11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Zumbro Bottoms offers primitive equestrian camping in southeastern Minnesota with three designated camping areas. The West, East, and Central campground units provide basic amenities for horse riders exploring the state forest trail system. Sites accommodate both tent camping and smaller RVs, with drinking water and pit toilets available. The campgrounds provide space for horse trailers at each site, though no dedicated horse corrals are present. Money Creek and Oak Ridge in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest also feature primitive horse camping areas, with the Oak Ridge unit specifically designed for equestrian use.
The extensive trail system throughout R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest connects riders to various units including Reno Horse Campground, which serves as a popular base for exploring the forest on horseback. Trails wind through hardwood forests and offer scenic views of bluffs and valleys. Horse owners need to bring their own containment systems, as high-lines or portable corrals are not provided. The campgrounds experience significantly higher usage during hunting season but remain quiet during other times. Forestville Mystery Cave State Park nearby offers additional trail riding opportunities with more developed camping facilities, though space for horse trailers may be limited during peak seasons.
"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."
"no shower) Horses are allowed. Fairly close together sites, but a beautiful area to get into nature or go camping at a reasonable price."
"Access to Root River trail close by."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground."
"Has many walking trails that you can take your dog on and just a couple that you can’t."
"The river is behind the property."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"Mystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy."
"Has horse tie ups and great trails"
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $22 / night
Check Availability"Some girlfriends and I wanted to stay at the camp for the weekend and have a place to social distance ourselves. We rented the horse camp sites and we couldn't have been happier."
"Beautiful spaces of various size, a river runs next to it and they have duck races."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Nice campground outside of Red Wing, MN with a bar/restaurant and other features. Access to trials for bikes and horses. I stayed in the horse camp without a horse but it was a nice area."
"We have been going to Haycreek for over 15 years for horse camping. The trails are shaded, no bugs, friendly campers and staff."
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.
LegendLocated on state forest land there are 2 separate areas right next to each other. The first loop is for smaller vehicles and tents and the larger area should be reserved for larger vehicles with horse trailers. There are hiking and equestrian trails present into the state forest land. There is one vault toilet. No other amenities. Beautiful area!
GuideNice campground outside of Red Wing, MN with a bar/restaurant and other features. Access to trials for bikes and horses. I stayed in the horse camp without a horse but it was a nice area.
LegendThis 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.
Legend5/30/20-5/31/20
We went camping on a whim and headed to the state forest since dispersed camping is open. We backpacked to the quarry and found a large open area, perfect for multiple tents. The sandstone bluffs were in the background. There are multiple handmade rock fire pits, some rock chairs, tables and lots of space.
There are many hiking trails, including a trail that goes on top of the bluff with views of the forest and of Wisconsin and the Mississippi River. There is also hiking within this unit and a horse campground. The bugs weren’t too bad, no ticks, no critters and no road noise. It was very quiet and peaceful. I’d highly recommend this section of RJD forest.
ScoutChester Woods is a county park just east of Rochester, MN. It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground. The campsites have nice, soft ground for tents, and electrical outlets are available. It can get noisy on the weekend, but the sites are nice along the edge of the campground.
The lake offers the opportunity to fish for panfish, catfish, and bass. There are a lot of submerged trees from before the Creek was dammed that provide good habitat in deep water, and there is also good shoreline structure and weed beds. There is a fish cleaning house next to the campground which has electric lighting, but no running water.
RangerMystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy. My new word while we stayed there was “Forresty” due to feeling like we had entered a different world. There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails. (Word to the wise, some of the trails are hiking/equestrian so watch your step😂) We didn’t do our homework, but if we would have known, we would have brought our fishing rods as the rivers were full of trout!!
We arrived at 2:00pm on Saturday, after a long 5 hour drive from northern Minnesota. It was amazing to watch the landscape change from iron ore mining pits to countless acres of corn and potatoes!! Check in time is 4:00pm, but our spot was empty when we arrived, so the park rangers let us set up early (Friendly and most helpful!!) We grabbed a bundle of wood for $6.00 for a campfire while we were at the park office. (that is pretty normal rates as you can’t bring in your own wood at State Parks in Minnesota) There are 3 different loops, an additional equestrian loop, and 5 cabins. We stayed in loop “C” with has bigger sites for RV’s and offers electricity. Loops “A” and “B” have smaller sites (still big!!) and both of those loops are non-electric. None of the sites are “full” hook up, but there is a dump station & fresh water fill right off the park office. The restrooms and showers are just off of the “C” loop, as was the amphitheater, and there are garbage/recycling bins every 4-5th site. The park was very noisy, but that all changed when most of the folks left Sunday. It was very peaceful the rest of the week.
There are so many things outside the park to do too!! We were not aware, but the Mystery Cave is a short drive from the state park. We took the scenic tour, and our guide Kip was fantastic!!! Hey let everyone ask all the questions they wanted to, and didn’t rush us at all!! The rate is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 5-12, and kids under 5 go for free. The pictures just don’t do it justice!! The next day we drove to Masonic Park in Spring Valley and we were amazed by the sheer size of the rock face!! There is no charge to picnic or visit there and there is one spot for camping, but you need to get permission from the city before doing so. We also toured Niagra Cave which is a longer drive, but well worth it!! The underground waterfall was super cool!! They charge $16.00 per adult, kids 4-12 are $10.00, and children under 4 are free.
All in all this was a great get away for our family, and I highly recommend staying at the park:)
ScoutWe have been going to Haycreek for over 15 years for horse camping. The trails are shaded, no bugs, friendly campers and staff. They have electric and water hookups for horse campers, and they have overflow for horse campers. The trails here are amazing.
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.
The Fountain City area of Wisconsin offers equestrian-friendly camping options throughout the bluffland region along the Mississippi River. Horse enthusiasts can find several designated equestrian camping areas within the state forests and recreational lands surrounding Fountain City. These sites typically provide basic facilities for both riders and horses at elevations ranging from 650 to 1200 feet, with terrain characterized by deep ravines and limestone ridges.
Trail riding adventures: Oak Ridge/Wet Bark Recreation Area in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest features equestrian-specific trails. As one camper noted, "Small campground, usually no one here except during hunting season. Not much to this place."
Trout fishing: Maple Springs Campground offers access to a trout stream right on the property. A visitor shared, "We stayed here for a week in June to start our trip around the country and it was a great place to start our camping experience! Plenty to do in the area... we floated down the root river for about 3 hours and had a great time."
Guided cave tours: Forestville Mystery Cave State Park has underground tours that cost $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 5-12. According to a reviewer, "If you get the chance, go do the 1 hour walking tour of Mystery Cave - well worth the entry fee. If you go on weekend probably need to make reservations."
Biking nearby trails: Haycreek Valley Campground provides access to paved bike trails. One camper mentioned, "We really enjoyed the bike trail that was so close, paved and had lots of tree cover to keep us cool. Very nice ride to Red Wing right from our site!"
Low bug populations: Near Fountain City, several horse camping areas report minimal insect issues. A visitor to Haycreek Valley Campground stated, "Nice area! Large open sites and NO mosquitos!!!! Will be back with our group again."
Water recreation: Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest offers proximity to water activities. As one camper mentioned, "Access to Root River trail close by," making it popular with paddlers and anglers.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The equestrian camping sites near Fountain City feature abundant wildlife. At Pietrek County Park, a camper observed, "Plenty of wildlife and could not hear the cars from the highway."
Cleanliness of facilities: Chester Woods Park maintains clean shower facilities. A reviewer noted, "The bathrooms and showers we pristine clean and close and easy to walk to. The beach was great and clean. Fishing was great."
Cell service limitations: Horse campgrounds near Fountain City often have limited connectivity. At Forestville Mystery Cave, a visitor warned, "There is NO CELL SERVICE in the campground - no Verizon, ATT or T-Mobile. Wifi down at the ranger office."
Seasonal popularity: Equestrian camping areas experience different crowd levels seasonally. One camper at Money Creek noted, "Stayed here multiple times throughout the years, not much to it. Put toilets, usually slow except during hunting season."
Water hookup considerations: Not all sites offer full hookups for horses and campers. At Maple Springs Campground, a reviewer mentioned, "Very clean showers and bathroom near office," but noted "WiFi intermittent at far end of campgrounds."
Variable ground conditions: The terrain can affect camping comfort. A Pietrek County Park visitor shared, "The grass had been let to grow very long before the recent cutting, so it was like walking through freshly mown hay."
Educational activities: Equestrian campgrounds near Fountain City often provide family-friendly learning opportunities. At Maple Springs Campground, a camper shared, "We floated down the root river for about 3 hours and had a great time. The campground had everything we needed including a great little trout stream on the edge of the property, a hayride, movie for the family in the old red barn."
Swimming options: Some horse camping areas include water recreation. At Chester Woods Park, a parent noted, "The beach was great and clean. Fishing was great. Would definitely come back."
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated facilities for children. A visitor to Chester Woods Park mentioned, "Swimming in the lake, lots of fishing, hiking, nature center, free activities, and other things to do. There are water and septic hook ups and pets are fine."
Budget-friendly firewood: Several campgrounds sell reasonably priced firewood. As one camper at Chester Woods mentioned, "Best value I've seen for fire wood," making evening campfires more affordable for families.
Site selection considerations: For RV campers with horses, look for larger, more accessible sites. At Chester Woods Park, an RVer advised, "Nice place but it is a campground not an rv park, 30 & 50 amp service but no water hookup (fill when you come in) and dump tanks when leaving."
Utility placement: Check hookup locations before setting up. One RVer at Haycreek Valley Campground shared, "Our site was rather odd as the electric and water post was on the opposite side of our camper. Our standard water hose and electrical cord wouldn't reach."
Fire pit positioning: Some horse camping areas have oddly placed fire rings. The same Haycreek visitor noted, "The fire pits were located in very odd spots too - basically unusable unless you wanted to light your rig on fire."
Level site availability: Look for campgrounds with level terrain for easier setup. A visitor to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park mentioned, "Good level campsite and in walking around all the ones in the electric loop looked pretty level."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Fountain City, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Fountain City, WI is Pietrek County Park with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Fountain City, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Fountain City, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
