cedar River

  Main CG has gravel lanes, showers, fire rings, tables, electric, nearby lodge and shelter with Cedar River access.

• 

  James M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 11, 2022

  Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

  Small County primitive equestrian cg

  Site 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.

• 

  James M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 5, 2022

  Loud Thunder Forest Preserve- Horse Corral Campgrounds

  County cg with good sites and cortal

  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.

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 27, 2021

  Big Hollow Recreation Area

  Nice stay at primitive site

  Stayed at the primitive section of the campground. Site C was level for our camper van. Large, spacious site. Wooded. Fire ring. No table st this site, but other sites in this area has tables. Vault toilets a short walk away. Campground host was very helpful. Inexpensive firewood. Enjoyed our stay here. Paid $10 for site.

• L

  Lisa M.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 12, 2021

  Big Hollow Recreation Area

  Nice simple place for tent camping

  We tent camped here a few weeks ago and it was pretty nice. You self check in and cost is only $10/night for primitive. They don’t have electric or water hookups for tent camping which was ok for us. It was easy to find and quiet. The only downside is the lake was filled with algae. So if you’re wanting to fish or swim, this isn’t the place for you! There’s a gun range, horse farm, playground, bathrooms, and even a place to use a few telescopes to see the stars!

• 

  Jeannie B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 24, 2021

  Indian Lake Park

  Great park and friendly host

  Tony and his wife are the camp hosts. Tony was so helpful and nice. The camp sites are spacious and clean.

• J

  Jeremy

  Scout

  

  May. 22, 2021

  Big Hollow Recreation Area

  Full Hookup!!!

  This is a great campground. Sites are pretty level and easy to get parked. Full hookup!!! There is a good sized lake that we have kayaked and swam in. The conservation officers are very nice and usually stop by to make sure everything is going great. They continue to improve the campground every year

• 

  Dave N.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 14, 2020

  Indian Lake Park

  Beautiful

  This park has something for everyone. They have primitive tent sites, electric only, electric+water, and fhu. They also have cabins for rent. All very reasonably priced. Most of the sites are nice and shady and level. A bathhouse with showers. A stone lodge for large parties. There is a playground, a few nice hiking trails, and a lake with a nice sandy beach. Almost empty during the week, but very busy on summer weekends. Hiking,fishing, swimming, kayaking,bird watching. There are many things to keep you busy here.

• 

  Sarah J.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 1, 2019

  Big Hollow Recreation Area

  Quiet, beautiful, close to fishing and kayaking

  Fished here for a few years but camped here for the first time with my travel trailer this year. The campground is well laid out. If you are in a group you can reserve spots 8 and 9 together or there are some long spots in the Eastern part for double occupancy if you want. If you want more privacy and easy access to the lake for kayaking I'd go for 14, 15, and 16. I'm in 32 and it is private and very pretty.

  Nearby lake has a beach and a boat ramp for launching boats (whole lake is no wake zone) or kayaks. If you are into fishing, this place has large mouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish.

• C

  Charles A.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 12, 2019

  Indian Lake Park

  Nice and well maintained

  Very nice park and not to near a train. Very modern facilities that were clean.

• T

  Thomas B.

  Scout

  

  May. 28, 2019

  Bentonsport

  Nice well kept campground

  Quite roomy on river the town by it is a craftsman village with quilting woodwork old inns painters there is a railroad car they made into a rental the camp ground has 30 and 50 amp elect there is no water or sewer on you’re site but water is available in camp .

• 

  Kyle D.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 23, 2019

  Lick Creek Unit - Upper Campground — Shimek State Forest

  Great place

  Good sights, great horse trails, awesome camping

• 

  Mary F.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 16, 2018

  Indian Lake Park

  very nice

  it has full hookups, tent site swim beach, fishing, canoes,and f, playgrounds also cabins a stone lodge for family get togethers some sites just have electric and water on site and there are some full hookups also a shower house and modern restrooms, fire wood for sale We go at least 3 times a year . So nice and quiet the lake is clean they also have a dump station

• H

  Heather S.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 11, 2018

  Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

  Lots of exploring!

  My family enjoyed this campground. Even though some of the campground was slightly flooded during our stay, we still had fun!

• 

  Jessica H.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 11, 2018

  Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

  Ranger Review: VivoBarefoot Primus Trail SG Womens at Saulsbury Bridge

  Campground Review:

  Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area is 675 acres, nestled between rolling fields of corn, dairy farms, native prairie, and the Cedar River. Located in Muscatine County in southeast Iowa, this rec area offers well-maintained campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking/canoeing and seasonal hunting.

  There are three separate campgrounds. The main campground has electrical hookups, picnic benches, fire rings, modern restroom facilities including showers, a dump station, playground, and firewood for purchase. There are 24 sites, and they run $20 per night.

  The primitive campground area sits along Chicken Creek and offers four, tent-only sites, and is just off the main campground. The sites are well spaced and surrounded by large trees. These are walk in sites with parking in the main campground. It’s a short hike in from the parking area, and within walking distance of the restrooms and firewood. Primitive sites are $10 per night.

  Across the road from these two campgrounds is the main boat access and fishing dock for Chicken Creek. Only non-motorized boats are allowed here. If you don’t have your own, you can rent kayaks and canoes through the Muscatine County Conservation office. There is also a large shelter, which is reservable along with day use picnic areas, playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, and vault toilets. There’s large, open expanses of grassy fields and oak shade trees; perfect for relaxing on a hot summer day.

  The river campground sits right along the Cedar River and allows easy access to fishing along with a boat ramp. This campground is a short hike to the old Saulsbury Bridge and Lodge. The bridge has a small gazebo-like structure and bench which provides a nice view of the river. There are vault toilets in this campground, but the modern restrooms are within walking distance as well. There are 10 sites in this campground and run $17 per night.

  All campsites are self-registration and are on a first come, first served basis. There is a campground host on duty in the main campground and the park officer lives on site. Dogs are allowed, but must be on leash in the campgrounds and on trails. However, they are allowed to run in the designated hunting areas. These areas are marked with signs. If you plan to hike during hunting season, it’s a good idea to wear bright colors/blaze orange so you are visible to hunters and not mistaken for a deer or other wildlife.

  This park also has prairie/natural habitat restoration areas that, in spring and summer, attract Monarch butterflies, and an abundance of birds including indigo bunting, red headed woodpecker, and goldfinch. In the colder months you can spot bald eagles flying along the river. There are also deer, wild turkey, and pheasants. While there, we walked around the campground areas that were open and over to the day use area along Chicken Creek to roast marshmallows. We hiked the short distance out to the Saulsbury Bridge to watch the Cedar River flow by and caught a beautiful sunset.

  The one downfall to this park is the possibility for flooding. When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds.

  A call ahead to the conservation office to check on closures is a good idea. We had hoped to camp at a primitive site, but learned the trail leading into the campground was under water, which also meant the river campground was closed as well. Though there was some water over the road in the main campground, it was minimal and we were able to choose an electrical site. We opted to car camp as we were only staying one night. Only about a third of the campground was filled and we had no one on either side of us which meant for a more quiet camping experience.

  This is one of my favorite local areas to hike and camp that’s close to home. It offers a full picture of Iowa’s varied landscapes and outdoor activity opportunities.

  Product Review:

  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. On this camping trip, I tried out VivoBarefoot Primus Trail SG Womens sneakers. VivoBarefoot’s goal is to provide an environment that allows the feet to remain in their natural state while providing a protective shoe. https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/womens/off-road/primus-trail-sg-womens?colour=Olive

  1. Anytime I purchase a new pair of shoes, whether for daily use or outdoor recreation, I make sure to break them in as much as possible as I’m prone to blisters. I did wear the Primus around the house a few times and on my daily walks before taking them camping. Though they have a snug fit, they’re not uncomfortable. They also include a pair of removable inserts and extra laces. The laces are adjustable which allowed me to either loosen or tighten the shoe. Bonus; no socks needed. As someone who would opt to wear sandals year round if possible, I liked the fact I didn’t have to put an extra layer on my feet.
  2. The timing couldn’t have been better for testing out these sneakers; Saulsbury was experiencing minor flooding while we were there. Not only do they have rugged soles for gripping in wet and rocky terrain, the mesh material allows for quick drying if they do get wet, and provided easy clean up of mud and other debris.
  3. Honestly, I was really pleased with the fact that many of the women’s shoes came in neutral and earth tone colors (I absolutely checked out other shoe options on their website). While I don’t mind the brighter colors that seem to be the trend for women’s trail runners, I really prefer something a little more low key.
  4. One of the best things about these shoes was the ease of slipping them on and off, say in the middle of the night when nature called.
  5. All in all, I feel this shoe is a good match for the outdoor activities I enjoy; camping, hiking, bicycling, and kayaking. I’m looking forward to seeing how they hold up while hiking in the mountains out West this summer.
• 

  Dorothy H.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 9, 2018

  Bentonsport

  great camp

  close to the river with lots of fun history and shops to keep you busy.

• 

  Dorothy H.

  Guide

  

  May. 17, 2018

  Bentonsport

  Love the Bridge

  Excellent camping area. Loved wxploring rhe bridge and the local shops.

• 

  Dorothy H.

  Guide

  

  May. 17, 2018

  Lick Creek Unit - Upper Campground — Shimek State Forest

  Excellent Horse Camp

  We had a wonderful time camping and riding thw trails.

• 

  John S.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 18, 2018

  Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

  Close to town camping

  A little pricy for tent camping. Ten dollars per tent per night and you’re restricted to the primitive area. It’s not bad if you’re just wanting to get away for a little bit but stay close to town. Otherwise if you’re looking for a better get away from it all I’d recommend some place else.