2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Auburn State Recreation Area's five riverside tent-only sites at Ruck-A-Chucky Campground offer primitive horse camping along the American River for equestrians. The sites accommodate horses but have no dedicated corrals or stalls, so owners must bring portable containment options. A 3-mile dirt road with rough terrain leads to the campground, limiting access for large horse trailers. Equestrians appreciate the proximity to river access points and trail connections. Sites are spaced apart for privacy with basic vault toilets available. The rough access road requires four-wheel drive vehicles, especially when towing horse trailers.
The trail system connecting to Ruck-A-Chucky provides equestrian access to the Western States Trail network throughout the recreation area. Riders access miles of scenic terrain following the American River canyon with variable terrain suitable for experienced trail horses. Water for horses is available directly from the river, though seasonal water levels fluctuate dramatically. The campground operates seasonally from October through April, making it an ideal winter riding destination when higher elevation trails are snow-covered. The 5 walk-in sites fill quickly on weekends, especially during rafting season when the area serves as a river shuttle stop. Riders report occasional trail congestion when sharing routes with hikers and mountain bikers on multi-use trails.
"As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely."
"We were in site #66 and it was a great walking distance to the restrooms and showers. The restrooms were extremely clean and always well stocked with toilet paper."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $48 / night
"Small cars made it down ther without difficulty)
Once at the camp ground, right on the waters edge, grab up the 3rd site on the right. It is literally on the edge of the river."
"Our site was next to the raft launch/pickup, so there were a couple of groups picked up during the day. Bathrooms were average and the site was maintained well."
"The good part is this is a beautiful place in the trees to camp with nearby hiking,. And it's equestrian friendly if you want to bring your horse. The Verizon connection was strong."
"Close to Georgetown and to the El Dorado National Forest. Super clean and easy to get to. Signs off 193 are well marked! The have horse corrals too if you’re into that. Highly recommend!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $3 - $8 / night
"WELCOME TO ASCENSION RANCH Ascension Ranch is an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities."
"Super relaxing and has a lake that is at the end of the trail. Super convenient. It was cool to experience the animals that were in the pastures as well. I'd definitely come back."
Available this weekend
from $59 - $115 / night
"It reminded me of Lake Pillsbury north of Clear Lake Ca where we as a family had been camping since 1981. But with just over 2hr drive not 6hr with trailer. There is a pool, and kids pool."
"About 1.5hr from Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. Built thick forest of the Sierra mountains. Nice size campsites. Water and Electricity only."
"There are tons of activities to partake in: relax and do nothing, hike (entire lake is 9.5 miles with a waterfall!)"
"The lake is GORGEOUS and amazingly cool during the summer, and we also love winter camping in the snow as well."
"These two sites are right on the road next to the toilets and trash bins. Some smells and lots of noises and foot traffic, some 4x4 traffic as well."
"Just returned from a weekend getaway to Loon Lake. We (2 people, 1 pup) stayed two nights at site #25 at Loon Lake Campground. Perfect location for daytime fishing and nighttime stargazing."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $160 / night
"Beautiful lake and campground. We will be back in August."
"Other good sites up here are 111 (full shade all day) and 113 with the awesome lake view."
"This is a great small campground with walking access to the Mumford Bar Trail hike down to the American River. One vault toilet. No water spigot. Pack it in, PACK IT OUT."
"Beautiful view of the lake, level plot, toilets, picnic table, potable water, fire ring, grill, recycling stations and large dumpsters. Dog friendly too."
from $37 - $47 / night
GuideFriendly staff and a camp host selling firewood. Clean flush toilets and hot showers for 50 cents. A little difficult to find a level spot for a van in the dry camping area, and most spots were right on the side of the road. It would be more enjoyable if one could pull off into the dirt area for level spots out of the main drag.
ScoutEasy to find campsite, we arrived after hours on a Monday so drove around to find a spot and then paid using the collection box and envelopes, we couldn't get the QR code to work. Phone reception here is good. There is a constant hum of traffic but it is not loud and it is quiet around camp. Toilets and showers are clean and well stocked with toilet paper. We didn't stay long but saw some wildlife, coyote and squirrels mostly. A little bit of rubbish around from campers but overall very tidy. The sites are flat pull-in or reverse-in style, there are also some campsites marked with wheel chair access.
LegendGeneral: Beals Point is one of two locations on Folsom Lake for camping. Large campground with a mix of electric and non-electric campsites plus some group sites.
Site Quality: Drives are paved and mostly level. We camped in a little “cul-de-sac” with just four sites. While these sites back up to the American River Bike Trail (aka Jedediah Smith Recreation Trail), it was overgrown, and I did not see direct access to the trail as we did the last time we were here.
Bath/Shower: Typical CA state park layout– all-gender units with toilet and sink (but no soap, towels, or dryers) and showers. Unlike other CA state parks, these take quarters instead of tokens. The units could use a little TLC, but what was most disheartening was how other campers had trashed them– toilet paper (and worse) scattered all over the insides. Obviously not the fault of the campground.
Activities/Amenities: Folsom Lake is the draw, and people were fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The 32-mile paved multi-use American River Bike Trail is easily accessible. There is a snack bar/concession stand for beach rentals, but it was not open when we were there.
Our stay here this time was over a weekend; it was completely full, and it reminded us once again that we prefer to camp during the week and shoulder seasons when campgrounds are less crowded!
TravelerOur family loved it here. Great staff. The poo was clean and heated. They had volleyball, karaoke, clean bathrooms and open showers.
There is even a cute pond to fish out of.
Theirs an old town that has two stores open. One is ice cream and the other is breakfast and lunch.
Everything is affordable.
GuideWe booked the Eagles Nest campsite, and the views were awesome! We stayed two nights and had a good time. There are two spots down below the main road that are accessible but recommend at minimum AWD, especially if visiting during the rainy season. The host was very helpful got us a case of water and even had fresh eggs that we bought. 👍🏼
GuideThis is quintessential California no frills forest camping under trees that are so tall they muffle all sound, where the dirt is so infused with pine needles that it smells like incense. Although this is a horse camp, anyone can camp here. It is primitive, but if you have your own toilet you'll be ok. Otherwise, you can use the old pit toilets provided. Because this is a horse camp, the sites are spacious. Kick back and enjoy.
GuideCame here for a moto trip and really enjoyed the spaciousness, layout, and natural beauty the area had to offer. You’re also about 3 or 4 miles away from the Georgetown OHV which made it an easy ride to get to the dirt.
As others have mentioned, getting to town is a short 15 minutes despite feeling like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Some decent restaurants and a pretty awesome grocery store there so you don’t have to fret if you forget anything.
I can’t speak for other months, but coming around Thanksgiving was just about perfect.
GuideWe love Wrights Lake, the kayaking and hiking are amazing
GuideThis is a small but,free camp site. Each camp site is spacious and has a metal firepit , picnic table. There is restroom in the middle of the camp sites. This is definitely bear country.....my first night i heard a bear. But there's also alot of deers,too. Cell service isn't great ....but I did get a bar or two with Verizon.
Equestrian camping opportunities near Cool, California extend beyond Ruck-A-Chucky Campground in Auburn State Recreation Area. The region sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 feet, creating a transition zone between valley and alpine ecosystems. Winter camping season from October through April offers mild temperatures compared to higher-elevation alternatives, with daytime averages of 50-65°F and nighttime temperatures rarely dropping below freezing.
Trail riding connections: The greater Cool area provides access to extensive equestrian trail networks beyond the Western States Trail. At Dru Barner Campground, riders find "lots of wild turkeys, deer, and birds" along with "endless trails around" according to visitor Lily S., making it an excellent base for day rides.
Water activities: Several locations offer alternatives to the American River for cooling off. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area provides "easy trails to take your four legged friend on and of course the beach," notes Cheyenne O., offering more developed swimming areas than riverside options.
Gold panning: The American River watershed maintains a rich mining heritage. At Ruck-A-Chucky, camper Jason A. mentions "if you're lucky and know how to read the river, gold panning is a must!" This historical activity requires minimal equipment and provides an engaging way to connect with the area's past.
Privacy between sites: While Ruck-A-Chucky offers separation between its five sites, other nearby campgrounds provide similar seclusion. At Ruck-A-Chucky Campground, camper K.O. describes it as "very quiet and gorgeous. Good spot for families," highlighting the peaceful riverside setting.
River access points: The American River offers multiple entry points beyond those at Ruck-A-Chucky. BRIAN O. notes the Ruck-A-Chucky site was "alongside the American River" and "the sound of the river was calming," providing direct water access without requiring a hike.
Cooler temperatures: The region's moderate elevation creates pleasant conditions during spring and fall. At Dru Barner, camper ProfG999 shares: "I wanted to hide in the forest. Nothing but trees and the wind blowing through them," highlighting the natural air conditioning effect of the forest canopy.
Road conditions: Many campgrounds in the area require navigating unpaved roads. At Ruck-A-Chucky, Kevin W. cautions "the 3 mile road down is a bit treacherous (maybe don't take your RV) but makes you feel 'out there'," indicating the access challenges extend beyond just equestrian trailers.
Limited facilities: Most horse-friendly sites offer minimal amenities. Sly Park Recreation Area has "plenty of potable water spigots available throughout the park and plenty of pit toilets," according to camp host Michell C., but lacks shower facilities common to more developed campgrounds.
Seasonal concerns: Weather patterns affect camping conditions significantly. Camper Erin O. at Loon Lake notes that despite the campground being "pretty full," she "shared the lake with only a couple of other people," indicating varying usage patterns throughout the season.
Trail difficulty assessment: Consider age-appropriate hiking options when planning activities. Monique R. describes Sly Park as having "beautiful hikes that are easy for young children. Plenty of trails to choose from," making it suitable for families with younger children.
Campsite selection strategy: Research specific site characteristics when booking. At Hilltop - Sly Park Recreation Area, camper Lloyd C. recommends "Spot 117 is one of the best on Hilltop. Decent amount of shade and large area to park and set up tents," providing guidance on optimal family-friendly locations.
Wildlife awareness: Teach children about appropriate animal interactions. At Dru Barner, Lily S. warns "ants can be an issue if you are careless," highlighting the importance of proper food storage and campsite maintenance with children.
RV size limitations: Many horse-friendly campgrounds have restrictive access roads. At Ghost Mountain RV Campground, RVer Craig & Linda L. note it's "about 1.5hr from Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. Built thick forest of the Sierra mountains. Nice size campsites," offering more accessible alternative for larger rigs.
Dump station availability: Plan waste management carefully when equestrian camping. At Ghost Mountain, camper Craig & Linda L. mention "there is a honey bucket truck that comes around to all camp sites Mon, Wed, and Fridays to dump your gray and black tanks," providing a service not available at more primitive horse camps.
Water access planning: Bring additional water storage for horses at primitive sites. Cheri S. warns at Dru Barner to "bring water as there is none available due to poor quality," requiring self-sufficiency for both human and equine hydration needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cool, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cool, CA is Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cool, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 equestrian camping locations near Cool, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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