17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Plumas National Forest Snake Lake Campground offers equestrian sites in a rustic forest setting approximately 9 miles from Quincy and 2-3 miles off the highway. The campground features spacious campsites with ample room between them, fire rings, and bear boxes for secure food storage. Access is available via dirt roads through forested areas, making it suitable for horse trailers though higher clearance vehicles are recommended. Toilet facilities consist of vault toilets, while water must be brought in or filtered from the nearby lake. The equestrian-designated camping areas accommodate both overnight horse stays and traditional tent camping, with the large sites allowing sufficient space for horses and camping equipment.
Trail access directly connects horse campers to the surrounding Plumas National Forest trail system, with multiple riding routes accessible from the campground. The natural terrain provides varied riding opportunities through pine forests and along scenic routes. Campers should note this is a primitive camping experience with no water hookups or developed horse facilities such as permanent corrals. Horse owners need to bring portable containment systems or use high-line techniques for overnight horse camping. Bear activity is common in the region, requiring proper food and scent management both for human supplies and horse feed. During peak summer months, mosquitoes can be prevalent around the lake area, so appropriate protection for both riders and horses is advised. The free camping arrangement makes Snake Lake a cost-effective base for exploring the region's equestrian trails.
"Walking trails connect to the campground! What a delight and right near Bucks Lake!
It is bear country, and the campsite was visited by a bear at night.""Clean campground, great fishing, and nice trail around lake. Kids love camping here. Bathrooms are kept clean and stocked 2-3x a day."
from $31 / night
Check Availability"It's close to the lake and market. We love to get ice cream before dinner :) Only negative - not all of the spaces have bear boxes and we had a nice visitor one morning."
"It's along a cove in the lake. Super nice hosts and nice campers. The bathrooms are kind of gross but that's expected. Always camp here when we go to the lake."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Just a short drive down a forest service dirt road and you'll find yourself at Soldier Meadows---a gem of a campground!"
"There is also a water access to go easing and a few deep spots for swimming. There are also 3 Poké stops and a gym for Pokémon Go players."
"Very pretty views of the valley from the campground, and having hiking trails start from the campground was really nice. Only complaints are very close neighbors and little shade."
"There are some nice places to fish that are just a short walk from the campsites and the campsites are nicely shaded to help cut the heat during the day. We saw some salmon, deer, quail, and frogs."
"If you are looking for a small campground with full hookups, on the lake, close to Table Mountain and Feather Falls, this is for you."
"Really enjoyed this campground which is part of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. The staff where we checked in were helpful with all of our questions about the area."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"Located off a well maintained gravel road near beautiful Butte Lake. We had no problem towing our trailer to this location and neither did our friends whose trailer is 30+ ft."
"Stayed at Butte Lake for two nights in late June 2022. None of the campsites has an unobstructed lake view, but it’s a short walk to the day use area on the shore."
from $37 / night
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ScoutForest Service campground in Plumas NF I’ve stayed at several times when exploring the area. About 9 miles from Quincy and 2-3 off highway. Free. Fire rings (need annual campfire permit, free at park offices) and bear boxes. Outhouses. No water apart from lake (generally overgrown). Large clear sites with plenty of space between them. Forested area, dirt roads. Equestrian sites available.
GuideThis little gem is a great place to stay while visiting Lassen. Located off a well maintained gravel road near beautiful Butte Lake. We had no problem towing our trailer to this location and neither did our friends whose trailer is 30+ ft. The campsites are spacious and well maintained. Lots of trees and within walking distance to the lake. Flush toilets were decently clean.
There are no sites located on the actual lake so you have to pack a beach bag, chairs, toys and snacks and haul them down to the waters edge if you want a beach day. Mosquitoes were HUGE so don’t forget bug spray!
The Cinder Cone hike along the old lava flow behind the campsite is spectacular! Don’t let the climb up the cinder cone dissuade you; the panoramic view from the top is well worth it! We did it with two 6 year olds. Don’t forget to visit the nearby Lava Tubes and geothermal sights.
RangerFree! I do love free. I had spent the day in the sun and had no intentions of driving four hours away. I did Subway Cave 👍🏻, Burney Falls👍🏻, and took a much needed nap by Hat Creek.
I pulled into another campground but there were kids running everywhere and the second I got out the mosquitoes came at me starved for my blood. I left.
The next was Bogard. I had literally no idea where I was. I needed rest.
It was beautiful. Aspens fluttered. Owls hooted through the night.
Most of the sites are for horses so I tried to take another without corrals as I’m not a horse but light was fading, I took a horse one.
I met all my fellow campers. So many dog cuddles. Kids rode bikes and played hide n seek.
5 other sites were taken so it was nice and quiet.
I found some wood someone had placed in my site previously and had a nice fire before sleep took over.
It was hot so no rain fly on my tent and the stars were abundant. So were the bugs.
Literally the only downside.
Easily 30 bugs came to bed with me. I used repellent to no avail.
But hey. It’s free.
LegendWe did not stay the night here, as there was too much snow on Bridge Creek Springs Road in April for our RV to be able to get through. We spent the night in a clearing nearby though, and walked over to the campground to check it out.
The camp sites are nicely spread out, and each comes with a picnic table and steel fire pit. The website says max trailer length is 25 ft, but the sites looked plenty large enough to accommodate longer vehicles.
There is lots of shade, almost no sun, so if you rely on solar power keep that in mind.
Not maintained during the winter, but the campground is open. There are two unisex handicap accessible vault toilets, and one was unlocked and the other was locked. We saw several sites with dedicated horse corrals at the site.
There is also a day use area.
We saw a sign pointing the way to “water” but did not see any water spigots in the campground. The sign may have been referring to Pine Creek which passes along behind the campground. The website does mention handpumped water though, so maybe there was a spigot that we didn’t see.
During the winter the campground has kind of an eery, disheveled look. However, when maintenance starts up again, and when the Aspen change color in the fall, this campground is probably a beautiful place.
Zero cell service.
No fees even during open season.
GuideJust a short drive down a forest service dirt road and you'll find yourself at Soldier Meadows---a gem of a campground! Located just 15 minutes from the oh so popular Lake Almanor, Soldier Meadows is a peaceful campground nestled among towering pines and a babbling brook. The campsites are huge, with lots of room to spread out. There is no water at this campsite, but if you bring your filtration system you can get water just steps away from your campsite. One pit toilet is located at the front of the campground. My mom and I camped here for a couple of nights as we were doing so day hikes on the PCT, great base camp. You are only 20 minutes from the town of Chester if you need to run in for a milkshake or more beer, you know the essentials! This is not a fancy campground by any means, but with no camp host there, it all seems a bit more peaceful ;)
LegendStayed at Butte Lake for two nights in late June 2022. None of the campsites has an unobstructed lake view, but it’s a short walk to the day use area on the shore. This is a good jumping off point for a ton of hikes on this side of Lassen NP; excellent signage tells you how far each destination is. The sites themselves are not very private; kids were rolling through our site on bikes all afternoon and evening, dogs were barking at each other, it was a little crowded feeling even though it was probably only at half capacity. (There were reservation cards on almost all the sites, but it seems like a lot of people didn’t show up.) That said, after driving past some of the other campgrounds right next to the highway, I was happy to have chosen this one.
TravelerDespite the remote location and the bumpy gravel road to get to this park, it is a very popular campground. Advanced reservation is a must. Make sure to read the signs about the wildlife and take the advice of how to store food seriously. We saw a bear just a mile outside the campground.
The sites are large and spaced far apart and shady. The lake is only a short walk away and great for swimming, kayaking or paddle boarding. The lake is surrounded by lava and the beach has been formed by volcanic material and smells a little sulphuric but the water is very clear. There are several stunning hikes starting right at the campground .
LegendDespite the beautiful Joshua trees this campground is not a great to stay. The roads are in terrible condition, trash is strewn throughout, and staff is less than friendly or helpful. Roads are terribly narrow and sites are small and very uneven. Not a great place for a trailer nor class A. No direct access to park via road. Is next to neighborhood
GuideClean campground, efficient check in. Lake is not walking distance, no internet. Great place for a quick stop over.
Snake Lake Campground in Plumas National Forest sits at approximately 5,500 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountains, about 9 miles from Quincy, California. The campground features rustic sites spread across forested terrain with pine tree coverage providing natural shade. Weather conditions vary significantly by season with summer temperatures typically ranging from 70-85°F during days and 45-55°F at night.
Trail riding access: The equestrian-designated areas at Snake Lake Campground connect directly to the broader Plumas National Forest trail system. According to Scott R., it offers "hiking, 4 wheeling, fishing. One of my favorite places to camp."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes and streams near horse campgrounds around Belden provide fishing access. At Whitehorse Campground, Erin C. notes "great fishing, and nice trail around lake. Kids love camping here."
Cinder Cone hiking: For riders wanting a break from horseback, Laura F. describes the nearby attractions: "The Cinder Cone hike along the old lava flow behind the campsite is spectacular! Don't let the climb up the cinder cone dissuade you; the panoramic view from the top is well worth it!"
Spacious sites: Horse campers appreciate the room to spread out at equestrian campgrounds. At Bidwell Canyon Campground, Karissa R. notes, "There are very nice and large spots for both Camper and Tent camping... the trees separated the spots enough that groups can be separate or together."
Lake proximity: Many equestrian campsites near Belden are located near water features. Addison G. describes Haskins Valley Campground as being "along a cove in the lake. Super nice hosts and nice campers... Always camp here when we go to the lake."
Natural solitude: Sarah J. valued Black Rock Campground for "Everything we wanted! Solitude and nature. The campground is small, which was perfect. A total of 19 spaces, but on a Sunday night there were only 5 filled spaces. Trees and birds! Chipmunks! Walking trails connect to the campground!"
Bear activity preparation: Proper food storage is essential at horse campgrounds near Belden. Julie B. cautions, "not all of the spaces have bear boxes and we had a nice visitor one morning. Be sure to put your food in your car if you don't have a bear box."
Road conditions: Many horse campgrounds require traveling on unpaved roads. Jim S. describes Soldier Meadows Campground as "Just a short drive down a forest service dirt road and you'll find yourself at Soldier Meadows—a gem of a campground! Located just 15 minutes from the oh so popular Lake Almanor."
Water management: Most equestrian sites have limited water facilities. Some only provide vault toilets with no running water, requiring campers to filter lake water or bring their own supply. As Jessica P. notes about one campground: "Bathrooms were top notch clean! Careful for poison ivy nearby."
Child-friendly sites: Some horse campgrounds near Belden are particularly suited for families. Erin C. mentions that "Kids love camping here. Bathrooms are kept clean and stocked 2-3x a day."
Swimming access: Not all equestrian campsites have direct water access. Bill T. reports that at Butte Lake Campground, "I was there in late July and the lake was great (cold, not numbing) for swimming. Several people launched kayaks and lots of people did the many hikes around the area."
Bug protection: During summer months, insect protection is essential for both horses and humans. Kyle M. experienced challenges at one site: "There was no cell service and a lot of mosquitoes."
Access considerations: Most horse campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. Amy reports Bidwell Canyon is a "Great place for a quick stop over," while other equestrian sites require "4WD and high clearance."
Hookup limitations: Few equestrian campgrounds offer full services. Ty G. notes: "Only downside was no dump or fresh water and it's a 30+ minute drive to town. Biggest downfall of this area is the hour long drive with a trailer down the wash board road."
Level site challenges: Many campsites in this mountainous region present leveling difficulties for trailers. Mary F. advises: "Roads are terribly narrow and sites are small and very uneven. Not a great place for a trailer nor class A."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Belden, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Belden, CA is Whitehorse Campground - Bucks Lake Recreation Area with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Belden, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Belden, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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