Are you an equestrian lover who prefers a more rustic experience when you visit Benton? Finding a place to camp in California with your horse is easier than ever. At The Dyrt, you can find top-rated spots for horse camping, as reviewed by campers.
Silver Lake Campground is nestled between Silver Lake and the dramatic scenery of the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This is a great base camp for fishing, boating, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding and photography. The facility has creekside camping with a boat ramp and pack station nearby.
Rush Creek and 97-acre Silver Lake offer peaceful places for anglers to cast a line for rainbow trout. Boating is allowed on the lake, which has a 10 mph speed limit. The area's majestic scenery and challenging trails are an obvious draw for hiking and horseback riding. A nearby trail provides access to the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Within the facility, campers can go for a relaxing 1-mile walk or horseback ride along Rush Creek. The scenic drive along the June Lake Loop results in expansive views of rugged mountain peaks and several lakes.
Some campsites are in open areas while others are shaded by aspen and willow trees. Rush Creek and Silver Lake border the facility, and June Lake is a short drive away. Silver Lake lies at an elevation of 7,200 feet at the base of 11,000 and 12,000' mountain peaks. Many species of wildlife call the mountains home, such as black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and numerous fish and birds.
The small town of June Lake has various amenities. Hikers can access the Ansel Adams Wilderness via area trails, and Mono Lake and Yosemite National Park are great day trips. Ansel Adams Wilderness Yosemite National Park
$30 / night
Twin Lakes Campground is located in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. It offers lakeside camping with breathtaking scenery and many outdoor activities. The lake is a great base for fishing, boating, viewing waterfalls and hiking, and offers close proximity to the town's amenities.
The eastern Sierras are known for great trout fishing, and the 108-acre lakes are a prime location for it. Anglers can cast for rainbow, brook and brown trout while watching a waterfall tumble into the lake. The calm waters are also inviting for canoes and kayaks. Power boats must have electric motors. Several trails offer a variety of hikes nearby, including a 4-mile trail on Mammoth Mountain and two shorter nature trails along the lakes. Families enjoy attending educational programs scheduled throughout the summer.
The campground is forested with lodgepole pine, providing partial shade and a private setting. It sits at an elevation of 8,600 feet at the base of snow-capped, 11,059' Mammoth Mountain, a popular skiing destination. A cascading waterfall flows into one of the lakes. The mountains are abundant with wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds.
Mammoth Lakes Basin contains several additional popular lakes to explore for fishing and boating, and Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort offers year-round recreation. Visitors can also access the magnificent John Muir Wilderness nearby, which stretches 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevadas, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain. Abundant hiking and horseback riding trails are available.
$32 / night
Mammoth Lakes Ranger District is located in the northern half of Inyo National Forest, and is centered around the town of Mammoth Lakes, CA. While known for winter sports, it is also a mecca for mountain biking and fishing enthusiasts when the snow melts. Hiking and equestrian trails go into wilderness areas of Sierra Nevada.
Narrow, single lane road. Only accessible in summer. Accessible by private vehicle only if camping.
Mono Hot Springs Campground sits above Kaiser Pass in the High Sierra, on the South Fork of the San Joaquin River in an area known for its hot mineral baths. The camp is divided into two sections that are separated by Mono Hot Springs Resort, and some sites are shaded by aspen and lodgepole pine. The campground sits at an elevation of 6,700 feet with many cliffs in the area. It makes a great base for exploring the nearby Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas or for simply relaxing and enjoying the scenery.
The Mono Hot Springs area provides opportunities for fishing, birding, mountain biking, hiking and relaxing in the hot springs. Interpretive programs are offered at the campground on Friday nights during the summer. Wading is permitted in the San Joaquin River, which is known for its excellent fly fishing. Trailheads in the area include Devil's Table (5 miles) and Doris Lake (2 miles). The Mono Creek Trail connects Mono Hot Springs to Edison Lake, a hike of about 10 miles round-trip.
The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources. The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra.
For facility specific information, please call (559) 893-2308.
Edison Lake is a popular recreation area nearby offering boating, fishing and horseback riding. From this area, hikers and horseback riders can access the John Muir Wilderness, and the Pacific Crest Trail, which extends from Mexico to Canada.
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
$35 - $37 / night
$5 / night
Agnew Meadows Group Campground is located in the Reds Meadow Valley section of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, just west of the full-service community of Mammoth Lakes, California. Popular with large families, this group camping facility provides access to some of the most spectacular wilderness in the Sierras and many outdoor activities such as horseback riding, fishing, hiking and photography. Devils Postpile National Monument and the famous Ansel Adams Wilderness are nearby, and a pack station with horseback riding tours and supplies is just down the road.
This campground is a great base camp for hiking the area's many trails. Within a few miles, campers will find the High Trail, Shadow Creek Trail and River Trail, all open to hiking and horseback riding. Trailheads to the Ansel Adams Wilderness and Pacific Crest Trail are in the vicinity. Hikers are required to ride a shuttle to the trailheads. Fishing enthusiasts can try for trout in the many area lakes or the North Fork of the San Joaquin River.
The campground sits in a lodgepole pine forest surrounded by high mountain peaks, adjacent to creeks and a small lake. The elevation is 8,400 feet. Spring and early summer wildflower displays bring even more color to the landscape. Many species of wildlife call the mountains home, such as black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and numerous fish and birds.
The area is close to Devils Postpile National Monument and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Both areas have trails, unparalleled photographic opportunities and are great day trips. Reds Meadow Pack Station and Resort has a general store and cafe. The trailhead for Rainbow Falls also begins near Reds Meadow. Devils Postpile National Monument Ansel Adams Wilderness
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
$48 / night
Located near the Kaiser and Ansel Adams Wilderness', Sample Meadow Campground offers 16 campsites located along Kaiser Creek. Vault toilets are provided and each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. There is trailhead parking outside of campground approximately .5 mile for hikes into the wilderness. Large RV's and motorhomes not recommended. Horse camping is permitted. Water and garbage service not provided.
Located along Granite Creek, Granite Creek Campground has two loops containing 20 campsites. Fir trees provide a good amount of shade at campsites. Horses are not permited in the lower loop; however, the upper loop of the facility is horse-friendly and offers corrals. The campground provides vault toilets and each site has picnic tables.
Guide
Sagehen gives you beautiful roads throughout, no 4-wheeler required. Pines tree forest, big lots and 1bar phone reception just up the hill. I take my chair and take care of business.
Traveler
Great option, plenty options a dirt road
TravelerNice flat spots along the Scenic Bypass road (not just where the map says). More secluded spots up the hill. The dirt hill road is fairly decent, but no medium+ to large rigs.
5 minutes into Mammoth town. 30 mins to Route 120 west turn, that takes you into Yosemite (tioga pass). I enjoyed a week's stay here. Negatives? Poor and spotty cell. A lot of airborne dirt when dirtbikes, and ATV's are active on weekends.
I would return to this enjoyable spot.
TravelerOur Tacoma made it to the campsites toward the back of the grounds just fine, but there was access closer to the main road for vehicles without high clearance. Great location, close enough to town or Tioga Pass if you wish to visit Yosemite. A bit buggy so be aware. We stayed 2 nights, but at two separate campsites, each of them as good.
Traveler
This campground is definitely worth a visit! Beautiful area, well kept sites and lovely hiking trails. Lots of outdoor recreation available for rent as well.
TravelerEasy access to all vehicles except some areas that may need a little higher clearance. Nicely secluded but not many great open views in the area since it is in the Forrest among the trees.
ScoutDecided to take a last minute trip to Mammoth Mountain to test a few new pieces of camping gear out. Campground was probably 75% full with mostly RV's and trailers. Campground was clean and hosts were polite/friendly. Keep you food in the bear lockers, they have daily visitors late in the evening and throughout the night. Had a good view of the falls from the campsite. Good times!
ScoutI visit this site on a yearly basis. I have never had an experience that was unpleasant and or me dreading the trip back home. It is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. I can’t wait for this years trip.
GuideThis place is perfect for camping, it has everything you need and it has three bars of Verizon if you need to be able to use the Internet, just make sure that you drive up the trail a little bit or hike up there, and you will get decent Internet. Enough for text and such
Guide
Pros: Spacious sites, plenty of space for parking at least 2 vehicles, hosts were kind & helpful, we'll maintained bathrooms, beautifully scenery, close to stream/lake. Cons: neighbors generator was on way past "quiet hours" which no one seemed to be monitoring, but honestly was a small inconvenience.
GuideVisited in Fall, beautiful time, All the trees were changing, it was beautiful. The campground was nice, the spaces were separated, we tent camped. Store a few minute walk down the road, along with place to rent boats for the lake. Very calm and peaceful area. Because of the beauty and seclusion, wonderful time. one of the best campgrounds/locations I've ever been to.
GuideI really enjoyed this camp site! It was FREEZING but worth the clear night sky. We were close to the water and just a short drive from the ski resort and hit springs.
ScoutThis app easy to navigate through.
ScoutThe scenic loop dispersed camping was great a couple of weeks ago. Quite a few spots even though Mammoth was open for snow. However, my partner and I drove around the whole loop looking for internet and couldn't get anything better than a couple Mbps with both T- Mobile and Verizon, even with our MiFi.
Guide
This campground has many spread out sites with one pit toilet. There is no water unless you use the creek. Please report any trash or other issues to the Prather Ranger Station. 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. This campground can also be accessed via Big Creek. I recommend checking conditions with the Prather Ranger Station before setting out.
While in the area I recommend visiting the Mt Tom fire lookout if your vehicle is capable. Florence Lake is also recommended. If you have a mountain bike I recommend the road that continues through the campground over a bridge. It is closed to vehicles but climbs to views and remnants of historic tungsten mining.
Traveler
We still talk about this backpacking camp often. The views are amazing!! So worth the hike in! Pack a trowel…
TravelerIt’s worth it to grab a fishing license up the road at Ernie’s. It was much windier than we anticipated, so definitely stale your tent down. We woke to a neighbors tent in the trees! Showers were closed because of covid, so check the site for those details. Make sure you grab a bite at the Whoa Nellie Deli down the road!
ScoutAmazing views all around. Flush toilets, asphalt pads. Showers were out of service.
Guide
Camped here on thru hike of PCT. Everything you need & the cleanest vault toilets ever. The drive in sites seem well appointed but we stayed in the designated hiker sites. Bear vaults a plenty ease stress because bear activity at this campground is well documented.
Just above the campground is a hot spring. It is very hot, making a quick soak a welcome relief to tired muscles. My only complaint was other campers using soap/shampoo to wash at the spring & rinsing it straight into the creek below the spring, (I personally witnessed a dozen people do this).
There's a market & cafe which are pricey but do a booming business anyway. Showers & laundry are available for pay. Flushing toilets by the store are a welcome treat.
TravelerLove this place. Close to lake. Kayaked every day. Clean.... camp hosts are great. Good base camp to go other places. Highly recommend Parker lake trail!!!
GuideSo far this is the nicest place ive ever camp at from all my backpacking trips. Cant beat lake with the mountain in the background, tranquillity and spacious area. Only con can be mosquitoes. Other than that this place is a must to visit
ScoutI had my first camping trip here and was completely hooked on camping afterwards. Good space and access to Gem Lake trail that I want to go back and backpack.
LegendThe dirt road into this spot off of Hwy 120 is washboarded but doable. This spot is at an intersection of forest service road 1S158A and Sage Hen Rd. There was still snow on the dirt road at this time of year (in mid April) so be aware, and there are also low hanging branches that might make it tough for taller rigs.
This spot is a large flat area with zero amenities so bring water and pack in and pack out.
Good for a night or two if you want to hike or bike along the plethora of forest service roads. There were signs on the way in for both free range cattle and horses, but we didn't see any.
Cell service with Verizon, weak but usable.
Travelervery special place but we meet the fire
TravelerYou should stay here for several days.
RangerWe always sea bald eagles here! Fishing is really good!
GuideThis campsite is gorgeous - it is located within a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains. The host was wonderful and helpful and the campsites are very well spaced.
This location does not have hook ups, I could not find showers, and the bathrooms were not the greatest (no hand soap, very cold... not the worst though:).
I did get two bars on my phone (T-Mobile). This is a perfect place to stay if you like a little more seclusion and less bells and whistles! The best part was the view!
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 that cater to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the scenic trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Benton, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Benton, CA is Silver Lake Campground at June Lake with a 4.8-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Benton, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Benton, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
