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Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground provides specialized accommodations for riders and their horses just 3 miles from Dodgeville. The campground features electric hookup sites designed to accommodate both riders and their horses with ample parking for trailers. Bathrooms with showers, toilets, drinking water, and trash facilities support overnight stays. The park maintains a 5.0 rating from equestrians who appreciate the well-maintained grounds and trail access. Fires are permitted at designated fire rings, and firewood is available for purchase. While the campground lacks dedicated horse corrals, riders can use their own portable corrals or high-line systems to secure horses overnight.
The extensive trail network connects directly to campsite access points, allowing riders to mount up and ride out without trailering. Equestrians find miles of dedicated bridle paths winding through the 5,000+ acre park with varied terrain including wooded areas, open meadows, and scenic bluffs. The trails accommodate riders of all skill levels with both challenging routes and easier paths suitable for novice riders or green horses. Water crossings provide natural drinking opportunities for horses during rides. The campground operates seasonally with peak usage during summer and fall when trail conditions are optimal. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays when the equestrian sites fill quickly. The proximity to two lakes within the park offers additional recreational opportunities for campers when not riding.
"Two good lakes for kayaking/canoeing/fishing/swimming. Lots of good hiking trails and they are working on a big improvement to the equestrian campground."
"We love to go kayaking here, the lakes are lovely. There are also lots of trails to explore. It can get busy, especially during the summer holidays."
"Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing. Hidden gem of Wisconsin. The campsites are pretty private, nestled in trees. Some shaded, some have sun and shade."
"The flush toilets and showers were conveniently located a few sites down the road. We would choose this site again, and also found a handful of others for our “nice sites” list!"
"Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range."
"It has a large lake with three boat launches, a main one with a motor ramp, a canoe launch near the marshy end, and a fishing pier."
"Most of the time, the pay envelopes are outside and you have to duck into your car, fill it out, and dart back into the dark to the drop box."
"The campsites are tucked away and private. There are bathrooms and a small playground. The lake is gorgeous and clean. The only downfall is the lake is spring-fed so it’s a bit cold for swimming."
"Good hiking around the lake and mostly dog friendly. Nice play ground with horse she pits."
"Just a quick 2 hour drive from our home in Chicago, with large wooded sites for privacy. Clean bathrooms."
"It’s located right by Devils lake. Firewood for sale, great wifi, clean bathhouses/rooms"
"Lake full of all kinds of floats the kids can climb and jump on. Clean pool to cool off in. Sand volleyball, ga ga ball, huge park. Has so many different accomadtions to choose from!"
from $35 / night
Check Availability"There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."
"Campsites a little close to others and sound traveled. Trails were way nice and the scenery was beautiful-lots of deer!"
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Behind the office was a large pond with a sand beach, lots of blow up pool toys, a bar, and volleyball, plus there are trikes and bikes available after you play mini-golf."
"For anyone planning a visit, I recommend checking out the driving directions—they’re super helpful to avoid any hiccups on your way there. Happy camping!"
from $65 / night
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ScoutTwo good lakes for kayaking/canoeing/fishing/swimming. Lots of good hiking trails and they are working on a big improvement to the equestrian campground. Lots of activities in the area and close to shopping in the town of Dodgeville.
RangerGreat state park for a family camping vacation, tons of stuff to do. Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing. Hidden gem of Wisconsin. The campsites are pretty private, nestled in trees. Some shaded, some have sun and shade. They even have horse sites, so you can bring your horse, and stroll through the park horseback riding. Vault toilets, and regular toilets with ok showers. Water faucets scattered around for easy water access. Twin Valley has tent sites and RV/electric sites.
TravelerWe spend quite a bit of time here. We hunt here and camp here year round. Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range. Hunt anything from pheasent to deer. There is also a nice bar and grill just down the street. Along with dairy bar as part of the park. Showers and bathrooms are always clean.
LegendThe campsites here are deep with lots of greenery. However we chose this site thinking that it was on the end. The loops curl around so there were campers around us. On the other side was a playground that had children enjoying it all day. While this is great for some, our reactive dog was quite distracted.
Upon arriving at the check in, there is still a couple miles to wind around until the campground, longer to get to twin lakes campground. The road is hilly too. It’s not a problem in our vehicle but it would be tiring on a bicycle. There are showers in the center of our loop. It could be expanded a bit - we had short lines for the restrooms. Water , garbage and recycling are available as well as a dump station.
It was raining when we arrived but we drove around to see the park. We hiked the short distance to Stephen’s Falls and was not impressed. Maybe they need more rain this year but all we saw was a splatter.
We saw folks who kept their kayaks and canoes locked up by the lake. The beach looked nice too. The other end of the park has an equestrian campground. We did see some horses riding the trail around the park.
The vibe here wasn’t for us. Various sites had music playing loud enough for us to hear. Trails from camp would be great. We ended up walking along the narrow road.
TravelerWe love to go kayaking here, the lakes are lovely. There are also lots of trails to explore. It can get busy, especially during the summer holidays. The beaches tend to be where the people are most dense. The campgrounds are pretty large but most sites offer good privacy. We stayed at Cox Hollow campground and enjoyed our stay. The stars were glorious. P.S. Bob’s Bitchin BBQ in Dodgeville is banging if you’re looking for a yum treat.
GuideWe really enjoyed our stay here, and are looking forward to coming back again!
This site was a bit difficult to back into initially, and took a few tries to get the angle right. It was our 2nd trip with our camper, so it’s probably easier with more experience. The site was level at the top, and was relatively private from neighboring campsites. The flush toilets and showers were conveniently located a few sites down the road. We would choose this site again, and also found a handful of others for our “nice sites” list!
Also good to know...there’s a hospital nearby (in Dodgeville) in the event of a mishap while cutting kindling for the fire, or other minor emergency! 😳
LegendI stayed at this campground when I was a kid and only recently revisited it. The state park has two very large lakes with nice pan fishing and modest but well-groomed (daily?) swimming beaches. The lakes are a definite drive from the campgrounds, however, which makes it hard for "the kids" to simply amble down for a swim. This is important, in Sept. 2020 (COVID-19 times) 1/3 of the parking lot was closed off. Not sure why, but I speculate this is to regulate the number of beach dwellers and swimmers. Regardless, it's a very large and lovely park. Here's my review of the campsites.
I am a car camper with no interest in (E) electric sites, so I did not pay attention nor note good ones. I prefer the silence and relative darkness that non-E sites provide.
Campsite - Cox Hollow
45/47 would be a nice couple of sites for a family/friends (wouldn't want this if you only needed one of them!)
The sites on the "inside" of the loop are rather close to one another.
21 has a nice view of the lake, and you can walk back to the fence to look over the bluff 24 is quite private and very large 26, 27 and 29 are all large, near the bluff
34 is interesting, it's divided into three "terraces" Kind of fun, like a campsite divided into rooms
44 right next to the water, BIG site, right near the bathroom and playground. This would be great if you have kids.
The second campground is Twin Valley - though it is NO WHERE NEAR the Twin Valley lake. Lots of driving to get to the lake from here.
221 is large with nice surrounding trees
285 is really big
This campground has walk in sites - these are sites with car parking on the road and you have to walk a minute or two to get to the site. Downside? Carrying all your gear and firewood. Upside? You can genuinely pretend that you've got the place to yourself, can't see a tent or an RV from any of these sites.
262 is 40 steps in, right on the edge of the valley with it's own personal bluff.
263 is a longer walk of 75 steps, a little less shaded than others, but PRIVATE
264 is about 45 steps off the parking lot, right against the bluff edge.
269 is 50 steps in, but it's just off the path, not as nice as others
270 is a long 120 steps walking past 269, this is the site for you if you're looking for seclusion
271 is 110 steps in, flat, really secluded
Scoutwonderful park! Only problem is the park does not enforce their rules. Several sites had 3 to 4 cars/ trucks and as many as 15 people per site. And these were not the double sites which allow greater numbers. This was observered on single sites. Rules say max of 6 people and 2 cars. This creates very loud partying late at night. I asked at the ranger station about the rules and discussed what I saw what I experienced. Pretty much just blew me off! Reserving only one site and packing as many people as they can get away with does not create a very family friendly camping experience. Only leads to trouble. No Rangers in the Park after 8pm which to me is a safety issue! After 8pm the local police in Dodgeville take over. We were there 5 nights and only saw the police roll through 1 night! Too bad. Such a nice Park is going down hill!
ScoutWe love camping at Governor Dodge state park. The campsites are big and fairly private some areas are better for groups of families camping together with play grounds and nice clean bathrooms with showers. If you camp at Twin Valley You will have to drive to the beach. We like the Cox Hollow beach the best ..so if you want to walk to beach camp there. There are lots of beautiful hiking trails including one that passes an old farm homestead complete with the old spring house and a waterfall. You can also rent horses and rid them in the park…the rental place is just outside the park. They have groomed cross country trails and mountain biking trails as well. You won’t be disappointed if you visit this park!
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Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground sits about 3 miles outside Dodgeville in Wisconsin's Driftless Region, an area characterized by steep forested ridges and valleys untouched by glacial flattening. At approximately 1,100 feet elevation, the park's terrain provides challenging riding trails with elevation changes of up to 200 feet. The equestrian facilities operate primarily from April through October when trail conditions permit horses without causing damage.
Trail riding for all abilities: The equestrian trails at Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground connect riders to over 25 miles of bridle paths. "It was very pretty with and without snow. Lots of wood to burn. Nice and quite," reports Jill K., who visited during winter when some trails remain accessible.
Water recreation at two lakes: Within 10 minutes of mounting up, riders can reach both Cox Hollow and Twin Valley lakes. At Twin Valley Campground, campers appreciate the nearby water features. "Great park in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin... Great open hiking trail. Well laid out sites with lots of space," notes Scott G.
Scenic overlooks and photography: The elevated terrain provides riders with numerous viewpoints across the valleys. At Wyalusing State Park, "the views will speak for themselves. Great clean park. Many spots to have picnic. Great hiking trails," according to Dillan K., highlighting similar landscape features found throughout the region.
Private, secluded sites: The equestrian campground features widely-spaced sites that prevent overcrowding. At White Mound County Campground, campers appreciate similar privacy: "The campsites are tucked away and private. There are bathrooms and a small playground. The lake is gorgeous and clean," shares Jaime L.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: The equestrian sites receive regular maintenance with accessible water points. Visitors to neighboring campgrounds note similar care: "Bathrooms were clean but a little dated. Didn't see hooks in the shower stalls. Nice hiking trails, especially Lost Canyon and Stephens Falls," reports Lee D. about their stay at Cox Hollow Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings often reveal deer and wild turkeys near the equestrian camping areas. "Beautiful wooded campground with easy access to fishing & swimming. Lots of hiking trails and nature programs for all ages," notes Jeanne M., who stayed at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, which shares similar wildlife habitats.
Reservation requirements: Book equestrian sites well in advance, especially for weekend stays from May through October. At Yellowstone Lake State Park, campers note similar popularity: "Big private sites but the toilet is a hike," says Kay K., highlighting how larger specialized sites fill quickly.
Trail conditions vary seasonally: Spring often brings muddy sections on lower trails, while summer offers optimal footing. "We walked down to that site and it looked like they had fixed the drainage pipe so the flooding there was not as bad as the previous trip," reports Siobhan R. about trail conditions at Governor Dodge.
Portable corral requirements: Since the campground doesn't provide permanent corrals, bring high-lines or portable panels for overnight horse containment. Sites accommodate up to two portable corrals per campsite with sufficient space for horse trailers.
Beginner-friendly horse exposure: The equestrian campground provides opportunities for children to observe horses up close even if not riding. At Merry Mac's Campground nearby, "Super fun campground with so much to do! Lots of games for all up by lodge. DJ dance party on the deck at night. Lake full of all kinds of floats the kids can climb and jump on," says Tracy C.
Plan shorter trail rides: For families with younger riders, the inner loop trails near the equestrian campground offer 3-5 mile options that take about 1-2 hours to complete. These shorter trails feature gentler terrain suitable for novice riders.
Wildlife education opportunities: Morning rides often reveal tracks and wildlife signs that create teaching moments. "There are lots of wildlife to enjoy and Yellowstone. A beautiful park and tons of hiking and nice lake," shares Mallory M., describing similar nature experiences available to families.
Levelness considerations: Some equestrian sites require leveling blocks for larger rigs. "Not all 'driveways' are level which, unfortunately, we discovered in site 33. We slept with our heads lower than our feet in our camper van," notes Lee D. about a neighboring campground area.
Electrical access planning: While electric hookups are available, they're limited to 30-amp service, so plan power usage accordingly. Extension cords over 25 feet are not recommended due to voltage drop.
Water and waste management: The campground provides water access points but no direct hookups. "The campground is somewhat close to the interstate and rural highway roads so there is some traffic noise but relatively quiet by night time," points out Lisa S., noting the accessibility for resupplying water tanks from nearby roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Dodgeville, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Dodgeville, WI is Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Dodgeville, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Dodgeville, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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