Klamath National Forest horse camping

Where can I camp with horses in the Klamath National Forest?

• Big Flat Campground

  listed for horses by Recreation.gov

• Carter Meadows Horse Group

  1 horse site ^[1] · season: June 15 – October 18 ^[2]

• Hidden Horse Equestrian Campground

  6 horse sites ^[3] · season: June 15 – October 18 ^[4]

• Martins Dairy Horse Camp

  listed for horses by the USDA Forest Service

Horse camps named on agency pages (no camp page yet)

• Norcross Campground and Horse Camp · USDA Forest Service

  Corrals

  Yes (“The refurbished campground has 4 large horse corrals, plenty of horse trailer parking, new campsites and restrooms.”) ^[5]

  Horse-trailer parking

  Yes ^[5]

  Water for horses

  Yes (“Water is available for horses but not for human consumption.”) ^[5]

  Rule

  Do not tie horses to trees, living or dead. Do not tie horses to corral rails or posts. Keep horses away from the creek. Carry water to horses in corrals. ^[5]

  Status

  Status (USDA Forest Service): The restroom is temporarily closed until further notice. ^[5]

  Trails

  Elk Creek Trail and the Kelsey National Recreation Trail into the Marble Mountain Wilderness, from the Norcross Trailhead at the south end of the campground ^[6]

• Lovers Camp Campground and Trailhead · USDA Forest Service

  Corrals

  Yes (“There are also corrals at the lower parking area with a stock loading ramp and room for trailer parking.”) ^[7]

  Horse-trailer parking

  Yes (“If you are not hauling a stock trailer, please park in the upper (hiker) lot to ensure there is room for stock users at the corrals.”) ^[8]

  Sites

  8 (“There are 8 walk-in campsites at the Lover's Camp campground”) ^[7]

  Water

  No water. Effective October 23 - no water or trash service is available for the winter season. ^[7]

Where do I park a horse trailer in the Klamath National Forest?

Horse trailheads and stock facilities named by the USDA Forest Service

• Hidden Horse Campground

  6 campsites, one accessible ^[9] · Each site has four 12x12 corral stalls, no water troughs; bring buckets ^[9] · 1 horse trailer per site ^[9] · Potable water available ^[9] · Adjacent to Trinity Alps and Russian wildernesses and the PCT; ride to three trailheads ^[9] · Mounting block in space 2 ^[9]

• Carter Meadows Horse Group Site

  Up to 25 people and 25 horses; reservation only, no walk-ins ^[10] · Corrals: seven 1-horse, three 2-horse, three 3-4 horse ^[10] · Gravel parking area, gated entrance, hitch rack, mounting ramp ^[10] · Dispersed tent or trailer camping area; potable water available ^[10]

• Duck-Eaton Trailhead

  Off Forest Road 41N14 ^[11] · Parking area "with adequate size for smaller stock trailers" ^[11] · Wilderness information display; no potable water ^[11] · Access to Russian Wilderness lakes (Eaton, Big and Little Duck, Horseshoe) ^[11]

• Big Flat Trailhead

  Listed for horse riding and horse camping ^[12] · Gateway to Trinity Alps Wilderness; groups limited to 10 persons ^[12] · No water or garbage service ^[12] · No trailer-parking details published ^[12]

From the agency's own horse and stock pages. Trailer space is only what each note says.

Named by the USDA Forest Service

• Clear Creek Trailhead

  description: “Not recommended for stock.” ^[13] · Directions ^[13]

• Lovers Camp

  water: “Not for drinking; water is available for animals/stock” ^[14] · Directions ^[14]

• Mule Bridge Trailhead

  description: “Mule Bridge trailhead is the start of the North Fork Trail which follows the north fork of the Salmon River deep into the Marble Mountains Wilderness.” ^[15] · description: “The trailhead is adjacent to the Mule Bridge Horse Camp.” ^[15] · directions: “Take the dirt road from Idlewild 2 miles upstream to the Mule Bridge campground.” ^[15] · water: “Not for drinking; water is available for animals/stock” ^[15] · Directions ^[15]

• Norcross Trailhead

  water: “Not for drinking; water is available for animals/stock” ^[16] · Directions ^[16]

• Shackleford Trailhead

  description: “Stock water and corrals are available at the trailhead.” ^[17] · Directions ^[17]

• Taylor Lake Trailhead

  directions: “Those pulling stock trailers, be advised that this is a steep road with limited parking at the trailhead.” ^[18] · Directions ^[18]

Named by Recreation.gov

• Bigflat Trailhead

  activities listed: horseback riding and horse camping ^[19] · trailer spaces not published by Recreation.gov · Directions ^[19]

• Cook and Green Pass Trailhead

  activities listed: horseback riding ^[19] · trailer spaces not published by Recreation.gov · Directions ^[19]

• Duck-Eaton Trailhead

  activities listed: horseback riding ^[19] · trailer spaces not published by Recreation.gov · Directions ^[19]

• Norcross Trailhead

  activities listed: horseback riding ^[19] · trailer spaces not published by Recreation.gov · Directions ^[19]

Horse staging, trailheads and entrances from the agencies' own map data. A trailer count appears only where the agency publishes one; a quoted lot note is the agency's wording. Parked a trailer here? Add it in Ride

Which Klamath National Forest trails allow horses?

The Forest Service publishes horse use for only 60 of the 313 Klamath National Forest trail segments in its trail data, so the rest aren't listed here. That isn't a closure.

USDA Forest Service

34 trails, 100.1 mapped mi ^[30]

• Wooley Creek

  15.4 mapped mi ^[31] · horse season: 05/01-12/11 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Haypress

  13.1 mapped mi ^[32] · horse season: 05/01-11/15 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Pct: Rrs South

  12.8 mapped mi ^[33] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Bridge Creek

  10.4 mapped mi ^[34] · horse season: 05/01-11/16 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Butler Mountain

  4.2 mapped mi ^[35] · horse season: 05/01-11/15 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Mccash

  4.2 mapped mi ^[36] · horse season: 05/01-11/15 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Half Moon

  3.8 mapped mi ^[37] · horse season: 05/01-11/15 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Stanshaw

  3.6 mapped mi ^[38] · horse season: 05/01-11/15 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Salmon Summit

  3.6 mapped mi ^[39] · horse season: 05/01-11/28 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Portuguese

  2.8 mapped mi ^[40] · horse season: 05/01-11/15 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

Plus 24 more named horse-legal trails in the same data, not listed here.

OpenStreetMap

34 trails, 128.9 mapped mi ^[41]

• Pacific Crest Trail

  40.0 mapped mi ^[42] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• Caribou Lake Trail

  9.8 mapped mi ^[43] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• Moliter-Cold Spring Trail

  6.1 mapped mi ^[44] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• Tri Forest Trail

  6.0 mapped mi ^[45] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• Union Creek Trail (09W07)

  5.5 mapped mi ^[46] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• Lion Lake Trail

  4.6 mapped mi ^[47] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• Ray's Gulch Trail

  4.1 mapped mi ^[48] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• North Fork Salmon Trail

  4.1 mapped mi ^[49] · surface: ground, wood · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• Boulder Creek Trail

  3.8 mapped mi ^[50] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

• East Boulder Lake Trail

  3.7 mapped mi ^[51] · surface: ground · horses allowed per OpenStreetMap contributors

Plus 24 more named horse-legal trails in the same data, not listed here.

Nearby on Shasta-Trinity National Forest

• Pct: Shasta-Trinity

  15.2 mapped mi ^[20] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: imported compacted material, native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• North Fork Coffee Creek

  9.0 mapped mi ^[21] · horse season: 05/01-11/28 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Union Creek

  7.4 mapped mi ^[22] · horse season: 05/01-11/28 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Eagle Creek

  7.1 mapped mi ^[23] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Doe Lake

  7.0 mapped mi ^[24] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Sugar Pine Lake

  5.8 mapped mi ^[25] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Chipmunk Meadow

  5.3 mapped mi ^[26] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Moliter-Cold Spring

  5.1 mapped mi ^[27] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• Tangle Blue

  5.0 mapped mi ^[28] · horse season: 01/01-12/31 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

• South Fork Coffee Creek

  4.9 mapped mi ^[29] · horse season: 05/01-11/28 · surface: native material · horses allowed per USDA Forest Service

Plus 33 more named horse-legal trails in the same data, not listed here.

Trails the USDA Forest Service manages in the Klamath National Forest and marks open to horses, plus trails OpenStreetMap marks as horse-legal near the horse camps. Mileage is the mapped length of segments with that name.

Is the Klamath National Forest open to horses right now?

• Big Flat Campground: Not published by Recreation.gov. Ridden here? Add it in Ride
• Carter Meadows Horse Group: season June 15 – October 18 ^[2] · status Open ^[52]
• Hidden Horse Equestrian Campground: season June 15 – October 18 ^[4] · status Open ^[53]
• Martins Dairy Horse Camp: status Open ^[54]

• Norcross Campground and Horse Camp: Status (USDA Forest Service): The restroom is temporarily closed until further notice. ^[5]

As of October 25, 2026. Check with the agency before you haul: seasons move with snow and fire.

What are the horse rules in the Klamath National Forest?

Official horse info: Klamath National Forest & Butte Valley National Grassland | Horse Riding and Camping ^[55]

• "Only tie stock to trees for time periods of less than one hour." Use high-lines, hobbles, pickets and electric fences for longer periods. ^[55]
• The Forest Service requests and recommends weed-free feed for horses entering wilderness areas. ^[55]
• Some Klamath trails may not be suitable or safe for horses or pack stock; call the District Office to confirm water and trail conditions. ^[55]
• All horse camps have a corral or enclosure and stock water; all are first come, first served except Carter Meadows Group Camp (reservation only). ^[55]
• Trinity Alps Wilderness (Order 25-05-06, Sep 19, 2025 to Sep 19, 2028): no hitching, tethering or hobbling saddle/pack animals to a tree, except loading, unloading or traveling. ^[56]
• Trinity Alps Wilderness: no hitching saddle/pack animals within 200 feet of a lake, stream or campsite except loading, unloading or traveling; groups max 10 persons. ^[56]
• Trinity Alps Wilderness: camping any time of year requires a valid wilderness permit; self-issued permits available at district offices and guard stations. ^[56]
• "Wilderness permits are not required for trips into the Russian Wilderness." A California Campfire Permit is required. ^[57]
• Carter Meadows: "Campers must bring certified weed-free feed for horses"; stock must be held in corrals or parking area; groups clean corrals before leaving. ^[10]
• Norcross Campground and Horse Camp: Do not tie horses to trees, living or dead. Do not tie horses to corral rails or posts. Keep horses away from the creek. Carry water to horses in corrals. ^[5]

Is there water for horses in the Klamath National Forest?

Water for horses at trailheads: Not published by the USDA Forest Service. Ridden here? Add it in Ride

• Norcross Campground and Horse Camp: Yes (“Water is available for horses but not for human consumption.”) ^[5]
• Lovers Camp Campground and Trailhead: No water. Effective October 23 - no water or trash service is available for the winter season. ^[7]
• Duck-Eaton Trailhead: Potable water is not available at this site. ^[11]

Ridden here?

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What other horse campgrounds are near the Klamath National Forest?

• Preacher Meadow (CA) · 20.7 mi away · Shasta-Trinity National Forest

• Bridge Camp (CA) · 24.3 mi away · Shasta-Trinity National Forest

• Stanshaw · 32.8 mi away

• Horse Camp Primitive Campground · 49.3 mi away · Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

More horse trails in California

Sources

1. Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234344, fetched October 25, 2026
2. Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234344?tab=seasons, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
3. Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/123390, fetched October 25, 2026
4. Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/123390?tab=seasons, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
5. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/norcross-campground, read and verified by hand October 24, 2026
6. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/norcross-trailhead, read and verified by hand October 24, 2026
7. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/lovers-camp-campground, read and verified by hand October 24, 2026
8. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/lovers-camp-trailhead, read and verified by hand October 24, 2026
9. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/hidden-horse-campground, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
10. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/carter-meadows-campground, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
11. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/duck-eaton-trailhead, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
12. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/big-flat-trailhead, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
13. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'5215.003771'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
14. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'5100.003771'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
15. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'5072.003771'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
16. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'5083.003771'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
17. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'5101.003771'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
18. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'11362010356'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
19. Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/gateways/1065, fetched October 25, 2026
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22. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10612867&outFields=*&f=html
23. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10611209&outFields=*&f=html
24. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10619674&outFields=*&f=html
25. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10608910&outFields=*&f=html
26. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10620934&outFields=*&f=html
27. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10635643&outFields=*&f=html
28. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10559424&outFields=*&f=html
29. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10600342&outFields=*&f=html
30. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0, fetched October 25, 2026
31. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10630571&outFields=*&f=html
32. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10600863&outFields=*&f=html
33. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10572030&outFields=*&f=html
34. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10578106&outFields=*&f=html
35. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10596341&outFields=*&f=html
36. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10555712&outFields=*&f=html
37. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10630635&outFields=*&f=html
38. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10630768&outFields=*&f=html
39. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10595917&outFields=*&f=html
40. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_TrailNFSPublish_01/MapServer/0/query?where=objectid%3D10630633&outFields=*&f=html
41. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/, fetched October 25, 2026
42. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1378995074
43. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/826043036
44. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1501662577
45. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/963254477
46. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/967152498
47. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/968002948
48. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/957615422
49. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1206656648
50. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1296428919
51. OpenStreetMap contributors: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1202218581
52. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'5220.003771'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
53. USDA Forest Service: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0/query?where=site_cn%3D'5094.003771'&outFields=*&f=html, fetched October 25, 2026
54. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/klamath/recarea/?recid=13169, fetched October 25, 2026
55. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/recreation/opportunities/horse-riding-and-camping, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
56. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/alerts/trinity-alps-wilderness-area-restrictions, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026
57. USDA Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/wilderness, read and verified by hand October 16, 2026