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Houston Mesa Campground offers equestrian accommodations with individual corrals at each horse site. Located just outside Payson, the campground features spacious sites that can accommodate large horse trailers, making it accessible for equestrians traveling with multiple animals. Each horse site comes with two corrals, a fire pit, and picnic table. Water stations are positioned throughout the grounds, and clean restroom facilities are available across all camping areas. Campers note the immaculate maintenance of the facilities and the privacy between sites, with trees providing natural separation. The grounds are well-maintained with camp hosts available for assistance and firewood purchases. The area attracts wildlife, including deer that occasionally wander through the campground.
Riders access multiple trail systems directly from Houston Mesa, though some trails feature rocky terrain that requires careful navigation with horses. The campground's location near Payson provides convenient access to additional services while maintaining a forest setting. Flush toilets and coin-operated showers ($3 for 6 minutes) enhance the comfort level for overnight stays. Beyond the immediate trails, equestrians can explore the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park approximately 15 minutes away. The campground is operational seasonally from February through November, with reservations recommended, especially during weekends when the grounds tend to fill quickly. Traffic noise from the nearby highway is occasionally noticeable, particularly at night, so riders planning extended stays might consider bringing earplugs for sleeping comfort.
"All paved driving and campsite parking except equestrian area no hookups they have places to fill water and to dump. Restrooms and showers nice a clean."
"Each horse site has two large corrals, a fire pit, and picnic table. There is water locations around the campground as well as bathrooms."
from $22 - $170 / night
Check Availability"Thick tree coverage which hid us from the winds that day / night and the rim was a 200 foot walk away. Able to get there in my Chevy Trax which is front wheel drive only, without any problems."
"There are many spots off FR218 where you can pull off and back up basically to the edge of the rim with your car, or at most a 100 foot walk to the rim."
"Tall pines all around, lots of exploring room for kids. The camping areas are all pretty open and there are plenty of spots to park a trailer or RV."
"The woods were awesome and very little noise besides cars driving along the road. Thr road was a very easy drive. Only downside is the campsite was very close to the road."
"This is just a dirt road off of the highway."
"Beautiful pine trees and sites right on the Mogollon Rim. 10 min drive to woods canyon lake which is stunningly beautiful."
"There are camp sites that are located right on the edge of the rim. Please mind this if you have children, dogs, or are drinking at 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."
from $25 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Round Valley Remuda has Electric, water and a Dump Station so you can enjoy your time on this beautiful farm, they even have a horse stall for rent if you want to bring the horses. "
from $45 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $42 - $84 / night
Check Availability"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."
GuideWe 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.
LegendDead 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.
GuideThe 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.
LegendWow, 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!
TravelerAll paved driving and campsite parking except equestrian area no hookups they have places to fill water and to dump. Restrooms and showers nice a clean.
GuideThis campground has really nice sites, that can accommodate large trailers. Each horse site has two large corrals, a fire pit, and picnic table. There is water locations around the campground as well as bathrooms. Across the street is the main non horse campground, there is pay showers if needed and an amphitheater there. The trails weren't my favorite, a bit rocky, but were not bad either. The campground is a great location near Payson.
TravelerFor 5 years we had coming to Dead Horse RV Park. And about 5 to 6 times every year. Easy access to nearby towns.
LegendWe 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.
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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.
GuideThis campground is awesome. It was the perfect refuge for the rainy week. It’s super well maintained. Free drinking water stations and a picnic area for each spot. Quiet and even with a gas station and Home Depot within a 15 min walk it still feels like you’re in the woods especially when the coyotes start howling at night. I wish we would have gone to the horse camp FF spots instead: they are farther away from the road sounds, more spaced out, and we could’ve stayed another night for the same price on the other side. Only difference is pavement roads/sites.
Houston Mesa Campground sits at 5,200 feet elevation near Pine, Arizona, offering a cooler retreat from summer heat. The campground provides equestrian facilities with direct access to multiple trail systems through the Tonto National Forest. Highway 260 runs nearby, creating occasional traffic noise but providing convenient access to surrounding communities.
Trail riding access: Equestrians visiting Milk Ranch Point Road can explore dispersed riding opportunities with views of the Mogollon Rim. "Loved this spot! Good roads in. Great views. Some trees, but a lot in this area were burned. No amenities, so pack out what you bring in. Decent cell service," notes Meghan B.
Fishing spots: Multiple fishing locations exist within short driving distance from Little Green Valley dispersed camping area. "This place is dispersed, meaning no hook-ups. Pack out what you pack in, no trash services. Can get a little loud on the weekends with the side by sides zooming around," explains Jessalyn C. The Verde River provides additional fishing access.
Swimming holes: Summer visitors can access natural swimming areas a short drive from camping locations. "We had a great time here, sites are good size and well kept! Amenities were in great condition and our favorite day use river spot is 15 minutes away👌🏻 A+++," shares Will W. about nearby water features.
Shade coverage: Pine trees provide natural shade at many camping areas, particularly valuable during Arizona summers. "Nice campground with lots of space and trees between sites. Pull throughs and pull-in sites. Hosts are helpful," explains Michael B. about the wooded environment that creates natural privacy barriers.
Wildlife viewing: The region around Pine offers opportunities to spot local wildlife in natural settings. "You are only 10 minutes from Cottonwood, 30 minutes from Sedona, 30 minutes to Prescott and an hour and a half to Phoenix," notes Thomas S. at Verde River RV Resort, where natural areas attract various species.
Night sky visibility: The elevation and distance from major cities create excellent stargazing conditions. "Camped here with my son for scouts. Nice campground. You can see so many stars at night, it's wonderful," shares Mike C. about Mogollon Campground, where minimal light pollution enhances astronomical viewing.
Fire restrictions: Seasonal fire bans frequently affect the region, particularly during dry summer months. "Something to note is that Tonto National Forest is usually fire restricted this time of year but Coconino is not. This site is barely into Coconino. It is still very dry so be careful with it!" advises Jacob S. about Pivot Rock Canyon.
Road conditions: Access to many camping areas requires travel on dirt roads of varying quality. "They also do logging out here and as of July 26, they just leveled and packed gravel down so the road is accessible for non 4x4 cars. I brought my Chevy Trax which is front wheel drive and had zero issues," reports Nick V.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds operate on seasonal schedules due to elevation and weather patterns. "The campground is operational seasonally from February through November, with reservations recommended, especially during weekends when the grounds tend to fill quickly," notes a ranger about Houston Mesa equestrian camping options.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated facilities for children. "We love this campground! We have camped here around 5 times and always had a great stay. They have a pool and hot tub, mini golf, playground, pickle ball court, clubhouse, and lots of crafts and activities for the kids!" shares Mstwister E.
Safety considerations: Parents should note terrain features when selecting campsites. "There are many spots off FR218 where you can pull off and back up basically to the edge of the rim with your car, or at most a 100 foot walk to the rim," explains Nick V., suggesting families with small children may want sites away from drop-offs.
Educational opportunities: The area offers natural learning experiences for children. "2 miles East on Houston Mesa rd. Away you can drive to Shofly Indian ruins," notes csey R., highlighting historical sites accessible from Houston Mesa Campground.
Dump station fees: RVers should budget for sanitation services where available. "The dump station costs $10, regardless of camping here or not," reports Michael B. about facilities at certain campgrounds, an important consideration for extended stays.
Level site selection: Many dispersed areas feature uneven terrain. "These spots are fairly large and allow for some large rigs and is located right on the edge of town. No hook ups though but you can fill your tanks on site," shares Miguel M. about suitable RV parking areas.
Temperature variations: The elevation creates significant day-to-night temperature shifts. "Expect that the closer you are to the rim, the more wind and it'll be colder. But the views are stunning," advises Dana V. about conditions at Rancho Sedona RV Park, where proper insulation becomes important for comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Pine, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Pine, AZ is Houston Mesa Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Pine, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 equestrian camping locations near Pine, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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