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Equestrian Camping near Black River Falls, WI

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    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground offers equestrian camping on extensive bridle trails spanning the scenic Kickapoo River Valley. The park features a dedicated horse campground separate from the family camping area, with access to over 15 miles of maintained horse trails through the driftless region's ridges and valleys. Trail riders appreciate the well-maintained paths through limestone bluffs and wooded terrain. Sites are spacious with enough distance between campers for comfort and privacy. The facilities include clean restrooms with hot showers, drinking water access points, and fire rings with cooking grates at each campsite.

    Located in Wisconsin's driftless region, the horse trails connect to multiple overlooks providing panoramic views of the Kickapoo River Valley. Equestrians can access several trailheads directly from the campground for rides ranging from short loops to full-day excursions. The trails remain in good condition even after rain due to proper maintenance and natural drainage on the ridgetops. Horse camping is available from May through October, with reservations recommended during summer weekends and holidays. The park's proximity to the Kickapoo River allows riders to combine trail riding with kayaking or canoeing adventures during multi-day stays. Many equestrians return annually for fall rides when the valley's colorful foliage transforms the riding experience.

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Black River Falls (5)

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      1. Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      4.6(21)43mi from Black River FallsRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "NOTE; Google maps makes it look like the campground and landing are near each other. They are not."

      "Proximity to potable water, vault or modern toilets and designated parking are all within 400 yards of all sites. "

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      2. Wedges Creek Hideaway

      5.0(2)29mi from Black River Falls19 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "From the owner:  Wedges Creek Hideaway is on a double dead end road with several miles of hiking trails, electric hook up, cabins, fully furnished houses, and lots of stars for your next stay in central"

      "A little ceramic heater had it so toasty when it was 30 degrees outside we actually turned it off - so it's sure to please on chilly nights. "

      from $25 - $190 / night

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      3. Pietrek County Park

      3.5(2)30mi from Black River FallsRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Walking trails were nice but recommend pants as the grass was long in spots. Plenty of wildlife and could not hear the cars from the highway."

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      4. Sherwood Park

      Be the first to review25mi from Black River FallsRVs, Tents
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      5. Lakeside Fire Campground & Waterpark

      4.0(2)48mi from Black River FallsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $50 - $65 / night

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    View all 5 campgrounds

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Black River Falls, WI

    27 Reviews of 5 Black River Falls Campgrounds

    • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jan. 13, 2023

      Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      the best river for canoeing / kayaking in Wisconsin

      This was our second visit to this park. On both occasions we wanted to canoe the scenic Kickapoo river. Our first trip was five years ago and we got portage service for our canoe from Titanic Rentals in Ontario. We went from there (bridge 1) to bridge 12 Which took nearly all day, but we were able to have lunch at the park's Wildcat landing, the only real and equipped picnic site along the river. NOTE; Google maps makes it look like the campground and landing are near each other. They are not. It's three miles of very steep roads, so don't think you're going to fetch anything you left behind.
       The campground is on top of the ridge, which means in the morning you will look out over a fog shrouded valley through the trees. The views from the overlooks, which are a short hike, are worth checking out. Campsite 15 is the only one with a clear view.
      There are walk in sites and the paths are wide and clear. The park provides large carts for your stuff so you can really pack stuff in and get away from it all. But the family tent and RV sites generally well spaced, check the map as some are more private than others.
       Our second trip was in August, 2023 and we canoed from bridge 12 to LaFarge (bridge 21). It was later in the season than our previous trip, and in the slightly less scenic stretch of the river. As a result, we didn't see any other boaters.
      Campsites have basic fire ring, and there are pit toilets as well as one Full facility with running water and hot showers. Firewood is available at the Ranger station.
      There's also Equestrian camping elsewhere in the park and lots of trails for both hikers and horses.
       The town of Ontario has a good general store and a couple bars, but this is pretty much wilderness and small farms. Two unique places however are Wild Things Furrier near bridge twelve. Want a coonskin cap or some smoked trout? This is the place.
       More unique than that if you want to treat yourselves, go 34 miles south to the St. Frances Hermitage restaurant. It's run by a small order of French Monks and Nuns who raise their own animals and grow the vegetables they serve. Their bakery is also delicious. This is not fast food, this is a gastronomic experience.

    • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 28, 2019

      Pietrek County Park

      Nice little county park

      This was an interesting little campground sandwiched between the road and the Trempealeau River. The backstory on the park is that the gentleman who originally owned the land had asked that when he died that it be preserved as a wildlife area. His death came much sooner than anyone thought, and the family worked with the county to donate the land to the county as a park. There are about six tent only sites set back near the river, with three of them in close proximity to each other (I think it is used as a group camping area). When I was there the sites were poorly maintained and only had two fire pits and tables for all six sites combined. There are 25ish RV type sites with either just electric or electric and water. Some of these sites are set up back to back in an open field, which is not very appealing. The grass had been let to grow very long before the recent cutting, so it was like walking through freshly mown hay. There is a horse arena (very muddy when I was there), and it looks like you can camp with your horses on the edge of the RV area. The showers were really nice and fairly new.

    • Kim The Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 3, 2020

      Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      Wonderful cart in sites

      The cart in sites are fantastic at Wildcat Mountain! Each site is spacious with most heavily treed for shade. Each site has a nice large flat pad for a tent or two, fire ring, bench and picnic table. Proximity to potable water, vault or modern toilets and designated parking are all within 400 yards of all sites. 

      The park is located in the Kickapoo valley area where the driftless area is amazing to hike. You can kayak or tube down the river that is flanked by high limestone bluffs. The hiking trails are well maintained. There is also extensive horse trails, a beautiful outdoor ampitheater for viewing sunsets and access to the river right in the park. 

      The campers were respectful and quiet. Our campsite was fairly clean when we arrived. Contactless registration due to covid 19. That made getting set up quick and easy!  The cart provided was fairly big for less trips. I would happily camp here again!

    • B
      Jul. 27, 2022

      Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      Great area for canoeing and kayaking

      Pretty cool state park. Campground is located on the top of the hill. Wish there were more hiking trails. You can also hike on the horse trails if you want. Would highly recommend canoeing or kayaking the Kickapoo River if you are spending a weekend there.

    • Josh F.
      Sep. 7, 2021

      Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      I love this small but mighty state park

      This is a small state park in terms of overall number of campsites, but its network of hiking and horseback riding trails is extensive. What makes this state park particularly interesting from a camping perspective are the walk-in(or cart in) sites. There are 12 sites you can't drive to, and the park provides very nice carts for each site(unlike other state parks where there is one or two carts for all of the sites or none at all(Blue Mounds and Gov. Dodge State Parks respectively). 

      Walk-In Sites

      If you are looking for privacy, cart-in site 119 is quite a ways off the trail and far from the parking lot, but it's a bit small. It has some nice midday sun but is otherwise obscured by a lot of foliage which gives it a nice amount of privacy. Number 103 is in a heavily-wooded area and doesn't get a lot of sun but is nicely situated off the main path providing it quite a bit of privacy, but not too far from the parking area. On the other hand, number 104 directly across the gravel path from 103 is situated with a east-facing view of a very nice prairie, providing ample morning sunshine. However, a grove of trees on its western side provides very nice afternoon shade. 

      s 103 and 104 are also a very easy walk to some of the cleanest vault toilets you'll ever find, or just a little farther to the very nice shower and running water toilet building. I think 103 and 104 are my two favorite walk-in sites. 105 is on the same side of the road as 103, and is also nestled into a grove of pine trees. It is a bit smaller than 103 and if you have a large tent or a couple of small tents you might want 103 instead. If you're looking for wide open big sky prairie overlooks, sites 106 and 107 are just for you. They are probably some of the furthest walk-in sites from the parking lot, but afford a lot of privacy and lots of sunlight. 
      Car Camping Sites

      Now for the "car camping" sites. All of the electric sites are in a wide open in a large grassy area, and do not provide any privacy between sites or from the road. On the other hand, the non-electric sites afford a bit more privacy on their loop. The sites on the right hand side of the one-way street have far more privacy than the ones on the other side of the road. I would not like sites 1 through 5 because they are located between the main road and the campsite loop road, which would mean lots of car traffic and headlights in your tent all night long. On the left hand side of the road site 6, 9 and 11 are decent. 

      I would like to add a special note about sites 13 through 16. Three of these are on the outside of a small cul-de-sac loop, and are nicely situated in the woods, though they are close to the main road and would experience a fair amount of traffic noise. However, if you have a choice I would highly recommend avoiding site 16, it's in the middle of the loop has no privacy and isn't very pleasant except that it is completely shaded. 

      About the Park Itself

      This state park has an extensive system of horseback riding and hiking trails. The nice thing is that the horseback trails are shared by hikers. This state park also has one of the most beautiful and well-maintained overlooks, peering down into and across the Kickapoo River Valley. 

      I highly recommend visiting this overlook in the morning, at sunset, and even in pure darkness. We saw a wide array of stars and the Milky Way thanks to low light pollution. I'm not saying there is no light pollution, but it's pretty darn dark. I fell in love with this state park. It has fewer than 50 campsites, well maintained shower and vault toilet blocks, and a beautiful selection of walking trails. It also has a very accurate map of the walking trails, so you can hike confidently. 

      The park office sells firewood for$5 a bundle, which is about the same kind and quantity as they sell for$7.50 at the gas station 7 miles down the road in Ontario, Wisconsin. If you need a groceries or gasoline, the Cenex gas station has a small but sufficient grocery supply if you you need something. We forgot to bring eggs and pancake mix and they had both.

      Kayaking the Kickapoo

      This is a great place to start your Kickapoo River kayaking adventure. We booked two kayaks with one of the Ontario-based outfitters and spend a glorious September day paddling and floating the absolutely beautiful river. I HIGHLY recommend taking a day to explore the beautiful scenery from the silence of a river kayak.

    • E
      Jul. 8, 2018

      Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      Driftless region favorite!

      Loved staying at this campground. I was in the area to run the driftless marathon and needed a place to stay for one night. I loved it so much that I’ve already planned another trip! My site was hike in but the distance was pretty short. There were wagons available for transporting things to sites but I just carried my pack. No pit toilets but the bathroom facilities were close enough. Really beautiful spot in my favorite region of Wisconsin!

    • J
      Jan. 6, 2025

      Wedges Creek Hideaway

      Off the beaten path!

      From the owner:  Wedges Creek Hideaway is on a double dead end road with several miles of hiking trails, electric hook up, cabins, fully furnished houses, and lots of stars for your next stay in central Wisconsin!  We host weddings and family events along with our popular brick oven pizza and live music weekends in the summer.  Check our our schedule, book ahead and come unwind with us!

    • Rita L.
      May. 6, 2018

      Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      Best memories ever.

      Many years ago I went to Wildcat Mountain State Park with my future son's dad. It was the first time I farted in front of him. We were on our way from northern Wisconsin to Gurnee, Illinois and Great America theme park, circa 1977. Years later, circa July 6th, 1984, we again spent the night there with our then 1 year old son, setting up the tent in the glow of the headlights from our 1977 Honda Civic. At that time we were on our way to The House on The Rock, where we weren't allowed to use our stroller, so had to carry that just barely walking 1 year old baby boy. Good times, and fond memories both times.

    • Anthony L.
      Oct. 1, 2021

      Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

      Amazing Cart-In Experience

      My son and I stayed at site 106. Carts for hauling gear are in great condition. Clean restroom/shower facilities. Water available on trail next to the site. Access to the parks trail system is right by the parking area as well.

      Will head back again before winter.

    Guide to Black River Falls

    Wildcat Mountain State Park offers trail riding options through the wooded terrain of Wisconsin's driftless region. The campground accommodates equestrian camping near Black River Falls, Wisconsin with sites designed specifically for horse owners. Trail difficulty varies from easy valley paths to more challenging ridge routes with elevation changes of 400-600 feet, making it suitable for riders of different experience levels.

    What to do

    Kayak the Kickapoo River: The meandering Kickapoo River provides water recreation opportunities for campers at Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground. "We took the opportunity to kayak down the Kickapoo and had a blast - make sure you do some exploring while you are here," notes Holly W. Most paddlers choose routes between Ontario and Bridge 5, a stretch that takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete.

    Explore hiking trails: The area features multiple hiking paths through diverse terrain. The Ice Cave Trail offers a shorter option that remains cool even during summer months. "Ice Cave trail was a neat, quick walk. The trails around have gorgeous views of the driftless area and Kickapoo river," reports Steph from her visit to Wildcat Mountain.

    Attend weekend events: Summer weekends at Wedges Creek Hideaway feature brick oven pizza nights and live music. "We host weddings and family events along with our popular brick oven pizza and live music weekends in the summer," explains Jeff V., describing the social atmosphere at this campground 30 miles north of Black River Falls.

    What campers like

    Spacious campsites: Campers consistently mention the generous site sizing at Pietrek County Park. "Nice big tent sites down by the river," notes Justin S., highlighting the riverside location that provides natural separation between camping areas. Sites designed for horse camping typically include larger parking areas to accommodate trailers.

    Natural surroundings: The driftless region topography creates a distinctive camping environment. "We were hoping for some more rock faces and challenging/longer distance hiking. We'd love to come back and see the ice cave when it's cold enough for ice," writes Kristina K. about her experience at Wildcat Mountain State Park.

    Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower buildings receive positive feedback from visitors. "The showers were really nice and fairly new," reports Annie C. about Pietrek County Park. This maintenance standard extends to the horse camping areas, where water access points are conveniently positioned for equestrian needs.

    What you should know

    Walk-in sites require planning: Some campgrounds offer walk-in tent sites that require additional logistics. "We didn't reserve a site so the only spots left were the walk-in sites. There were carts to use and parking wasn't too far so it wasn't bad at all," explains Joyce B. about her stay at Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground.

    Wildlife precautions: Food storage precautions are necessary due to local wildlife. Joyce continues, "We kept it in a cooler, but it figured out how to open it!" describing a midnight raccoon encounter after failing to secure food in their vehicle as recommended.

    Seasonal considerations: Horse trail conditions vary throughout the camping season, with spring often bringing muddy sections. Most equestrian camping facilities in the region operate from May through October, with trail access occasionally limited after heavy rainfall.

    Tips for camping with families

    Rustic accommodations: Lakeside Fire Campground & Waterpark provides family-friendly amenities beyond traditional camping. "Not our typical type of campground but absolutely no complaints. Very friendly atmosphere and more comfortable sized sites than we expected," notes Glenn T., pointing to the campground's appeal for families seeking more conveniences.

    Cabin options: For those preferring solid shelter when horse camping near Black River Falls, cabins provide an alternative to tent camping. "We were in cabin #3 - rustic. Yes - it did have heat! A little ceramic heater had it so toasty when it was 30 degrees outside we actually turned it off," shares Amy G. about her stay at Wedges Creek Hideaway.

    Nature engagement: The region offers educational opportunities through wildlife observation. "Plenty of wildlife and could not hear the cars from the highway," Justin S. reports from Pietrek County Park, describing an immersive natural setting ideal for introducing children to outdoor experiences.

    Tips from RVers

    Challenging access roads: Some campgrounds have steep entrance roads that require careful navigation. "We drove a truck so getting up/down the mountain wasn't a problem, but if you have a low car, the front end is going to get scraped at the bottom of the mountain," warns Joyce B. about access to Sherwood Park. This consideration becomes particularly important for horse trailers and larger RVs.

    Utility connections: Electric and water hookups vary across campgrounds catering to equestrian visitors. Sites typically offer 30-amp service rather than 50-amp, which affects air conditioning usage during summer months. Water connections may be shared between multiple sites at some facilities, requiring longer hoses.

    Site selection strategy: Back-to-back sites in open fields are common at some parks but provide less privacy. "Some of these sites are set up back to back in an open field, which is not very appealing," notes Annie C. about Pietrek County Park. When booking horse camping sites, request locations on outer loops for improved spacing and easier trailer access.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Black River Falls, WI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Black River Falls, WI is Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 21 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Black River Falls, WI?

    TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Black River Falls, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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