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Equestrian Camping near Platteville, WI

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    Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground offers dedicated horse camping facilities in southwestern Wisconsin. The equestrian campground provides electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site with sufficient space for horse trailers. Drinking water, showers, and toilets are available on the premises, while the campground's layout accommodates both tent and RV camping options. Reservations are required for all equestrian sites. The campground maintains clean, well-maintained bathroom facilities that serve campers and their horses throughout their stay. Sites are positioned to allow convenient access to the park's extensive trail system directly from the camping area.

    Located 35 miles northwest of Platteville, the equestrian trails at Governor Dodge State Park connect to over 25 miles of bridle paths through diverse terrain including wooded hillsides, open meadows, and stream crossings. Frontier Equestrian Campground and Creekside Equestrian Campground in Yellow River State Forest (Iowa) offer additional options approximately 50 miles northeast of Platteville. Both campgrounds feature electric hookups with 30-amp and 50-amp service options for RVs and trailers. Riders appreciate the well-maintained trails that accommodate various skill levels from beginner to experienced equestrians. Water access points along the trails provide natural drinking opportunities for horses during longer rides. The trail system typically remains open from early May through late October, weather permitting, with occasional closures during wet conditions to preserve trail integrity.

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Platteville (10)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

      4.1(36)25mi from PlattevilleRVs, Tents

      "Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range."

      "It has a large lake with three boat launches, a main one with a motor ramp, a canoe launch near the marshy end, and a fishing pier."

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      2. Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      4.2(27)27mi from PlattevilleRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Two good lakes for kayaking/canoeing/fishing/swimming. Lots of good hiking trails and they are working on a big improvement to the equestrian campground."

      "The sites on the "inside" of the loop are rather close to one another. 21 has a nice view of the lake, and you can walk back to the fence to look over the bluff 24 is quite private and very large 26,"

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      3. Twin Valley Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      4.5(21)27mi from PlattevilleRVs, Tents

      "Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing. Hidden gem of Wisconsin. The campsites are pretty private, nestled in trees. Some shaded, some have sun and shade."

      "Great park in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. Not far from the house on the rock and Taliesin. Great open hiking trail. Well laid out sites with lots of space."

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      4. Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      5.0(1)28mi from PlattevilleRVs, Tents
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      5. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

      3.6(10)39mi from PlattevilleRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."

      "Campsites a little close to others and sound traveled. Trails were way nice and the scenery was beautiful-lots of deer!"

      from $10 - $30 / night

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      6. Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

      4.5(12)50mi from Platteville27 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Many different trails for hiking, biking or equestrian. Camp sites are mostly grass. Beautiful park"

      "There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included."

      from $16 / night

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      7. White Mound County Campground

      4.3(3)47mi from PlattevilleRVs, Tents

      "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."

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      8. Frontier Equestrian Campground — Yellow River State Forest

      5.0(1)49mi from Platteville18 sitesRVs, Tents

      "In Yellow River State Forest,-Very nice spacious sites for horses/riders including tie-ups, fire rings, tables at each site."

      from $20 / night

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      9. Creekside Equestrian Campground — Yellow River State Forest

      4.0(1)49mi from Platteville14 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Clean, well kept sites with tie-ups, tables, fire rings, manure station and tools, multiuser trails including stream crossings. Trout fishing is good with seasonal stockings."

      from $20 / night

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      10. Jackson County Iowa Fairgrounds

      2.0(1)47mi from PlattevilleRVs, Tents
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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Platteville, WI

    113 Reviews of 10 Platteville Campgrounds

    • Ted W.
      Aug. 21, 2019

      Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

      One of our favorites

      We spend quite a bit of time here. We hunt here and camp here year round. Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range. Hunt anything from pheasent to deer. There is also a nice bar and grill just down the street. Along with dairy bar as part of the park. Showers and bathrooms are always clean.

    • Meg S.
      Aug. 1, 2015

      Twin Valley Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      Great Campground in Wisconsin

      Great state park for a family camping vacation, tons of stuff to do. Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing. Hidden gem of Wisconsin. The campsites are pretty private, nestled in trees. Some shaded, some have sun and shade. They even have horse sites, so you can bring your horse, and stroll through the park horseback riding. Vault toilets, and regular toilets with ok showers. Water faucets scattered around for easy water access. Twin Valley has tent sites and RV/electric sites.

    • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 23, 2022

      Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      Loud, party vibe

      The campsites here are deep with lots of greenery. However we chose this site thinking that it was on the end. The loops curl around so there were campers around us. On the other side was a playground that had children enjoying it all day. While this is great for some, our reactive dog was quite distracted.

      Upon arriving at the check in, there is still a couple miles to wind around until the campground, longer to get to twin lakes campground. The road is hilly too. It’s not a problem in our vehicle but it would be tiring on a bicycle. There are showers in the center of our loop. It could be expanded a bit - we had short lines for the restrooms. Water , garbage and recycling are available as well as a dump station.

      It was raining when we arrived but we drove around to see the park. We hiked the short distance to Stephen’s Falls and was not impressed. Maybe they need more rain this year but all we saw was a splatter.

      We saw folks who kept their kayaks and canoes locked up by the lake. The beach looked nice too. The other end of the park has an equestrian campground. We did see some horses riding the trail around the park.

      The vibe here wasn’t for us. Various sites had music playing loud enough for us to hear. Trails from camp would be great. We ended up walking along the narrow road.

    • P
      Jun. 7, 2018

      Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      Great campground for everything but big 5th wheelers and motorhomes

      Two good lakes for kayaking/canoeing/fishing/swimming. Lots of good hiking trails and they are working on a big improvement to the equestrian campground. Lots of activities in the area and close to shopping in the town of Dodgeville.

    • Josh F.
      Sep. 11, 2020

      Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      Two lakes, two campgrounds and some nice walk-in sites!

      I stayed at this campground when I was a kid and only recently revisited it. The state park has two very large lakes with nice pan fishing and modest but well-groomed (daily?) swimming beaches. The lakes are a definite drive from the campgrounds, however, which makes it hard for "the kids" to simply amble down for a swim. This is important, in Sept. 2020 (COVID-19 times) 1/3 of the parking lot was closed off. Not sure why, but I speculate this is to regulate the number of beach dwellers and swimmers. Regardless, it's a very large and lovely park. Here's my review of the campsites.

      I am a car camper with no interest in (E) electric sites, so I did not pay attention nor note good ones. I prefer the silence and relative darkness that non-E sites provide.

      Campsite - Cox Hollow

      45/47 would be a nice couple of sites for a family/friends (wouldn't want this if you only needed one of them!)

      The sites on the "inside" of the loop are rather close to one another.

      21 has a nice view of the lake, and you can walk back to the fence to look over the bluff 24 is quite private and very large 26, 27 and 29 are all large, near the bluff

      34 is interesting, it's divided into three "terraces" Kind of fun, like a campsite divided into rooms

      44 right next to the water, BIG site, right near the bathroom and playground. This would be great if you have kids.

      The second campground is Twin Valley - though it is NO WHERE NEAR the Twin Valley lake. Lots of driving to get to the lake from here.

      221 is large with nice surrounding trees

      285 is really big

      This campground has walk in sites - these are sites with car parking on the road and you have to walk a minute or two to get to the site. Downside? Carrying all your gear and firewood. Upside? You can genuinely pretend that you've got the place to yourself, can't see a tent or an RV from any of these sites.

      262 is 40 steps in, right on the edge of the valley with it's own personal bluff.

      263 is a longer walk of 75 steps, a little less shaded than others, but PRIVATE

      264 is about 45 steps off the parking lot, right against the bluff edge.

      269 is 50 steps in, but it's just off the path, not as nice as others

      270 is a long 120 steps walking past 269, this is the site for you if you're looking for seclusion

      271 is 110 steps in, flat, really secluded

    • Mary S.
      Aug. 19, 2018

      Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

      Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing

      This review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.

      Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?

      It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.

      Activities

      Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.

      Amenities

      Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.

      Cost

      You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.

      https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130

    • c
      Nov. 28, 2021

      Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

      Big Beautiful park has it all!

      We love camping at Governor Dodge state park. The campsites are big and fairly private some areas are better for groups of families camping together with play grounds and nice clean bathrooms with showers. If you camp at Twin Valley You will have to drive to the beach. We like the Cox Hollow beach the best ..so if you want to walk to beach camp there. There are lots of beautiful hiking trails including one that passes an old farm homestead complete with the old spring house and a waterfall. You can also rent horses and rid them in the park…the rental place is just outside the park. They have groomed cross country trails and mountain biking trails as well. You won’t be disappointed if you visit this park!

      V

    • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 30, 2023

      Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

      Nice alternative to Gov. Dodge or Devil's Lake (No rocks or vews though)

       This is a very large state park located halfway between Mineral Point and New Glarus, both nice visiting destinations in their own right.
      It has a large lake with three boat launches, a main one with a motor ramp, a canoe launch near the marshy end, and a fishing pier. There's also a boat rental place run by the nearby Cork Down Saloon. There are no boat-in or lake accessible campsites however.
       The campground is up a long 30 degree hill across from the main launch and Beach/ main picnic area. The sites are more secluded from each other than you'll find at most parks , which is very nice. Beware that some sites are so secluded that they are bi-level. That is, parking pad and then step(s) down to the site. Be sure to check the photos provided when reserving.  There are very nice walk-in sites, but no carts are provided.
      the facilities are clean, but there's only one building with running water and showers. Water throughout has a mild iron taste.
      There's no playground in the camp area, it's located in a picnic area near the canoe launch that you pass as you com in. Not walking distance, remember the big hill.
       There's an Ice Cream/concession at the east end of the lake with limited hours. Beyond that is the Cork Down Saloon, just outside the secondary entrance to the park. It's your closest option to eat out. Also there is the private Chalet campground (see others for a review) Neither has a view of the lake as they are below the Dam.
      A fun place to visit in the area is the Toy Train Barn Museum in Argyle, indoors if you have a rainy day.

    Guide to Platteville

    Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground offers primitive camping sites specifically designed for visitors with horses, 12 miles northwest of Platteville. The campground features electrical hookups, drinking water, and designated areas for horses and camping equipment. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables, with toilets and showers available for campers. Most campsites can accommodate horse trailers with adequate parking space. The spacious sites provide enough room for setting up camp while keeping horses nearby. Trail riders report the campground feels secluded despite its proximity to other park facilities.

    The equestrian trail system connects directly to the campground, providing immediate access to over 15 miles of designated bridle paths through the 5,000-acre park's wooded hills and valleys. Riders can access multiple loop trails ranging from 2-8 miles in length, with varying terrain suitable for different experience levels. Water crossings are available along several trails for horses. Twin Valley Campground, located in the same park, offers additional camping options with thirty-amp hookups and similar amenities for horse owners. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance during summer months when equestrian sites fill quickly. The campground operates seasonally, typically closing during winter months when trails become inaccessible due to weather conditions. Visitors use The Dyrt to find real feedback on camping near Platteville, Wisconsin.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Platteville, WI is Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 36 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Platteville, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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