3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Limited equestrian camping options exist near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Horse-friendly campgrounds in the area focus primarily on RV and tent facilities rather than specialized equestrian accommodations. According to campground data, none of the eight reviewed campgrounds near Eau Claire feature dedicated horse corrals or specialized equine facilities. Horseback riders seeking overnight options must plan accordingly, as standard campgrounds may allow horses with proper containment but lack dedicated stalls or paddocks. The campgrounds maintain standard amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets for general camping use.
Trails in the surrounding state forests and recreation areas accommodate day-use horseback riding with parking for horse trailers at designated trailheads. Riders must bring their own portable corrals or highline systems when staying overnight. Wisconsin DNR regulations apply to all equestrian activities in state forests and parks, including waste management requirements. Seasonal trail conditions vary significantly with spring thaw creating muddy sections through May. Many area campgrounds operate from April through November with limited or no winter access. Zumbro Bottoms in nearby Minnesota provides additional horseback riding opportunities with primitive camping access.
"It has nice lakeside sites on a bluff above the water and they are fairly well laid out. There is a trial along the bluff connecting the two main loops of the campground."
"Great hiking trails, mountain biking. Equestrian trails also. Lake is huge, walleye are prevalent. Kayaking is great with other boat ramps available."
Available next weekend
from $21 - $210 / night
"Services: There are full services at this campground - flush toilets, sinks, showers, trash receptacles, and drinking water/dump station near the entrance."
"T-mobile service is almost non-existent depending on location. The showers and bathrooms were spotless. Firewood is available at several roadside stands just outside the entrance."
Available next weekend
from $24 - $280 / night
"Great for hiking and kayaking/canoeing is near by."
"Stayed middle of the week found local firewood from farms nearby. Also a creamery is a short drive from camp."
"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 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. "
Available next weekend
from $25 - $190 / night
"Horse camping and trails too. Private Firewood sources are right at the entrance. Bathrooms and water. Clean. Nice reservoir for kayaking."
from $17 / night
from $22 / night
GuideRun by the Army Corp of Engineers, it’s a nice quiet campground. Good host. Horse camping and trails too. Private Firewood sources are right at the entrance. Bathrooms and water. Clean. Nice reservoir for kayaking. Good amount of quiet areas you can hike too with picnic tables.
ScoutI camp site is beautiful but they do not have any USPS delivery so you must get delivered to the post office
TravelerThis state park is beautiful and well kept. They put in a new road 2 summers ago and have started doing some more forest maintenance. Campgrounds are usually clean and well maintained. Lots of invasive species around unfortunately.
LegendNice camping for going on the horse/hiking trails in the Zumbro River valley. Many large sites equipped for the equestrians whom need space for horses and equipment.
LegendThe campground is down a minimum maintenance road, but the road is pretty good though. Just one circle with 17 sites. There are many miles of horse and hiking trails in the area. 2 Vault toilets. No showers. Some picnic tables/fire rings/tie outs for horses.
TravelerIt was a very nice campground, it is a very big campground. Unfortunately the beach is not very clean and there are ground bees on the trail.
LegendGeneral: Smallish (38 sites plus four walk-in sites) Army Corps of Engineers campground. Some (see below) have electric hookups but no water or sewer hookups, however, there is a dump station.
Site Quality: All sites are gravel/dirt (except for the ADA-accessible site), and most are very generous in size. Our site (7) sloped down but leveled out with plenty of room for our campervan at the bottom. All sites are wooded with trees providing separation/privacy between sites. Completing the site are a metal picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook.
Bath/Shower House: Sites 28-38 only have vault toilets (but you could trek to the other campground loop). Sites 1—27 have flush toilets and showers. They were very clean, and I especially appreciated the fact that they were cleaned daily before 6 am, a shout out to the camp host! The shower was great– warm water and great flow, although our friends (who arrived two days before we did) had cold showers when the campground was full.
Activities: Several short hiking trails. I give this campground 4 stars instead of 5 because Eau Galle Reservoir (Lake George) is about a 10-minute drive from the campground. Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds are located right on the water. There are no amenities (rentals, etc.) offered at the lake but it is small and beautiful, and we enjoyed a peaceful paddle. We saw a couple of people fishing on the lake and there is a small swimming area. At the campground, there was an interpretive center, but it was locked when we were there. There is also a nice, modern playground.
Aside from the plentiful bugs (in August), we enjoyed our two-night stay at this campground!
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.
Equestrian camping near Eau Claire, Wisconsin offers opportunities for riders in wooded terrain covering the rolling hills and river valleys of west-central Wisconsin. The region sits at elevations between 800-1,100 feet with a mix of deciduous forest and open meadows that create diverse riding experiences. During peak summer months, temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with higher humidity, requiring proper ventilation for horse trailers and portable corral systems.
Trail riding at Highland Ridge: The equestrian section at Highland Ridge provides trail access with both wooded and open sections. One camper notes, "You may camp in the equestrian area (E1-E10) without a horse if the main area is full," which helps during busy weekends. The equestrian sites are separate from the main campground area.
Kayaking and canoeing: Many equestrian-friendly areas also offer water activities for when you're not riding. At Lake Wissota, "the boat dock and beach launch for kayaks is close by car, and we used it twice," as one visitor explained. This provides alternative recreation between trail rides.
Wildlife watching: The wooded areas create habitats for diverse wildlife. At Pietrek County Park, there's "plenty of wildlife and could not hear the cars from the highway," creating a more immersive experience for horse campers. The park's backstory includes preservation as a wildlife area, making conservation a priority.
Private campsites: Many horse-friendly campgrounds offer secluded sites. At Lake Wissota State Park Campground, a visitor observed "Beautiful shaded campground with semi private sites. Nice beach that is a walkable distance from the sites." The spacing helps reduce stress for horses and riders.
Clean facilities: Basic but well-maintained facilities matter for equestrian campers. According to one reviewer at Highland Ridge - Eau Galle Reservoir, it was "one of The cleanest campgrounds I have ever stayed at. The sites are large and very well shaded for privacy." Clean restrooms with showers allow riders to refresh after dusty trail days.
Rustic options: Some riders prefer more primitive settings. At Wedges Creek Hideaway, a camper described the experience as "rustic glamping" with "primitive cabins" and pet-friendly policies that work well for equestrians with dogs as trail companions. The property features "6 miles" of hiking trails suitable for both walking and riding.
Limited dedicated horse facilities: While camping with horses is possible, many sites lack dedicated equine amenities. As one visitor to Zumbro Bottoms Central noted, there are "Some picnic tables/fire rings/tie outs for horses" but no proper corrals, requiring portable containment systems.
Seasonal variations: Spring conditions can create challenges. At Lake Wissota, trails feature "lots of walking, biking and horse trails that are full of wild berries" in summer, but spring conditions can create muddy footing requiring caution on horseback.
Reservation requirements: Many horse-friendly campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. A Highland Ridge visitor explained, "We drove around and found a relatively level site with a very long driveway, then went online to recreation.gov to check its availability and reserved/paid for it." Planning ahead for equestrian sites is essential during busy periods.
Combined activities: Look for campgrounds with diversified recreation beyond riding. One family at Lake Wissota enjoyed that "there was a ton to do in terms of swimming, hiking, canoeing or just enjoying the sights," creating options for family members who don't ride.
Playground access: Several equestrian-friendly campgrounds include play areas. A visitor to Highland Ridge mentioned "a nice, modern playground" near the interpretive center, providing entertainment for children between trail rides.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds are quieter than others for light sleepers. At Zumbro Bottoms West, the "Nice large horse Campground near the river" provides a more secluded setting away from road noise, with "Many large sites equipped for the equestrians whom need space for horses and equipment."
Site leveling challenges: Horse camping areas sometimes have uneven terrain. At Highland Ridge, "Our site (7) sloped down but leveled out with plenty of room for our campervan at the bottom," showing the need for leveling blocks when parking horse trailers with living quarters.
Power access: Electric hookups vary at equestrian sites. One RVer mentioned, "Cost is $20/$16 for electric/non-electric" at Highland Ridge, with discounts available for pass holders. Checking power availability before arrival helps when using electric fencing systems.
Size considerations: Not all horse camping areas accommodate larger rigs. As one camper noted, "Some sites are difficult to back into if you have a large rig," requiring practice or spotters when positioning large horse trailers at tighter campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Eau Claire, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Eau Claire, WI is Lake Wissota State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Eau Claire, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Eau Claire, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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