St. Croix State Park offers several equestrian camping options near Webster, Wisconsin, with additional facilities available in surrounding parks. The region features mixed hardwood forests at elevations between 700-900 feet above sea level with seasonal temperatures ranging from below freezing in winter to humid 80°F summers. Trail conditions vary significantly by season, with early summer typically presenting the muddiest conditions for riders.
What to do
Fire tower climbing: Visitors to St. Croix State Park can climb the 100-foot fire tower for panoramic views of the surrounding forest. "There is a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view," notes Scott G., adding that the park contains "cool buildings from the CCC era as well as some signs talking about camp life."
River activities: The St. Croix River provides multiple recreation options beyond horseback riding. "Clean, fairly private sites. Easy to get in and out. Walk in sites available. Canoe outfitters in park during most of the summer. A great way to spend a weekend," shares Tony J.
Star gazing: The rural location with minimal light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing opportunities. At Wild River State Park, Katherine T. reports, "The star gazing area was great!" The park offers designated areas specifically for astronomy enthusiasts.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground offers exceptional wildlife spotting opportunities. Scot L. notes, "We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's. This is nature at it's finest."
Secluded sites: Many campsites offer privacy despite their proximity to facilities. At Wild River State Park, Kate H. explains, "This campground is massive! Our campsite was on the farthest loop and was very private! We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls."
Trail diversity: The parks offer various trail types beyond horse paths. "The park itself has a lot to offer being right on the St. Croix River, plus there are hiking trails, a paved bike path, a fire tower you can climb, an old CCC camp area you can tour, and more," according to Ari A.
What you should know
Mosquito preparation: Bug protection is essential, particularly for equestrian campers. At Riverview Campground, RK M. warns, "There were HOARDS OF MOSQUITOS. We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days so we could reduce the bites."
Cell service limitations: Most parks have minimal connectivity. "Cell service was incredibly spotty on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Depending on where you're at, you'll get a low signal, but often it was only enough for texting-- don't think about using the web or social media or getting any work done while you're here," reports Ari A.
Storm potential: Summer thunderstorms can be severe. Duncan G. recounts, "We also experienced the most intense and violent thunderstorm of my life. One lightning strike hit within 100 yards of our site. All of the campers were talking about it in the morning."
Tips for camping with families
Nature programs: Take advantage of ranger-led activities. Sara P. shares, "We DID have fun doing some of the activities like hunting for insects/animals in the pond with the ranger, hiking to the ranger tower, playing at the playground, and trying to catch butterflies with the ranger."
Simple fishing opportunities: Old Logging Trail Campground provides easy fishing access for children. "We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!" notes RK M.
Download entertainment: Limited connectivity means bringing pre-downloaded content. Tori K. advises, "Cell service is fairly spotty here so come with podcasts or shows downloaded ahead of time! But if you don't, you can always run into Hinckley for some WIFI or cell service to download some things."
Tips from RVers
Limited shade: The open sites provide minimal protection from sun. ERolf P. explains, "Because of a large wind storm several years ago, there is very limited tree coverage in the campground. As a result, the sites get very little shade and protection from the hot summer sun."
Bathroom renovations: Facilities are being upgraded across the parks. According to Duncan G., "The loop I was in had one of the new bathrooms and it was impressive….definitely an A rating."
State forest alternatives: For equestrian camping without amenities, consider state forests. "For $17 a night you can't beat a state forest campgrounds. This is real camping for the kids. Get there early in the day because there are no reservations and it's first come first served," recommends Daniel H.
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