Montana de Oro State Park includes equestrian camping facilities in a coastal setting. The group horse camping area features pipe corrals for securing horses overnight, pit toilets for riders, and direct trail access to the beach. The campground sits along a wild coastline with sand dunes, tall peaks, and high cliffs overlooking beautiful beaches. Trails suitable for horseback riding connect campers to various parts of the 8,000-acre park. The horse camping areas are primitive but functional, accommodating groups of riders who bring their own water for horses.
Pacific Dunes Ranch offers horseback riding opportunities with proximity to beach dunes. Located near Oceano, the ranch provides riding excursions on the beach for both overnight guests and day visitors. Riders can traverse the adjacent sand dunes that serve as a backdrop to the property. The ranch features full RV hookups with sites on hard-packed sand and gravel, making it suitable for horse trailers. The proximity to the dunes allows for a relatively short ride to reach the ocean, approximately 30 minutes on horseback. The upper camping area closer to the dunes is preferred by equestrians for better access to riding trails and coastal breezes.
$25 - $150 / night
"It's worth dragging your stuff up a small path to get away from the crowds. You can surf and mountain bike here. Our tent was even visited by some people on horse back!"
"Quiet, peaceful and surrounded by skies perched out atop a hill."
$60 - $70 / night
"I grew up camping at Lopez Lake as well as other campsites. Lopez Lake offers a lot. Fishing hiking camping horse back riding etc. I highly recommend camping here."
"It was located right next to the water park but they had already closed for the season."
"Right next to some beautiful dunes. Rv / pull in sites. Have tables restrooms and fire pit relatively close to Oceano/ piano"
"There are two levels of this campground, I stayed at the upper level just steps from the sand dunes which will lead you to the Pacific Ocean about 1/2 mile away."
"Close to the beach."
$40 / night
"There is frisbee golf and horse shoes. They even have an Emu that is friendly and your kids can pet. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly."
"Staff helpful..friendly..restrms clean..quiet at night..fun things for kids..lake nearby also. Only 1 pitfall...we tent camped in space #63..next to a dirt road which looped around the campground."
"Santa Margarita Lake is a lovely, quiet medium size lake used for drinking water in San Luis Obispo County, Los Padres National Forest."
"We thoroughly enjoyed our drive-in tent site, the scenery, and the abundant bird life."
"This lake has a no body contact rule which makes it a great quiet fishing lake with no jet skiing, swimming etc... there is a seasonal swimming pool that is right across from the rv spots."
$30 - $34 / night
"Turkey Flat is a great place for groups to camp and drink beer around a fire. Wake up and fire up those off - road vehicles and maybe take a gun out to where they hunt turkeys or wild boar."
"Few fire pits and tables a couple flat spots for camping, 30-45 minute drive from Santa Maria. Drive slow down the dirt road as to not upset the residents of Colson Canyon."
"Clean site Areas are well spaced out First compound of campsites are the best end of the road are the trails to hike and only able to fit 3 trucks up there comfortably Bring your own toilet amenities"
"We arrived on Saturday 4th of July and all the sites were taken so we decided to drive another 15 miles up the road to a nice shaded location just right off the road."
"I drive up on Old Sierra Madre Road from hwy 166, and it took about an hour."
GuideIt's worth dragging your stuff up a small path to get away from the crowds. You can surf and mountain bike here. Our tent was even visited by some people on horse back!
LegendThis is a great spot if proximity to water is important to you. Sites are well maintained but hard to come by—make reservations in advance! Hop away from water and another highlight are the nearby monarch groves where the butterflies migrate to the trees and you can walk through on paths.
TravelerI grew up camping at Lopez Lake as well as other campsites. Lopez Lake offers a lot. Fishing hiking camping horse back riding etc. I highly recommend camping here.
GuideSanta Margarita Lake is a lovely, quiet medium size lake used for drinking water in San Luis Obispo County, Los Padres National Forest. There are 60 campsites; 54 tent/RV, 2 Boat-in and 4 horse camps. There is a playground and a pool available in summer as swimming in the lake is not allowed. Canoe/boat rentals are available as well as a launch ramp and marina store. This lake is popular with smaller fishing and recreational boats. Amenities include flush toilets in main camp, picnic table, fire pits but no hook ups. Reservations are online except for horse camps which require a phone call to County Parks 805-788-2387, fees run 38$-36$ per night.
LegendMy favorite thing about this campground are the 4 primitive sites scattered throughout the park—#4 being particularly incredible. Quiet, peaceful and surrounded by skies perched out atop a hill. It is close to the hiking trail so there’s typically foot traffic throughout the day, but you really couldn’t ask for a more quintessential coastal camping experience. Non-strenuous, short distance, easy access hike/gentle walk to the site from where you park. You can request it with the host in the main camp during check in—you won’t regret it. So many stars, beautiful skies and trails accessible to all hiking levels
TravelerI camped in Mustang during the last weekend of September. It was located right next to the water park but they had already closed for the season. The campsites were pretty close to each other and unfortunately we were stuck between two different groups that did not obey the quiet hours. Not a huge deal at night since they were quiet by midnight or so but one of the groups was also loud with kids early in the morning as well. This didn't make the best camping experience but we tried to make the best of it.
The lake was within walking distance but since the water level is so low, you had to walk quite a way out. There are some decent hiking trails you can go on right from the campground. We took the Escondido trail from camp that took us to the top of a ridge and had numerous switchbacks. Great views from the top.
LegendYou can camp just steps from Spooners Cove (great place for swimming!) in Islay Creek Campground. It’s in the Montana De Oro State Park. There are about 50 campsites on either side of a in and out kind of lollipop road up on a flat hill above Spooner’s Cove. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with grill, and there are a couple of clean vault toilets scattered in the campground. There are some nice trees, but most sites are not suited to hammocking. Many sites will be in full sun most of the day, and there is not much privacy. There is a trail that cuts through the campground, and there are many trailheads nearby. I would not suggest bringing your dog with you because while pets are allowed in the campground, they are not allowed on the trails or on the beach. Also, if you want a fire plan on bringing your own wood or buying it from the camp host as you are not allowed to forage for downed wood. The camp host didn’t seem to have a problem with me collecting some of the wild nasturtiums to add to my dinner (so fun to have edible flowers on my salad, wish I took a picture!).
Supposedly there is a horse camp not too far away, but I can neither confirm or deny as I did not go looking for it.
LegendLopez Lake Recreation Area is 15 minutes behind the “Village” of Arroyo Grande, CA.
Lopez is a frequently visited spot for us - We generally camp in a primitive site the back of the Squirrel Loop of the park. The Squirrel Loop is not a lakeside loop (you cannot see the lake at all from here), but we have found it to be one of the quieter, less trafficked campground in the park. The Squirrel Loop is nestled inside a canyon, surrounded by big, beautiful live oak trees.
Lopez Lake is a very large campground with many different loops, so many of which are nearby the lake. If you haven’t been to the campground before and are not worried about reserving a site ahead of time, take some time to drive around the park when you arrive to see what area you would most like to camp in - there are a lot of great spots here there and everywhere!
Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. There are clean plumbed bathrooms, and coin-operated showers. Lopez has full hook-ups for RVs, and a marina to launch boats. There is a small but well-stocked convenience store in the marina with food, ice, firewood, beer, fishing gear, etc. There is also a small cafe located in the marina store, with limited hours.
Lopez Lake is the home of the Mustang Waterpark, a small, but super fun water park. I believe the park is closed during the fall and winter months, but is open during the spring and summer. Swimming is allowed in the lake, and there are some “beach” areas that have been cleared of lake plants and rocks for safe swimming.
Hiking to Big Falls is a fun adventure if you want to leave the campground. There are certain times when the falls are not accessible without 4WD, however, we have been in severe drought conditions in Central California for the last few years, so you don’t have to worry about crossing any deep creeks, if any. A super low clearance vehicle may have a challenging time crossing the creek beds, even when dry. The drive to Big Falls trailhead from Lopez is short, but probably takes 15-20 minutes as you are driving through a curvy, narrow canyon road. The hike is through live oak trees most of the way, so most of the hike is nice and shaded. Keep and eye out for salamanders when crossing the creek beds! While it is unlikely, black bears mountain lions have been spotted on the Big Falls trail, so be aware of your surroundings. Here are directions to the Big Falls trailhead: http://www.hikeslo.com/big-falls/
WARNING : While the possibility of a black bear sighting is fairly uncommon, black bears are seen every year at Lopez Lake. You are in black bear county, and there are no bear boxes/ food lockers at Lopez Lake. I would suggest locking your food and coolers up in the car at night to avoid attracting wild animals to your campsite.
CAMPSITE SPECS
Fees: $35/night (primitive site)
Plumbed Toilets: Yes
Drinking Water: Yes
Showers: Yes (coin-operated)
Picnic Table: Yes
Firepit: Yes
Cooking Grate: Yes
Shade: Yes
Cell Service: No
Animal Bins/Food lockers: No
Trash: Yes
TravelerThis lake has a no body contact rule which makes it a great quiet fishing lake with no jet skiing, swimming etc... there is a seasonal swimming pool that is right across from the rv spots. It is a dry campground and the 7 rv spots are basically on a parking lot but are on the waters edge which is nice. The tent sites are nice and are close the the lake. There is a well stocked and surprisingly well priced store as well as a marina that rents boats and kayaks. The lake has 2 boat launches and miles of hiking trails all within a short walk to the camping area. We get a few tv channels on our antenna but there is no cell reception. We launch our kayaks 20’ from our camper and when we had a boat we would launch it when we got there and leave it in the water right next to the camper which was very convenient. This of course always depends on the water level which has been very low some years, but has been good this year. The pool, showers and restrooms are newer, clean and very close to the rv spots but a bit of a walk to most of the tent sites.
Equestrian camping near Avilla Beach offers terrain suitable for both novice and experienced riders. The Central Coast region provides a mix of oak woodlands and coastal access trails with elevations ranging from sea level to over 2,000 feet. Overnight camping options span from primitive sites to facilities with corrals and water troughs, with most locations requiring advanced reservations during peak summer months.
Trail riding to McPherson Peak: The Sierra Madre Road provides access to several equestrian-friendly trails. "We drove up even more to McPherson peak where the views are amazing," notes Antonio C. about staying at Miranda Pine Campground, adding that "the road is bumpy but in good condition overall."
Beach riding access: Some locations offer direct routes to coastal riding. At Pacific Dunes Ranch, James O. reports, "You can walk off the property and directly into the sand dunes," making it convenient for riders wanting ocean access without trailering horses between campsites and riding areas.
Swimming alternatives: While horses need rest time, human campers can enjoy designated swimming areas. Santa Margarita Lake provides a swimming pool as Corey L. explains: "The pool, showers and restrooms are newer, clean and very close to the rv spots but a bit of a walk to most of the tent sites."
Sand dune exploration: The unique coastal dune ecosystem provides distinctive riding terrain. According to Annette A., at Pacific Dunes Ranch, "The dunes were beautiful, but walking to the beach would be quite an effort. Without the OHV activity, it was safe to hike or dune surf."
Panoramic views: Elevated campsites provide scenic vantage points. At Miranda Pine Campground, Dani P. shares, "Set atop a mountain, Miranda Pine campground gives sweeping views all the way to the ocean... Sunset and Sunrise views are incredible."
Wildlife viewing: The coastal ecosystem supports diverse animal species. Ryan W. notes at Islay Creek Campground, "Hello more birds, more deer, more meddling raccoons than expected... At night lots of wildlife to listen to."
Wind conditions: Ridgetop locations can experience severe wind. Danielle M. warns about Miranda Pine: "It was incredibly windy all day/night. Like... too windy to cook, hang out, relax. Probably picked the worst time of year for wind."
Ticks prevalence: Some coastal areas have tick populations. Val H. cautions about Islay Creek Campground, "Although the location is very scenic and a 10 min walk to the beach, I wouldn't return because there are ALOT of ticks at the campground. We went with a party of 11 and found multiple ticks on 5 people."
Road access challenges: Many equestrian sites require traveling unpaved roads. Dani P. advises about Miranda Pine, "Beware the road is long and unpaved, not suitable for a compact car. I did it with a high clearance 4WD and made it to the top."
Kid-friendly amenities: Some sites offer dedicated children's activities. At Santa Margarita KOA, Angel Q. recalls, "The highlight for my kids was the Easter egg hunt put on by the staff. A happy surprise for sure."
Wildlife education: The diverse ecosystem provides learning opportunities. Ryan W. notes at Islay Creek Campground: "Raccoons will 100% rush your site as soon as you go to sleep to see if there are any fun goodies laying about. Put stuff away."
Shaded campsites: Tree cover provides comfort during hot days. At Lopez Lake Recreation Area, Linda S. advises, "We've tent camped on primitive sites and camped with a pop-up with electricity & water. None of the full hookup sites have a view but some of the tent sites do."
Site surface conditions: The terrain at horse-friendly campsites varies. Annette A. explains that Pacific Dunes Ranch has "close spaces, picnic tables, but must bring your own fire pit. No grass, but hard packed sand and gravel."
Levelness considerations: Some sites require additional equipment. Leonard H. notes about Islay Creek Campground, "Asphalt paved parking slots a little sloped but can level with blocks."
Water pressure variations: Utility quality can fluctuate at different campgrounds. At Santa Margarita KOA, stacey S. reports, "The space has full hookups with 50 amp. The water pressure was a little low compared to other places."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Avilla Beach, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Avilla Beach, CA is Islay Creek Campground — Montaña de Oro State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Avilla Beach, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Avilla Beach, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
