Are you planning a trip to Lakeside with your horse? We've got you covered. Whether you own a horse or are joining a tour group, equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. With our help, you'll find the best Arizona equestrian campsites from scenic to easily accessible.
Million dollar sunsets on an ever changing bluff over a valley. Various wildlife, lots of scrub juniper and wildflowers. Very quiet. Beautiful start filled night skies.
Primitive camping. I'm just starting and getting water set up with outdoor showers by next season.
You must have a high clearance vehicle to access property. 4-wheel drive might be needed in rainy/snowy times.
I have a central fire pit. No fires at camp sites. Friday night s'mores depending on weather and campers interested. Well behaved Kids welcome with parent/guardian/ 15 years old or older well behaved sibling.
Holiday dinners and gatherings upon interested guests. Let me know and we can Cowboy it up.
$10 - $200 / night
Gabaldon Campground is situated amid spruce trees at the foot of the Mount Baldy Wilderness. The campground is named for Juan Gabaldon, who retired from the Forest Service after working on many of the trails in the area. The campground is a perfect spot to relax after a day's ride. This campground is limited to campers with horses or stock animals.
Grayling Campground offers perhaps the most secluded sites in the Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. It sits on the shoreline of the lake in a mixed conifer and aspen forest and affords visitors many recreational opportunities in a quiet, scenic setting. Popular activities include trout fishing and hiking.
The campground is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing. Curious campers can attend educational programs at the recreation area's visitor center.
Grayling sits in the White Mountains at an elevation of 9,000 feet. It is a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer rain storms.
Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico. Springerville, Arizona is the closest town to the campground.
For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.
$26 - $34 / night
Timber Camp Recreation Area has one of the most popular family and group campgrounds in the Tonto National Forest offering both day-use sites and over-night areas.
Abundant recreation opportunities such as cross-country horseback riding, hiking, in-season hunting, exploring, off-highway vehicle use and wildlife viewing are in close proximity. In the spring, whitewater rafting trips on the Upper Salt River launch a mere 20-minute drive from the site. Brundrett 2 and the equestrian sites are excellent places to stage authorized outdoor group events (a separate permit may be required). While there are no dedicated equestrian trails, the surrounding terrain is ideal for cross-country horseback riding.
Located within the Timber Camp Mountains and surrounded by a ponderosa pine and juniper woodland, this area offers a cool get away from the hot summer months. Five miles east of the site, the area eventually meets the ledges and beautiful vistas of the Salt River Canyon and the Salt River Canyon Wilderness.
Approximately 10 miles north along Highway 60, on White Mountain Apache Tribal Lands, lies Seneca Lake and Falls, a popular recreation area for sightseeing and fishing (WMAT permit required). As you continue further north along Highway 60, the road cascades down into the Salt River Canyon where several overlooks allow you to capture the magnificent beauty of "Arizona's other Grand Canyon". Only 24 miles south from Timber Camp, the City of Globe offers an array of restaurants, as well as antique, grocery, and feed and tack stores.
$16 / night
Located in the high desert Arizona between Holbrook and Heber. I have four serene off grid campsites all with tent platforms, fire pits, picnic tables, with free firewood plus an outhouse and a common area with horse shoes and corn hole game. They are all drive thru. From tents to large RV with tows. UFO sightings and research has been done here. I myself have seen UFOs. When the skies are clear and you can see the Milky Way.
For cell service, Verizon works great but all other providers are generally unreliable
$15 / night
$20 / night
Scout
Unfortunately I was unable to stay at Lancelot campground due to a highway closure the night of my stay. The host stayed in contact as I figured out my next steps. Was very helpful and provided good directions. Hoping I can stay sometime soon.
ScoutNice little campground and well thought out. The owner is a wonderful person and made sure we had everything we needed and has anything you need to enjoy the campground. We were only there overnight but loved it. The only issue is the road to get to the campground is almost 10 miles of a non maintained road, very bumpy.
LegendAshley here with The Dyrt. I love that this space can fit those extra large RV's or tents. With your own platform to picnic on or pitch your tent, and yard games to play, this is a cozy and cute spot to visit on your next adventure. The free firewood is a sweet touch. Come give them a try and leave them some love!
Scout
A peaceful place to think your thoughts, go on walks, listen to wildlife, look at wildflowers and read a book. Very serene. Magnificent sunsets and stars are bright at night. It can be very windy and fierce storms at times, especially in monsoon season.. Go prepared for any weather.
Ranger
Enjoyed three nights and generally had the place to ourselves excluding the host. The host was very nice. The fee station was out of order during our stay, so we paid via daily tickets at a place in Globe on our way out. The campground is right off the highway so there was a fair amount of traffic noise, but not unbearable. Little to do in the way of hikes within walking distance, but we enjoyed walking around the campground and into the woods to the north and east. Verizon service was great the entire time. Sites are well maintained and level. Vault toilets were clean. Each site has a steel fire ring and grate as well as a nice metal picnic table. There a a few group areas with full grills and communal tables. The campground appears fairly new.
Guide
This campground is in the middle of a recreational enthusiasts dream. Many different opportunities to play and explore. The campgrounds are all clean and well kept. And within walking distance of Big Lake.
Traveler
Had a great time last August. We started at this campsite as we found it online. When we arrive there was only one other person there but very limited camping. There are only a total of eight sites all of which are set up for horses. All the stalls pretty clean and didn’t smell and the outhouse was kinda run down a little. Loads of spiders. We were aware that this was bear country but didn’t think to much of it being from Colorado. We had everything in air tight containers in the back of the truck locked up a night. After the first night we woke up to bite and claw marks on the tailgate of my truck. Wow. Our tent was 20 yards from the truck so the bear left us alone because we didn’t have any food in the tent. So plan smart and bring BEAR SPRAY. Even the hiking trails say to. Still great experience and we will be back. Please remember if you pack it in to please pack it out. We all can do better.
ScoutGreat spot to relax after driving thru Salt Canyon. Very convenient, close to highway, with very little noise. ATT was full scale. We will return.
GuideThere is a self pay machine, but did not work. The campsites are nice and roomy. Says there is a host, but there is not. Overall nice place and has cell phone service.
Guide
This is great camping area with multiple unmarked sites available, first come basis. You do need a San Carlos Apache use permit which cost $20 per day per person over 12. Pack it all in and pack it all out. The river is close but no drinkable water on site with out filtration. Our family had 14 people camping out of 5 vehicle at our site alone. Good fishing and lots of wildlife to see. We saw a bear 50 feet across the river on out first day. Its not high in the pines, but is a good mix of Juniper, pine, ash, and Scrub Oak.
TravelerGreat weather
LegendThe name is a bit deceiving. The campground is designed for groups (there is a wide open group space and a loop with 12 spots that can be reserved for groups) BUT when the loop isn't reserved for a group you can stay in a single spot. Plus a day use area. Biggest downside it is RIGHT off the highway so expect road noise.
About the loop (single spaces called Brundrett 1): There are 12 spaces with co-ed bathrooms (toilet only). There are 2 large BBQs at the end of the loop, covered ramadas with picnic tables, and an oversized metal fire pit. Plenty of people were there in 5th wheels. Downside... The spaces are pretty close together.
About the group site (Brundrett 2): It's a large open space (there are some tree around the outer edges and on one side). There is a private bathroom and it's close to one of the loop bathrooms and it's close to the day use bathroom. Covered ramadas, picnic tables, BBQs, and an oversized metal fire pit. There is also a few scattered picnic tables, standing BBQs, and fire pits.
RangerWe reserved this spot for a large family gathering and it served our needs perfectly. The spot is in a great patch on Ponderosa Pines in the primarily pinyon juniper surroundings. It is a very large space and each family can spread out as much as they want - and still have space for wiffle ball! Hiking from camp was nice along a dry creek bed (in June). Overall great spot for big gatherings.
Horse camping in Arizona offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With various campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lakeside, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lakeside, AZ is Desert Falcon Ranch, LLC with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lakeside, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Lakeside, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
