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If you looking for an equestrian style base camp to explore area trails or a destination campground with plenty of room for your family, try the Horseshoe Lake Recreations Area located north of Ino, Wisconsin on the Washburn Ranger District. The terrain is gently rolling with a sandy loam surface ideal for horse riding. The trail weaves through towering pine and hardwood forests as well as through the area's open barrens. Whether you are interested in plants, scenery or wildlife, touring the trail with binoculars or camera can allow you to take advantage of fantastic viewing and photographic opportunities. The Horseshoe Lake campground features nine family camping units; one group site that allows up to 14 people. All other sites allow up to eight individuals and up to four vehicles. The sites here are not exclusive to campers with horses however, highlines are present at each campsite. Shared amenities include two vault toilets, two manure pit, and garbage service. Both back in and pull-thru sites are present. Please note there is water available onsite that is non-potable (not safe for drinking) so please plan accordingly. A parking area is available for visitors looking to ride the trails for the day. There is a $5 use fee for day use of the recreation area or you can purchase an annual pass. Whether you are looking for a pleasant afternoon ride or an extended visit, the Horseshoe Lake Saddle Trail is a perfect adventure for any horseback rider. The combined trail loop length is 12 miles. Some distances overlap between the loops. Trail Length: A Loop 9.25 miles, B Loop 3.7 miles, Outside Loop 10.25 miles. So, if you like camping and horseback riding with scenic views of the forest, then the Horseshoe Lake Recreation Area is the place for you. Forest Roads are also open to horseback riding. For a map of roads on the Motor Vehicle Use Map please click here. The nearby Moquah Barrens provides a great place to ride, view wildlife, bird watching and berry picking in the late summer. Bring your trailer with your OHVs (ATVs and UTVs) and access the Iron River Trail from open OHV use roads. OHV use in the campground is prohibited.
From the intersection of US Highway 2 and Forest Road 236 in Ino drive north 1.6 miles on Forest Road 236 to Forest Road 237. Turn right (northeast) and drive 6.6 miles to the intersection with Forest Road 245. Turn left (west) on FR 245 and drive 0.8 mile to the campground road. Turn right (north) into the campground.
Miles of beautiful sandy trails, campground in nice shape. Bring your own hi-tie lines and potable water.
Showed up to check it out for a future visit, got screamed at for some unknown reason by a presumeably very drunk geriatric individual.
It's beautiful and rustic, you need to bring your own water and rough it, but it's worth it! Many sites have horse hitching posts and even if you don't have a horae there are non horse sites for tent, RV, or car camping.
A nice small campground with horse facilities, also open to campers without horses.
Water is available but posted as unsafe to drink.
Of about a dozen campgrounds across this national forest that were closed in 2015, Horseshoe Lake is one of just a few that reopened. A local group took over maintenance here to save the place from being decommissioned.
At $12/night, fees here are the lowest you’ll find at any drive-in campground on the Chequamegon Nicolet, perhaps due to the lack of potable water.
This campground sits atop a ridge above the lake. No sites are directly on the lake, but a short trail connects the campground to the waterfront. Though Horseshoe Lake lacks a designated beach, some parts of its shore appear suitable for swimming.
Trails were impeccably groomed. Campsites were mowed & restrooms were clean. Plenty of room for big rigs. We rode over 20 miles in the 2 days we were there.
