Best Equestrian Camping near Dewey, AZ

Groom Creek Horse Camp provides specialized equestrian facilities in Prescott National Forest, approximately 30 miles from Dewey. Each campsite features a high line and one corral for horses, with additional portable panels recommended for those traveling with multiple horses. The campground is strictly for equestrians; campers without horses are not permitted to stay. Most sites are pull-through to accommodate large horse trailers. Water is available throughout the campground, though campers should bring containers to transport water to their sites. The campground maintains clean pit toilets and provides wheelbarrows and rakes at dumpsters for cleaning horse areas.

The trail system accessible from Groom Creek offers varied terrain with both hilly and well-shaded sections. Riders should note that ATVs and other vehicles are allowed near the campground and on some trails, which may be a consideration for horses sensitive to motorized equipment. Dispersed camping is permitted just outside the campground boundary for those seeking more isolation. The campground operates seasonally from May 1 to October 31, making it ideal for summer riding when higher elevations provide cooler temperatures. The surrounding Prescott National Forest offers extensive bridle trails connecting to the campground, allowing for day-long riding excursions without leaving public land. Horse owners appreciate the thoughtful design of the campground with its spacious sites and dedicated equestrian amenities.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Dewey, Arizona (18)

    1. Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    62 Reviews
    Cottonwood, AZ
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 634-5283

    $25 - $70 / night

    "They have a lake to fish in and equestrian center to go on horse back rides."

    "Dead Horse Ranch is a beautiful Arizona state park."

    2. Yavapai Campground

    9 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 444-6777

    $18 - $36 / night

    "Driving distance or short walk to lake. No Verizon cell service."

    "Quiet with nearby hiking and biking even a little lake."

    3. South Mingus Mountain Basecamp on Forest Road 413

    2 Reviews
    Jerome, AZ
    11 miles

    "Lots of hiking trails."

    4. Verde River RV Resort & Cottages

    12 Reviews
    Camp Verde, AZ
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 202-3409

    "Which is OK in the Arizona winter, but not when it is still hot.

    We were here when it as really slow, not sure what it will like when the campground is full."

    "There are lots of trees and it’s a great park to walk around. At the back you have the River you can walk around and you are surrounded with mountain views."

    5. Groom Creek Horse Camp

    2 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 444-6777

    $18 / night

    "This is a very beautiful campground for horse people only. Most sites are pull through to accommodate large trailers. The trails are very pretty. Parts are hilly, but well shaded."

    "We take portable panels also due to traveling with 2 horses. Take some way of hauling water to your camp site, there are several water Fawcett for filling but not close to all sites."

    6. Rancho Sedona RV Park

    40 Reviews
    Sedona, AZ
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 282-7255

    $42 - $84 / night

    "Compared to another campground close by that is a little less but we had double the space and trees and a creek behind us. They’re very busy and we were only able to get two nights."

    "Sites a little close to each other. Grounds were surrounded by nature and close by main Sedona street. Check in after hours were smooth."

    7. Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)

    7 Reviews
    Crown King, AZ
    23 miles

    "The Hazlitt Hollow campground and Horse Thief Basin Lake are ~7 miles from the main city of Crown King and definitely require a high clearance vehicle (4x4 highly recommended)."

    "(There’s also a much more difficult trail from lake pleasant that requires very experienced off-roading 4x4). Great food and drinks(alcohol) at the crown king saloon and Mimi’s Cafe."

    8. Fairgrounds RV Park

    1 Review
    Prescott Valley, AZ
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 227-3310

    9. Verde Valley Fairgrounds

    1 Review
    Cottonwood, AZ
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 634-3290

    $20 - $30 / night

    "There is a water fill station in a dump station nearby. Electric is only 50 amp or 110. You will need an adapter if you have a 30 amp rig. Electric sites are $30 and dry camping is 20."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Dewey, AZ

2 Photos of 18 Dewey Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Dewey, AZ

160 Reviews of 18 Dewey Campgrounds


  • Jeffrey P.
    Nov. 25, 2021

    Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    Very nice campground

    We stayed here for our first trip with a TT in December 2020. Water and electric hookups. They have a dump station. They have a lake to fish in and equestrian center to go on horse back rides.

  • M
    Jul. 5, 2016

    Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    Homebase for great National Monuments

    Dead Horse Ranch is a beautiful Arizona state park. It is also a great home base because it is down the street from Tuzigoot National Monument and close to Sedona and Monetzuma Castle National Monument. It is just outside the charming city of Cottonwood.

  • L
    Jul. 16, 2021

    Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    Hot in July, but quiet and enjoyable

    The forest was closed in Northern Arizona so I decided to camp out at Dead Horse Ranch SP.  I was pretty pleased overall with my trip.  My campsite was comfortable and private enough, considering how close the sites are at this campground.  I had some shade trees to help keep my travel trailer cool but definitely needed to run the AC all night in order to stay comfortable.  The RV sites here have fresh water and power, but no sewer.  There is a dump station at the park entrance that is easily accessible when both entering and exiting the park. I enjoyed fishing, hiking, and bike riding while I was here but had to limit my outdoor activities to the morning hours due to the heat.  

    One afternoon I went into old town Cottonwood, which is only a couple of miles from the park.  It's a great place to visit if you're into antiques or wine tasting.

  • Candy P.
    May. 2, 2021

    Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    Northern Arizona Treasure

    Wow, what an awesome state park! Camping here with little ones was awesome, it had so much to do. The three small lakes are a great spot to fish and lots of shade. A horse stable and playground are nearby. There are 4 camping loops, 1 tent only. The cabins are on a separate road and have so much space and shade between. There is also river access. Close to national monuments and wineries. Not too far from Sedona and Jerome. Lots of day trips close by. We will be back!

  • Ted B.
    Oct. 4, 2021

    Groom Creek Horse Camp

    Great Horse Camp

    This is a very beautiful campground for horse people only. Most sites are pull through to accommodate large trailers. The trails are very pretty. Parts are hilly, but well shaded. There are high lines and a corral at each site. As well as a firepit and picnic bench. Depending on site water can be close, the water is located throughout the campground. The pit toliets were clean,  and wheelbarrows and rakes were provided at the dumpsters to clean horse areas. There is no atv or other type vehicles allowed in campground, but they are allowed near the campground and on some trails, so take note of which trails if that is a concern with your horse. There are some other youth campgrounds around so sometimes you can hear band practice lol. Dispersed camping is allowed just outside the campground boundary as well.

  • Tara S.
    Feb. 22, 2023

    Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    Great Amenities, Little Privacy

    We pulled into our spot at Dead Horse Ranch as the temps crept below freezing. This was our first night ever in a campervan, and we were feeling very fortunate for scoring the last site with electricity. 

    .

    It snowed in the night (February) and we woke to discover that the bathhouse was heated with free hot showers. This, combined with dishwashing stations (again with hot water) and friendly campground hosts, made for a lovely stay at Dead Horse Ranch.

    The only downside was the lack of privacy between sites - fine for van or RV camping, but not ideal for tenters. 

    There are a couple of nice trails in the park, one leading into Old Town Cottonwood - try Old Town Cafe for their flaky croissants! Dead Horse Ranch is about 30 minutes from Sedona and fantastic hiking, which we took advantage of all three nights we were there. 

    Bottom line, this was not a wilderness experience, but Dead Horse Ranch provides nice sites and great amenities, and you can't beat the convenience of the location. 

    We preferred the Red Tailed Hawk loop to all the others, and really liked sites 57 - 64 for the views and access to trails.

  • Edward W.
    Oct. 11, 2018

    Groom Creek Horse Camp

    Horse camp. No horse, no camping

    We have stayed here 2 years in a row now. Very nice camp ground but it is dry camping. They have a high line and 1 pen at each site. We take portable panels also due to traveling with 2 horses. Take some way of hauling water to your camp site, there are several water Fawcett for filling but not close to all sites. Nice trail riding. Take note that if you don't have a horse with you, you will not be able to stay there.

  • Melissa S.
    Jan. 5, 2021

    Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    Family favorite

    We are always pleased with our stay here. The park has so many different activities from hiking, horse trail, lakes and access to the verde river. We stayed in spot 97 this time and had some privacy with the bushes and trees from our neighbors. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. There is a fun bike track for the kids or even adults up by the tent loop. Cottonwood is just a few miles and lots to do in town.

  • Chelsea S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 22, 2022

    Rancho Sedona RV Park

    Fancy RV park!

    This was definitely the fanciest RV park on our trip. And the most expensive. I think it was about $88/night. Compared to another campground close by that is a little less but we had double the space and trees and a creek behind us. They’re very busy and we were only able to get two nights. Even though it was a bit pricey for the size of the site, the place is maintained like Disney… maintenance driving around fixing things, Gardner’s trimming things, and the bathroom gets cleaned everyday and was always spotless. Showers were nice and ended up being close to our site. Most of the staff are friendly and nice, with an occasional slightly grumpy one. It was also very close to downtown which was nice! Not quite close enough we wanted to walk… but a quick drive. The sites were very pretty, nice gravel, and lots of happy birds singing. Overall very happy, just a tad pricey. But it’s just because of the proximity to Sedona.


Guide to Dewey

Horse camping in Arizona offers a unique blend of scenic trails and well-equipped facilities for equestrian enthusiasts. With a variety of campgrounds catering specifically to horse owners, you can enjoy the great outdoors while ensuring your equine companions are well taken care of.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • At Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake), you can explore stunning trails that lead to serene lakes, perfect for a day of riding and relaxation.
  • Groom Creek Horse Camp features beautiful trails that are well-shaded and ideal for both leisurely rides and more challenging adventures.
  • The Yavapai Campground offers direct access to numerous hiking and riding trails, making it a great base for equestrian exploration.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • Groom Creek Horse Camp provides high lines and corrals at each site, ensuring your horse has a safe and comfortable space.
  • At Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake), you'll find ample space for large trailers and facilities designed specifically for equestrian needs.
  • Yavapai Campground has well-maintained composting toilets and drinking water, making it convenient for both you and your horse.

Equestrian campgrounds include unique features

  • Groom Creek Horse Camp is exclusively for horse campers, ensuring a peaceful environment tailored to equestrian activities.
  • The Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake) is known for its breathtaking scenery and secluded camping spots, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
  • Yavapai Campground features a layout that provides privacy between sites, allowing for a more tranquil camping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Dewey, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Dewey, AZ is Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 62 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Dewey, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 equestrian camping locations near Dewey, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.