17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park accommodates horses near Jasper, with multiple trails offering direct access to Buffalo National River routes. The primitive campsites provide ample space for horse trailers with room for setting up portable corrals or highlines. Though lacking permanent horse-specific infrastructure, the ranch allows campers to create temporary containment for their horses. Firewood is available on-site, and the market provides basic supplies for riders and their animals. The open camping areas accommodate tents and RVs without size restrictions, making it suitable for equestrian camping setups with horses kept nearby.
Located 5 miles up gravel roads, Erbie Horse Camp offers additional horse camping options with access to Cecil Cove Trail and Buffalo River Trail. The secluded location attracts riders seeking less crowded trail experiences, with multiple water crossings and riverside riding opportunities. Daily trail rides connect campers to the old community of Erbie, which includes preserved historic homes and Cherry Hill cemetery. The campground features vault toilets but no water hookups, requiring equestrians to bring their own water supply for horses. Free dispersed camping areas accommodate both tent campers and those with small horse trailers, though the roads can be challenging after heavy rainfall.
"The sign said "campground full" but thanks to another review we disregarded this and found an open site, as did the person who drove in behind us."
"You wake up every morning to the sound of the Buffalo River coursing by just a few hundred yards away, and are greeted by the breathtaking view of the bluffs you are surrounded by!"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Located within a few miles of the horse camp , this site is Aimed more at group camping, there is not as much shade as I’d like to see."
"I explored each in detail and took a day to enjoy the trails around them. "
"They have horse back riding and tons of world class rock climbing. Very safe and clean. Facilities were just fine."
"Car camp, hammock, tent camp, or rent one the cabins to enjoy the roaming goats and horses around the property. Infamously known in AR as one of the best climbing spots."
from $5 - $245 / night
Check Availability"It is so close to the Buffalo River, Jasper, and Erbie Horse camp. We had such a great weekend with our family! Loved being away from all of the crowds in this secluded area."
"Location had a nice setup for the bath house and a great setup for the camp sites."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"This site was large enough to accomodate multiple vehicles and horse trailers. I did not try to find a spot on the river bank, although the river bank appeared easy to access."
"Lots of trails, great place to trail ride on horses. 25 minute drive to dollar general so don’t forget your lighter lmao."
"They continue to upgrade trails and add beautiful camping spots. This is a family room ranch and Donny and Lynn are wonderful hosts. I always come home feeling reconnected with myself and family"
from $15 - $90 / night
Check Availability"The pictures of the river are from a different buffalo river access point Easy access to bathroom, drinking water and river from this spot."
"Quiet and close to the river."
from $20 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Camped near the river and had a wonderful time exploring the off-road trails near the area."
"This is one of the best campgrounds in Arkansas. Dog friendly"
from $10 - $22 / night
Check Availability"There are some trails nearby, but the area and trails are really designed for ATVs."
"short drives from the campgrounds to beautiful scenery with a little bit of research, or ask greg. alot are even accessible by car. take the 30 min drive to hillbillys lims bbq as well."
from $20 / night
Check Availability
ScoutThis place is a true hidden gem. It is so close to the Buffalo River, Jasper, and Erbie Horse camp. We had such a great weekend with our family! Loved being away from all of the crowds in this secluded area.
LegendCamped here mid-week in early November, 2025. Came here to camp while doing some smallmouth bass fishing on the Buffalo River. Quickly found a large, open, level site with a rock fire ring on a grassy field. This site was large enough to accomodate multiple vehicles and horse trailers. I did not try to find a spot on the river bank, although the river bank appeared easy to access. Only two other camping groups were here during my stay - far enough away that I couldn't hear them. Including the one at the day use parking lot, there are three clean and supplied vault toilets here. The campground appeared well maintained. No potable water and no trash service. Solar recharging and Starlink connectivity are possible. I received spotty T-Mobile 2G and 4G LTE service. This primitive campground is convenient for kayakers and canoers, as well as for overlanders and equestrian campers. I met a backpacker who just came off of the Ozark Highland Trail across the river and was camping on the rocky river bank. I recommend, especially for those driving 2WD passenger vehicles, accessing the campground using Searcy County Road 15 - not CR14. Although open during my time here, narrow CR14 still had some damage from recent landslides which resulted in rough driving conditions (although, high clearance, 4x4 vehicles should have no problems). Overall, I enjoyed camping here, and I'm looking forward to returning to this beautiful area in the Arkansas Ozarks.
GuideWe rolled in at 8pm on a Friday night. The sign said "campground full" but thanks to another review we disregarded this and found an open site, as did the person who drove in behind us. The 26 sites are in two layers, one closer to the parking lot, one closer to the woods, river and bluffs. Rangers patrol regularly and are very helpful. There is a ranger station beyond the horse campground which is a pleasant walk or a quick drive. We stopped there to get our National Park stamp! Easy access to a trail directly from the lot, or walk beyond the horse camp to the Old River trail head. Centerpoint Trail is a 15 minute drive away and offers access to the Big Bluff/Goat Trail. Caution drivers: the road in to the campground is windy and steep. A sign warns against bringing RVs. However there were an enormous bus and tons of horse trailers and campers at the bottom of the hill - braver people than I:) Bathrooms are clean, dimly lit at night presumably to keep bugs out. Each site has a lantern pole, fire ring and picnic table. Lost Valley Trail and shelter are a 10-15 minute drive away. Since it was raining we cooked our dinner in the shelter. Overall a beautiful place with great access to multiple trails as well as river access. Sites are a little close, but if you're fine with having neighbors 20 or so feet away, we highly recommend:)
ScoutLocated within a few miles of the horse camp , this site is Aimed more at group camping, there is not as much shade as I’d like to see. It is immediately next to Erbie put in, with walking distance to both the Erbie Ford and the old community of Erbie, which includes several old homes that have been preserved, the old Erbie Church and Cherry Hill cemetery.
Both cecil Cove Trail and the main Buffalo River trail are right there. With bathrooms and a nice swimming hole, this is a local favorite. The water is seasonal, so ne aware of flash flood risks.
LegendWe stayed here for some backwoods hiking in the Ozarks and it was about 40 minutes from the various hikes we had planned. There are some trails nearby, but the area and trails are really designed for ATVs.
It doesn’t offer a lot in terms of comfort—there are full hookups but no real fire rings, no trees or shade and it’s HOT in early June. It’s an all gravel path so not great for any elderly walkers or those in need of ADA. The showers are ROUGH, but they exist. They have hot water, but there’s a literal nail to operate the handles. Toilets are okay. No laundry. It has stables for horses and seems to really be built for ATVers.
No ATT or Verizon service there or in the general area, had to download a map that was essentially a PDF to get around.
Nicest people in the world own it and work there. They have a shop and cafe on site that is open only on the weekends. The cafe is okay. It does have WiFi, but that does not extend to the camp/ RV sites. The real draw is the folks who work there, can’t state enough how wonderful and helpful they are.
Dry county with very few places to buy any food or groceries outside of an hour drive.
Very beautiful sites close by: falling water falls, big creek cave falls, glory hole falls, pedestal rocks and kings bluff trails, alum natural bridge—and so much more.
ScoutWe booked 6 sites of horse camp for Labor Day weekend back in July. They had plenty of time to take care of sites. We got there and the grass was high on all sites. One of the guys with us brought a battery operated weed eater and started to weed eat our area when a park ranger stopped and said we weren’t allowed to weed eat only they are allowed to mow. We asked if they would mow sites and they said NO. The people right down from us on other horse site had to keep horses tied to trailer because weeds were that high you couldn’t get to horse post. One of had brought our RV with horses and were told we weren’t allowed to bring RV even though when we booked it online, it gave us the option to book RV with horses. We usually come to horse camp 5-6 times a year, but think this might be our last time going. Seems they are trying to close down horse camp.. we had reservations on Memorial Day and when we got there it was full of tent campers with NO HORSES but they were allowed to stay there. This place is turning into a joke. You pay $20 a night to get nothing but harassed by the park rangers!!
GuideLots of room, lots of fire rings. Several (maybe 5?) vault toilets that are well-maintained and stocked. When we got there, there were probably 50 people at 20 different spots scattered across the field. When we left, it was just us and one other group. Lots of trails, great place to trail ride on horses. 25 minute drive to dollar general so don’t forget your lighter lmao. One of the roads into the park is closed, but the detour is signed well and easy to figure out. If I had to guess, it’s closed because one of the edges is getting pretty close to crumbling into the river. I wish I had thought to bring paddle boards and kayaks. There were lots of people who brought big rigs down to the camp site, as well as pulled boats. The gravel roads are well maintained enough that I’d be comfortable doing that, but the hill is pretty steep at times, so be wary.
ScoutThis is a great campsite if you’re wanting to get outdoors, but aren’t quite adventurous to go full-out. You wake up every morning to the sound of the Buffalo River coursing by just a few hundred yards away, and are greeted by the breathtaking view of the bluffs you are surrounded by!
It has running water, and even a pretty nice public bathroom. Fees are not outrageous, and there is even a site for campers with horses. Overall, it was a great experience, and I’d recommend to all! One thing to consider, however, is to make sure your car has pretty good handling and brakes— as the drive up to the entrance and down to the campsite is steep and curvy (it is paved, though)!
ScoutSteel Creek campground is a beautiful grass savanna orbited by 500 foot bluffs. From the campsites is a short hike through large beautiful hardwood trees. A glorious river of milky blue green waters flows at the base of the bluff around the camp's peninsula. East of Ponca this is the closest area to car/RV camp. This camp is also horse camp friendly. Many trails come through Steel Creek for backpackers, horse trails, and of course canoe/kayakers dock and launch from here. I call this base camp because there are so many trails and historic options in this upper area of the Buffalo. My one and only con is the tent camp area is open to all the other tent campers. In other words your camping side by side. Aside from that its definitely worth it!
Steel Creek Campground sits within the Buffalo National River area, offering campsites along the Ponca bluffs at 800-1200 feet elevation. The campground features vault toilets and water spigots but no showers, with sites that cost $12 per night for up to six people. Weather varies dramatically by season with summer highs reaching 90°F while fall temperatures drop to 40°F at night.
Hiking access points: Steel Creek serves as an excellent basecamp for multiple trails, including the Buffalo River Trail. "Right from the Steel Creek campground we took the Old River Trail (abbreviated as ORT on trail posts) up to the Centerpoint trailhead, which happens to have its own parking lot since it is a pretty popular hiking trail," notes Ashley F. from Steel Creek Campground.
Water activities: The Buffalo River provides swimming and fishing opportunities. "Kayaking, swimming, and fishing were awesome!" shares Donna M. about Steel Creek. Woolum Dispersed Area offers similar water access with "a rock and sand beach currently" according to William M., making it ideal for riverside relaxation.
Off-road adventures: For those seeking more motorized recreation, some nearby private lands offer trail systems. "They not only have their own trails on private land, but off-roaders can hit trails in National Forest territory not too far down the road," explains Eric L. about Byrd's Adventure Center.
River proximity: Many campers appreciate direct access to the Buffalo River. "They may not have showers but they do have bathrooms and running water. Right next to the Buffalo River along the gorgeous towering bluff," says Jessica W. about Steel Creek. Similarly, Woolum provides easy water access as "one of the best remote campgrounds in AR" where John W. has "camped right on the riverbank."
Quiet, secluded options: For those seeking peace away from crowds, Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park offers tranquility. Mike B. describes it as "one of the most peaceful places I have ever camped. Wide open and beautiful views." Leslie D. adds, "I always come home feeling reconnected with myself and family."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife. "Saw a lot of deer in the forest right next to our site and in the field next over," reports Samantha W. about Steel Creek. At Wilderness Rider, visitors experience "Gorgeous views and wildlife everywhere!" according to Stephen R.
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. At Erbie Campground, Matt B. notes, "If you're coming from the west, Apple/Google Maps' shortest route will take you through Kingston and then down some rough dirt roads with a couple low water crossings. Easier route is to go to Hwy. 7 then come back east."
Cell service limitations: Service is spotty or nonexistent in many areas. "Great trip. Beautiful campground. Beautiful scenery," reports 870VERLAND about Erbie, but warns there's "no signal."
Seasonal flooding: Water levels fluctuate significantly. Bruce F. shares about Erbie: "Wanted to kayak but water was up too high after the rain. Site did hold some water after the rain."
Swimming areas: Look for campsites with safe water access. Steel Creek has "great views close hiking" and is "Right next to the Buffalo River along the gorgeous towering bluff" according to Jessica W., making it accessible for families with children.
Space for activities: Down Home Campgrounds provides ample room for family activities. Brady notes it's "a true hidden gem" that's "so close to the Buffalo River, Jasper, and Erbie Horse camp," making it ideal for families wanting equestrian options near Jasper, Arkansas.
Site selection: At Steel Creek, Miranda D. recommends it as "a great campsite if you're wanting to get outdoors, but aren't quite adventurous to go full-out. You wake up every morning to the sound of the Buffalo River coursing by just a few hundred yards away."
Hookup availability: Macks Pines offers full RV hookups including water and electric. According to Roscoe's R., "some sites require a bit of leveling, lots of full hookup and good amount of 50 amp. Some sites are close, some are not."
Campground amenities: Some campgrounds offer facilities particularly useful for RVers. At Macks Pines, Amy & Stu B. note "It doesn't offer a lot in terms of comfort—there are full hookups but no real fire rings, no trees or shade and it's HOT in early June." However, they add that the "nicest people in the world own it" and "they have a shop and cafe on site."
Road accessibility: Consider your vehicle's capabilities when selecting horse campgrounds near Jasper, Arkansas. According to Leah H., at Steel Creek "four wheel drive is highly recommended. The road is steep, has sharp, blind curves and is very narrow."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Jasper, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Jasper, AR is Steel Creek Campground — Buffalo National River with a 4.5-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Jasper, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Jasper, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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