Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Bruce. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. It's easy to find Bruce equestrian campgrounds with the Dyrt. These scenic and easy-to-reach Bruce campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
Open: Year-round. Between Oct. 1 and April 30, showers, flush toilets and other water systems may be closed. Please contact the park directly for current status. Vault toilets usually remain open.
Park Size: 103 campsites, 5 camping cabins, and group lodge
Directions: 6 miles southwest of Lake Preston off US Hwy 14
Nearest Town: Lake Preston
Fishing, boating, swimming, & water skiing keep everyone entertained. Visitors enjoy hiking, the archery range, multipurpose trail, & hunting. Camping pads & Electricity are available year-round. Camping cabins are available. For thrill-seekers, there’s snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and ice fishing in the winter.
$24 - $45 / night
Horse camp - horses required to stay at this campground. Non electric sites.
Nestled among eight connecting glacial lakes, this park provides a never-ending variety of activities throughout the year, from hiking and swimming, to ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Shaded campgrounds and picnic areas complement the park's excellent swimming and boating facilities. The park was once used as a summer camp and an annual gathering spot for American Indians. Later, Samuel Mortimer arrived in 1869 and built the log cabin that still stands at the park.
$22 / night
Joy Ranch is a reputable destination location for weddings, corporate retreats and family vacations. Joy Ranch's facility includes a full-service campground and an impressive working dude ranch featuring Norwegian Fjord Horses, Quarter Horses, Miniature Horses, and one Miniature Donkey!
$20 / night
$20 - $25 / night
Guide
This campground has both electric standard sites for campers and tent sites. Two shower houses and multiple vault toilets throughout the campground for accessibility. Walking trails in grass or gravel. Three walkways down to the water’s edge with one being a large swimming area. Boating is permitted as well. Be sure to use bug spray as mosquitoes were all over- maybe due to wet weather. This is a natural lake formed by farmland that flooded in the 1980s.
Scout
Nice, secluded and wooded sites.
GuidePros: lotsa trees. Cons: Go to the lower park, more to do, more to see. Upper camp, not much to see, plus our site was really steep
GuideNice pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas. Flat camper parking. Power was great and showers were clean. Electric only. There is an area to dump waste on the exit. Stopped on Sunday on the way westward and the place was empty, stopped Friday on the way home and it was packed. Lots of kids and families, and almost every spot was full. Happy to see folks having fun. It was just a little busy for us. On the second time through one of the three bathrooms was very dirty, sad before the weekend- the showers remained clean. On the Friday stop there were a lot of people, some spots had 3-4 cars parked in the grass- it was too bad they allowed that. If one was to go here to find some quiet do so during the week or late weekend. It worked just fine as a quick overnight stop on our route. Lots of families having fun. Slept well. Well groomed area. Pretty views of lake. A little windy.
ScoutJoy Ranch campground is a hidden campground outside Watertown SD. If you are wanting to enjoy a peaceful weekend with your family, Cowboy Campground is the place for you!
GuideWe stayed in the lower campground. It is very opened. The campsites are medium size and close together. The bathroom was well taken care of. There are train tracks really close to the campground. The trains didn't seem long nor did they blow the horns. The swimming area looked nice, but it was too cold to use.
GuideThere are two campgrounds in this park - the upper one is on the prairie while the lower one is situated among trees along the river. We stayed in the lower campground in site 30. The lower campground is close to the playground and swimming pond but it rained the whole time we camped so we didn't use either.
Sites in the lower campground are fairly close together and we didn't have cell service (Verizon), which wasn't a big deal.
I brought my fat bike and bike the Bluebird and Dakota Valley trails. Both are mowed paths that go through prairie and wooded areas. The actual mountain bike trail was disappointing, it was overgrown, narrow, and hugged a high ridge.
Our site, 30, sloped away from the parking pad. You wouldn't be able to set up.chairs under your awning at this site and the picnic table sat in a low spot that got muddy after 2 straight days of rain. There is a river that runs behind the sites in this loop. Our boys played on the rocks and had a great time.
There are nearby train tracks and trains ran by several times a day, though luckily they don't blow the horn so we didn't notice them much.
ScoutGreat trout stream, swimming, tubing, camping, horse trails, hiking... my kids loved it
GuideWe visit this place for a quick getaway a few times a year. Great hiking and biking trails, swimming pond and right on the redwood river. The Camden Regional trail is 14 miles of paved trails between Camden State Park and Marshall, MN.
LegendMy family does a annual family reunion camping once a year! We stayed here and it was beautiful! Perfect for all the kids off all ages, adults, grandparents...we had a really good time ☺
ScoutPretty spacious seperated by lots trees, good place for camping with kida as well. has a swimming pond and beach. Clean restrooms.
Horse camping in South Dakota offers a unique experience for equestrian enthusiasts, combining beautiful landscapes with facilities tailored for both riders and their horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bruce, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bruce, SD is Lake Thompson Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bruce, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Bruce, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
