1 campground with availability next weekend
Indian Cave State Park offers equestrian camping opportunities with designated trails for horseback riding throughout its 3,000+ acre landscape. The park features primitive camping areas specifically for horse owners along with numerous trail connections throughout the oak woodlands. A separate camping area exists for visitors bringing horses, with ample room for trailer parking. Tent sites and RV camping spots with 30/50 amp electric hookups are available throughout the park. The trails provide various difficulty levels with substantial elevation changes, making them suitable for different riding experiences. Ticks are prevalent during warmer months, so proper precautions for both horses and humans are necessary. The park's extensive trail system makes it possible to ride for hours without encountering other visitors, especially during weekday visits.
Located approximately 1.5 hours south of Omaha, the park's hiking and equestrian trails offer scenic overlooks of the Missouri River and valley. Horse owners can access over 20 miles of trails through the forested landscape with numerous connection points between paths. The trail system connects riders to historical points of interest including an abandoned townsite, cemetery, and the park's namesake cave featuring ancient petroglyphs. Water access for horses is available at certain points within the park, though bringing additional water supplies is recommended during drier periods. The terrain varies significantly from river bottomlands to steep bluffs, providing diverse riding environments. Park permits cost $5 per day for access to all trails and camping areas. Overnight horse camping requires advance planning as the specialized sites can fill quickly during peak seasons and special events.
"This is unlike any other campground in Nebraska. There are plenty of camping sites around the park no matter your style, even spots for horses! I prefer the hike in spots myself."
"This is a nice little area with some hiking and horse trails. There’s a trail that’s really steep but the view from the top of the river and the valley is worth it."
from $20 - $25 / night
"The tent sites have an area with showers and in door plumbing but there are also many tent sites speckled around the park, some have vault toliets and others are primitive."
"The trails are great. Beautiful scenery and our camp site was spacious. I wish the horse trail rides weren’t closed for the year and the main trail."
from $25 / night
"Not many amenities but the bathrooms are clean and the trails are fantastic. The view is great from the side bluff train. Close to Nebraska city. Tent sites are not too close together."
"The hiking trails are not for bikes, and they have several different levels or skills levels. The look out was pretty cool as well. We will return, and do some more hiking."
Available next weekend
from $12 - $110 / night
"Pleasant quiet environment other then nearby train. Location has 2 other RV campgrounds around the corner . It's a city park next to the expo center nice and clean . Pull in next to any hook up."
"The entrance was a little bit confusing. There is a pay box at the edge of the parking box. The bathrooms were locked, but being self contained, we wouldn't have used them."
from $10 / night
"A Missouri conservation area, a mile off the road. a gravel road gives you access to many multi use trails. see map attached. there were 5 or so nice camping spots with picnic tables and fire rings along"
"It was a little close to the highway so got a little highway noise, but not bad. No trains😊 Only one other camper so plenty of room.
Pit toilet, no water."
"Nice sites close to the lake with electricity water and wifi."
"Kids absolutely love it, easy access to the water, quiet, and very nice!!"
GuideA nice little area to park our RV for the night as we were passing through. Just put your $10 in the donation box. Yes, there is a train that blows its whistle, but it doesn’t come through too often.
ScoutTen dollars a night for a electrical hookup, green grass and peace of mind. Perfect, just pull in, find a vacant pedestal and make yourself at home. 510 Midland Street
GuideThere were more people than I expected there on a Monday evening, but we were able to find a spot with 30A to set up. We didn’t even need blocks, as it was perfectly level. Just pulled into the grass next to the electric and had no issues. Great for a quick overnight, especially for just $10.
GuideCalled MO Conservation Dept and verified it was ok to camp here. Woman told me eventually they plan on permitting, but as long as there aren’t >10 people, it’s fine. Arrived around 5 and drove past first few sites to minimize backing in. Big open graveled area where pit toilet is has a spot that is level and easy to maneuver with a 13’ trailer (or even much bigger). Clean site though bordering vegetation looks like poison oak. Can hear road noise but also birdsong. Two cars have passed by but no one else visible setting up camp at this point. Great for an overnight so far!
TravelerA Missouri conservation area, a mile off the road. a gravel road gives you access to many multi use trails. see map attached. there were 5 or so nice camping spots with picnic tables and fire rings along the tree line soon after entering, but no gravel off road parking areas. signs said we must stay on gravel, so we couldn't camp there with our trailer without blocking the road. we found a handicapped site by the the one vault toilet. and one campsite at the end of the road. Both were not available. we set up in the parking area near the vault toilet, stayed hooked up to our truck. the outhouse was clean and had paper, but could use a new seat. it was a pretty area with lots of trees just changing into Fall colors. We didnt hike on the trails due to hunters present. it worked well as a quick stop over
RangerGas up when you can! This beautiful state park is in the middle of the Nebraskan Ozarks, and is seriously one of the most beautiful state parks in the Midwest. Clean, spacious sites...mostly level. Bring your levellers because it's very, very hilly. I didn't use the shower or restrooms, but the surrounding facilities were clean and well kept. Park staff were helpful and kind. There is a small gift shop at the ranger's station.
Great hiking just walking through the campground...very hilly...great workout! Would stay here again in a heartbeat.
GuideStayed at sites 46 and 47, electric no water or waste. Water was nearby as was a bathhouse. It is nice and quiet, good size sites. Downside is cost, runs about $45 a night with the car fee.
RangerThis is a very nice and clean spot to camp for a bit. They have great hiking and bike trails. If you go make sure you hike over to the sunset viewpoint that looks out to the West.
ScoutIt was a little close to the highway so got a little highway noise, but not bad. No trains😊
Only one other camper so plenty of room.
Pit toilet, no water.
Indian Cave State Park near Shubert, Nebraska sits at approximately 1,050 feet elevation along the Missouri River bluffs. The park's unique loess hill formations were created by wind-deposited silt during the last ice age. Trail conditions vary dramatically between seasons with spring mushroom hunting popular during April and May when rainfall averages 4-5 inches monthly.
Halloween festivities: Experience the park's popular Halloween celebration at Indian Cave State Park. "A few years back we were told to come experience Halloween at Indian Cave State Park. I was skeptical, but once we went we were hooked and keep coming year after year. We even won the decorating contest last year-The prize is free camping, can't beat that," notes Shannon G.
Mushroom hunting: Spring brings morel mushroom enthusiasts to the area. At Waubonsie State Park just across the Missouri River, seasonal events include "the Expo in the spring with Morel Mushroom hunting contest," according to Shauna G. The loess hills ecosystem creates prime conditions for mushroom growth after spring rains.
Explore historic sites: Beyond the namesake cave, discover abandoned townsites and cemeteries. "The trail system connects riders to historical points of interest including an abandoned townsite, cemetery, and the park's namesake cave featuring ancient petroglyphs," reports James D., noting there's "a fair amount of graffiti from local kids."
Trail variety: Multiple difficulty levels accommodate different hiking abilities. "If you do the whole loop, coming down 9 is a breeze," explains Meaghan S. about Indian Cave's trail system. "We went up loop 10 and down loop 9. It was a steep climb to the top but had great overlook views."
Privacy options: At Honey Creek Conservation Area, campers find seclusion. "We stayed at camp area 3 which is way more wooded and deep inside the conservation area with access to the river right on the site," shares Sayler O. This contrasts with Indian Cave's more developed campsites.
Budget-friendly options: Several locations offer free or low-cost camping. Syracuse City Campground provides "30amp and water for $10 a night!" according to John A. Honey Creek Conservation Area offers completely free camping, though Travis M. notes "it's more just access roads" rather than developed trails.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly bold at campgrounds in the region. At Waubonsie State Park, "These signs are not exaggerating. We had a raccoon at our campsite trying to steal our food while we were there, like the raccoon was less than 10 feet from humans during mid-day," warns Danni A.
Water availability: Hydrants and water access points aren't always obvious. At Indian Cave State Park, Rylan B. advises "The only downfall is finding water hydrants. Bring your own water if you don't want to search for hydrants."
Trail navigation: Map reading can be challenging in some parks. At Waubonsie State Park, Shelly S. had "a more than usual difficult time navigating by the map supplied. The signage was close to non-existent. I fell back on the tried and true, always go left."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Syracuse City Campground, Lynn J. mentions "It's in a treed area with a nice playground." This makes it suitable for families needing to keep children entertained.
Day-use facilities: Picnic areas provide gathering spaces. "The pavilion has several picnic tables and 20 amp outlets," notes Lynn J., which can be helpful for family meals away from sleeping areas.
Walk-in tent sites: For families wanting more privacy, consider tent sites away from RVs. Michelle V. reports at Indian Cave: "Basic tent sights are first come, $15 a night. The park offered firewood ($6) and ice for sale. Lots of hiking trails with different difficulty levels and elevation."
Leveling ease: Syracuse City Campground offers extremely flat terrain. "The whole area is very flat. Leveling was a breeze," reports Lynn J. This contrasts with the more challenging terrain at horse campgrounds near Shubert, Nebraska.
Electric hookup locations: At Mozingo Lake County RV Park, Dave M. confirms "Nice sites close to the lake with electricity water and wifi." For those needing full hookups, this park offers more amenities than the primitive equestrian camping areas at Indian Cave.
Electrical reliability: Test connections before settling in. At Syracuse City Campground, Tim D. shares this warning: "Sadly, the 30A plug I plugged into kept tripping the breaker, but I always have a backup 20-30A converter, I just don't get to use my AC."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Shubert, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Shubert, NE is Hackberry Hollow Campground — Indian Cave State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Shubert, NE?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Shubert, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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