Best Equestrian Camping near Annapolis, MO

Bearcat Getaway features horse stables for campers, providing convenient accommodations for equestrians exploring the Black River region. The campground offers electric sites with community water access and maintains facilities including hot showers, decent bathrooms, and a playground area. Horse owners can access numerous riding opportunities on nearby trails while enjoying riverside camping. The Black River flows through the property, offering water access directly from many campsites. It's a pet-friendly environment with spacious group sites available for families traveling with multiple horses. The facility remains particularly family-oriented during weekdays when the atmosphere is more serene.

Located approximately 15 miles from Annapolis, Missouri, Bearcat Getaway gives equestrians direct access to miles of scenic riding trails through the Ozark foothills. The campground accommodates various camping styles including tent, RV, and cabin options, with horse-specific amenities integrated throughout the property. Weekend visitors should note that live music events occur regularly on the outdoor stage, creating a livelier atmosphere than weekday visits. Horse trails connect to several natural features including river access points and scenic overlooks. Trail riders appreciate the well-maintained paths suitable for various skill levels, with multiple loop options ranging from beginner-friendly routes to more challenging terrain. Firewood is included with site rental, eliminating the need to transport supplies for overnight stays.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Annapolis, Missouri (22)

    1. Sam A. Baker State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Patterson, MO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 856-4411

    "We enjoyed our 1.5 mile hike to get to the river access to float. We brought our own flotation devices and really enjoyed every aspect of the seclusion."

    "There are 2 huge campgrounds (around 100 sites each!) and a nice paved bike path connecting them."

    2. Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    56 Reviews
    Black, MO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 546-2450

    $11 - $32 / night

    "Johnson Shut-Ins State Park is located on the Black River in Missouri, just south of St. Louis. This makes it a popular location on hot summer days, especially weekends."

    "It is located on the Black River, and the water flowing through the shut-ins is crystal clear and cool."

    3. Bearcat Getaway

    7 Reviews
    Annapolis, MO
    7 miles
    Website

    $12 / night

    "It’s an affordable place and family/pet friendly and the have horse stables there for your use if needed."

    "Now I opt for a site as far away from the stage as possible and do not bring my children here lol. Nice facilities, no real complaints. I bet weekdays are a lot more serene."

    4. Huzzah Valley

    11 Reviews
    Patterson, MO
    14 miles
    Website

    $11 - $65 / night

    "They offer trail rides on their horses. Dog friendly. Connected to ozark trail."

    "The "Zoo" is for the younger and rowdier crowd, and is located north of HWY 8, away from the family-friendly sites, and has later quiet hours and is known for its party-like atmosphere. "

    5. Bluff View(clearwater Lake)

    3 Reviews
    Piedmont, MO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 223-7777

    $14 - $50 / night

    "Ggreat area to walk"

    6. Four Creeks Ranch Campground

    3 Reviews
    Ellington, MO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 444-2112

    $15 - $30 / night

    "this campground is totally off the beaten path. a great place to relax and unwind. this is also a good place if your new to off grid camping and want to test your gear before you say bye to society. the"

    "She just wasn't there when we arrived, and we had a hard time determining property boundaries, tent site locations, etc. on our own."

    7. Timbuktu Campground — Echo Bluff State Park

    37 Reviews
    Eminence, MO
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 751-5211

    "This is really the gem of Missouri state parks. Rv sites are all full 30/50 amp with water and sewer. All spots have plenty of room but are back in. The pads are perfectly level and are concrete."

    "Went here hoping to see the wild horses. We didn't see any but still loved this park. Nice hiking trails and clean cool creek to splash in. Will go back again and maybe see the wild horses next time."

    9. St. Joe State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Park Hills, MO
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 431-1069

    "So, as one of Missouri’s atv parks, this can be a load one. But, you can camp at campground 2, and you’re dealing with a MUCH more classic camping scenario."

    "A great spot with a minute walk to a very well kept shower house and bathroom. We really liked this spot at CG#1."

    10. St. Francois State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Bonne Terre, MO
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 358-2173

    "Not a huge campground but, Its a really simple beautiful place to enjoy Missouri's rolling hills. It is located 1 hour from St. Louis and 30 ish min from Elephant Rock State park."

    "My site was close to the camp host and the shower house. Shower house was nice with 4 separate showers with locking doors. Water pressure was great and they were clean."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Annapolis, MO

259 Reviews of 22 Annapolis Campgrounds


  • iloveitontop R.
    Sep. 13, 2016

    St. Joe State Park Campground

    Great place if you are boating or ORV.

    Nice park with a large camp sites with premiere off-road vehicle area. The park also features four lakes, two swimming beaches, equestrian trails, a hiking and bicycling trail and picnic sites, as well as two campgrounds capable of accommodating campers with ORV or horse trailers.

  • Matt S.
    Sep. 3, 2016

    St. Francois State Park Campground

    St. Francois SP is Fair to Average.

    This campground was packed, but it started off on the wrong foot. The entrance comes up quick and is right off a state highway with traffic moving between 65-80 mph so of course I passed the entrance and had to double back.

    When I pulled into the park there was bunch of construction. There were a few trails but honestly it really seemed like an RV park with very few tents. The showers and bathrooms were clean but there were too many people, it was very crowded.

    I should add as a positive that here were equestrian trails and a large parking lot to park your horse trailer.

    St. Francois State Park is close to St. Louis so it is probably a popular destination, it just didn't feel like camping. I'm sure it will improve a little when the construction is completed, but I doubt it will be above three stars.

  • Lindsey C.
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Sam A. Baker State Park Campground

    Fun Campground

    We enjoyed our 1.5 mile hike to get to the river access to float. We brought our own flotation devices and really enjoyed every aspect of the seclusion. They have equestrian trails as well and we got to see horses while floating too. The water was crystal clear and we even found quartz in some rocks in the water.

  • Grant M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2021

    St. Joe State Park Campground

    Good for ATV’s, also good for horses and people.

    So, as one of Missouri’s atv parks, this can be a load one. But, you can camp at campground 2, and you’re dealing with a MUCH more classic camping scenario. The park is big enough you don’t hear the small engine vehicles over here.

    The campground 2 sites are set up for horses, something I know almost nothing about, but they make the sites larger to accommodate equestrian needs and that’s nice. Hiking, MTB, and horse trails are separate from the atv trails. There’s even a nice 11 mile long paved trail that has some hills but will work for kids/strollers/etc.

    There are a number of more interesting parks in the area for what I think of as a true camping experience, but this is a good one if you’re also on the pokemon plan (gotta camp ‘em all). If you like atv/utv/dirt bike stuff, man, campground one is for you, and it looks like a blast, read up on the lead mine tailing warnings.

  • Delanie J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2022

    Shawnee Creek Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    Best Campground Ever

    If you want to see the wild horses of Shannon County, this is the place to stay.  Right on the Jack's Fork, so beautiful.  New bathrooms, but everything else is primitive.  Equestrian sites down the road in both directions.  $10 a night!

  • Sterling M.
    May. 28, 2019

    Hazel Creek Campground

    Secluded, quiet, and friendly locals

    Enjoyed my stay and hikes on the equestrian trails. At the time no horses were around, only other tent campers, one of which gave me their extra camp wood.

    Hazel creek is a picturesque crystal clear creek that is near the campground, featuring tons of wildlife and peaceful views.

    The campsites are flat and clean gravel fill or dirt, the grass is usually tamed, each with a campfire ring with a grill and a picnic table and lantern pole. Densely wooded, full shade.

    The access road was rough but my wife’s tiny compact car didn’t have any trouble, but I’m sure it’s a mess when wet.

  • Ashley Y.
    Aug. 8, 2016

    St. Joe State Park Campground

    Great multi use campground

    I only rated this a 3 because of location. Its located next to odd Monsanto property but great vineyards. I know. Weird. Anyway great multi use if you enjoy hiking, mountain biking ATV and horses. My husband and I went to check out cave vineyard which is exactly what it sounds like and is not to be missed. The facilities at this campground were top notch and the the sites were huge! Missouri always does a great job and its a great place to camp. A few minutes drive from the popular st. Genevieve.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2019

    Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    Make a reservation !

    Johnson Shut-Ins State Park is located on the Black River in Missouri, just south of St. Louis. This makes it a popular location on hot summer days, especially weekends. If you plan to go, make a reservation by calling toll free 877-ICampMO (877-422-6766). This is a State Park with about 80 walk-in, basic, electric, sewer/electric/water and equestrian campsites. Some of the sites have wooden platforms. The park also has a small store located in the center of the campground. Swimming is popular at the park. The “shut-ins” are rock formations where the river is limited by hard rock that it is cutting through. In these shut-ins, the river cascades over and around smooth-worn rock, creating a natural water park. There is also hiking and rock climbing.

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    St. Joe State Park Campground

    Reviews on Campground #1 & #2

    I’ve camped at both campgrounds offered at St. Joe. In the fall of 2018, we stayed at CG#1, the spot has a nice gravel tent pad with border, picnic table, and a fire pit. The spot also offered a concrete section for a camper and cars. We had a pop-up and one tent and it was very spacious. A great spot with a minute walk to a very well kept shower house and bathroom. We really liked this spot at CG#1.

    CG#2 is located about 2-3 away from the main campground, this includes the shower house and main bathrooms. There is no shower house at CG#2. I stayed at CG#2 about a week ago. Very similar in design to the sites at CG#1, it also offers amenities for those with horses. We had a spot with electric and no water, water is located close by the vault toilets. The site has a gravel parking area rather than the concrete one at CG#1. We had two tents, two cars, and five people, just as spacious. If you want more seclusion and don’t really care about being right next to the showers, I would suggest CG#2.

    Also, there was a trail located right by our spot at CG#2, it’s a good hike!!

    Two clean and well kept swimming areas, great trails, good camp sites, and great bathrooms/showers!


Guide to Annapolis

Missouri offers a fantastic experience for horse camping enthusiasts, with several campgrounds providing excellent amenities and access to beautiful trails.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

Equestrian campgrounds include scenic trails

  • Bearcat Getaway is situated near the Black River, offering beautiful trails for horseback riding along the water's edge.
  • Shawnee Creek Backcountry Camping is located right on the Jack's Fork River, providing access to stunning natural scenery and trails perfect for equestrian adventures.
  • Little Sinkin Creek is nestled in the Ozark Mountains, offering picturesque landscapes and trails that are ideal for horseback riding.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like water access

  • Huzzah Valley features sites with easy access to the river, making it a great spot for horse campers who enjoy water activities.
  • Two Rivers Backcountry Camping offers a unique experience with riverfront campsites, allowing horse campers to enjoy the refreshing waters nearby.
  • Bluff View (Clearwater Lake) provides well-maintained sites with electric hookups and access to a marina, perfect for those looking to combine horse camping with water sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Annapolis, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Annapolis, MO is Sam A. Baker State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 48 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Annapolis, MO?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 equestrian camping locations near Annapolis, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.