22 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Equestrian facilities near Higley, Arizona are limited, with most campgrounds in the area not featuring dedicated horse corrals or specialized equestrian amenities. McDowell Mountain Regional Park, located approximately 30 miles north of Higley, permits pets but does not offer specific horse facilities despite having extensive trail systems. Usery Mountain Regional Park similarly allows pets but lacks equestrian-specific infrastructure. The campgrounds accommodate standard camping needs with water hookups, electric connections, and clean restrooms while providing access to hiking trails that may permit horses on certain routes.
Trail access for horseback riding varies across the regional parks near Higley. Maricopa County parks like Usery Mountain and McDowell Mountain feature trail networks that connect to surrounding desert terrain, though riders must verify which trails permit horses. The Wind Cave Trail at Usery Mountain attracts many visitors but primarily serves hikers rather than equestrians. Lost Dutchman State Park near Apache Junction offers camping in proximity to the Superstition Mountains with potential riding opportunities on designated trails. Most campsites require advance reservations, especially during winter months when the comfortable desert temperatures attract visitors. Many camping areas maintain well-spaced sites that could accommodate small trailers, though specialized horse trailer parking is not prominently featured.
"It kind of poked off the main loop away from other neighbors which is why we picked it, very close to the mtb trail and easy access to the trail leading to siphon draw. Very little shade."
"Close to town and funky roadside attractions. No WiFi but decent cell. Very clean, well maintained and quiet. Lovely hiking in the park."
from $35 - $99 / night
Check Availability"Outstanding layout, great hosts, spectacular location. "
"Campsite 6 is the first one on the right, across from the Camp Host site, and as close to the entrance has you’re gonna get."
"Gorgeous views, very spaced out sites, and access to great mountain biking and hiking trails. Even the overflow area where we had to spend a couple of nights has a very nice bathroom and shower."
"Lots of trails for all skill sets. Snake and gia display. A very large park. Close to everything."
from $32 / night
Check Availability"Great spots for your horse and trailer. Good size corral. More space on the pit side. Stay a week or month! Great trails out from camp. Water at corrals."
"It was fun to walk right up to the town and walk around. Cowboy Dan who owns and runs the steakhouse is hilarious and his wait staff was helpful and accommodating."
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availability"So close to Phoenix with conveniences nearby. The views in all sites are amazing with sunsets that are breathtaking. There is a camp host (me : ) and we're going to tackle the roads soon. "
"Very close to popular hiking trails. We enjoyed the rustic campsite. The camp host was very friendly and helpful (Darell)."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Great location! Nice views of the compound which normally hosts car and horse shows. Electric and water available as hookup. Common dump site available upon entry as well as during your stay."
"This is a great place to camp if you are attending a WestWorld event since you will be right next to all of the facilities."
from $57 / night
Check Availability"If you want to be more secluded keep following the shore line NW, however the more you travel the more ground clearance you’ll need so bring a vehicle with a little off road abilities of you want to be"
"Winter and spring, lake levels are low, which provides access to Camp near the water. I was able to find a relatively flat spot for my 38' fifth wheel."
"This campground is found between the town's of Superior and Miami, Arizona, so if you are not am experienced camper, you could always drive to town in a pinch if you needed something or forgot something"
"Was paved road to campground entrance. Road a little bumpy in park but very doable with any camper. We have 23ft trailer and had no problems. Really enjoyed it night there."
ScoutGreat location! Nice views of the compound which normally hosts car and horse shows. Electric and water available as hookup. Common dump site available upon entry as well as during your stay. Fabulous shopping restaurants all in close proximity in North Scottsdale. Also convenient to highway system!
TravelerThis park is so close to town, but far enough to get some quiet night sky! There are standard campsites and a more primitive camping area. The Willow Canyon site is big enough for a full length Sprinter, though the office says 16’ is the length limit.
Lots of trails for hiking, biking and horses. Brand new showers, restrooms and a dishwashing area. Dogs allowed too!
I’m on Verizon and only got a single bar in the park. The library is near the entrance if you need to get your WiFi fix!
GuideOur site was at the top of the loop closest to Mts but furthest from restrooms. It was a 1/3 mile hike to restrooms. Keep that in mind with kids! Our site itself (120) was perfect for one tent and our car. It kind of poked off the main loop away from other neighbors which is why we picked it, very close to the mtb trail and easy access to the trail leading to siphon draw. Very little shade. Actually close to park edge we could see peoples houses to the SE. would camp at this campground again, but for this site would do RV with own restroom. Even in late April early May need EZ up for shade or almost too hot. Fun family stuff at ghost town across the highway.
TravelerGreat spots for your horse and trailer. Good size corral. More space on the pit side. Stay a week or month! Great trails out from camp. Water at corrals. Nice showers and restroom a short walk away. Plan to go back!!
LegendThis area is best for its hiking and photo ops, in my humble opinion. As with most desert campgrounds in Arizona, there is not much privacy between the sites but take advantage of the beauty. The waterfall trail is an easy hike and very doable with kids. You can only bring a stroller so far unless it's an off-roading stroller but the hike is worth it (especially if there's water flowing). There's a playground across from the trailhead in case all else fails and someone stays behind with he little ones. Restrooms are thoughtfully placed here. DO watch for rattle snakes on this trail and all for that matter. Also, bring a lot of water and then some. Stop at the Visitor Center and library on your way in. You're not far removed from civilization so anything you need is just a brief drive away.
RangerThe have a few electric and water sites, then more dry sites. Also horse corals, its neat being able to walk right into town, well worth a stop, sites are hard dirt, but adequate, spaced a little more apart on the dry sites, the electric/water sites back up to the town small railroad tracks and are much closer together. This is a great alternative when the lost Dutchman is full. 20 dollars to dry camp, but being able to walk into town was pretty cool. Seen roadrunner, quail, and doves, rabbits. A few coyotes howled at the moon at night, which was pretty cool to, off in the distance. I'd stay here again for the convenience.
RangerOutstanding layout, great hosts, spectacular location. Good hiking and sites nearby whether you are looking for lakes, wild mustangs in the Salt River, a scenic drive to Tortilla Flats or just enjoying the Arizona weather.
Hiking in the park to accommodate all levels.
Campsites are well maintained. Quiet in the evenings. Could not ask for more.
GuideSkyline Regional Park, Buckeye AZ
www.skylineregionalpark.com and camping page www.skylineregionalpark.com/camping/
This is a brand new park in the city of Buckeye, AZ at the south end of the White Tank Mountains and is located about 20 miles from White Tanks Regional Park in the Maricopa County Parks district (see my review). The park itself is very pretty, all of the amenities are new and fresh, and several of the trails are under active construction.
This is a very popular and BUSY park for mountain bikers - I was surprised to see the trailhead parking lot nearly full (almost 2 dozen cars) on a Thursday late afternoon/evening, and as people came back to the lot to leave nearly all of them were mountain bikers, with a few hikers mixed in.
The good -
It’s neat and clean, nice new restrooms with flush toilets and sinks that also have motion lights to conserve energy - they stay dark at night, so there are fewer bugs swarming around the entrances, although the restrooms are marked with bee warnings.
The campsites are level, evenly spaced away from each other on a long loop, and have big sturdy concrete picnic tables along with a fire ring and standing grill. The parking spaces are easy to back into and help to block the view of some of the campsite from the road.
I stayed in site D, which is at the top of the low hill that composes a loop of 7 sites (A-G) but sites E and F would be my choice next time, as they are terraced into the hill as it comes down from the peak sites of C and D - each of the sites E and F have an erosion wall that makes nice seating (see photo)
Site G is currently under construction, and was not available for reservation as of my stay in the middle of October, but will be the site closest to the restroom and trail head when it’s available. Not a big issue, as each site is only a few dozen yards from each other.
The trail head has a nice map of the available trails, covered ramadas with recycle containers along with trash receptacles, and even a shaded horse hitching post area with an automatic horse waterer. There is no potable water for people to drink in this park.
The sites are cleared of brush/cacti and have a nice wide gravel path to the restroom - I carried a UV light but didn’t see any scorpions anywhere near the road or my camp, which is certainly not the case just up the road in White Tanks Regional part, where the campsites are more desert/less groomed (but have water&electric).
The less than good -
It’s pretty boring. There are 7 sites that are basically identical with the same view of the trailhead parking lot - it’s nice that the restroom is close, but there’s not much privacy for any of the sites. No trees of any significant size, so none of the sites have appreciable shade available.
I’m not sure who these sites were designed for - they are deep enough for RVs to back in, but there is no electric or water, and they recommend driving 5 miles away to a truck stop as the closest RV dump site and pay showers, so that can’t be very convenient for non-tent campers.
The campsites have a nice flat area for a tent, but it’s next to the “driveway” rather than at the back of the site so your tent has NO privacy from the road/trailhead parking lot, and the entire camping loop is located on a very uninteresting section of terrain.
The park is far enough from the freeway (2 miles) that it’s quiet, and tucked into the foothills enough to block the city lights from Phoenix, so stargazing is quite nice. However, it’s under a flight path from Phoenix to San Diego/Los Angeles, so every few minutes a jet blinks through your sky space. It’s also apparently under a flight path for Luke Air Force Base, and I had several noisy jets pass overhead just as I was settling in for the night. I live in the area so those jets are a constant background noise in my life and they were no big deal to me, but might be unsettling for someone who was really looking for a “peace and quiet” camping experience.
There was a fire ban in effect during my stay and they don’t announce them on their website - you have to remember to call and ask before you get there. However, even during a fire ban you can use your fire pit and grill, so it’s really not a big deal unless you were planning to set up camp way out in the desert somewhere.
My least favorite -
The mountain bikers take these trails seriously and are out on the trails with head lamps and bike lights until LATE at night, and their voices carry all over the park so this is NOT a quiet place to camp.
The signage all says that the trails are open from sunup until sundown, and that the park gates close at 10pm. The reality is that the hikers and mountain bikers wear lights and stay out on the trails until far after sundown because even though my campsite reservation said I would need to use a gate code to leave the park after 10pm, that is not the case. The gate leaving the park has an auto-opening feature, so you can drive up to it in the middle of the night and it will be triggered to open and let you out. Day-use park visitors can and do stay until very late, as there is no consequence for being in the park after the trails “close” or even after 10pm, since they don’t risk being locked in. I didn’t see any park employees driving around to enforce the park closing time, and I did become a little concerned (as I was the only camper that night, and alone with my dogs) when someone drove up to use the restroom at the trailhead at 11:30pm (car headlights shining directly into my camp of course) - again, not much privacy.
All in all - I’d come back to this park to hike any day of the week. The trails are wide and new and well maintained, and it’s a new area to explore. As far as camping goes, there are plenty of nice parks not far from here, so I’d probably recommend driving an extra half hour to one of the Maricopa county parks at Estrella Mountain or White Tanks to take advantage of the same or better mountain views with more amenities.
GuideThis park is so close to town, but far enough that you feel like you are way out. There are standard campsites (water and electric) as well as tent camping area. The sites can fit good sized rigs. There is a ton of trails for hiking, biking, and horses. Brand new showers, restrooms, and a dishwashing area. Dogs are allowed, but please keep them on a leash and pick up after them so we don't lose the privilege!
Here is a link to the Maricopa parks with maps: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/maps/
Equestrian camping near Higley, Arizona presents limited specialized facilities within a 40-mile radius. Located in the east Phoenix metro area at an elevation of 1,240 feet, Higley experiences summer temperatures that regularly exceed 100°F during June through September. Winter visitors benefit from mild temperatures averaging 65-75°F during daytime hours, making it a popular destination for seasonal campers seeking horse-friendly options.
Mountain biking trails access: McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers exceptional riding opportunities just 30 miles north of Higley. "Miles of mountain biking trails which were spectacular. We've ridden lots of places and this is definitely one of my favorite. Trails are not difficult technically but a great workout and so pretty," notes Mike M. from McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
Desert hiking exploration: Trails range from beginner-friendly to moderately challenging at various parks surrounding Higley. "The park is fantastic for a desert hike. The paths are well marked and the trails are filled with cacti and large diversity of wildlife. When we went it was incredibly hot and its important to bring lots of water," advises Ethan K. about McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
Ghost town history: Visit the preserved mining town at Goldfield Ghost Town Dry Camping, approximately 25 miles east. "Being able to walk right into town was pretty cool. This is a great alternative when the Lost Dutchman is full. $20 dollars to dry camp, but being able to walk into town was pretty cool," shares Beverly T. from Goldfield Ghost Town Dry Camping.
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer adequate separation between sites. "Our site #48 Buckhorn was really spacious and private. Great views all around. Table and fire pit. The park has tons of trails for hiking and MTN biking," reports Julie F. about Usery Mountain Regional Park.
Desert wildlife viewing: Campers frequently spot native animals during their stays. "Very nice peaceful park. At night the coyotes sing you to sleep and also wake you up in the morning. You can also see the fountain from most of the campsites which goes off every hour!" comments Larry G. about McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
Proximity to Phoenix: Multiple campgrounds offer wilderness experiences without extensive travel. "Perfect for just getting away for the weekend. Only a 45 minute drive from the house, yet far enough that you still feel like you got away," explains Chad E. about Lost Dutchman State Park Campground.
Reservation requirements: Winter months demand advance planning. "This is one of many outstanding Arizona State Parks. Sites are clean and most level with mix of electric and non electric. Suggest you make reservations well ahead for busy winter months!" advises Debbie W. about Lost Dutchman State Park.
Equestrian site limitations: Specialized horse facilities require targeting specific areas. "Great spots for your horse and trailer. Good size corral. More space on the pit side. Stay a week or month! Great trails out from camp. Water at corrals," notes Lindy B. about Goldfield Ghost Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Higley, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Higley, AZ is Lost Dutchman State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 90 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Higley, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 equestrian camping locations near Higley, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
