5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"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. "
from $19 - $110 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"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."
from $50 - $65 / night
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RangerTraveling along the road from Ontario to Wildcat gave a little Appalachia feel. The park is situated above the Kickapoo River valley and is a great base for trout fishing.
If you are in the driftless region looking for camping, this is the spot.
LegendWe hiked a short distance into our site. We had to pass a grassy area that was always full of bunnies! The site was of good size, dark and quiet. The shower house was close and clean.
TravelerFrom 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!
LegendThis is a diamond in the rough - exactly what we wanted on our journey. Our criteria - less than $100, pet friendly and rustic.
This is a sawmill that has it all - they run the mill when needed, but also have primitive cabins (where we stayed), full cabins with in house bath, electric RV/tent camping and more. Even wood fired pizzas with homemade crust most nights of the week and sometimes live music!
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 - so it's sure to please on chilly nights. The interior was amazing - lumber that I'm sure came from the mill and ceiling planks that were gorgeous - left over planks from many years ago, stored in a shed and re-purposed for the cabin. The bed was very comfortable with clean sheets and squishy (in a good way) pillows. A small covered front porch and we just parked in front.
Bathroom - if you are in a cabin without a bath, it's very nearby. One of the largest, cleanest bathrooms I've seen. He built it himself. Women's had 2 sinks with a large vanity area, about 3 stalls (very large - you don't have to squish into them) and two very large shower stalls with full doors - not shower curtains. Heated as well.
Pets - easy pet policy. Just let the owner know and it's no problem as long as you are responsible, pick up after them and leash them when necessary. Just a small charge for them and they were very welcomed here.
He even has event space indoors (heated) and outdoors for weddings and such. And hiking trails (6 miles) if you choose to take on the outdoors.
The owner plans on adding saunas and a hot tub in the near future - so this would be the place to drop for a while if you want something out of the norm, peaceful, rustic and relaxing. It's off the main road, behind a field in Amish Country. Lovely place to stay for the night. Very quiet.
TravelerVery cool secluded walk in sites, pet friendly, awesome trails.
GuideThis is a smaller campground but makes up for it with all the access around it. Ice Cave trail was a neat, quick walk. The trails around have gorgeous views of the driftless area and Kickapoo river. I stayed at site 1. While it is right next to the campground road and a trail, trees block the views from people looking in and there was not that much traffic. It is a tent only site and can fit one tent. Was a good site for just me and would stay at this site again as most of the other sites are very explored.
LegendNice campground, quiet would come back! It was our first time to WI so the scenery to the park was just beautiful.
Our campsite was nice. Spaced out enough from neighbors that we were comfortable. Do not like the nickel and diming of WI state parks. Charge the site fee which is reasonable enough but then a $8 reservation fee that gets you to $40 and then another $11 to NR's for the vehicle pass. You can get an annual pass for $38 but when you are just passing through it's not worth it. Brought us to $51 for the stay and it was worth it since we needed a place to camp, but I've stayed in better places for less. This park was much better than Rocky Arbor.
Bathrooms were super clean for a campground. Good shower with directions on wall, which was a nice touch. The cement in shower is stained so it looks dirty but it's really pretty clean. Enjoyed my hot shower here.
Hiked the Old Settlers Trail. It was nice, some elevation changes that get you attention. It was muggy and hot as I hiked right after the rain, so temperature was miserable at times, but it is July! The entire trail was about 3 miles round trip from the campground. Definitely check out observation point! Beautiful view!!!
LegendThis 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.
ScoutPretty 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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