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KCL Campground in Carrizo Plains National Monument provides free camping for equestrians with horses on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. The campground features 12 dispersed sites under shade-providing eucalyptus trees, each equipped with picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and gear poles with hooks for hanging equipment. The campground includes an area specifically designated for horses. Trail riders note that the remote grassland location offers multiple hiking and riding options with connections to open plains and rolling hills, creating excellent opportunities for exploring California's largest remaining native grassland.
Located approximately 35 miles from Bakersfield, the dirt access road to KCL Campground can be rough with washboard sections, requiring careful navigation with horse trailers. The campground provides vault toilets but no potable water, so equestrians must bring sufficient water for themselves and their horses. Riders can access numerous trails directly from the campground, with options ranging from gentle rides across the plains to more challenging terrain in the nearby hills. The monument offers extensive bridle trails through diverse landscapes where equestrians frequently spot wildlife including owls, hawks, rabbits, and ground squirrels. Night skies at KCL provide exceptional stargazing due to minimal light pollution, making it ideal for overnight group equestrian camping trips where horses and riders can experience the peaceful high desert setting.
"trail to hill top. Equestrian site for sure."
"There is an area for your horse. Walk in sites, rv/car camp/van/tent sites. It’s first come first serve, no reservations and it’s free."
"It's about a 40 minute drive from the nearest town (and therefore the nearest gas station or market - plan ahead). There is no power, or water."
"There is a bar at the campground entrance if that is your speed, but we took advantage of the winding creek side path behind site 18."
from $30 - $154 / night
Check Availability"The hubs, kids and myself have spent a lot of time in Keysville if you're looking for a weekend getaway for mountain biking or trail riding this is the place!"
"Beautiful spot conveniently located only a couple miles outside of town. Dumpsters and put toilets provided on both sides of the Kern River."
"Coming from Frazier, CA I was able to access the camp site with a 2012 Chevy Equinox LS FWD (By no means an off-roading vehicle) and return back home with no issues."
"Beautiful drive down grade valley to get to this awesome site. We were looking for a more remote place to camp and this site satisfied all our needs."
"Nice long drive to a beautiful destination"
"It’s about an hour and 15 minutes from our home in Bakersfield. That road off of the 65 is pretty decent as we have a 32 foot fifth wheel."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Absolutely gorgeous camp right along Isabella Lake with beautiful mountain views. The stars at night were spectacular. There is one decently clean pit toilet and dumpsters when you pull in."
GuideWhen I pulled in, everyone else was pulling out (Sunday mid morning). So I had the place to myself and my beagles! I've wanted to introduce them to camping and wasn't sure how they would do. It's quiet, peaceful and even beagles were relaxed enough to sleep!
GuideWe came late afternoon on a Saturday and there was heaps of space left. Some spaces any car can drive, some require higher clearance and some are 100% 4x4 access only. But there was plenty.
The pit toilet is off to the right of the site, although, it can be messy inside, we cleaned it twice in our 1 day stay.
The river is clean, flowing and not freezing cold which was great. Plenty of places to have a dip or a swim. Plenty of places to get chairs under trees for a break from the sun. Absolutely no flies or mosquitoes, it's hands down the best camping spot we've found in the USA so far. Huge bins on the way in to accommodate rubbish.
2 bars 4G Verizon signal, tarmac road until entry and then abit lumpy down to main site.
TravelerWe love it hear but we were scared of the water but there is other safe places to swim real close stay out of this river it is dangerous they are here trying to recover someone swept away awhile fishing.....
GuidePulled in late on a Sunday evening and got lucky with a spot. Absolutely gorgeous camp right along Isabella Lake with beautiful mountain views. The stars at night were spectacular. There is one decently clean pit toilet and dumpsters when you pull in. The only complaint I have for this campsite is that there was trash everywhere. I believe one of the dumpster lids got blown open. For the future everyone please make sure you bring your own trash bags and bag up your own trash in case the lids blow open or are left open. Other campers and ourselves did our best to clean up Remember to always leave it better than you found it😊 happy camping!
GuideIt’s a very simple place but I found it so peaceful being surrounded by the golden plains, the breeze through the big shaded eucalyptus trees, and hearing the owls near sundown. Theres also hummingbirds that’ll get up right in your face. I was also the only one at the site so that was nice. The area is clean, vault toilets kinda gross though. Very small campground, a couple drive in sites and a couple walk in sites but each drive in site had a picnic table, fire ring, and a metal pole hook and theres one drinking water spigot for the whole campground. So not bad!! Road was surprisingly smooth majority of way and has some paved parts but there was some washboard parts too. Road to get here was long though about 13 miles from the blm sign. There was paper maps at the sign area. I got 3 bars at the campground with AT&T but was spotty on the drive over.
GuideSmall campground for 12 smaller than 30 ft rigs or tents. Most are much smaller. Rough bumpy road for miles ether direction on a first come, first serve campground. Has vaulted toilet with no water or other services. If full, would seek off road area on right just as you approach. Has older building of interest. There was a great horned owl in one of the few eucalyptus trees at the campsite. Quiet and nice area to take a hike or two with pretty nice views if you like the high desert landscape. Warning not to travel dirt roads after a rain as you’re likely to get stuck. Better if you come in from the north side(58) on paved roads, but would limit you to boondocking likely because unable to get to this or Selby campgrounds. Selby is another first-come site to the NW
ScoutWe were robbed from this location while out hiking and rafting for the day. Lost thousands of dollars in gear, clothes and personal items. Literally everything was gone, they plucked up the whole tent and took it all, nothing left but some tent stakes once we returned. The location is convenient to town and it is nice next to the river BUT BEWARE and don’t leave ANYTHING. We have a feeling it’s people who know the area and do quick grab and goes, not other campers.
Legend7 regular campsites for car/ RV camping, and about 4-5 or so walk up sites behind the barn for tents only. There is parking at the barn.
Pretty busy little campground, but if you arrive and all the spots are taken I’d stick around because a lot of picnickers use camping spots for lunch and are gone shortly after. Not only that, but people kind of squeeze in any which way and make a spot for themselves for the night as well, and it was all fine. The campground was so nice and quiet and peaceful - nobody had kids with them so it was just a mellow calm vibe the whole time, so relaxing.
Very friendly and quiet vibes here, we really enjoyed it. Nice walking trails right from the campground as well. Amazing wildflower blooms in spring.
Toilets available, as well as water, but the spigot ran dry when we were here in April.
Zero Verizon coverage, even with the weboost, even from the top of the hill. ATT had good service, good enough for streaming and web browsing.
We made it here in our 26ft class c. The road coming in was rough but doable. I wouldn't try coming in anything bigger, as it was we were the biggest giant thing there. We did fit in our spot along the edge but still felt very big. The middle sites are not level but the ones along the edges were.
Free, 14 day limit. Ranger came through to check on things.
TravelerVery helpful
KCL Campground features corrals and stalls for equestrians visiting the Carrizo Plain National Monument area near Bakersfield. This BLM-managed site provides water for horses and offers space for trailers within its compact layout. The campground includes seven regular drive-in sites and four walk-in tent sites located behind the historic barn. Each car/RV site has a picnic table, fire ring, and metal hook post that can be used for securing horses. Vault toilets are available, though the water supply may be unreliable during dry periods and is affected by agricultural nitrate contamination. The sites can accommodate smaller trailers under 30 feet, making it suitable for individual riders rather than large equestrian groups.
The surrounding area offers extensive trail riding opportunities through the open plains and rolling hills. Multiple reviews mention the area is perfect for horseback riding with miles of two-track dirt roads connecting to main routes. Riders frequently observe wildlife including owls that roost in the eucalyptus trees above the campsites. The campground serves as an ideal base for exploring Carrizo Plain's unique landscape and geological features, including visible sections of the San Andreas Fault line. Access requires navigating approximately 13 miles of dirt road from the BLM sign, which can become impassable during or after heavy rain when the dirt turns to thick mud. The remote setting provides peaceful surroundings for horse camping, though facilities are basic and guests must pack out all trash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bakersfield, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bakersfield, CA is KCL Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bakersfield, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Bakersfield, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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