Best Equestrian Camping near Black Butte Lake

I’ve been camping cross country for the last month with my husband. We’re from New York, and like to think we’re not easily rattled or intimidated. This was the first time on our trip that we were both scared.

The forest service website says this campground is not open for camping, just dirt bike and horse riding, so I had found a campground further into the National Forest to camp at. When we drove by Middle Creek, we could see the sites from the road and a few of them had tents and we could see some folks, the campground was pretty clearly operating to some extent. We just wanted somewhere to stay overnight on our way into SF so we doubled back and found a site, paid the $8 and had a snack. We explored our corner of the campground a little- pretty clean, a fine campground. No visible host.

Lots of wasps and flies, like standing right next to a dumpster. There was a woman who seemed to be experiencing homelessness and/or mental illness occupying multiple sites. She pretty clearly was stealing from sites people weren’t present at, right in front of us. She also had a dog that didn’t seem to be hers.

The man at the campsite next to us didn’t have a tent or anything, just paid then sat in his truck screaming and cackling and breaking stuff loudly and pounding beers.

We left without spending the night. The police need to go take a look out there.

Large pull-thru sites with vegetation in between.  Casino nearby has multiple restaurants and entertainment, including golf.  Cheap gas for California.  Little bit of a hike to clean restrooms.  Quiet.  Convenient location for traveling down I-5.

We enjoyed a pull thru full hookup spot. We had our dogs and 5 year old with us. There was a fair amount of space between sites. We all enjoyed a meal at the steak house. After we let mama gamble as my daughter and I enjoyed the arcade, then we switched. If we need to get away for a night, I can see us coming back here again.

Really nice campground with great facilities and friendly staff. Right beside a casino, so you can pay for your camping and then lose all your money next door. No wifi or cable, but networks are strong.

Only $55 for a full hookup that’s a pull through. $50 for Good Sam Members. We came in too late to enjoy the comedy shows they have every first Saturday. If you happen to make it on time, “Carlinos” or the place the host it is in the North Tower. Go right at the main entrance. We missed it by wandering around the casino trying to find it. There are also amazing views at sunset and sunrise if you get to the lots closer to the end- which we didn’t. Great front desk staff! They also have routine patrol security.

Laundry: $2.00 for washing machines and $1.00 for dryers. Must be done by 10 pm with the last load starting at 8 pm.

Showers: $15/person- not included in RV fee

Dump station: $10- only from 9am- 5 pm, although each site has sewer hookups.

No wifi, but I’m not upset because the price was great and I had good cell coverage.

Made a reservation 44 minutes before arriving. Quick check in. Great for overnight. Or casino patronage. No frills, but full hookups. No fire rings, picnic tables, etc.

Great overnight stop. Surprisingly quiet! Level pull-thru sites, full hook-ups. $40, well worth the price when temps are 90+ and need your a/c.

The pool was amazing and the shuttle was great considering the heat. The Casino was ok the food not so good.

Easy off and on freeway access, next to casino.

We used Rolling Hills as a stop over on our voyage from Oregon to Arizona. We stayed one night. The park is CLEAN, Quiet, the sites level, The Park staff are helpful.  The park is on the campus of a casino with multiple eating establishments.  A Fuel station/truck stop in also on the ground.. I should be more generous in my ratings, but to get five stars the park needs mature trees. Guess I spent too much of my life in Oregon

This campground is free!!! It has lots of vault toilets and trash cans, but there is no running water. There are some campsites that are private and some where you can bring a big group. There are fire pits with grills and picnic tables at all the sites. The lake is amazing for swimming!

My dog loves clearlake state park. In Kelseyvile, CA. And I have to agree with her.

Was 0.75 miles away from water (we have been in a drought?) but beautiful spacious campsite. Even with annoying neighbors, you can have peace and quiet. Fun, almost hidden area that I didn’t know existed before this trip.

I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and my dad was a hang glider pilot. The campground has vaulted toilets non-flushable of course. There is water at the campground except during the winter as they shut it off to keep the pipes from bursting. The campground is open up all year round. Fires are allowed depending on regulations from Cal fire. The local store is about a 10 minute drive away and during the summer has ice beer and provides firewood for sale (during winter no ice but plenty of snow). Target shooting is available at the end of the airstrip which you will pass over on the way to the campground. For a boat launch there are two about a 10 minute drive from the campground

Nice camp ground. Super primitive. All dirt. But always fun times. When the water level is high great fishing from this camp ground.

This campground is dry and built primarily for HOV people cuz the Elk mountain area is very much a dirt bike and four-wheel Haven.

It's got dropped toilets and it has potable water. Problem is that the spigots don't have any hose fittings, so you can't hook up, which I think is a good thing to keep people from taking over water for an extended period of time.

There's no other water anywhere else, no showers, no sinks or anything like that so prepare to come fully dry.

If you come with that in mind I would say this place is really really nice. It's very clean. If it's in a beautiful location and if you're into four-wheeling or dirt bikes, you're going to have a blast.

There there's a small town not far, 15 minutes or so, that has gas, a market, pizza places, and a few other stores. So there's plenty of access to food and gas when necessary.

This has nothing to do with the campground. Just keep in mind that Elk mountain road, especially the part leading up to the top of the mountain right as you leave the campground is an absolutely terrible road, it needs a lot of maintenance..

Beautiful location, campground was easily accessible going up Elk Mountain Road. Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers. There is potable water close to the campsites. Very quiet during the week, it did get noisier on the weekends, but everyone settled down for the evening.