21 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Sam A. Baker State Park Campground accommodates horses on equestrian trails throughout the property. The park offers equestrian camping with basic amenities including water access, restrooms, and picnic tables. Campground 2 provides better access for horse trailers with more spacious sites suitable for equestrian campers. The trails through the park provide moderate riding terrain with several creek crossings. Horse owners should note that while the park permits horses on designated trails, there are no dedicated horse corrals or stalls - campers must bring their own portable corrals or use highlines at their campsites.
The equestrian trails connect to a network of paths offering varied terrain for different riding experiences. Riders can access several miles of designated horse trails that wind through the wooded areas of the park. Water access points along Big Creek and the St. Francis River allow horses to drink and cool off during rides. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some areas becoming muddy after rainfall. Park users report that the horse trails are well-marked but sometimes challenging with rocky sections and stream crossings. Camping reservations should be made well in advance during peak season (April through October) as the equestrian sites are limited and fill quickly. The park enforces standard horse camping regulations including proper manure management and weed-free feed requirements.
"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."
from $15 - $52 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $11 - $65 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $15 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $13 - $34 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $15 - $52 / night
Check Availability"We took a last-minute trip on a beautiful weekend in June 2020 to get outside (responsibly) during the pandemic. Two Rivers campground did not disappoint!"
"Be sure to visit the nearby springs and sites of the recreational area. The springs are so deep blue and dramatic against the rocky cliffs."
from $10 - $45 / night
Check Availability
RangerNice 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.
GuideWe 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.
RangerSo, 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.
GuideIf 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!
RangerI 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.
LegendJohnson 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.
GuideI’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!
RangerCampground Review
I was very excited to finally get to check out Sam A. Baker State Park as I had heard great things about beautiful land. The drive to the park was very pretty indeed, my husband and I enjoyed the view on the way in. My first impression upon entering the park was that this place is huge! There are 2 huge campgrounds (around 100 sites each!) and a nice paved bike path connecting them. There is also a visitor’s center were you pay for your campsite, a camp store that sells all kinds of things, a small restaurant, equestrian campsites, cabins, and an equestrian trail. We set up our tent in a basic site with no electricity, which was nice that it put us a little bit away from RVs and campers. The sites are very close together and even on one of the hottest weekends of the year the campgrounds were full! They do allow advanced reservations and I would definitely recommend them in the summer. The basic site cost $13/night and was close to a shower house with flushing toilets and a water spigot. Since it was such a hot weekend, Saturday morning we decided to the 4 mile float the campground offers. They depart at 10am or 11 am from the boat ramp at campground 1. They have a bus that picks you up at the end at either 2pm or 4pm. We paid $40 for our canoe for the afternoon. It was nice to float a different river, but the St. Francois (at least near Sam A. Baker) was pretty murky and you couldn’t see your feet in about knee-deep water. There were also tons of trees down in the water, making it a more technical trip at some points and even requiring us to get out and portage our canoe for about 25 yards. Although the price for the float was decent, the distance was very short (without stops, it would take about 1.5-2 hours). I think next time I would choose to just play and relax in the river near the campground rather than do that float again. The park also has some backcountry trails with backcountry campsites and is near the Ozark Trail. My husband and I really wanted to explore the trails and see if it connected to the Ozark Trail, but because of the heat the weekend we were there we didn’t get a chance to. Most of the trails are shared use, meaning foot and horse, which is never great for the hikers on foot. We wanted to be able to see the true condition for ourselves, but I guess that will have to wait until next time!
Pros:
Cons:
Product Review: Snapbuds
As a Dyrt Ranger, I get the honor of reviewing products from time to time. This trip I got to highlight Snapbuds. They are a magnetic earbud cord organization system. If that sounds complicated, they are. They are a series of magnets that you clip around your earbud cords so that when you wrap up the cord it stays in place. This is to prevent the inexplicable phenomenon that is setting down your earbuds perfectly coiled, not touching them, then finding them in a yarn ball like knot the next day. They certainly do help with that problem. However, I have noticed since I am now coiling my earbuds the same way each time, they get twisted up after a few uses. The set up process is not entirely intuitive. You lay your earbuds on the provided guide and tape them down. Then you snap the buds in the locations of the wrap you want to achieve. Once the buds are placed, they are not supposed to be able to be moved, but you can pry them back open with a fingernail or slide them down with a bit of force. I found that the indicated placement to wrap around your hand or phone was not where they should line up for my hand or phone once I placed them. This required me to remove or slid each bud. Since they are magnets, if your cords are slightly twisted and the buds line up so the poles of the magnet don’t attract, you have to flip them and it doesn’t look as nice. Also, the magnet will be attracted to anything metal, so when using these at my desk, I have to be careful around my laptop. The buds do add a little weight to your earbuds, but it’s not bad. I did find that wearing the earbuds with snapbuds on them while running was a little annoying, since you have magnets hitting you in the chest with each stride. After each use you have to careful wrap the cord to match up. All in all, I don’t feel like this a worthwhile solution to the problem. At $10 per set, I feel like I would just rather continue to coil the cord at my leisure and keep them in place with an old hair clip.
Pros:
Cons:
GuideJust spent the weekend with my family at Sam A Baker (SAB). We stayed at campground 2. Spot 145 and had plenty of shade and space. There are two traditional camps and one equestrian. The park is crowded but that’s because of how great it is. Lots of paved walk/bike trails around the park. If you forget your bike no problem you can rent one for $5 a day! The visitors center was neat. The general store has everything you need and a restaurant attached where you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner. We spent some time on the gravel bar which was a short walk from our campsite. The water on Big Creek was clear, shallow, and not too cold. I would recommend this state park to any family looking to camp.
Sam A. Baker State Park provides an 8,000-acre destination for horse enthusiasts located in the St. Francois Mountains. The park sits at elevations between 800-1,100 feet with over 90 campsites accommodating equestrian needs. Temperatures can range from below freezing in winter to over 90°F in summer, affecting trail conditions throughout the park's diverse landscape.
Swimming and wading spots: At Sam A. Baker State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy several water recreation options. "Beautiful camp sites and a beautiful river to paddle around on. This park usually isn't very crowded which is really nice. It is very tranquil and perfect for a weekend get away," notes Charlotte B. The St. Francis River and Big Creek offer accessible spots for cooling off during hot summer days.
Wildlife observation: Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park offers numerous wildlife viewing opportunities along its trails. "The park is big enough you don't hear the small engine vehicles over here," explains Grant M. about Campground 2. Visitors report spotting various wildlife including "a baby eastern spiny softshell turtle while crossing Big Creek" according to Madelyn H.
Hiking network: Multiple trails of varying difficulty connect throughout the region. Two Rivers Backcountry Camping features "riverfront campsites, beautiful spring-fed waters, clear water" according to Jade G. The area includes several nearby springs that are "so deep blue and dramatic against the rocky cliffs."
Clear water access: The rivers around Patterson provide excellent swimming options. At Two Rivers, "The water is spring-fed and very clear and beautiful. Hearing the sounds of the river and the chirping birds at night was amazing," shares Jade G. Many campers specifically note water quality as a highlight of their experience.
Multi-use trail systems: Beyond equestrian trails, the network of paths accommodates various activities. At Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, "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," reports Grant M.
Spacious sites: Campers consistently mention the generous size of sites in the area. At St. Joe State Park Campground, one visitor notes their "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."
Seasonal water levels: River conditions vary significantly throughout the year. At Sam A. Baker State Park Campground, one camper observed "I have never seen the river through the park so high to the top of the banks" during a high rainfall period. Plan accordingly for water activities based on recent weather.
Technical float trips: Some rivers require basic navigation skills. The St. Francis River "was pretty murky and you couldn't see your feet in about knee-deep water. There were also tons of trees down in the water, making it a more technical trip at some points and even requiring us to get out and portage our canoe," reports Mara F.
Campsite surface variations: Many equestrian camping areas near Patterson feature gravel pads rather than soil. At St. Joe State Park, campers note "The site has a gravel parking area" at Campground 2, while some sites have "a concrete section for a camper and cars." This affects tent placement options.
Beach access for children: Several parks offer designated swimming areas with beach access. At Bluff View (Clearwater Lake), visitors find a "Quiet and beautiful campground. Great swimming and fishing. Marina is great and have boat rentals available," reports Scott M.
Wildlife spotting opportunities: Families can turn hiking into educational experiences. Madelyn H. shares about Sam A. Baker State Park: "The park itself offers a lot to explore--quite a few trails to choose from, and the river made for nice wading in the afternoon heat. A friend and I even spotted a baby eastern spiny softshell turtle while crossing Big Creek!"
Check pet restrictions: Some trails have specific rules regarding dogs. At Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, "The shut-ins trail DOES NOT allow dogs so that's a bummer. Found some other local hiking trails so overall it wasn't too bad," warns Erin J.
Spacing considerations: When seeking equestrian camping near Patterson, Missouri, RVers should note site configurations. At Four Creeks Ranch Campground, "If you have an RV/trailer, ATV's, etc. this place is probably a hoot," according to Dave, who mentions the property boundaries can be difficult to determine.
Hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer varied services. Echo Bluff State Park provides "water, electric, and even wifi," according to Sage W., while other reviewers note that "You are not sheltered at all by the forest trees" which affects summer cooling needs for RVs without adequate shade.
Dump station locations: Plan your waste management strategy before arrival. Several campgrounds including St. Joe State Park have sanitary dump stations, but at more primitive equestrian sites like Four Creeks Ranch Campground, these amenities are not available and you may need to rely on vault toilets described as "comfortable and clean."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Patterson, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Patterson, MO is Sam A. Baker State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Patterson, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 21 equestrian camping locations near Patterson, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
