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Bridalveil Creek Campground in Yosemite National Park features horse-friendly accommodations for equestrians exploring the high country trails. Located at 7,200 feet elevation along Glacier Point Road, the campground permits horses in designated areas with space for both tent and RV camping. The facility provides access to drinking water and toilets while maintaining policies that allow pets in appropriate areas. The campground serves as an excellent base for riders seeking access to Yosemite's backcountry trail system with terrain suitable for horses of various experience levels. Visitors have noted the campground remains considerably less crowded than valley locations despite its proximity to spectacular high country views.
Positioned approximately 16 miles from Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Creek connects riders to an extensive network of bridle paths throughout the park's southern region. The campground operates seasonally from approximately July through September, depending on snowmelt conditions at the higher elevation. Horse owners should note that reservations are required for equestrian camping, and availability is limited compared to standard camping sites. Water access for horses exists near the campground, though riders should verify seasonal flow levels before arrival. The surrounding pine forest provides natural shade for horses during summer months. Trail rides from this location access some of the most dramatic panoramic views in the park, including potential connections to the park's longer distance wilderness trails that extend into the backcountry.
"After accidentally driving to this location following the directions of another reviewer for the “Yosemite Boondocks” campground across 41 (which we never found) we were very happy with this location."
"Great spot about 5 minutes away from Yosemite entrance. Only a few other campers nearby but plenty of space to where they were only seen from a distance."
"The site is pet friendly and has horse stables. Our neighbors were friendly and quiet. The site had a picnic table, fire pit, water spout and full electricity hook ups."
"Driving from the West toward Yosemite this location is one which will allow you to find a camping option before getting into the big crowds. "
from $41 - $43 / night
Check Availability"Off-road on the way to the camp site. We stayed at #4, with a good shade and it’s by the creek. Everything is good only it’s too dusty when other cars pass by without slowing down."
"Has a creek through the middle next to pretty much all sites. The stars at night are incredible. It’s about a 40 minute drive from Yosemite."
from $41 - $43 / night
Check Availability"Great location right in the middle of Yosemite Valley. Great access to beautiful hikes and scenery. The camp sites are spacious."
"There is a shuttle stop right outside the campground. You are also in easy walking distance to the path to Mirror Lake and the ever popular Mist Trail."
from $48 / night
Check Availability"It would make the perfect group site as they were a bit tucked back from the other sites. Site #12 could easily be connected to site #11 as the brush is well-cleared between the two."
"Located a short 20 miles east of 99, just north of Fresno, this Army Corps of Engineers campground is stunning."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Decent access to drinking water and each site has tables and fire rings, no RV hookups (another reason you have more "campers" and it's less noisy at night)."
"Your best bet is to visit the valley and camp outside the Park or in locations outside the valley. The granite cliffs and waterfalls are something to treasure."
from $36 - $75 / night
Check Availability"For people with mobility issues, this site is a good walk away from the inner valley trails, fine for anyone else who is up for walking distances, because that is why you came to Yosemite!"
"Beautiful campground, unfortunately right next to the trail, but very spacious and also has bathrooms and picnic tables right there!"
"It is a beautiful campground located off Kaiser Pass Road. Even in June there was so many wildflowers and vibrate green. There was bathrooms and each site had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box."
"When I visited some people had buried human waste next to the campsite and I cleaned it up. Most easily accessed via Kaiser Pass. Be aware that the road is steep, narrow, and has blind corners."
GuideGreat location right in the middle of Yosemite Valley. Great access to beautiful hikes and scenery. The camp sites are spacious. Because it's an equestrian campground, you will smell the horses and stables....be prepared. The river is close to the campgrounds and are refreshing on a hot day.
GuideI agree the road out is pretty scary I don't advise trailers but I have seen them while driving in. It is one lane and you must pull out for opposing traffic. But definitely one of my most favorite places in the Sierras. The views are amazing, I recommend giving yourself extra time to stop and get out for the views a few times on the way in.
Once in the campground/resort area there are two separate loops to camp in as well as cabins to rent and a small dispersed camping area there is also a general store, bath house, and small Cafe that are all seasonal since the road is closed most of the year. So open and close dates vary depending on snow. You can get firewood, drinking water at the store but it can be a little pricey, so I recommend bringing your own. The baths/showers are usually included for anyone paying for a campsite, but this may have changed. It is very cheap for day use persons to use the showers though. The sites are all very nice and surprisingly private though some are pretty close together. All provide a firepit, table, bear box, and parking space. I love that there are bear boxes at such a remote place! There are vault tiolets and dumpsters for trash. The river runs along one side of the campsites so about half of the sites are on the river. Bring extra bugspray for these sites as you are close to the water.
Most important if you made it this far reading 😅😂 there are multiple NATURAL HOT SPRINGS!! There are several different pools located across the river from the campgrounds. They are all over the hillside and range in temperature from lukewarm to bath water to Hot. They also pump the natural mineral water to the bathhouse for the showers! The springs are the main reason to come out and camp. There are also tons of hiking trails and other lakes in the area including 2 thermal lakes and tons of breathtaking views. I highly recommend this place. 🏞🏕
Also: I have not personally stayed in the cabins or dispersed camping area only the paid sites along the river, but I have been here several times and have seen them. There is also a corral area for horses so I'm not sure if that qualifies it as an equestrian camp but there is a spot for the horses.
TravelerIf you wanna get away and camp next to a river and down a trail and shoot your gun or go fishing you can freedom you can horseback ride if you have horses he can fish there are fish there trout it's beautiful peaceful.
TravelerThis campground is in the heart of Yosemite Valley. It is great to camp on the valley floor, especially during peak season as traffic from all main gates to the valley floor is very congested. There is a shuttle stop right outside the campground. You are also in easy walking distance to the path to Mirror Lake and the ever popular Mist Trail. Shuttle stops at all valley attractions and you can easily get to the Pizza Deck in Half Dome Village, the deli in Yosemite Village, and many different hiking trails. Some spots are right along the Merced River. No showers here, but hot showers are close by at Half Dome Village. We will be back!
LegendIt is hard to get a Camping spot in Yosemite but well worth it if you do. I got up early many a morning to try and get a day here or there for our summer trips out west. You can always try the daily lottery in the village office which we did one day. So Any campground in the valley is good and in close proximity to everything going on. This campground is located on the Merced river and is primitive. The horse stables are in this loop as well.There is a water station by entrance to fill up. No electric, sewer or shower. There are bathrooms with an outlet (Yea- can charge your Phone but get in line) You can bathe in river like I do or go to curry village and pay for a shower at housekeeping. You get a fire ring and a bear box at each site. Generator hours are limited so plan accordingly.
ScoutAlthough this campground is located in the midst of so much dramatic beauty, few campgrounds capture that beauty like this one. While sitting in your campsite, you can see majestic mountains and a very quiet. It is located across from horse stables if you like that and near a little store. Fishing appears to be the popular activity here although we are not fisher persons. It is a great base camp to all of the June Lake and Mammoth region
RangerThousand Island Lake is a trek to get to but once you get there, well you don’t really want to leave. This view is absolutely beautiful, and it changes rapidly with the rising and setting sun so make you have your camera ready for it. This is completely back country so you gotta pack it all in. There are some rules you have to follow while camping at this lake, 30 feet off of the trail and then another 100 feet away from the water. This can be hard to do as your camp may be on a slant or in the wide open, however you have plenty of space to choose from at this location. There is another rule about camping past a certain peninsula but from everyone we talked to they had no idea which peninsula the map was actually referring to, so you just walk past a couple of them and hope you’re in the right spot. The water is very cold but still feels great after a long hike all day.
There are multiple routes to getting to this lake, you can come. The John Muir trail and the PCT lead to this location, also Mammoth California has a trail that leads here as well. We even encountered mule train options on our way in if you prefer that type of transportation. But this is definitely somewhere you want to visit.
GuideWe were lucky to get 5 days in a row during 4th of July weekend in 2021 at one of the best sites within North Pines campground. We set up camp at site #515, we had a fire pit, bear locker, picnic table and two tents! Within walking distance is the edge of the Merced river, from there you have views of Yosemite Falls. One of my favorite activities was take a short walk with a floating tube from the campsite to the entrance of the campground and hop into the river float back down and get off near our campsite! Our site also offered a good amount of shade and was a short walk from the restrooms. We were surround amongst the giant granite cliffs. One of the best camping trips with great company. 10/10 would recommend.
TravelerAfter accidentally driving to this location following the directions of another reviewer for the “Yosemite Boondocks” campground across 41 (which we never found) we were very happy with this location.
First, to tell you how to properly get here and find all the spots, drive to the end of the road (don’t pay attention to the gate and “off road” dirt road you see to the left before the parking lot. Don’t go there. Go to just before the big Snow Play parking lot and head right through the dirt. There is no paved road but the area is flat and any car, truck or rv/trailer can make it back here easily. I got nervous at first about ability to turnaround so I parked prematurely near the entrance. Keep going and you’ll find at least 4 or 5 big private areas separated by huge cut logs all with plenty of room to turnaround and not have to back up.
If you’re nervous, we watched several cars, vans, and trailers camp overnight in the big paved parking lot right past this, and that’s fine, but you’re in a parking lot. Come out to the right and you’re in heaven.
We were the only RV here and had it to ourselves an entire week (granted it’s early November). Can’t beat the proximity to Yosemite south entrance.
Equestrian camping near Bass Lake, California provides access to mountain trails at elevations ranging from 3,400 to 7,200 feet. The Sierra National Forest surrounds this area, offering terrain that transitions from pine forests to high-country meadows. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during daytime with cooler evenings dropping to 45-55°F, while winter access becomes limited above 5,000 feet due to snowfall.
Trail riding from Goat Meadow: Located approximately 5 miles from the south entrance of Yosemite, this dispersed camping area serves as an excellent base for equestrian day trips. "Beautiful scenery, clean, close to Yosemite, and easy to reach. As others have said, follow Mount Raymond Rd up until you see the sign for the snow play area, and look to the right," notes Derrick H.
Explore high-elevation routes: Bridalveil Creek Campground offers access to mountain trails between 6,500-8,000 feet. "Just off the road that takes you to Glacier Point. Reservations not needed, but tough to get on weekends," advises Buck R., who recommends timing your visit carefully.
Creek access for horses: The nearby Big Sandy Campground features creek access suitable for watering horses after trail rides. "Has a very nice stream that runs right down the middle of campground that basically every site is next to the water," shares Leon G., highlighting a practical feature for equestrians.
Elevation and cooler temperatures: Horse riders appreciate the higher elevation campsites during summer months when valley temperatures soar. "The elevation at the site is appx 5200, meaning it will get snow in the winter(ish) months," explains Alexander Mark C. about Goat Meadow, noting how elevation affects seasonal camping conditions.
Proximity to multiple trail systems: North Pines Campground offers connections to both valley floor and climbing trails. "This campground is in the heart of Yosemite Valley. It is great to camp on the valley floor, especially during peak season as traffic from all main gates to the valley floor is very congested," reports Kerry V., highlighting the accessibility.
Larger sites for horse trailers: Several campgrounds accommodate horse trailers with ample parking areas. "Quite a large level area, though it was November and not peak season so there were loads of space. We pulled in and there were a couple of trailers with horses," observes Kevin T. about dispersed camping options in the area.
Seasonal closures affect horse trails: Many high-country horse trails become inaccessible after first snowfall. "This area is a portion of the area which in recent years experienced forest fires so there are lots of downed limbs in the area," notes Crystal C. at Sweetwater Campground, which serves as a lower-elevation alternative when higher trails close.
Limited water sources: Not all equestrian campsites provide reliable horse water. "No water unless you use the creek. Please report any trash or other issues to the Prather Ranger Station," advises Collin about Sample Meadow Campground, emphasizing the need to plan for water access.
Road conditions affect trailer access: Forest service roads leading to horse camps vary significantly in quality. "The 6 mile road to get into it is rough. With high rain season, you have to cross the creek and it may require a lifted type vehicle like a truck," warns Rosina A. about accessing certain camping areas with horse trailers.
Choose camps with creek access: Children enjoy water features while horses rest. "Beautiful area surrounded by trees so lots of shade. Came on 4th of July so the crowd is a lil rowdy but I found a spot farther away which is nice!" shares Taryn R. about Goat Meadow, noting how site selection affects experience.
Plan for temperature variations: Sierra elevations experience significant day-night temperature swings. "It also gets extremely cold at night so make sure to bring warm clothes and have a good tent and sleeping bag," advises Darlene M. about Sample Meadow Campground, particularly important when camping with children.
Wildlife awareness for children: Yosemite Valley Backpacker's Campground and surrounding areas require proper food storage. "Coyotes and bears are active in the area—coyotes raided a bag I had hanging from a tree and stole my food!" reports Alexander Mark C., emphasizing the importance of teaching children proper wilderness practices.
Length limitations on mountain roads: RVers with horse trailers should research road conditions carefully. "The roads nearby can take you to Kaiser Wilderness and Kaiser Peak. By car it's only assessable between June and October," shares Darlene M. about forest service roads, which often impose length restrictions.
Parking configurations at horse camps: COE Eastman Lake Codorniz Campground offers organized parking suitable for truck-trailer combinations. "Sites are asphalt. Many sites may take some time to level. Back in and pull through are available," notes Tom D., providing practical information for RVers with horse trailers.
Generator restrictions near horse areas: Most horse-friendly campgrounds limit generator hours to prevent spooking animals. "We are not RV people so we don't know why they need to run them. Next time we will camp in a tent only area," comments Sarah F., highlighting potential conflicts between different camping styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bass Lake, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bass Lake, CA is Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site with a 4.5-star rating from 53 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bass Lake, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 equestrian camping locations near Bass Lake, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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