Black River Camping and Black River Outfitters At Horse Shoe Ranch

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Sarah Nash
7 months ago
Beautiful campsite on a great section on the river. Very scenic. Only wish it was less crowded when we went or maybe the campsites were a little more spread out. Clearly this is a popular spot and for good reason. The people that camped next to us stayed up really late and were smoking and talking loudly. We could hear their whole conversation and then one of the float employees (driver/worker) joined in with them and talked about how dumb the patrons he dealt with that day were. To each their own I guess but It still gave my boyfriend and I a good laugh.Regardless, the river itself is beautiful and we will definitely be back. Good kayaks too. I wish the float was longer. It is pretty fast since the river moves quick. They say it s 6 / 7 miles. Would recommend stopping and swimming or else you go through it too fast. I don t recommend doing a raft if the water level is low. You put 3 people on that thing with a cooler and your going to be dragging it everywhere.

  Ryan Freeland
4 years ago
Fantastic campground, family run. The owners are great people, very friendly and welcoming. It's small but very well kept, right along the Black River. Having read a few reviews myself I was prepared for camping with porta potties, I will say they were the cleanest ones I have ever used, cleaner in fact than some camp site bathrooms of other locations in the area. Firewood is available and for the price it is a decent amount of quality dry oak.Unfortunately the last night we were there a couple just a few sites down from us had too much to drink, they were only there that night, and were up arguing until early morning hours. That was my only complaint and not the fault of the campground, I'm sure I could have said something and it would have been handled appropriately. None the less I will be back.

  Jesse Dack
10 months ago
Great staff, clean restrooms, good camping right next to the river. We will be back!Restrooms: Portable units...they were clean.

  kaley hubbard
9 months ago
We have floated through this outfitter twice now and have really enjoyed it. It was the longest float we could find in the area, 7 miles, and conveniently located right in Lesterville. The guy with the longer curly hair that gets you set up and ready to go at the river is always friendly and helpful, and the bus driver has also been very friendly and knowledgeable about the area as well. There is a small office with bathrooms where you check in for your float that also sells water shoes, which is clutch if you forget to change out of your slides before leaving home like I did haha. We will continue to float here and recommend it to anyone who asks.

  Kathleen Vardaro
a year ago
Great campground. Clean porta potties. Right on the river. Easy to find. Free WIFI if thats your thing. Actually quiet after 11. Staff amazing. Even got a tour guide through town when done with float. Float prices are reasonable. Super happy! Will definately be back.

  Vanessa Scholl
8 months ago
This was our first time camping in that area. Let me start with the pros: The river is beautiful, location of the camp ground is great. Staff was cordial, security vehicle was coming often to check on things around camp and we felt safe, we did not have a problem with people talking loud late at night or during the night or loud music which was nice to have a good night of sleep. The Crowd on the camp seemed to be more family oriented which was a plus.Cons: We float on a Saturday , it was one of the hottest day of the year. I have never seen so many people floating in a river like this. There were hundreds if not tousands of people this past weekend. The rafts and canoes kept bumping on each other (yes it was that crowded!) The crowd on the river this past saturday was rowdy . Extremnely amout of cussing, drinking, smoking (weed specially) and littering (which we had a bag and pick up after some garbage that was left behind on the river). If you have small children try to avoid weekends... the crowd was very disapointing. Some of the behavior we saw was very innapropriete specially in front of small children.The only complain about the camp ground was the bathrooms , I choose these place because of their reviews on how clean their bathrooms were. The portable pottys were very dirty and the regular bathroom and shower house were also very very dirty. Toilet paper had run out . it was discussing.During the float lauch there was a bit of confusion. The young man in charge was upset because they had overbooked the canoes and there was not enough canoes for a group in front of us. It seemed a bit desorganized but we got on the river eventually. They also seemed understaffed for the amout of people they had on their camp this past saturday.On the side note, they are building new bathrooms in the property which will probably help the bathroom situation (hopefully) .I will give them another shot...but next time, during the week.

  LaLisa Long
10 months ago
Very nice family owned and operated property.Offer military discount.Nice place to camp.

  reggie Barton
5 years ago
Enjoy the stay everytime I come! Great people and staff. Best place to camp in Lesterville. ...

  Murry Meyer
9 months ago
Provided shuttle for a float when we brought our own raft. Not the most comfortable but the staff was nice, water was gorgeous. We will be back to the black river

  Miguel Ortega
2 years ago
This is the best place to camp at swim i like it. I recommend it

  Erin Schulte
a year ago
We very much enjoyed the weekend at Black River Campground! The sites were large enough with water and electricity. The staff was friendly and accommodating. They had firewood (delivered to the camp site!) and ice available for purchase. There was only one shower but I think they are building more. Shout out to the security guard, Dave, who stopped by both nights we stayed there and chatted for a bit. It felt good to know he was patrolling at night! We also floated with them - this was just a short walk down to the river and we took a bus back to our camp site. All in all it was an amazing trip! Our only complaint was that we weren't allowed to hang our hammocks, but that was pretty minor since everything else was so great!

  matt fessler
8 months ago
Don t go on a Saturday in the summer. We waited for an hour at the edge of the river waiting for our rafts. The cussing guy just wanted to complain that they were over booked but after an hour they miraculously found our rafts. No apologies just complaining about how we are really making him work to hard.

  Matthew Foockle (f00ck1tty)
9 months ago
I can t give this place a lower star or I would. The owner came at me sideways because the employee at the front forgot to give me a car slip as I brought my own kayaks. Will never ever again deal with this place and will tell every single person I know to go somewhere else.

  Michael Hahn
4 years ago
Billy McKenna and his staff run a top-notch property. Every once in a while they have live music too.

  nate reese
2 years ago
Great place to stay. Right on the river. Its our 2nd year here and we will be reserving our spot for next year as well

  Jacob Braddock
2 years ago
Great place for floating and the camper sites were great! Surprisingly clean bath house, the staff was very nice and helpful. If I would have known about the Airbnb cabins I would have definitely stayed in one of those instead of camping. Beautiful river, canoe was in great shape and didn't leak. They picked us up very promptly after we arrived at the take out point.

  April Baker
2 years ago
We went for a quick float yesterday. Everything was great at check in, friendly and fast service. Got us quickly to the river. However., the gentlemen working the river bank (getting rafts in and out) were terribly rude at the beginning and end of our trip. At the end we waited an hour and a half to be picked up, and whenever someone asked these gentlemen how long it was going to be, they were so rude saying not their problem, they don t know. Someone with a small kiddo said can you not drive us back in the truck, they replied with yes for $100 a person. Then just laughed as this sunburned kiddo cried as we waited and waited for the bus. This was our first time at this campground and will likely not return.

  Shannon Moenkhaus
3 years ago
Rented from so many places over the last 25 years, and this is by far the best! Booking is easy and reliable online & by phone. Equipment is in good working condition and they have back up options if any swaps are needed. Most of all, the people seem to enjoy helping floaters, their job, and generally good to be with. As a personal note, I also appreciate their organization and speed with the launch. We rented two weekends ago and we are renting again this weekend!!

  J Ford
6 years ago
Disclaimer: I've grown up floating and camping in Missouri so I've seen many places and experienced a lot of campgrounds. Campsites are right next to one another along a nice grassy/dirt tree line bordering a large field; of which the backside borders the river. A handful of sites are not on the river; there aren't many sites in all. There is no space/privacy from site to site. There are no playgrounds or play areas beyond the river or in the grassy areas near your campsite for kids, but this is a good spot to star gaze at night. Bathrooms near the campsites are port-a-pots; around 1/3 mile up the gravel road (to the front of the field) at the entrance there is a descent men/women bathroom and shower with hot water in a red metal shed where the check-in and very small/basic camp store are found. The people do live on the property and are nice, helpful, try to accommodate, and seem to enjoy what they are doing, but are not your A+ organized, prompt, with-it business people. The tubes were old black tire tubes...but OK to float on. Large rafts are nice and canoes are standard. The river is pretty good; not a lot of scenery (cliffs/rock-sand bars, etc), but peaceful. It is in good proximity to the Shut-Ins and Elephant Rock; both 'have-to' visit spots if you've never been. I'd probably go to this spot again only if the other places nearby were full.

  Garry Hodges
a year ago
Great float, honestly we had so many laughs during our pit stops along the way. Joe Dirt will get you your raft, and on your way you go!Just be prepared to get out and push at low spots.

  Jeremy Johnson
2 years ago
Awesome friendly staff! Drop off service for wood directly to your site! Pick up and drop off of your personal floats or convenient reservation for high quality canoes kayaks and tubes. Extremely clean campground. Overall a fantastic experience!! Definitely will be back!

  Taylor T
3 years ago
To start off with the good stuff, campsites were clean, pretty scenery, and the float was pretty. River access is available right off the sites which is also a huge plus.We called a month in advance to book a space for 11 people & were given 1 single site (1 single fire pit) for 11 people to sit around. When each person is paying the same as everyone else at the campground & others are getting a single site for two people, putting 11 people at 1 site with hardly any room for our tents was strange to me. Even after request to move to another bigger site that was empty we were denied that option because people had requested all 7 of those empty sites apparently even though some remained empty during our visit. I d hate to be the neighbor to 11 people, just saying. While this was inconvenient this isn t the worst part.While driving back to the site after the float our bus was hit by another bus, the mirror of our bus got shattered sending glass into my leg & the drivers side of his head. I pulled glass out of his head with tweezers I bought & also had to pull some out of my leg. We were never spoken to by management from this accident, never checked up on, or compensated in any way.

  Jen Wilhelm
8 months ago
Special surprise this year -- they have WiFi! Unusual for such a small operation. About 200 yards from the river at the farthest campsite. Fun to be had in town for dinner.

  Anthony Jackson
3 years ago
Fantastic little hide-away. Found this place after trying to get a spot at Johnson's Shut-ins. Shut-ins was full... and this spot is only 10 miles away! What a find. Nice and quiet. It was perfect for us and my Grand daughters. The river is crystal clear. Campgrounds are well maintained... very clean. Short drive for a return visit to shut-ins so this was a perfect weekend

  H. R.
3 years ago
The campsites are very well maintained, the staff is very friendly, and the spots along the river are lovely.However, the only non porta-potty bathroom is all the way up at the entrance. In the sole women's restroom, there are two toilets and one shower - for the whole camp. And the bathroom is NOT air conditioned. They are very clean, which counts for a lot.

  Jason Wyman
3 years ago
Great Company for floating the Black River. Our family rented Kayaks from them. Everything was handled very professionally from beginning to end. I highly recommend them to handle your float trip needs.

  Ashley Reed
2 years ago
They do a great job! Fun floating on the Black River!

  Kathren Smith
a year ago
Love this campground. I get to it at least once a year. It has wonderful level well groomed shady areas for tents, easy RV hookups, fire pit, picnic tables and great river access all in one camping lot.

  Joe Mundy
4 years ago
Everything was perfect. River was clean and pretty bUUUUt the rules are confusing they told us quite time was at 11pm but we were told at 7 PM to keep our music down. It's a good family site but dont try to go with a group of friends cause it wont be that fun . Doesnt offer a party site otherwise would be better . Just wish we could have had more fun at the campsite with having people stare at us. Dont go if your trying to party more than the average white Male with America swim trunks.

  Terri Murphy
5 years ago
I really love this place. The primative sites are usually not full during the week and there are several VERY CLEAN portapotties close to the sites. It's just a short walk to the river for playtime. There is shower access there but there is only one. It's not super clean so I would definitely recommend shower shoes but it works and the water gets hot. One downfall is the indoor toilet is in the same room as the shower and the door doesn't lock.