Wild Horse State Recreation Area

Remote and remarkable, Wild Horse State Recreation Area is open year round. The park’s reservoir is a popular fishing site, with rainbow and German brown trout, small mouth bass, yellow perch and catfish awaiting able anglers. Cold winters make the lake an ideal location to ice fish and skate, or to explore on snowmobiles or skis. Extraordinary wildflowers blanket the park in the spring, and summers offer swimming, boating, camping and hiking. Although hunting is not allowed in the park, the campground is a popular base camp for hunting in the surrounding area. Wildlife includes pronghorn, mule deer and elk as well as a variety of waterfowl and upland game birds.

Camping: The campground has 34 sites with a table, shade, a fire pit and a camp pad at each. There are no hookups, but restrooms and showers are available year round. Centrally located water faucets and a dump station are available during summer months only. Pull-through sites will accommodate large RVs, and there is a stay limit of 14 days in a 30-day period.

Picnicking/Day Use: The picnic area has a nice view of the reservoir and offers picnic tables and grills.

Boating: There is a boat ramp next to the day use beach.

Fishing: Fishing is a popular activity at Wild Horse. Most visitors pursue rainbow trout. German brown trout, small mouth bass, wiper, yellow perch and catfish are also in the reservoir. Fishing is often best during the spring and fall. Ice fishing is also popular and can be quite productive in the winter months. Fishermen should be prepared for extreme cold and harsh winter conditions.

Winter Activities: In addition to ice skating and sledding, visitors also enjoy snowmobiling and skiing.

Hiking: The park offers trails leading down to the lake for a short hike. More adventurous hikers can find miles and miles of game trails to explore on the vast expanse of adjacent public land.

Hours: Open seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The park is open year-round, but access may be hampered by extreme cold and snow in winter months. Wild Horse Reservoir commonly boasts the state’s lowest winter temperatures.