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Best Equestrian Camping near Mindoro, WI

26 Reviews

The Reno Horse Campground in the R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest provides backcountry camping opportunities for equestrians exploring the southeastern Minnesota bluffs. Located near the Wisconsin border approximately 25 miles from Mindoro, this primitive horse camp features multiple handmade fire pits and spacious open areas suitable for multiple tents, with ample room for horse trailers. The surrounding sandstone bluffs create a natural backdrop for this rustic camping experience. The campground accommodates tent camping with horses, though it lacks amenities like running water, electricity, or designated horse corrals. The camping area remains very quiet and peaceful, with no road noise disturbing campers or horses.

Trail access directly from the campground connects riders to an extensive network of hiking and horse trails throughout the state forest. The trail system includes routes that ascend the bluffs, providing riders with panoramic views of the surrounding forest, Wisconsin landscape, and Mississippi River. Riders can access multiple hiking units within the forest system, including the Money Creek and Vinegar Ridge units, which offer additional camping options approximately 15 miles northwest of the Reno Horse Campground. These primitive camping areas provide basic facilities for equestrians, with the Oak Ridge/Wet Bark Recreation Area specifically designated as a horse trail campground. The forest's trail system remains open from May through November, with visitation typically slow except during hunting season. The forest terrain features hardwood hills and valleys typical of the driftless region, giving riders varied terrain to explore.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Mindoro, Wisconsin (6)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Mindoro, WI

26 Reviews of 6 Mindoro 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.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2019

    Pietrek 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.

  • Joanna B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 16, 2020

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • Rita L.
    May. 6, 2018

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    Best memories ever.

    Many years ago I went to Wildcat Mountain State Park with my future son's dad. It was the first time I farted in front of him. We were on our way from northern Wisconsin to Gurnee, Illinois and Great America theme park, circa 1977. Years later, circa July 6th, 1984, we again spent the night there with our then 1 year old son, setting up the tent in the glow of the headlights from our 1977 Honda Civic. At that time we were on our way to The House on The Rock, where we weren't allowed to use our stroller, so had to carry that just barely walking 1 year old baby boy. Good times, and fond memories both times.

Guide to Mindoro

The R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest region offers equestrian camping opportunities within the unique driftless area of southeastern Minnesota. This terrain features sandstone formations and hardwood forests with elevation changes of 400-600 feet between ridge tops and valley floors. Trail systems remain open from May through November with seasonal closures during spring thaw when trails become excessively muddy.

What to do

Trail riding access: Multiple trailheads throughout Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground connect riders to scenic routes. "The trails around have gorgeous views of the driftless area and Kickapoo river," notes reviewer Steph.

River exploration: The Kickapoo River provides additional recreation near horse campgrounds in the Mindoro area. John B. shares, "Great location for kayaking and hiking. Bring or rent kayaks to float the Kickapoo River. Ontario to bridge 5 was 2.5 hours."

Wildlife viewing: Early morning or evening rides offer the best opportunities for spotting local wildlife. Justin S. from Pietrek County Park reports, "Plenty of wildlife and could not hear the cars from the highway."

What campers like

Spacious camping areas: The horse campgrounds provide ample room for trailers and equipment. At Wildcat Mountain State Park, David F. found "The sites were spaced apart far enough so you weren't on top of the other campers. Very beautiful scenery, especially from the lookout."

Quiet environment: Many campers appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. Todd M. mentions, "Great place, quiet and never used bug spray. Sites for tents are spacious and the group camps are awesome."

Natural features: The sandstone bluffs create distinctive camping environments. Kristina K. notes, "Very nice park. Great views. We were hoping for some more rock faces and challenging/longer distance hiking."

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: The trails and campgrounds have limited accessibility depending on weather. According to Scott S. at Money Creek & Vinegar Ridge, "There are 8 sites. There is no water or electricity. One pit toilet for the site. 5 miles from Rushford MN."

Limited facilities: Most horse campgrounds near Mindoro, Wisconsin provide only basic amenities. Michael V. reports about Oak Ridge / Wet Bark Recreation Area, "Small campground, usually no one here except during hunting season. Not much to this place."

Access challenges: Some campgrounds require navigation of steep terrain. Joyce B. 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."

Tips for camping with families

Pack appropriate gear: Temperature fluctuations require layered clothing and proper sleeping equipment. Holly W. advises, "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!"

Plan activities: Family-friendly trails with varied difficulty levels accommodate different riding abilities. "We hiked a short distance into our site. We had to pass a grassy area that was always full of bunnies! The site was of good size, dark and quiet," shares Kay K.

Wildlife precautions: Secure food and supplies from local wildlife. One camper shared, "We woke up in the middle of the night to find some smart raccoon had enjoyed our breakfast. We kept it in a cooler, but it figured out how to open it!"

Tips from RVers

Site selection: RV sites with horse accommodations require advance planning. Annie C. from Pietrek County Park explains, "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."

Trailer access: Horse trailer maneuverability varies by campground. "It looks like you can camp with your horses on the edge of the RV area. The showers were really nice and fairly new," notes one experienced camper.

Services availability: Limited hookups and dumping facilities require self-sufficiency. Michael V. cautions that most horse campgrounds in the area are "decent but primitive" with limited services during non-hunting seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mindoro, WI is Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 20 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Mindoro, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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