Jan P.
Traveler
TravelerRolling Hills Casino Truck Lot
Cheap gas, crappy Wi-Fi if at all, very nice showers
The casino is pretty dominating and intense as is the truck stop, but if you don't mind those it's not a bad place.
Equestrian Camping near Black Butte Lake, CA
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Black Butte Lake offers limited options for horse camping in the surrounding region, with most nearby campgrounds lacking dedicated horse corrals or equestrian facilities. Horse owners planning camping trips should note that Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot in Corning permits pets but lacks specialized horse facilities. The campground provides full hookup sites with water, sewer, and electric connections suitable for RVs. The level pull-through sites accommodate large vehicles and trailers, with sites up to 75 feet in length. Campers browse The Dyrt when exploring the best sites near Black Butte Lake, California.
For alternative horse camping options, travelers may need to venture farther from Black Butte Lake. The Middle Creek Campground in Upper Lake permits pets and features vault toilets and potable water, though without specialized horse amenities. The primitive camping at Black Rock Campground in Lassen National Forest offers free camping with vault toilets. Each campsite typically includes a fire pit, picnic table, and access to nearby trails. The road access requires high-clearance vehicles, especially at stream crossings. Horse owners should pack in all necessary water for their animals, as no water hookups exist at these more primitive sites. The surrounding Mendocino National Forest area offers extensive trail systems, though seasonal closures may affect accessibility due to fire conditions.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Black Butte Lake (8)
1. Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot
"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."
"Conveniently located just off I-5, far enough away from the noise. Casino, restaurants, doggy daycare and golf just next door. Sites are level 75 ft pull through sites. We will stay again."
Check Availabilityfrom $49 - $69 / night
3. Surveyor Campground
"As you pass thru a off road vehicle area on way up to campsite. Lett's Lake was closed due to a prior fire. But the upside is that the Forrest service has provided free stacks of wood."
4. Perry Riffle Trailhead
5. Oak Flat Campground
"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."
"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)."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 / night
6. Black Rock Campground (Lassen NF)
"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."
7. Middle Creek Campground
"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."
"If it's in a beautiful location and if you're into four-wheeling or dirt bikes, you're going to have a blast."
Check Availabilityfrom $8 / night
8. Camelot Esquestrian Park
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
Drive Time
- 56 min from Redding, CA
- 1 hr 21 min from Yuba City, CA
- 2 hrs 39 min from Santa Rosa, CA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Black Butte Lake
27 Reviews of 8 Black Butte Lake Campgrounds
- A
AngelaTravelerOak Flat Campground
Beautiful and peaceful *on weekdays*
Quiet and peaceful, watch elk, birds, lizards, toads/frogs on weekdays. All but the hardiest of wildlife and people should avoid the weekends. We finally learned our lesson after every Friday and/or Saturday over the years has been disrupted by people yelling and/or blasting music, running dogs off leash, and then (last trip) racing dirt bikes through the campground until 1 am.
Michi P.
GuideMiddle Creek Campground
Great place for dry camping
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.
Justin W.GuideMiddle Creek Campground
Dry but clean
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..
- KKatrina C.Guide
Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot
Hidden Gem!
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.
Bill B.TravelerRolling Hills Casino Truck Lot
Great spot
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.
Rich J.
RangerRolling Hills Casino Truck Lot
Good
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.
- SShawna T.
ScoutStony Gorge Reservoir - USBR
My dog loves this campground
My dog loves clearlake state park. In Kelseyvile, CA. And I have to agree with her.
Michael C.
LegendRolling Hills Casino Truck Lot
Very Clean Park
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
Guide to Black Butte Lake
Black Butte Lake sits in the foothills of California's Coast Range at an elevation of 414 feet. This 4,460-acre reservoir was created by the Black Butte Dam on Stony Creek and experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F. Winter camping offers milder conditions with daytime temperatures in the 50-60°F range, making it suitable for year-round outdoor recreation.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Stony Gorge Reservoir provides excellent fishing access. "The lake is amazing for swimming!" according to Cat C., who notes this free campground has "lots of vault toilets and trash cans, but there is no running water."
Trail riding: While dedicated horse campgrounds near Black Butte Lake are limited, the surrounding Mendocino National Forest offers trail systems for riders. Black Rock Campground visitor Alissa C. reports, "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."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. At Oak Flat Campground, camper Angela describes weekday visits as "Quiet and peaceful, watch elk, birds, lizards, toads/frogs on weekdays." Local fauna includes deer, salmon, quail, and occasional bears.
What campers like
Remote location: Many campers appreciate the secluded nature of campsites in the region. Kaye S. mentions that accessing Black Rock Campground "took about an hour and a half and I would not recommend attempting it without 4WD and high clearance. There is one stream crossing but it is minor."
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable or free camping. Donna M. reports that Middle Creek Campground "was as close as we could find to free camping in Upper Lake CA... It was $8.00 a night but offered a discount with an America the Beautiful pass."
Natural features: The creek sounds and diverse birdlife enhance the camping experience. Donna adds, "You can hear the creek running along the camp, as well as the wild turkeys. There must be over 15 different species of birds as well."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to many sites requires preparation. Kyle M. warns about Black Rock Campground, "The road to get there was the only headache especially since we drove a small car. We made it but I'd definitely recommend something with a higher clearance."
Seasonal restrictions: Fire conditions frequently affect accessibility. During Donna M.'s visit to Middle Creek, "90% of the Mendocino National Forest was closed as a result of fires the past year as well as landslides due to rains."
Limited amenities: Most campgrounds have basic facilities. Gordon C. advises visiting Black Rock "for the quiet" and notes the "fly fishing good and rarely more than one other camp used."
Tips for camping with families
Equestrian-friendly planning: When seeking horse campgrounds near Black Butte Lake, prepare to bring all necessary water for your animals. Justin W. notes that at Middle Creek Campground, "the spigots don't have any hose fittings, so you can't hook up" and there's "no other water anywhere else."
Wildlife precautions: Educate children about wildlife encounters. Alissa C. mentions at Black Rock Campground, "We saw some salmon, deer, quail, and frogs. There was evidence of bears around our site but we didn't have any issues."
Insect protection: Pack sufficient bug spray. As Kyle M. reports about Black Rock, "There was no cell service and alot of mosquitoes." Alissa C. similarly warns, "The mosquitoes were out in full force so bug spray is a must."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot, Gary R. recommends specific sites: "Lower numbered sites are closest to amenities" and notes the "level 75 ft pull through sites."
Hook-up availability: Full-service options exist but are limited near Black Butte Lake. Jay W. describes Rolling Hills as having "No frills, but full hookups. No fire rings, picnic tables, etc."
Overnight stays: For travelers passing through, Mary S. recommends Rolling Hills Casino as a "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Black Butte Lake?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Black Butte Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Black Butte Lake is Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Black Butte Lake?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Black Butte Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Black Butte Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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