Shimek Forest Campground

Go and explore nature with all of your four-legged family members at Shimek Forest Campground. This group of campgrounds sits in a meticulously managed forest where great care has been given to the planting of a variety of trees, erosion control, and wildlife preservation for decades. The result makes for a beautiful place to get away from it all.

Five different camping areas make up the Shimek Forest Campground, with many of them catering to equine guests as well as humans. Each site that is listed as "equestrian" is also friendly to canines, so keep that in mind when booking. Basic sites cost $6, and equestrian sites are $9 from October to April, but both site types jump three more dollars come the busy season. Don't expect to find many bells and whistles here -- all of the sites are fairly primitive, offering picnic tables, campfire rings, and gravel parking pads. The equestrian sites also come with places to hitch your horses along with stalls to keep them safe overnight. Thankfully, drinking water is available at water hydrants throughout the park, so you can keep your whole crew well-hydrated before venturing out for the day.

The activities you'll find at Shimek Forest will make any outdoor-lover happy. Take to the trails with your furry friends and discover the vast forest firsthand. Grab your pole and tackle box and try your luck fishing at the lake. Or, sit back in nature and see how many different birds, flowers, and other wildlife you can spot! Near the forest, you will find the town of Farmington, making restocking supplies an easy task.

As with all Iowa parks and forests, Shimek Forest requests that all doggos be on a standard 6-foot leash throughout their stay. They also ask that you never leave your woofer unattended -- for both their safety and the safety of other campers and wildlife at the campground. Be a good pet parent and bring along lots of poop bags so you can clean up any messes properly and dispose of them in the trash receptacles.

For those wanting to take to the trails with both pooches and ponies, Shimek Forest Campground has what you need to get out into nature!