5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Limited horse camping facilities exist near Merrillan, Wisconsin. Based on campground data, none of the listed establishments specifically advertise horse corrals or dedicated equestrian amenities. Pietrek County Park allows camping with horses on the edge of its RV area, though the arena was noted as very muddy during one visitor's stay. The park offers electric hookups, drinking water, firewood, and showers. Camping sites near the Trempealeau River provide a natural setting for overnight stays, with walking trails through areas of long grass where wildlife viewing opportunities abound.
Wedges Creek Hideaway and Lake Wissota State Park represent additional camping options in the region, though neither specifically mentions horse facilities in their amenity listings. Lake Wissota offers approximately six miles of trails that could potentially accommodate horses, with both wooded and prairie environments. Riders planning equestrian camping trips should contact these facilities directly to confirm horse policies, trailer parking availability, and trail access. The parks maintain varying seasonal operating schedules, with some offering year-round access while others close during winter months. Camping with horses typically requires advance reservations and adherence to specific waste management protocols to preserve the natural environment.
"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. "
from $25 - $190 / night
Check Availability"Great hiking trails, mountain biking. Equestrian trails also. Lake is huge, walleye are prevalent. Kayaking is great with other boat ramps available."
"Nice beach that is a walkable distance from the sites. Lots of walking, biking and horse trails that are full of wild berries."
"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 $50 - $65 / night
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GuideNew facilities and hot showers. Great hiking trails, mountain biking. Equestrian trails also. Lake is huge, walleye are prevalent. Kayaking is great with other boat ramps available. Sites heavily wooded, low noise and light pollution. Easy access to all activities.
GuideBeautiful shaded campground with semi private sites. Nice beach that is a walkable distance from the sites. Lots of walking, biking and horse trails that are full of wild berries. Several stairways down to the lake, no beach at these spots but good for taking the dog in the water since they aren’t allowed on the beach. Wonderful staff in the visitor center. Firewood and ice sold on site. Also boat rentals and free yard games that can be checked out at the visitor center. Clean bathrooms with showers. Lots of boat noise from the lake and a plane noise from a nearby airport. Close to Chippewa Falls for restaurants and stores. A great family destination, not so great for a peaceful couples weekend.
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.
LegendThis park is on a smaller scale and less crowded than Devil’s Lake. There is a small beach that is in the process of renovation. The sites are large surrounded by trees and very private. The sites on the lake side are not electric and some of them are huge buddy sites, great for extended families. There are two shower houses in the campground located next to sites 29 or 72. If you are on the legs furthest from the lake it is a long walk to them, but all those sites have electric. There are two vault toilet locations and a total of 116 campsites all with a picnic table and fire ring. There is a very large playing field and a playground in the Family Campground and another playground past the beach near the fishing dock. This State Park has a large number of picnic shelters and picnic grounds with picnic tables. There are about 10 hiking trails. There is a boat launch and you can rent kayaks or canoes at the visitor center. Everything was kept clean and in good repair. Cell service for both AT&T and Verizon was strong enough to stream video. If you want to take a trip to town, there are about 5 no longer than a 10 mile distance. There was a large grocery store in Chippewa Falls. Only ice and firewood are available at the park.
RangerContinuing my quest to visit as many Wisconsin state parks as possible. I stopped by here to check out the campsites for potential future camping and look over the park. When I found was a very well-maintained park, love the viewing area of the lake. Campsites looked good as well.
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!
GuideThe park itself is small and non-descript, not photogenic. The trail along the lake is nice for walking - it is a ridge above the lake with some nice views. Otherwise, the campsites were OK. Ours was secondary growth scrub with moderate shade. Others had nicer trees. Not a ton of birdlife. A lot of people staying there appeared to be there for golfing at nearby courses. Proximity to Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls is convenient. We enjoyed using the Old Abe bike trail. An entry point is near the park and there is a parking lot with clean restroom there. The trail goes for miles in either direction and is paved and well maintained.
RangerWe took site 87 for two separate tents, 2 vehicles, and an EZ-up over the table, and we really enjoyed it. That site is very private with a nice hook in the clearing in the woods that made us feel isolated from the camp road, yet we were close to the water pump and to the back walkway into the bath house area. We discovered the single family bathroom on the South side of that bldg early on, and that helped us feel more comfortable using facilities during this physical-distancing time.
I wondered if the sites closest to the water have any access, but not sure. The boat dock and beach launch for kayaks is close by car, and we used it twice. You can also access the water via a 0.5m walk or by bikes on the main car road. Lovely waters - if you paddle North towards the park shoreline, there are shady places to tie up under white willow trees, or to land and use secluded tie-up points just South of the beach area. Further North of the beach gets busy with power boats taking off for the big waters of the lake, but worth exploring that shoreline too. If you paddle south, it's a more calm section with private shorelines but terrific sunset views.
GuideI'll start by saying that I like privacy and quiet and nature when I camp, otherwise I'd be staying in a hotel. But we were looking to get away for a weekend during the COVID times, and site 65E was the only powered site available for that weekend in all of the Wisconsin state parks, so we decided to go for it. If you're the social type with active young kids, that spot is perfect - it backs up to a large open field with cool playground equipment and has a trail to the field right next to the camper. You're also right next to the water faucet (plenty of people will stop to chat there) and across the street from the pit toilets. It's a VERY busy site. If I return, I'll pick site 107E, which is extremely private and far from everything. In general, the 100+ sites looked to be on the quiet, private side of the campground, although not all had power. Some of the unpowered sites. 69-79, had great lake views and were surprisingly spacious, although a hiking trail is between them and the lake. In late July, the loop starting with site 41 is absolutely teeming with ripe blackberries.
The shower houses have little notes on them apologizing for their state and saying they're scheduled for an overhaul soon because they're almost 50 years old. So definitely go in with low expectations. Few of the stalls for the flush toilets had working doors, and while the showers themselves worked ok, there were no hooks, shelves, or anywhere inside to place your belongings. My shower bag randomly has a suction cup and I optimistically tried to use it to stick to the pink tile wall, but even that didn't work. Such is life. Mirrors above the sinks were the polished metal type.
The pit toilets in the campsite have two stalls in each, so don't be surprised if you end up with a buddy.
The hiking trails around the park are great, nice long loops, and the ranger/park employee at the check-in area was very nice and knowledgable. We rented a kayak and paddled around the lake for a couple of hours - single and double kayaks as well as canoes are available for rent for the day. There was a rocky beach with so many signs up warning about different types of algae that we weren't sure if it was safe to swim or not, but definitely too gross to regardless. I didn't see anyone else in the water either.
If it's a clear night, the field with the playground equipment is a great place to sit and stargaze, as the park gets very dark at night. We were even able to catch a few meteors!
Campgrounds near Merrillan, Wisconsin provide access to central Wisconsin's forested terrain and river valleys. The region features a mix of county and state-managed facilities with variable seasonal availability. Several campgrounds sit along waterways including the Trempealeau River, offering opportunities for paddling and wildlife observation throughout the warmer months.
Hiking woodland trails: Lake Wissota State Park offers approximately 6 miles of trails through diverse ecosystems. "We went on a 5-mile hike through fern and pine forests, prairie and grassland habitats, and an abandoned beaver pond," notes Julie P., who particularly recommends the park for both camping and hiking experiences.
Water activities: At Lake Wissota State Park Campground, paddlers can explore the lake's quieter sections. "If you paddle North towards the park shoreline, there are shady places to tie up under white willow trees, or to land and use secluded tie-up points just South of the beach area," advises Beth D., who camped at site 87.
Wildlife observation: Pietrek County Park provides walking paths through natural areas where visitors commonly spot various animals. "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," reports Justin S. about his experience camping near the Trempealeau River.
Private campsites: Many campgrounds in the region offer secluded sites separated by natural vegetation. At Pietrek County Park, campers appreciate the tent-only sites positioned away from the main camping area. "Nice big tent sites down by the river," notes Justin S., highlighting the natural setting away from highway noise.
Rustic accommodations: Wedges Creek Hideaway offers unique lodging options beyond standard camping. "This is a sawmill that has it all - they run the mill when needed, but also have primitive cabins, full cabins with in house bath, electric RV/tent camping and more," explains Amy G., who stayed in cabin #3 during cooler weather.
Clean facilities: Lake Wissota maintains well-kept shower and bathroom buildings. "The bathroom/shower facilities were very clean and centrally located, pit toilets were provided at much closer intervals, and there were lots of water fountains located throughout the entire park," writes Julie P. after selecting site 67E based on the online campsite map.
Equestrian camping limitations: While horse campgrounds near Merrillan, Wisconsin exist, facilities specifically designed for equestrian camping remain limited. At Pietrek County Park, "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," notes Annie C., though conditions vary seasonally.
Site maintenance: Campsite upkeep varies significantly between parks and seasons. Annie C. observed at Pietrek County Park that "When I was there the sites were poorly maintained and only had two fire pits and tables for all six sites combined," specifically referring to the tent-only sites near the river.
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Sherwood Park near Pittsville remains open from May 1 to December, closing during winter months. Lake Wissota State Park maintains year-round operation though with reduced services during colder months.
Beach activities: Lakeside Fire Campground & Waterpark offers water recreation specifically designed for children. "Not our typical type of campground but absolutely no complaints. Very friendly atmosphere and more comfortable sized sites than we expected," shares Glenn T., mentioning the well-maintained amenities suitable for family groups.
Pet-friendly options: Many area campgrounds accommodate family pets with specific policies. At Wedges Creek Hideaway, Amy G. explains, "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."
Noise considerations: Lake Wissota provides family-friendly environment with some ambient sounds. Donella L. notes, "Lots of boat noise from the lake and plane noise from a nearby airport. Close to Chippewa Falls for restaurants and stores. A great family destination, not so great for a peaceful couples weekend."
Hookup availability: Wedges Creek Hideaway provides electric hookups for RVs alongside tent and cabin options. Jeff V. describes the property as "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."
Site privacy: RV campers seeking seclusion should research specific site layouts before booking. At Lake Wissota, Donella L. mentions "Beautiful shaded campground with semi private sites," while Julie P. notes some sites like 67E and 65E were "ideally situated for dual sites," meaning less privacy between neighboring campers.
Seasonal road conditions: Access to equestrian camping areas near Merrillan may require navigating unpaved roads. Spring thaws often create muddy conditions at horse facilities, as noted by Annie C. at Pietrek County Park where the horse arena became very muddy following wet weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Merrillan, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Merrillan, WI is Wedges Creek Hideaway with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Merrillan, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Merrillan, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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