Best Equestrian Camping near Galesville, WI
Are you looking for a place to stay in Galesville with your horse? Equestrian camping is the best way to experience nature. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Equestrian Sites Near Galesville, WI (9)
1. Pietrek County Park
Galesville, Wisconsin2 Reviews•19 Photos•10 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- RVs
2. Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Ontario, Wisconsin19 Reviews•45 Photos•150 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
3. Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Money Creek, Minnesota2 Reviews•7 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Equestrian
5. Oak Ridge / Wet Bark Recreation Area — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Houston, Minnesota1 Review•3 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Equestrian
6. Chester Woods Park
Eyota, Minnesota5 Reviews•18 Photos•50 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
7. Whippoorwill Ranch Kampground
Plainview, Minnesota1 Review•3 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Reservable
- RVs
- Tents
8. Zumbro Bottoms Central — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Be the first to review!Kellogg, Minnesota•1 SaveCentral Assembly Area is moderate in size; it is a primitive campground designed to furnish only the camper's basic needs, vault toilets, and hand-pumped water. There are fire rings, picnic tables, picket lines, and manure bunkers in the campground.
There are no designated campsites in this campground, and campers can set up as they wish, keeping in line with these rules:
Portable pens must be 50 feet from the road to minimize damage to the grass and not be around trees. Horses cannot be tied to trees. Keep the size of your campsite reasonable. To allow for other campers to use only the amount of space you need. All camping is first-come, first-serve. Do not block off space for friends who will be arriving later. Clean up your campsite when you leave. Take all garbage with you and put all hay and manure in the bunkers provided. This is a popular camping area and on busy weekends can accommodate about 20 camping units. Quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m. (this includes no generator use). Please be considerate of others around you.Zumbro Bottoms offers access to 44 miles of horseback riding trails. The trails have been marked with brown signs showing appropriate uses.
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
$14 - $16 / night
9. Zumbro Bottoms West — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Be the first to review!Kellogg, Minnesota•1 SaveWest Assembly Area is the largest of the three campgrounds at Zumbro Bottoms; it is a primitive campground designed to furnish only the camper's basic needs, vault toilets, and hand-pumped water. Other than two accessible sites, there are no designated campsites in this campground.
There are fire rings, picnic tables, picket lines, and manure bunkers in the campground. There is a lot of open space, and campers can set up as they wish, keeping in line with these rules:
Portable pens must be 75 feet from the road to minimize damage to the grass and not be around trees. Horses cannot be tied to trees. Keep the size of your campsite reasonable. To allow for other campers to use only the amount of space you need. All camping is first-come, first-serve. Do not block off space for friends who will be arriving later. Clean up your campsite when you leave. Put all garbage in the dumpster and all hay and manure in the bunkers provided. This is a popular camping area and on busy weekends can accommodate 100 + camping units. Quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m. (this includes no generator use). Please be considerate of others around you.Highlights: Zumbro Bottoms offers access to 44 miles of horseback riding trails. The trails have been marked with brown signs showing appropriate uses.
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
$22 / night
Recent Equestrian Reviews in Galesville
31 Reviews of 9 Galesville Campgrounds
- Jarrett G.
Traveler
Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Sweet place
Very cool secluded walk in sites, pet friendly, awesome trails.
- SSteph
GuideWildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Beautiful area and great Kickapoo access
This 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.
Kristi D.
LegendWildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Lovely quiet park
Nice 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!!!
Brian O.LegendWildcat 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.
Michael V.
RangerMoney Creek & Vinegar Ridge — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Good hunting campground
Stayed here multiple times throughout the years, not much to it. Put toilets, usually slow except during hunting season. Camp sites are decent but primative.
- Michael V.Ranger
Oak Ridge / Wet Bark Recreation Area — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Horse trail campground
Small campground, usually no one here except during hunting season. Not much to this place.
- BBridger
ScoutWildcat 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.
- KKevinGuide
Chester Woods Park
Large sites
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,
Justin S.Traveler
Pietrek County Park
Well maintained
Nice big tent sites down by the river. 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.
Anthony L.TravelerWildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Family Campsite #29
A chilly weekend at Wildcat. Site 29 is nestled in between the family campground and the bathroom/shower facility. Electric is provided. Wood sales run until 5pm or 7pm depending on the day.
The site is open and near two others on the corner, but with enough distance to keep relative privacy.
Excellent hiking options with incredible overlooks.
- MMichelle A.Traveler
Whippoorwill Ranch Kampground
Mature crowd and tons of fun!
We had a fabulous experience at BJ's this weekend. Mark, Sheri and the staff are good people who work hard to make sure you have a great time. The food is excellent and comes out SO FAST; bravo to the kitchen staff! Bartenders are very attentive; Tasha took excellent care of us! The campsites are well kept and spacious. There are no picnic tables in the sites, but we got along just fine without. We can't wait to go back!
- Anthony L.Traveler
Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Amazing Cart-In Experience
My son and I stayed at site 106. Carts for hauling gear are in great condition. Clean restroom/shower facilities. Water available on trail next to the site. Access to the parks trail system is right by the parking area as well.
Will head back again before winter.
Mark N.GuideChester Woods Park
Nice County Park
Nice park for everyone’s type from tents, cabins and all size RV’s. Electric only at the camp sites but have water and dump station on site. Clean bathrooms and showers. Best value I’ve seen for fire wood. Has many walking trails that you can take your dog on and just a couple that you can’t.
Josh F.LegendWildcat 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.
- CChad P.Guide
Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Beautiful views
Not a lot of flat area. But great place to camp
Scott S.GuideMoney Creek & Vinegar Ridge — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Nice State Forest Campground
The are 8 sites. There is no water or electricity. One pit toilet for the site. 5 miles from Rushford MN. Access to Root River trail close by.
- Erik O.Traveler
Chester Woods Park
Awesome campgrounds
The campground is very clean and nice.
The bathrooms and showers we pristine clean and close and easy to walk to.
The beach was great and clean.
Fishing was great.
Would definitely come back
KimGuideWildcat 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!
- JJohn B.Traveler
Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Scenic and Quiet
Great location for kayaking and hiking. The facilities are well maintained and clean. Camping sites are spacious and the stars at night is amazing. Bring or rent kayaks to float the Kickapoo River. Ontario to bridge 5 was 2.5 hours.
Joanna B.Legend
Reno Horse Campground — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Dispersed camping
5/30/20-5/31/20
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.
- WWilliam K.Scout
Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Star Gazing
I grew up in the city and have rarely gone camping far from medium or large cities. When I looked up at the sky the first night here, I was astonished by how many stars were visible. I believe there is an observatory on the grounds, but I did not visit it. I think I will return in the future with my families telescope, some star charts, and a compass.
Annie C.LegendPietrek County Park
Nice little county park
This 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.
- Joyce B.Guide
Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Camping on a mountain!
We kayaked the Kickapoo river and stayed here for a night. 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. We were close to a vault toilet and the flush toilets/showers weren't too far away. 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 (or whatever it was) had enjoyed our breakfast. We kept it in a cooler, but it figured out how to open it!
Hiking trails were pretty close and we had quite the exercise going up/down the mountain. 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.
- Ash V.Guide
Chester Woods Park
Great park
Not to experience and good things to do. Swimming in the lake, lots of fishing, hiking, nature center, free activity’s, and other things to do. There are water and septic hook ups and pets are fine, they have bathrooms as well. Lots of other campers and area to run around
- Todd M.Scout
Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
Wildcat Mountain SP
Great place, quite and never used bug spray. Sites for tents are spacious and the group camps are awesome. We stayed in Group C.
- EEmily H.Traveler
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!
Holly W.TravelerWildcat Mountain State Park Campground
One of our favorites!
We found this gem in 2016 and loved it. The campsites are wooded, far enough apart, well maintained, and bathrooms were clean. The driveway leading to the campground is a bit daunting (especially if pulling a camper), but its well worth it! We took the opportunity to kayak down the Kickapoo and had a blast - make sure you do some exploring while you are here. This is a top pick of ours and well worth a try if you are considering - you wont be dissapointed!
Guide to Galesville
Horse camping in Wisconsin offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.
Tips for equestrian camping near Galesville, Wisconsin
- Pietrek County Park provides a welcoming environment for horse campers, featuring ample space for your horses and access to scenic trails along the Trempealeau River.
- At Reno Horse Campground, you can enjoy a peaceful hike-in experience, surrounded by nature and designed specifically for horse camping.
- Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge offers primitive sites with access to horse trails, making it a great choice for those looking to immerse themselves in the wilderness.
Equestrian campgrounds include these amenities
- Pietrek County Park features electric hookups and sanitary dump facilities, ensuring a comfortable stay for both you and your horse.
- Reno Horse Campground is known for its spacious areas that accommodate multiple tents and horses, providing a relaxed atmosphere for equestrian campers.
- Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge has picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for enjoying meals and relaxing after a day of riding.
Equestrian campers like these nearby activities
- At Pietrek County Park, you can explore walking trails that are rich in wildlife, offering a serene backdrop for your camping experience.
- Reno Horse Campground is close to various hiking trails, allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty of the area while riding or hiking.
- Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge is near the Root River trail, providing excellent opportunities for horseback riding and enjoying the scenic views of the forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Galesville, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Galesville, WI is Pietrek County Park with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Galesville, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Galesville, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.