Best Equestrian Camping near Friendship, WI

Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground features equestrian camping within a dedicated area separate from the family campground section. The trail system offers extensive horseback riding opportunities with well-maintained paths through the driftless region landscape. Park facilities include pit toilets near the equestrian sites, and horses can access the Kickapoo River for water. The equestrian camping area allows riders direct access to the park's network of horse trails without needing to trailer between camp and trailheads.

Direct access to the equestrian trail system makes Wildcat Mountain particularly appealing for horse campers seeking extended riding opportunities. Riders enjoy well-maintained trails through varied terrain that showcases the unique driftless region topography with limestone bluffs and valley views. Wild West Campground & Corral in Amherst provides another option for horse enthusiasts, with corrals available for overnight horse accommodations. The property features access to nearby trails and allows campers to watch horses grazing on the grounds, creating a peaceful camping experience. Both locations require reservations during the primary camping season from April through October.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Friendship, Wisconsin (8)

    1. Lakeside Fire Campground & Waterpark

    2 Reviews
    Nekoosa, WI
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 886-3871

    $50 - $65 / night

    2. Hartman Creek State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    King, WI
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 258-2372

    "This Beach is perfect, horse trails, biking trails. Right along the ice age trail!"

    "Large private site surrounded by trees, with several options for positioning the trailer. The nearby chain of small lakes connected by narrows is ideal for kayaking."

    3. Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Ontario, WI
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 337-4775

    "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. "

    4. Merry Mac's Campground

    6 Reviews
    Merrimac, WI
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 493-2367

    $35 / night

    "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!"

    5. Wild West Campground & Corral

    1 Review
    Amherst, WI
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 824-5112

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Being able to watch the horses was very calming. We would recomend this place to others and we would go back."

    6. White Mound County Campground

    3 Reviews
    Loganville, WI
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 355-4800

    "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."

    7. Sleepy Dragon Campground

    2 Reviews
    Poynette, WI
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (920) 992-5157

    "As this place didn’t have much for reviews I wasn’t sure what to think but it’s a great location with good service."

    8. Sherwood Park

    Be the first to review!
    Pittsville, WI
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 743-5140
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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Friendship, WI

54 Reviews of 8 Friendship 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.

  • 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.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2018

    White Mound County Campground

    Very pretty...very quiet...very clean...incredibly nice campground

    We got there late in the evening, but the check in/self pay process was very simple and straight forward. Fees were incredibly reasonable for such a nice campground, and it was very quiet, even though there were lots of people enjoying this campground. Lovely atmosphere!

    We arrived late, so we had to self pay. But all that paperwork and payment took place inside a little heated shelter house of sorts. Bonus! 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. There was even a campground map showing which spaces were taken and available (at the time the attendant went home for the day). This was nice, but the space we thought was open had been taken by someone moments before. So not fool proof, but a decent guide for those arriving after dark. We still found another space and made it our home for the night. Not to mention, they had one of the best maps I've ever seen!

    Fees:

    $5 per adult

    $5 per car or vehicle

    $5 if you didn't have a park sticker

    $5 if you made the reservation online or by phone.

    $5 for electric

    Soooo...if you had 2 adults, one car and needed electric, then it would be $20. And so forth...

    This place is so quiet! The campground was very full that night, but we heard almost nothing from people at all. Just a little chatter from a couple guys nearby, but at a very respectful level. We actually got to enjoy the night sounds of pitter patter rain and the occasional owl in the distance. No road noise.

    The sites are spread out enough to make this peaceful and private, but close enough to make the campground functional and cozy. Electric sites (designated with an "E" beside the number) were scattered with non electric sites. Electrics were more plentiful, though. Tent sites were also available, if you like. They were grouped together in a different area. Our closest neighbors site was within view of the fire ring, but no one was there this night. The sites were deep, so you could pull in and nestle in the trees, even if you had a neighbor, and it was more private. There was a nice picnic table near the fire ring, which was quite nice for a fire, but no grate for cooking on. The pad we pulled into was fairly level and covered in pea gravel. We were using our teardrop trailer this night instead of a tent.

    There were bathrooms scattered around with very clean pit-type toilets, and there were multiple toilets in "mens" and "women's" rooms. There was also a shower house with pay showers, but prices were very reasonable. I think it was 25 cents for 5 minutes, and the more quarters you put in, the more time you got. There was also a row of sinks and mirrors under a sheltered roof as well as a pay washer and dryer, something I've never seen before at a campground.

    Beyond the other lovely amenities, they had picnic tables everywhere, drinking water spigots, fire pits at every site and a playground for the kids.

    Overall, definitely one of the more perfect places to camp. And if you had extra time, there was a lake at the other end of the park. And equestrian trails and an equestrian camp, but it was closed because of mud.

    Located in gorgeous Amish country, the drive back to the interstate to head north again was incredibly enjoyable and a great way to end a great camping adventure.

  • 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.

  • kate B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2021

    Hartman Creek State Park Campground

    Beautiful

    We camped in the family campground with our 17 foot Casita travel trailer. Large private site surrounded by trees, with several options for positioning the trailer. The nearby chain of small lakes connected by narrows is ideal for kayaking. Lots of level paved roads for cycling, and wooded trails for hiking. Clean restrooms with showers.

  • Dave S.
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Wild West Campground & Corral

    Great place to camp

    This was quiet and peaceful. When we needed our fire pit cleaned out theg came pretty quickly. Being able to watch the horses was very calming. We would recomend this place to others and we would go back.

  • 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!


Guide to Friendship

Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground provides two distinct camping areas with different trail access. The main family campground section offers standard sites with electric hookups, while the equestrian camping area is designed specifically for horse owners. Located in Wisconsin's driftless region, the park sits at elevations between 950-1,220 feet with limestone bluffs formed by ancient glacial activity. Winter camping remains available when other seasonal parks close.

What to do

Kayaking the Kickapoo River: Wildcat Mountain offers direct access to the Kickapoo River for paddling adventures. "We kayaked the Kickapoo river and stayed here for a night," notes one camper at Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground, who adds that "hiking trails were pretty close and we had quite the exercise going up/down the mountain."

Lake recreation: The nearby Hartman Creek State Park features multiple water activities on its small, no-wake lake. A visitor shares: "There is now a rental building available with kayaks, paddle boats, SUP, etc. to rent. We rented kayaks for an hour and a very reasonable price. Small lake so we were able to explore—saw about 3 dozen turtles which was super fun for the kids."

Horseback riding trails: Beyond Wildcat Mountain, Wild West Campground & Corral in Amherst (about 35 miles from Friendship) offers additional equestrian camping options. "Being able to watch the horses was very calming. We would recommend this place to others and we would go back," notes a recent visitor.

What campers like

Private, spacious sites: Campers consistently mention the generous spacing between sites at Wildcat Mountain. "The sites were spaced apart far enough so you weren't on top of the other campers. Very beautiful scenery, especially from the lookout. All the fire rings come with grill racks for cooking," reports one visitor.

Dark night skies: The remote location provides excellent stargazing opportunities. According to a Hartman Creek State Park Campground visitor, "We loved the quietness at night. Not entirely sure, but I believe there is a quite policy after 10pm. Gorgeous to look up and see the amazing stars at night."

Ice Cave Trail: This unique geological feature at Wildcat Mountain draws hikers throughout the year. "Ice Cave trail was a neat, quick walk. The trails around have gorgeous views of the driftless area and Kickapoo river," notes a visitor who appreciated the compact but scenic trail experience.

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds in the area operate on limited schedules. White Mound County Campground sometimes restricts equestrian camping during wet periods: "The equestrian camp was closed because of mud," reports one visitor at White Mound County Campground.

Terrain challenges: The driftless region's steep terrain can present driving challenges. A Wildcat Mountain visitor cautions: "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."

Wildlife awareness: Keep food secure from wildlife, especially at night. One camper at Wildcat Mountain learned this lesson: "It was recommended that we keep all food in our car, but we were drinking and too lazy/drunk to take back all our food to the car... so we woke up in the middle of the night to find some smart raccoon had enjoyed our breakfast."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Friendship, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Friendship, WI is Lakeside Fire Campground & Waterpark with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Friendship, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Friendship, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.