We're here to help you find where to go horse camping in Bakersfield. Finding a place to stay in California while traveling with your horse has never been easier. These scenic and easy-to-reach Bakersfield campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
Camping is available on a first come-first serve basis, we do not take reservations. Twelve campsites (two are elevated ADA compliant), with picnic tables, fire pits, horse corrals and ADA compliant vault toilet. Electricy and drinking water is not available. There is no garbage service, please act responsibly and pack out any refuse you have. It has some of the few shade trees on the monument. Formerly owned by the Kern County Land Company, the KCL still has a few of the original barn structures as well as some of the corrals. Please refrain from entering the barn structures.
Hammock spots, dipping holes and a fishing stream make Reyes Creek Campground an ideal hideaway. Located near the Sespe Wilderness alongside Reyes Creek you will find renewal and replenishment, Reyes Creek-style.
Trail hiking, fishing, swimming, group camping, mountain biking, hunting, horseback riding, nature viewing, and recreational mining are favored activities. Day trips to higher elevation snow play in the winter is also enjoyed.
This shaded streamside campground located at 3,500 feet elevation boasts an ample supply of riparian oak and cottonwood trees. The creek area is well shaded and runs year-round. Overhead you may catch a glimpse of red-tailed hawks soaring above the trees. If you are lucky, you may see a California condor!
Located south of Ozena Valley, this campground provides access to the Sespe Wilderness via the Reyes Creek Trail linking to the Piedra Blanc National Recreation Trail. This site is the trailhead for Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Area ideal for hiking or mountain biking.
$150 - $154 / night
Keysville (formerly Keyesville) is a historic mining area that offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Set in rolling terrain amidst a blue oak and foothill pine woodland, Keysville is dissected by the lower Kern River. A little exploration can turn up a wealth of historic resources, including a variety of mining structures and features, a historic fort, and the famous Walker Cabin. Keysville offers commercial and noncommercial white-water rafting opportunities as well as fishing, recreational gold panning, and dispersed camping. A network of over seventy miles of trails provides for mountain biking, equestrian, and motorized recreation use.
All motorized use is limited to designated roads and trails. For a map of Keysville area designated routes, see https://www.blm.gov/documents/california/public-room/map/keysville-recreation-management-area.
Jeffery Pine shaded camp near creek. Dirt road to camp normally accessible by 2 wheel drive vehicle.
$25 - $45 / night
Guide
Small 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
Scout
We 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
GuideNice and clean. Vault toilets. There’s water, but not sure if it’s potable, there wasn’t a sign. No trash service, you have to pack it out. 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.
Traveler
Reyes Creek was great. The drive was nice, very scenic. The campsite was nice but small. Campsites are very, very close together. Some are smaller than others. Especially closer to the creek are smaller. The bathrooms are very clean for a campsite bathroom. Jade was very helpful and informative. She told us about two trails, we did the lighter one that was very nice. I can see this place being very nice in the summer. The weather on the apps are wrong. You have to google a few things to get the right weather. It was much colder than expected at night, woke up to 29 degrees F and ice on my tent and car windows. Other people with us said they had ice in their tent.
ScoutI love this campground, but reserving a site is a pain since there isn't a site map. Here's the sites in the main loop. Hope you all find this helpful!
GuideGreat little spot! I pulled in late at 10pm with my camper van. All the spots were taken except one tent camping spot - but it was super chill so im sure I could have parked in the large pullout just before the designated campground area. Just parked in the parking area of the camp area and slept in van. It was lightly drizzling when I woke up- absolutely beautiful! It was quite and everyone was very respectful. No water on site, people had campfires. Heads up - the road getting there is long and pretty rough, took a star for that - definitely washboard sections- so watch out for that. Happy camping
GuideThis rustic campground offers an arid natural beauty with endless walking. It's a popular place for birdwatchers –the resident owls who roost in the eucalyptus trees above the campsites are very vocal and they inspire daily gazers donning binoculars.
During spring there are poppy runs blooming in a couple places close to the campground. Venturing up on the ridges will yield a spare bit more floral variety if you watch the ground.
It's BLM, so amenities are basic – be prepared to bring your own water, the single spigot isn't potable due to agricultural nitrate impact on the water table. Vault toilets are kept clean, but bring your own tp if you arrive after the weekend. Not smelly, the rooms are airy, fairly large and free of flying bugs.
Surprisingly, my TMobile was fairly consistent 90% of the time and I was able to tether my laptop/kindle to my phone on occasion. This allowed me to extend my stay and upload my artwork.
It's an inspiring place for creativity. And I was so happily surprised to hear a group of really excellent blue grass musicians playing from the campsite across from mine during the first few days when I arrived.
Most sites are back-in. There are a few sites that could accommodate RVs-dry camping only, all sites include a gravel tent pad, concrete table, post for hooking up things, and a fire ring. And there is an adjacent lot for the four walk-in sites behind the barn. No fires permitted in the walk-in area.
The 19mile access road from highway 33 can be grueling in places with heavy washboard.
But for the walks, stargazing, creative inspiration and abundant wildlife, the payoff is well worth the driving effort. And there are more remote opportunities in the nearby hills for folks with good tires, who prefer a quieter boondock place to camp.
RangerBeautiful spot conveniently located only a couple miles outside of town. Dumpsters and put toilets provided on both sides of the Kern River. A larger group site on one side and dispersed sites on the other. Great, reliable Verizon service. Road access is rough in some places, but passable in our low-clearance rig. Days are typically windy so tenters beware. Some of the sites on the dispersed side could use some TLC, but for the price you can't complain. Seems like a great fishing spot, and there do appear to be hiking trails in the area. Glad we made the trip out, if we pass it again we will definitely stay again!
GuideBathrooms, vaulted tent spots, fire pits. Has a water spigot but doesn’t work (maybe off during winter?) trail to hill top. Equestrian site for sure.
TravelerFirst off, Jade the camp host, has to be one of the nicest people We’ve ever met! Super helpful and informative! We stumbled across this place as our original plan fell apart. Lucked out on a site and enjoyed a quiet, relaxing overnight trip. Sites were clean and kept up, bathrooms were clean and there was a nice little creek, perfect for a stroll.
GuideCarrizo plain in the “off season” is great! Cast open spaces and views. Not a lot of people, but tons of beauty.
GuideThe host Jade was one of the most friendliest host we’ve ever met. There are raccoons, squirrels and deers around. Nice little creek runs next to campsites and hiking trail. The ghost town was fun, too.
Traveler
Spare of the moment trip idea lead me to finding this campsite. 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. The drive down into the little valley is spectacular. There are few cool rock faces on the drive into camp which I had a great time doing some bouldering. The campground was shared by one other vehicle and it was fantastic. The site was pretty clean! Only found and picked up the usual (glass, caps, twist ties, styrofoam, toilet paper, etc.) There are a lot of trails near by and the scenery is pretty incredible.
TravelerVery scenic and remote. You can see the infamous San Andreas earthquake fault line
ScoutSmall campground, great for stargazing. As of 08/23/21, there are no potable water available. There are vault toilets available on site that's pretty descent w/ toilet paper provided.
The deduction is due to SO MANY FLIES! I have bug screens installed in the van and it could literally break your experience camping here. The weather could get pretty hot, there's a few eucalyptus trees that provides a descent shade BUT due to the water not being available, I've deducted another star.
If you're just looking for a place to sleep this is the spot. The road to get here is pretty bumpy so hang tight and don't miss the exit turning into the road (like i did).
TravelerLoved the campground and the camp host is the best! We hiked the creek and loved the tree coverage. It’s even beautiful enough to enjoy despite the horrible campers that are so loud you can hear them in the canyon from dawn to dusk. The websites say that max 22’ RV is recommended. I drove a 24’ and managed the treacherous switchbacks… but much bigger and you’ll either get stuck or fall off the edge of a cliff.
TravelerThis campground was nice. The camp host really did a great job of keeping things clean and nice. Some shady spots and a really great seasonal creek.
Pros
Cons
ScoutCamp hosts were great. Valut toilets were in better shape. We went in June 2020 and it was hot. But there is a fun stream you can hike by and it did the trick. Nice and relaxing off the beaten path.
GuideReyes creek is beautiful! Great camping spots, beautiful creeks & hikes, cute abandoned town for a photo opp and awesome camp host. We ended up in group site 1 due to Covid they can’t have big groups and it was spacious and great for our doggos to have a big area. There are 3 neighborhood dogs that come and go through your campsite but they are sweet pups and don’t cause any trouble. The abandoned town is a 3 minute walk from camp and really interesting. Some camp spots are right on the creek and the running water is a peaceful background noise for your trip. Highly recommend!
ScoutTook a drive out there last week(Jan 24th) on a hunt to find new campsites and was a little disappointed when we drove up. Each site was pretty close to one another so not much privacy and the sites were a little small for my liking. KCL would be perfect for people who are going to be exploring all day or for star gazers. Not so great for group camping unless you grab a few sites
GuideWent in late October and the campground was absolutely infested with flies. Us and the three other campers that showed up around the same time ended up leaving and going to Selby up the road because the flies were so out of control. Not sure if this is a seasonal issue because there isn’t any mention in other reviews.
RangerGreat spot to relax. There are some nice hiking options, as well.
RangerNot the easiest to get to. But, great for altitude get away. Not winter accessible.
TravelerWe were here during mid-week in the middle of Aug 2020. Weather was hot, but there was lot's of shade in the campsites and a beautiful, cool creek running through. Makes for great sleeping. We hiked up hills to watch the meteor shower (great), along the creek for small waterfalls, and a little ways into the wilderness (but there's nice hiking as far as you want to go). Camp hosts were excellent. Bathrooms were clean, but not much you can do with smell on toilets like these. Looking forward to coming back again.
TravelerThe only thing we had an issue with is the day we were there the overflow parking was full and there is no cell service, other then that it was a blast we all had a great time the creek made it really fun for the kids and adults too and the little ghost town at the entrance makes an ideal photo op for the kids and adults too... It truly feels a world away! Super helpful camp host, lots of families and overall a super great time took our cat adventure camping and he even loved it a great place especially with kids !!
Horse camping in California offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.
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 21 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.
