Best Equestrian Camping near Big Bear Lake, CA
Green Spot Equestrian Campground offers primitive camping opportunities for horse enthusiasts near Big Bear Lake. Located in the San Bernardino National Forest, this specialized campground welcomes both tent and RV campers traveling with horses. The campground operates seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, making it ideal for summer trail riding adventures. While the campground lacks drinking water, restrooms, and other amenities, its purpose-built design caters specifically to equestrians seeking direct access to mountain trails. The campground has a reservable group site that accommodates multiple riders traveling together. Spaces are well-sized for horse trailers with adequate room for setting up portable corrals or highlines.
The surrounding San Bernardino National Forest trail system provides extensive riding opportunities directly accessible from camp. Riders can access miles of forested trails that connect to higher elevation routes with views of the valley. Coon Creek Yellow Post Sites, located nearby, offer free dispersed camping options with picnic tables and fire pits that can accommodate horses, though without dedicated equestrian facilities. These yellow post sites have well-maintained dirt roads accessible by most vehicles, including those pulling horse trailers. The sites feature ample shade from forest trees, which helps keep horses comfortable during summer visits. Horseback riding activity increases on weekends when day-use riders join overnight campers on the trail system. Cell service is generally reliable in the area with both Verizon and AT&T providing 2-4 bars of coverage.
