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Best Equestrian Camping near Wall, SD

212 Reviews

Sage Creek Campground in Badlands National Park accommodates horseback riders with designated areas for horse use. Located about 12 miles down a maintained dirt road in the park's western section, this free primitive campground permits horse trailers while prohibiting recreational vehicles longer than 18 feet. Campers with horses can access the surrounding wilderness area and trails directly from the campground. The campsite is situated within a prairie dog town with bison frequently wandering through camp. Buffalo often roam directly through the camping area while guests are present. Vault toilets and picnic tables with shade structures provide basic amenities, though no water is available on site.

Trail access from Sage Creek Campground connects riders to the Badlands Wilderness Area with its expansive grasslands and dramatic landscape views. The French Creek Camping Area, located near Fairburn, offers additional opportunities for horseback riding with sites that accommodate both tents and RVs. Riders should bring their own water or filtering equipment as no drinking water is provided at these locations. The terrain features rolling hills and river valleys with open spaces to explore beyond designated trails. Weather conditions can change rapidly with high winds and dust storms occasionally affecting the camping experience. Bison herds, prairie dogs, and other wildlife frequently seen from horseback add to the unique riding experience in this region.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Wall, South Dakota (6)

    1. Sage Creek Campground

    118 Reviews
    Wall, SD
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 433-5361

    "Definitely pay your park entrance fee! BUT it’s true - this spot is completely free. Lots of people dig this spot. Doesn’t feel too crowded though."

    "There is is space for RVs and horses. It is a national park so check on pet regulations. 
    The upside, Buffalo can wander through your camp. Or pose in the prairie next to the camp."

    2. Badlands Hotel & Campground

    62 Reviews
    Interior, SD
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 433-5335

    $24 - $174 / night

    "Amazing view of the Badlands, and can walk into the park. beautiful pastures with horses surround. minutes from Highway 90."

    "We liked: tent sites on the outskirts, trail / dog-hiking area, proximity to Badlands. Showers and price were ok. To earn 5 stars it needs more seclusion and trees for tent sites."

    3. Sage Creek Basin Camp

    3 Reviews
    Wall, SD
    7 miles

    "This location is Sage Creek Basin Overlook and trailhead. It is beautiful up here at higher elevation. 4g and 5g cell service is available here on Tmobile. There are no toilets."

    4. Rapid City KOA

    25 Reviews
    Rapid City, SD
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 348-2111

    "Close to Mount Rushmore and crazy horse! Pirates cove mini golf is a short drive away! Great facility with standard KOA amenities."

    "This campground is in a very central location along a highway that gets you to mt Rushmore, wall drug, the badlands, and much, much more within an hour."

    5. French Creek Camping Area

    5 Reviews
    Fairburn, SD
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 745-4107

    "All sites are walk-in tent only. The only issue we experienced were the horse flies but this would not deter us from staying again."

    "Great views all around with a pleasant stream running through, BLM road behind the site for a stroll/potential free camping. The BLM road was not passable mid-october due to flooding."

    6. Woodland Ranch

    1 Review
    Merriman, NE
    50 miles

    $1 - $100 / night

    "We are near the North American Pole of Inaccessibility, making this one of the most remote regions of the continent... but you'll still get cell service!"

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Wall, SD

1 Photos of 6 Wall Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Wall, SD

212 Reviews of 6 Wall Campgrounds

  • Lucille W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Sage Creek Campground

    Easy, breezy, beautiful

    The other reviewers had it right. Sage Creek is a sweet little spot within Badlands National Park. Definitely pay your park entrance fee! BUT it’s true - this spot is completely free. Lots of people dig this spot. Doesn’t feel too crowded though. Tons of tents, vans, and car campers fit into this somewhat small but open space. Bison are common visitors. Plus, there is a prairie dog town right in the center of the loop the road creates in the camp. They are so fascinating to watch! There are two basic but clean restrooms. Several pic nic tables with small shade shelters. A nearby creek for water filtering / road trip baths. Make sure to bring lots of water or a filter people! We saw folks asking around for extra water. Be prepared. Definitely would highly recommend for anyone traveling through South Dakota. Badlands National Park is so unique and so special.

  • Julianne M.
    Aug. 25, 2018

    Badlands Hotel & Campground

    Walk to Badlands Natl Park

    The Tilson’s keep their campground and motel well maintained, have hookups for campers, and fire rings for campsites. Can purchase wood from them. Amazing view of the Badlands, and can walk into the park. beautiful pastures with horses surround. minutes from Highway 90.

  • Dawson L.
    May. 24, 2019

    Sage Creek Campground

    Great jumping off point for hiking the Western badlands

    A primitive campground without drinking water or electricity. Fires are not allowed. There is is space for RVs and horses. It is a national park so check on pet regulations. 

    The upside, Buffalo can wander through your camp. Or pose in the prairie next to the camp. Great hikes into the park.

    Oh, all the things they say about being careful around buffalo, they mean it. I saw a couple who walked too close to a buffalo. Lucky for them the startled animal went away but they were in serious danger.

  • D
    Aug. 29, 2022

    French Creek Camping Area

    Great views, low amenities

    This beautiful location is wonderful to wake up to. Bison on the hills around. Prairie dogs galore! Coyotes howling in the distance. Wonderful scenery!

    However, this site offered no water and no availability for cooking unless you brought your own stove. There were however bathrooms and specific places to hitch up your horse. Hopefully your horse will not need water.

  • Amy K.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 15, 2025

    Sage Creek Campground

    Good stopover for a night.

    Rather than park on the road which was very level, I pulled into the unoccupied equestrian area. That evening when it began to sprinkle the dirt turned into thick sticky clay which clung to my shoes and made walking difficult. The next day I move to a standard site. There are 2 outhouses and trash disposal available.

    While this wind is relentless, making cooking outdoors difficult, there are trails which offer a reprieve from the gusts.

  • Kelly S.
    Feb. 17, 2018

    Sage Creek Campground

    Camping as it should be

    I LOVED my time here at Sage Creek. It is quite the drive from anywhere else in the park, but it is amazing. As we were setting up our tent on the first night, a lone bison walked through and checked out what was going on. It was incredible. There is bison poop throughout, so watch your step. Also, there is no running water on site or anywhere nearby, so be sure to pack your own. There are pit toilets. There aren't really designated sites, everyone sets up somewhere in the middle. Additionally, there are some horse facilities, but I would check on the NPS website for the particulars on that. Overall, it was a phenomenal place to camp. We got there around 4 p.m. and there were still plenty of places to set up. (We went in late August.) There is not a lot of privacy, but I didn't mind. It's free, so you really can't beat that.

  • UnnamedAdventures The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 30, 2020

    Sage Creek Campground

    Sleep with the prairie dogs and were the bison roam!

    Sage Creek Campground is a unique place to pop up a tent and sleep with the prairie dogs and where the bison roam. You are literally camping next to them! This is a first come first serve campground that is FREE in the National Park Service! Motor homes, pull behind trailers, and other recreational vehicles greater than 18 feet in length are prohibited. The limitation does not apply to horse trailers as a portion of the Sage Creek Campground is designated for horse use. Get to this campsite early as it does fill up fast(I would say before 2:00 pm). This campground provides a unique experience where you are staying in the prairie. There also are some backcountry sites that you can check out as well, but were full by the time we were going to set up camp. We recommend checking out this campground and checking the unbelievable night time stars!

    Check out our blog at www.unnamedadventures.com and follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram or on our YouTube Channel at Unnamed Adventures. 

    • Facebook

    • Instagram

    • YouTube

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2022

    Rapid City KOA

    Great KOA!

    Close to Mount Rushmore and crazy horse! Pirates cove mini golf is a short drive away! Great facility with standard KOA amenities. Have stayed here twice but was only able to find a few photos from a stay about a decade ago.

  • Nora S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2020

    Sage Creek Campground

    Beyond cool but crowded.

    This was a really cool campsite, mostly because of the wildlife and the views! It’s only about 30 minutes away from the Badlands NP, and very close to Wall,SD. The campsite is actually made around a flat spot in the prairie lands, and the tents are set up in a circle. We set up camp around 5pm, and went to visit the Badlands which is a definite must! Upon coming back, we ran into a herd of bison on the road and because they were so close we got some awesome pictures! Prairie dogs are also everywhere, which if you can be quiet and quick enough you can maybe snap a pic! The only problem with this campsite is as it’s a popular campground, the amount of people there was too much for us. We had our tent moved by a group of rowdy people who kept us up at night and woke us up in the morning. Nonetheless, we had an awesome time and I would definitely recommend staying up long enough to check out the stars because it was quite a sight! Also we were traveling in a 2wheel drive, and the last part of the road to the campsite is a bumpy one so drive slow..!

Guide to Wall

Horse camping in South Dakota offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With several campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • At Sage Creek Campground, horse camping is welcomed, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful Badlands with your horse by your side.
  • The Badlands Hotel & Campground features facilities that accommodate horses, making it a convenient base for exploring the nearby national park.
  • French Creek Camping Area offers designated areas for hitching up your horse, ensuring a comfortable stay for both you and your animal.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails

  • The Sage Creek Basin Camp provides access to trails that are perfect for horseback riding, allowing you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area.
  • At Rapid City KOA, you can find nearby trails suitable for equestrian adventures, making it an excellent choice for horse campers.
  • French Creek Camping Area is surrounded by numerous horse trails, providing ample opportunities for exploration right from your campsite.

Tips for equestrian camping near Wall, South Dakota

  • When visiting Sage Creek Campground, be prepared for basic amenities, as it offers a more rustic experience without water or electric hookups.
  • The Badlands Hotel & Campground is a great option for those looking for a blend of comfort and access to horse-friendly facilities, with full hookups available.
  • Ensure you bring enough water and supplies when camping at French Creek Camping Area, as it lacks drinking water and requires a pack-in, pack-out approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Wall, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Wall, SD is Sage Creek Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 118 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Wall, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Wall, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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