Best Equestrian Camping near Crescent Mills, CA

This campground is labeled as equestrian however anyone can stay. Great place close to Frenchman lake. Has pasture area for horses. Spots are well spaced out and never filled up while we stayed for 4 days. Tons of horseflies late morning and early afternoon. Pit toilets, and drinking water available. Easy to stay with trailers and rvs. Road is dirt/gravel on way in but easy to navigate.

Officially this is listed as an equestrian campground. We were there during the off season so no one else was around. The campground was quiet and peaceful. Website stated that fees are not collected at this time. There are only 6 sites here and it is a compact little campground. The sites are a good size but the loop is tight and it took some creative maneuvering to back into our site. 

The road in was fairly smooth with some areas of washboard, managed fine in our 26’ Class C. Water is available from an hand pumped spigot at the entrance of the campground, website states non potable but we drank it and it was fine and in fact tasted really fresh. There is no garbage so pack in and pack out. 

The bathrooms were open. Each space has a bear box, fire pit and picnic table all in good condition. Sites were relatively flat and a mix of sun and shade. 

There is hiking and biking on the main dirt road and on the multiple side roads. There was a few vehicles coming and going but not so busy as to be annoying. 

The view of the huge meadow was nice and just before you reach the campground there are a few buildings that are open and some horse corrals. 

Zero cell service from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.

Forest Service campground in Plumas NF I’ve stayed at several times when exploring the area. About 9 miles from Quincy and 2-3 off highway. Free. Fire rings (need annual campfire permit, free at park offices) and bear boxes. Outhouses. No water apart from lake (generally overgrown). Large clear sites with plenty of space between them. Forested area, dirt roads. Equestrian sites available.

Free! I do love free. I had spent the day in the sun and had no intentions of driving four hours away. I did Subway Cave 👍🏻, Burney Falls👍🏻, and took a much needed nap by Hat Creek. 

I pulled into another campground but there were kids running everywhere and the second I got out the mosquitoes came at me starved for my blood. I left. 

The next was Bogard. I had literally no idea where I was. I needed rest. 

It was beautiful. Aspens fluttered. Owls hooted through the night. 

Most of the sites are for horses so I tried to take another without corrals as I’m not a horse but light was fading, I took a horse one. 

I met all my fellow campers. So many dog cuddles. Kids rode bikes and played hide n seek. 

5 other sites were taken so it was nice and quiet. 

I found some wood someone had placed in my site previously and had a nice fire before sleep took over.

It was hot so no rain fly on my tent and the stars were abundant. So were the bugs. 

Literally the only downside. 

Easily 30 bugs came to bed with me. I used repellent to no avail. 

But hey. It’s free.

Bathrooms had a horrific smell, trash overflowed the receptacles all four days we were there; not to mention the huge “bear country” signs to make sure trash is properly disposed of, but the ranger just drove by it multiple times with her truck bed empty. It’s right by the main road/interstate; large trees are placed in front of the camp area..I’m assuming so a car will hit the tree and offer sometime of protection?! Yikes. We made the best of it but we will not be back. I’ve heard of other great sites around bucks lake and will be sure to check those for the future.

The campgrounds is small, which was perfect. A total of 19 spaces, but on a Sunday night there were only 5 filled spaces. Trees and birds! Chipmunks! Walking trails connect to the campground! What a delight and right near Bucks Lake! 

It is bear country, and the campsite was visited by a bear at night. Just one night, when the night before the dumpsters were emptied. The bear messed with the campground dumpster but left everything else alone.  All the garbage goes into bear proof dumpsters. Don't leave it out in cans. Those are labeled PLASTIC and CANS.  Just do what they say- and keep your food stuffed locked up. Head the warnings- right? The bear, after speaking to the host, is well known locally. They have watched it grow up.

Someone reviewed poorly because of vault toilets. Maybe they have never been camping. Vault toilets are very common and a non-issue. Sure they don't smell like an indoor bathroom- but these were serviced every day! Not a concern. They work for what you need them to do. And there was even toilet paper stocked!

Clean campground, great fishing, and nice trail around lake. Kids love camping here. Bathrooms are kept clean and stocked 2-3x a day. We have done both tent only and loop A and don’t have many complaints. Spacing in tent only is cramped but that’s it.

Just a short drive down a forest service dirt road and you'll find yourself at Soldier Meadows---a gem of a campground! Located just 15 minutes from the oh so popular Lake Almanor, Soldier Meadows is a peaceful campground nestled among towering pines and a babbling brook. The campsites are huge, with lots of room to spread out. There is no water at this campsite, but if you bring your filtration system you can get water just steps away from your campsite. One pit toilet is located at the front of the campground. My mom and I camped here for a couple of nights as we were doing so day hikes on the PCT, great base camp. You are only 20 minutes from the town of Chester if you need to run in for a milkshake or more beer, you know the essentials! This is not a fancy campground by any means, but with no camp host there, it all seems a bit more peaceful ;)

I had a very enjoyable time looking out at the scenery. I  had peace and quite with no large buildings and being on a private road. It all gave me the feeling I was one with the  nature all around me. The camp also represents and embodies that same unity.

With pristine wilderness surrounding your tent, you can camp alongside the beautiful reservoir.

Wildlife is all around you and you can see some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see in your life.

We enjoyed our camping trip immensely and enjoyed getting into our kayaks and on to the water.

We took some video footage as well.

There was a great fishing but we didn't catch anything.

It was very quiet and peaceful.

This is my favorite campground in Lassen because it is not crowded and the sites are decent sized. It's right by Cinder Cone (amazing views up top), Butte Lake and many nice hiking destinations. Bear boxes (yes, you need to use them), toilets, running water (though you need to check late season). It is a gravel road. There is a boat launch for kayaks and canoes..

This campground is 45 minutes from the main park road, so plan accordingly. If you stop at Hat Creek Rim Overlook on the way by, there is cell reception. Firewood and supplies are available at Old Station.