3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
St. Francois State Park Campground provides access to equestrian trails in the Mark Twain National Forest near Cadet, Missouri. The park features basic campground amenities with sites that can accommodate horse trailers and RVs. While the campground itself does not have dedicated horse corrals, the park maintains trail access points for riders. The sites are well-maintained with grassy, level areas suitable for setting up portable corrals or highlines. Bathroom facilities and water spigots are available throughout the camping area. Equestrians often note the convenient proximity to multiple trail systems that connect to larger networks within the national forest region.
Riders access the Mooners Hollow Trail directly from the campground, connecting to several miles of varied terrain suitable for different experience levels. The park's location allows for day trips to nearby equestrian areas including the Berryman Trail system, which offers more extensive riding opportunities. Horse owners should bring their own containment systems as no permanent equine facilities are available on site. Water access for horses is limited to natural sources along trails, so portable water containers are recommended. The large, open field areas provide ample space for trailer parking and horse management. Trail conditions remain rideable most of the year, though spring flooding occasionally affects lower sections near the Big River access points.
"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."
Available next weekend
from $15 - $27 / night
"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."
Available next weekend
from $15 - $52 / night
"It's remote and off the beaten path. A small campground with only 8 spots, some big enough for RVs. No hook ups or water. Pack it in and pack it out. Each site had enough space from each other."
"Pavillion, parking and horse tie out area adjacent trailhead. Excellent place to bring the kids if you want to unplug them from the media world. Trails and bugs and things that go bump in the night."
from $8 - $15 / 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."
Available next weekend
from $15 - $80 / night
"We love the beautiful lake, the swimming area is big and has a nice patio for access. You can rent a cart to go running around the huge campground. Very friendly staff."
from $25 - $36 / night
"Miles and miles of trails for Mountain Biking, horse riding or just hiking, and you can ride your ATV on the roads but you need an orange triangle."
"Good access to the Berryman Trail. There is a creek running along the camping area with a road along the opposite side. Park for the day or camp overnight to get an early start."
"This camp site is along the berryman trail so you can stay here if youre backpacking said trail."
"Primitive horse sites in your own little haven in the woods. Have an actual map handy and make any calls before you get here because your phone will do you no good."
"Positives: quiet time starting at 11:00 pm, we didn’t hear cursing, loud music, or anything else that disturbs little ones once they go to sleep, close to the river, clean restroom and shower house, shaded"
"They have a family section if you prefer to be away from the louder bunch."
"This go around we pulled our popup down and chose a site with out hookups. (545) only negative things to say about the site was that it was very densely populated with trees."
from $11 - $16 / night
"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."
"This site was probably my favorite one in Missouri so far. Has a few sites that are great for groups. Then a few sites that are more private for solo/family camps."
RangerThis is a decent campground to stay for free. There is a pit toilet. There was only one picnic table and not many defined spots but I think you can pull up in the grass wherever you like. It's right at a trailhead. I started to walk the trail but couldn't find it when it crossed the road. The roads are good getting here. The campground road has a few pot holes, but nothing too bad. I would come back here and look for nearby hiking.
GuideI gave this campground a five star again. I am a solo female camper. I like to go to places that are safe with a good atmosphere and this had both and plenty of things to do a roundabout when coming through this area again I will definitely stay here.
GuideGreat site. Loved the bike path to the shut-ins. Hosts were awesome. Camp store had lots!!!
LegendThis is a park not far from St Louis with camping and hiking. Campground is on the small side.
GuideI know a large majority of the park is meant for ORV’s but there was just constant noise even in the campground. Besides that it was great though!
ScoutDecided to visit with family(wife, teenage daughter, and 76 y.o. father) this Saturday afternoon, after completing a peaceful hike at Onandoga S.P., to consider camping later in the week. We politely, respectfully drove into the campground on the MAIN LOOP, around 5-10 mph, and checked the condition of the campsites. We noticed a few other campers present throughout the campground. Our windows were rolled down. Near the primitive campsites, a white vehicle rapidly, aggressively approached us from the left, rear of our car. Horn blaring. RECKLESSLY drove right up onto our rear bumper, then swerved to the left to try to force us over. The man rapidly approached us from his vehicle and accosted us with multiple, rapid fire questions what we were doing and why we were there. WHILE HE WAS AGGRESSIVELY INTERROGATING US, HE WAS CROUCHED FORWARD, POSTURING THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO DRAW ON US. I COULD CLEARLY SEE HIS LEFT HAND ON A FIREARM IN HIS LEFT POCKET- the handle of the firearm was clearly visible. The silhouette of the gun was clearly visible in his left pants pocket. Any reasonably intelligent person would have seen as we drove at a near walking pace on the main loop that we were not there to cause any problems. Any REMOTELY INTELLIGENT person would have instantly realized that we were just a family checking out potential campsites. Any reasonable person would have also considered this RECKLESS ACT OF AGGRESSION as a threat on their family. I was concerned for the safely of my family and myself. An embarrassing act of overreach. The"security guard" identified himself as"Dave." We will NEVER give this place our business again. I will NEVER risk taking my family here again. This place probably does not want your family here either...
ScoutThis campground is nice for March, when it's a little cool. But there is no shade, so mid-summer would be hot! Level sites, full hookups, pretty nice.
TravelerHad a wonderful weekend camping trip in the basic loop. Grass well-trimmed, campground pretty clean and full of families. Definitely a lot of kid noise, but I much prefer that to adults drinking into the night. Staff always cheerful and eager to provide a good experience; they do ride around every so often to check in on things. Camp host on site. Some sites certainly better than others; the biggest ones are near the entrance to the basic loop.
Bathrooms older and not spotless, but they stay on top of stocking them. Very well lit at night. Check-in station has patches, t-shirts, and firewood for sale in big bundles for $5. They do cover them when it rains.
There is definitely a friendly community atmosphere, but you can keep to yourself if that's your preference.
There is a nice 3-mile hike that begins at the campground.
ScoutIt's a nice lil place to camp but the camp sites r not that big
St. Francois State Park is located in eastern Missouri, approximately 70 miles southwest of St. Louis in the St. Francois Mountains. The park sits at elevations ranging from 750 to 1,200 feet above sea level with terrain characterized by rolling hills and hardwood forests. Campers can access over 2,000 acres of wilderness with seasonal temperatures ranging from below freezing in winter to 90°F+ in summer months, making spring and fall the most popular camping seasons.
Trail riding with non-equestrians: The park trail system connects riders to multiple networks. "I've been camping at both campgrounds offered at St. Joe. In the fall of 2018, we stayed at CG#1... There was a trail located right by our spot at CG#2, it's a good hike!" notes Olivia S. about St. Joe State Park Campground.
Creek exploration: Several waterways provide natural cooling spots after riding. "Beautiful clear water creek runs directly behind this 'pull off' campground. There is only one actual fire ring & picnic table, but folks have built other rock fire rings dispersed throughout the campground," says Staci R. about Brazil Creek Recreation Area.
Mountain biking: Connect riding with cycling adventures on shared trail systems. "This is a great free campground, no water or anything, just a toilet house. The trailhead to the BerryMan Trail is there. This is a 24 mile trail we backpacked overnight to the Brazil Creek campground and back," explains Patti M. about Berryman Trail & Campgrounds.
River access: Multiple campgrounds offer river proximity for cooling off after rides. "St. Francois is a nice park tucked in the forest off of Hwy 67. There are some nice hiking options within the park. It was exceptionally quiet when I stayed both times," reports Gonzo A. about St. Francois State Park Campground.
Equestrian-friendly sites: Some locations offer spaces specifically designed for trailers and horses. "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," explains Grant M. about St. Joe State Park.
Primitive camping options: Remote sites available for those seeking solitude. "The campground has oddly shaped campsites causing a crowded feel. The campground is also loud on the weekends especially if there are races at the nearby Bonne Terre drag strip," notes Cody S. about St. Francois State Park.
Limited services: Many sites lack amenities requiring preparation. "No cell signal, and as the other reviewer has said, have your map to get there, because it's easy if you do. Your phone will not get you there. No water, amenities (not even a vault toilet) or cell service," warns Staci R. about Brazil Creek.
Seasonal considerations: Spring flooding can impact trail conditions. "We have been to St Francois to RV camp 3 times in past year. Hiking is beautiful especially if you go the first few weeks in April and the wild flowers of the bluebells are in bloom. Not a 5 star as had flooding and quite a bit of dried mud on our paved site," explains Delores B. about St. Francois State Park.
Noise levels: Proximity to motorsports venues affects some areas. "NOTE. The park is close to some motorsports arena which had loud events (drag racing?) during the entire weekend we were there. If you appreciate peaceful days and nights, check out the racing schedule first," advises Mats about St. Francois State Park.
Water activities: Combined riding with swimming opportunities. "The sites are a bit more snug together than I would prefer. There are some nice hiking options within the park," notes Gonzo A. about St. Francois State Park.
Playground access: Some parks offer recreation areas for children. "We spent a Saturday and Sunday there camping in the electric site. They do have tent sites but we wanted to be closer to the river which was a 2min walk. Great place, awesome people and kid friendly," shares Alex T. about St. Francois State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening rides offer wildlife spotting opportunities. "Enjoyed my stay and hikes on the equestrian trails. Hazel creek is a picturesque crystal clear creek that is near the campground, featuring tons of wildlife and peaceful views," reports Sterling M. about Hazel Creek Campground.
Site selection: Research carefully for trailer accommodation. "The campsites are large. Several back up to the creek, which is shallow and pretty. The rest are scattered through the wooded campground. The gravel road into the campground was no problem for a pickup with a trailer," shares Art Z. about Hazel Creek Campground.
Electrical connections: Some parks offer limited hookups. "This campground offers no-services tent/RV and RV with electrical. The electrical spots are all in cut grass areas, many with great shade trees. The no-service sites are more wooded," notes Mats about St. Francois State Park.
Access roads: Conditions can challenge larger rigs. "Down a dirt road... No amenities here. Including the pit toilet which smells so ripe I would much rather use my hand trowel to dig a pit to use!" warns Shelly S. about Brazil Creek.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cadet, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cadet, MO is St. Francois State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cadet, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 equestrian camping locations near Cadet, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
