Horse camping in California

Northern California

Where can I take my horse camping in California?

Ride lists 50 horse campgrounds in 30 Northern California areas: 16 in national forests, 15 on Recreation.gov, 10 in state parks and 9 in national parks. Pick an area, or jump to state parks, the coast, beaches that allow horses, camping without a horse and reservations.

• Point Reyes horseback riding

  Point Reyes National Seashore: 3 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Lassen Volcanic horseback riding

  Lassen Volcanic National Park: 3 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Yosemite horseback riding

  Yosemite National Park: 3 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Whiskeytown horseback riding

  Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: 1 horse camp on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Redwood National Park horseback riding

  Redwood National and State Parks: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Lava Beds horseback riding

  Lava Beds National Monument: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Eldorado National Forest horse camping

  Eldorado National Forest: 4 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Plumas National Forest horse camping

  Plumas National Forest: 4 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Klamath National Forest horse camping

  Klamath National Forest: 4 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Tahoe National Forest horse camping

  Tahoe National Forest: 3 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Stanislaus National Forest horse camping

  Stanislaus National Forest: 4 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Shasta-Trinity National Forest horse camping

  Shasta-Trinity National Forest: 2 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Mendocino National Forest horse camping

  Mendocino National Forest: 2 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Modoc National Forest horse camping

  Modoc National Forest: 2 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Lassen National Forest horse trails

  Lassen National Forest: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Bay Area horseback riding

  San Francisco Bay Area: 6 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Henry Coe horseback riding

  Henry W. Coe State Park: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Sonoma County horseback riding

  Sonoma County: 1 horse camp on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Mendocino coast horseback riding

  Mendocino coast: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Humboldt Redwoods horseback riding

  Humboldt Redwoods State Park: 1 horse camp on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Lake Oroville horseback riding

  Lake Oroville State Recreation Area: 1 horse camp on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Folsom Lake horseback riding

  Folsom Lake State Recreation Area: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Auburn horseback riding

  Auburn State Recreation Area: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• American River Parkway horse trails

  American River Parkway: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Grass Valley horse trails

  Grass Valley and Nevada County: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Millerton Lake horseback riding

  Millerton Lake State Recreation Area: 1 horse camp on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Camanche and Pardee horse trails

  Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (Camanche and Pardee): 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Bizz Johnson Trail horseback riding

  Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Boggs Mountain horse trails

  Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

• Bidwell Park horseback riding

  Bidwell Park: 0 horse camps on Ride, trailer parking, horse-legal trails and rules

Trail miles, trailer parking and season for each area: horseback riding trails in Northern California. Also: horse trailer parking in Northern California. At camp: how to set up a horse highline.

Other states: Horse camping in Oregon (53 campgrounds).

Keeping your horse at camp: which kind of portable horse corral to bring, what size and what it costs.

New to it? Camping with horses: a first-trip guide and a horse camping checklist.

Which Northern California campgrounds take horses?

• Barbecue Terrace Horse Camp

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Big Flat Campground · Klamath National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Bridalveil Creek Horse Camp · Yosemite National Park

  Sites

  3 horse sites ^[1]

  Max rig length

  25 ft ^[2]

  Horses per site

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  The Bridalveil Creek Campground is typically open from mid-July through early September (exact dates vary); reservations are required. ^[2]

• Bridge Camp (CA) · Shasta-Trinity National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Butte Lake Stock Corral · Lassen Volcanic National Park

  Sites

  1 horse site ^[3]

  Max rig length

  35 ft ^[3]

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  May 28 – August 30 ^[4]

• Carter Meadows Horse Group · Klamath National Forest

  Sites

  1 horse site ^[5]

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  June 15 – October 18 ^[6]

• Clark Fork Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  May – October ^[7]

• Coast Campground · Point Reyes National Seashore

  Sites

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  The Coast Campground is open year-round, 24 hours a day. ^[8]

• Cowboy Camp Equestrian Campground and Wildlife Viewing Area

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Cuneo Creek Family Horse Camp · Humboldt Redwoods State Park

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  May through September ^[9]

• Devil's Gulch #1

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Reservable through mid-August, then closed until the end of February ^[10]

• Dixie Glade Campground · Mendocino National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Dru Barner Campground · Eldorado National Forest

  Sites

  26 horse sites ^[11]

  Max rig length

  50 ft ^[11]

  Horses per site

  4 ^[11]

  Season

  Year round; peak season April 1 – October 31 ^[12]

• Eagle Meadow Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  May ^[13]

• East Creek Campground · Modoc National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Facilities open as weather permits; usually late May to late October. ^[14]

• Equestrian Campground (San Joaquin River Gorge)

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Frank Valley Horse Camp

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Green Springs Campground · Mendocino National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Hidden Horse Equestrian Campground · Klamath National Forest

  Sites

  6 horse sites ^[15]

  Max rig length

  60 ft ^[15]

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  June 15 – October 18 ^[16]

• Horse Camp Primitive Campground · Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Horse Campground (Little Grass Valley) · Plumas National Forest

  Sites

  10 horse sites ^[17]

  Max rig length

  50 ft ^[17]

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  June 19 – September 6 ^[18]

• Juniper Lake Stock Corral · Lassen Volcanic National Park

  Sites

  1 horse site ^[19]

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Status: Closed ^[20]

• Kerrick Corral Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  May – December ^[21]

• Liberty Glen (Lake Sonoma)

  Sites

  1 horse site ^[22]

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Year round; peak season April 1 – September 30 ^[23]

• Little Lasier Meadow Horse Camp · Tahoe National Forest

  Sites

  11 horse sites ^[24]

  Max rig length

  40 ft ^[24]

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Status

  Site Closed ^[26] (USDA Forest Service)

  Season

  August 1 – October 13 ^[25]

• Loafer Creek Horse Camps · Lake Oroville State Recreation Area

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Loon Lake · Eldorado National Forest

  Sites

  8 horse sites ^[27]

  Max rig length

  55 ft ^[27]

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Status

  Site Closed ^[29] (USDA Forest Service)

  Season

  Reservable June 19 – September 6; first-come, first-served September 7–27 ^[28]

• Martins Dairy Horse Camp · Klamath National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Status: Open ^[30]

• Meadowview Equestrian Campground · Plumas National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Status: Open ^[31]

• North Shore CG - Horse Camp · Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Old Pioneer Horse Camp

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Packsaddle · Tahoe National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  June 13 – October 15 ^[32]

• Pepperdine Equestrian Campground · Modoc National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Facilities open as weather permits; usually early July to late October. ^[33]

• Pine Valley Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  May – December ^[34]

• Preacher Meadow (CA) · Shasta-Trinity National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Rancho del Oso Horse Camp

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Status

  No horse camping at this time; five walk-in campsites are open temporarily ^[35] (California State Parks)

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Skillman · Tahoe National Forest

  Sites

  5 horse sites ^[36]

  Max rig length

  35 ft ^[36]

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Status

  Site Closed ^[38] (USDA Forest Service)

  Season

  May 22 – September 30 ^[37]

• Sky Campground · Point Reyes National Seashore

  Sites

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  The Sky Campground is open year-round, 24 hours a day. ^[39]

• Snake Lake Campground and Equestrian Camp · Plumas National Forest

  Sites

  8 horse sites ^[40]

  Max rig length

  25 ft ^[40]

  Horses per site

  3 ^[40]

  Season

  May 22 – October 31 (peak through September 30) ^[41]

• Stanshaw

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Status: Open ^[42]

• Summit Lake Stock Corral · Lassen Volcanic National Park

  Sites

  1 horse site ^[43]

  Max rig length

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  June 25 – September 6 ^[44]

• Tells Creek Equestrian Camp · Eldorado National Forest

  Sites

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Status: Open ^[45]

• Tolowa Dunes SP Horse Camp

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Status

  Campground closed until further notice ^[46] (California State Parks)

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp · Yosemite National Park

  Sites

  4 horse sites ^[47]

  Max rig length

  27 ft ^[48]

  Horses per site

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp reservations are required from July through September (dates vary). ^[48]

• Wawona Horse Camp · Yosemite National Park

  Sites

  2 horse sites ^[49]

  Max rig length

  35 ft ^[50]

  Horses per site

  6 ^[49]

  Season

  Wawona Horse Camp reservations are required from early to mid-April through early to mid-October. ^[50]

• Whitehorse Campground · Plumas National Forest

  Sites

  3 horse sites ^[51]

  Max rig length

  58 ft ^[51]

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  May 22 – September 27 ^[52]

• Wildcat Campground · Point Reyes National Seashore

  Sites

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  The Wildcat Campground is open year-round, 24 hours a day. ^[53]

• Wildcat Equestrian Area

  Sites

  1 horse site ^[54]

  Max rig length

  47 ft ^[55]

  Horses per site

  2 ^[55]

  Season

  Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Wilder Ranch Horse Camp

  Sites

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Max rig length

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Horses per site

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Season

  Not published by California State Parks. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Wrights Lake Equestrian Campground · Eldorado National Forest

  Sites

  15 horse sites ^[56]

  Max rig length

  35 ft ^[56]

  Horses per site

  Not published by Recreation.gov or the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

  Status

  Closed for the 2026 season (estimated to 10/30/26); trailhead parking open ^[58] (USDA Forest Service)

  Season

  Reservable July 1 – September 6; first-come, first-served September 7–27 ^[57]

A camp is listed once an agency publishes where it is and lists it for horses (a Forest Service horse camping site, Recreation.gov equestrian sites, a State Parks horse camp area or NPS horse sites). Where the agency doesn't publish a fact, the card says so.

Horse camping in California State Parks

10 horse campgrounds in Ride's Northern California data are run by California State Parks. Each links to what the agency publishes for it.

• Barbecue Terrace Horse Camp · Mount Diablo SP: listed for horses by California State Parks
• Cuneo Creek Family Horse Camp · Humboldt Redwoods State Park: Season: May through September ^[9] · Corrals: Yes (“five family campsites, each with two corrals”) ^[9]
• Devil's Gulch #1 · Samuel P. Taylor SP: Season: Reservable through mid-August, then closed until the end of February ^[10] · Corrals: Yes (“a corral, hitching racks, and water troughs”) ^[10]
• Frank Valley Horse Camp · Mount Tamalpais SP: Corrals: Yes (“corrals for up to 12 horses”) ^[60] · Water for horses: Yes (“horse troughs”) ^[60]
• Loafer Creek Horse Camps · Lake Oroville State Recreation Area: 15 campsites, two horses per site, with tethering and feeding stations near each site, accessible restrooms and a horse washing station. Large groups may reserve more than one site ^[61] · The camp map shows a warm-up arena and washing stations ^[61]
• North Shore CG - Horse Camp · Millerton Lake State Recreation Area: listed for horses by California State Parks
• Old Pioneer Horse Camp · Mount Diablo SP: listed for horses by California State Parks
• Rancho del Oso Horse Camp · Big Basin Redwoods SP: Status: No horse camping at this time; five walk-in campsites are open temporarily ^[35] (California State Parks) · The park says Rancho del Oso has no horse-accessible trails after damage from the CZU Lightning Complex Fire ^[35]
• Tolowa Dunes SP Horse Camp · Tolowa Dunes SP: Status: Campground closed until further notice ^[46] (California State Parks) · The park describes "a ride-in horse camp" among its two primitive campgrounds ^[46]
• Wilder Ranch Horse Camp · Wilder Ranch SP: listed for horses by California State Parks

• Horse campgrounds take reservations on ReserveCalifornia or at 800-444-7275. Mount Tamalpais and Samuel P. Taylor both say up to six months ahead. ^{[60] [62]}
• Henry W. Coe State Park has six designated horse campgrounds with corrals for at least two horses each. A night costs $25 for one vehicle with trailer, two people and two horses, plus $5 for each extra horse. State Park passes cannot pay camping fees. (“can not be used to pay for camping fees”) ^[63]
• Lake Perris State Recreation Area (Southern California) has 7 primitive equestrian sites with two corrals each, booked 2 days to 6 months ahead. A site needs at least 1 horse and allows no more than 2. ^[64]
• The Green Valley horse campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (Southern California) has 15 equestrian sites, closed November 30 to March 31. (“closed from November 30th - March 31st annually”) ^[65]

State Parks pages vary in detail: where a camp shows no horse sites or fees, the agency page did not give them.

Where can I camp with horses on the California coast?

These are the camps in Ride's data whose agency page ties them to the coast. Whether horses may ride the beach is a separate rule, set beach by beach in the next section.

• Frank Valley Horse Camp: Mount Tamalpais State Park. Group horse campground on Muir Woods Road about a mile north of Highway 1 at Muir Beach. ^[60]
• Coast Campground: Point Reyes National Seashore. Backcountry camp that takes horses by permit; the NPS camp page places it close to Santa Maria Beach. (“in close proximity to Santa Maria Beach”) ^[66]
• Tolowa Dunes SP Horse Camp: Tolowa Dunes State Park. Ride-in horse campground in a park with ocean beach. The park page says the campground is closed until further notice. (“Campground closed until further notice.”) ^[46]

More on the coast: Point Reyes horseback riding and Bay Area horseback riding.

What beaches in California allow horses?

Some state beaches allow horses on the wet sand, and several are closed to horses. These are the beaches whose agency page Ride has read, not a full list of the coast.

Horses allowed

• Salinas River State Beach: Horses may reach the beach only by the designated routes and ride only on the wet sand below the high tide line. (“to ride only on the wet sand, below the high tide line”) ^[67]
• Moss Landing State Beach: The same rule: designated routes only, wet sand below the high tide line. (“to ride only on the wet sand, below the high tide line”) ^[68]

Allowed in part

• Sonoma Coast State Park, Bodega Dunes: Horses are allowed on the beach south of the day use road and beach entryway, and not north of the day use road and lot. (“Horses are allowed on the beach south of the day use road and beach entryway.”) ^[69]

Horses not allowed

• Sonoma Coast State Park, Salmon Creek beaches: No horses on the north or south Salmon Creek beaches, which protect snowy plovers. (“No dogs, horses or fires are allowed on north or south Salmon Creek Beaches”) ^[69]
• Half Moon Bay State Beach: No horses on the state beach. Horses may use the dirt trail beside the paved Coastside Trail from Venice to Francis Beach, and trailers may park only at Venice Beach. (“Horses are not permitted on State Beaches.”) ^[70]
• Point Reyes National Seashore, Drakes Beach: Horses are never allowed on Drakes Beach, the dunes or interpretive trails. ^[71]

Check with the park before you haul: beach rules change with the season and the tide.

Can you camp at a horse campground without a horse?

It depends on the camp. Some agencies require a horse on every night of the stay, some set a minimum number of horses, and some say horses are allowed but not required.

Horses required

• Devil's Gulch, Samuel P. Taylor State Park: A horse must be present every night. (“horses must be present every night”) ^[10]
• ES Anderson Camp, Tilden Regional Park: A reservation needs at least 5 horses. ^[72]
• Caballo Loco, Del Valle Regional Park: A reservation needs at least 5 horses; the site takes up to 15. ^[73]
• Little Chaparral, Del Valle Regional Park: One horse per site is required. ^[72]

Horses not required

• Bort Meadow, Anthony Chabot Regional Park: Horses are allowed, not required. Equestrian camping is by reservation. ^[72]
• Corral Camp, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness: Horses are allowed, not required. ^[72]

Yosemite stock sites

Whether a stock animal must be present at Yosemite's stock sites: Not published by the National Park Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride The stock page says only that reservations are required. ^[74]

How do I reserve horse camping in California?

33 horse campgrounds on Ride book through Recreation.gov (National Park Service, USDA Forest Service and Recreation.gov-only camps). State Parks camps book on ReserveCalifornia. East Bay Regional Park District books by phone.

• Recreation.gov: Most Recreation.gov campsites open six months before arrival, and some also have shorter windows. The campground's Seasons and Fees tab has the exact dates. (“six months prior to your arrival date”) ^[75]
• Point Reyes: Point Reyes backcountry camps are booked on Recreation.gov: the Coast Campground page says some sites open three months ahead and others 14 days ahead. ^[66]
• ReserveCalifornia: State Parks takes horse camping bookings on ReserveCalifornia or at 800-444-7275. Lake Perris accepts same-day walk-ins when sites are open, and reservations come first. ^[64]
• East Bay Regional Parks: East Bay Regional Park District books equestrian camps by phone at 1-888-327-2757, option 2, and says same-day or first-come reservations are not available for group sites. (“Same-day or first-come, first-served reservations are NOT available.”) ^[72]

First come, first served

7 camps say first come, first served in the agency's own booking text.

• Clark Fork Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest: First come, first served. ^[7]
• Eagle Meadow Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest: First come, first serve. ^[13]
• East Creek Campground · Modoc National Forest: All sites are first come, first served. ^[14]
• Juniper Lake Stock Corral · Lassen Volcanic National Park: All single sites are first-come, first-served only. ^[20]
• Kerrick Corral Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest: First come, first serve. ^[21]
• Pepperdine Equestrian Campground · Modoc National Forest: Reservations are not accepted. ^[33]
• Pine Valley Horse Camp · Stanislaus National Forest: First come, first serve. ^[34]

Ridden here?

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Sources

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