Skillman Campground in Camptonville offers horse-friendly camping areas with designated spaces for equestrians to keep their mounts. While the campground doesn't feature dedicated horse corrals, it provides suitable terrain for riders with basic horse facilities. This Forest Service campground accommodates both tent and RV camping, with primitive amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. The bathroom facilities are kept reasonably clean with regular maintenance. Horse trailer parking is available with enough space for vehicles and equipment, though the sites can be tight for larger rigs.
Located approximately 30 miles from Downieville, Skillman connects to an extensive network of bridle trails through the Tahoe National Forest, giving riders access to miles of scenic terrain. The campground serves as a strategic base for exploring the surrounding mountain trails. Nearby, Horse Campground in Oroville provides another option for equestrians, with similar basic facilities catering to those traveling with horses. Riders can access water sources for their animals at nearby natural water features. Both campgrounds follow standard Forest Service regulations regarding feed storage and manure management. The camping areas experience moderate traffic during summer months but remain relatively uncrowded compared to other regional options. Visitors note the peaceful setting makes for a relaxing horse camping experience despite the limited amenities.
$24 - $48 / night
"Bugs were minimal, a far cry from about 3 weeks ago at a nearby site. We were in Site 16, which has the ‘camp’ side opposite of our camper door - only reason we gave 4 stars & not 5."
"So remote and private but everything you need at the campground with water access within walking distance. Sites are great with picnic tables and bathrooms near by."
"Very pretty views of the valley from the campground, and having hiking trails start from the campground was really nice. Only complaints are very close neighbors and little shade."
$20 / night
"Great walking trails group sites are great love it"
"With pristine wilderness surrounding your tent, you can camp alongside the beautiful reservoir."
"This 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. "
$45 / night
"If you are looking for a small campground with full hookups, on the lake, close to Table Mountain and Feather Falls, this is for you."
"Really enjoyed this campground which is part of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. The staff where we checked in were helpful with all of our questions about the area."
$31 / night
"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.""Clean campground, great fishing, and nice trail around lake. Kids love camping here. Bathrooms are kept clean and stocked 2-3x a day."
$23 - $75 / night
"Right next to the water, and close to town. Cell phone reception. is spotty ."
"It was late and we couldn't find the owner so we ended up staying outside the park on the road. The manager got things worked out in the morning and refunded our money for the night before."
$24 / night
$15 / night
GuideThis 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.
ScoutThe 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. Even when the campgrounds full on weekend. It's very quiet, more soldier in the week. Bring water as there is none available due to poor quality.
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.
LegendOfficially 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.
ScoutForest 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.
RangerThis place is a great place to camp with or without horses.
Ride out from your site on your ATV or SBS for miles of trails to explore.
There is a water but must be hand pumped from the well and boiled.
Only 6 sites here, not very level but easy to fix with blocks. This campground is in an area that burned but no damage to the campground. Plenty of tall pine trees, hang a hammock and chill.
There are corals for horses near the campground.
We were the only people there on a Friday afternoon.
Came in from Frenchman Lake and out on Doyle Grade Rd. Of the two we will go back on Doyle Grade Road, not as much dirt road and in better condition.
TravelerNever been during peak (summer) but both times we have stayed here in winter and it was FANTASTIC! 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!
TravelerMust visit for horse lovers!
GuideTHE CAMPGROUND
The campground is great. Many sites have lots of space between them, while a few are side-by-side with just a vehicle parking space separating them. Each has a level, wood-bordered dirt/gravel pad set up for a tent - usually placed in as quiet/remote corner of the site as possible. Each has a picnic table, some type of fire pit (some have a metal ring with nice flipping grate, some are just a circle of large stones), and some type of cooking setup (some have a standard campsite charcoal "grill" while others have a metal table to set your cooktop on.
Very quite. Only noise is campground noise and one infrequently trafficked dirt road nearby (see below).
Campfires are allowed. If you drive in from the south (via Verdi), there is currently a designated area to collect firewood - it is scheduled for a prescription burn and you can pick up any wood from the forest floor - bring an axe and saw.
I visited mid-week during peak July season - there were two other campsites occupied (out of 20 total).
The campsite is in the middle of Dog Valley. The area is used for off-road recreation, so you may run into a few off-road buggies or trucks, and some may stay at the campground. But most stay in other "dispersed" camping, and there aren't nearly as many vehicles as you might see, for example, in a Nevada dunes off-road park.
The Crystal Mine is nearby… quick drive, bit longer walk. I didn't find many walking trails in the area, but may have missed them.
Verizon cell service picked up one bar, intermittently. Enough to get out occasional status update texts and check the weather, but not enough to be able to read stuff off the internet unless… you…. are…. really…. really… really… patient. If you hike up the hill at the nearby Crystal Mine, Verizon gave 2 bars and 5G… you are line of sight to Cold Springs.
There is basically no radio reception at the campground, but one AM station came in during the drive.
There are two 'vault' toilets, both of which were clean and well maintained… no real odor, no spiders, etc. I saw one water spigot but it required a keyed handle to open so it was inaccessible … no other sources of water (potable or otherwise) at the site.
Trash cans are provide. No food/bear lockers provided (bear-safe food storage not required … but always a good precautionary measure).
I give it four stars because it is a good campground, and may be a good base for off-roading or mountain biking, but doesn't have many major sites nearby (hiking trails, rivers, lookout points, etc.) and I didn't find a variety of hiking trails nearby (a major one does run through the general area). Would be tough to keep kids busy, but great for a 2 day getaway for a couple.
Ok… let's talk THE ROAD….
The road is one of the reasons this site generally isn't too packed. There are two main ways in…
From The South (Verdi)
This is the roughest path. It has a fairly good incline and then decline into the valley, so I can only speak to my summer experience, but I suspect this may present a challenge for winter/wet driving.
For this route, you will spend 8.5 miles on a dirt road. I'd estimate this road is 10% "standard country dirt road, flat, fairly level, no major ruts, drivable by any vehicle at 25-30MPH." About 75% of the road is "unmaintained hill road, where you have to hug one side or another to avoid 6-inch+ ruts, loose rocks up to 5" in diameter, passable by a 2-wheel drive vehicle with reasonable ground clearance and not concerned about rocks on the paint, driving 10-15 MPH." The remaining 15% still probably doesn't require 4-wheel drive, but could benefit from it, involves going 5MPH to navigate deeper ruts or 'potholes'. The entire route is totally 100% passable by any truck/Jeep, even 2-wheel drive, driven slowly and carefully at times. Subarus would be fine. I *think* a standard sedan could make it, but you run a very good chance of bashing in the underside of your car… it is doable and I saw a little hatchback do it, but I personally wouldn't recommend.
From the North (Cold Springs)
For this route, you will spend 10 miles on a dirt road.
The first 3.3 miles (about 33%) is "standard country dirt road, flat, fairly level, no major ruts, drivable by any vehicle at 25-30MPH." Very easy driving. About 65% is "unmaintained hill road, where you have to hug one side or another to avoid 6-inch+ ruts, loose rocks up to 5" in diameter, passable by a 2-wheel drive vehicle with reasonable ground clearance and not concerned about rocks on the paint, driving 15 MPH." The remaining 2% is the harder road, as described above… just a few specific spots/turns, not long sections.
This north route is easier, but either way you go, there will be tougher sections.
To be fair - this isn't "off-roading." There are no boulders or 'technical' challenges. It is just an unmaintained (or rarely maintained) dirt road that has ruts, especially in uphill/downhill areas where the water runs across the road. Definitely not just a 'country dirt road', but a more typical mountain backroad.
Pictures below show the most common sections - 75% of the south path and 66% of the north path look like that or a little bit worse. The pictures aren't the worst sections - just more of the 'typical' road you can expect for most of the way.
Final comment: All of the above is about dry, summer driving. After rains, when the ground is wet, or in the winter - could be a very different experience.
Equestrian camping near Downieville, California provides access to over 50 miles of mountain trails within the Tahoe National Forest. Located at approximately 3,000 feet elevation, the area experiences warm summer days with cool nights and moderate snowfall in winter months. Most horse-friendly campgrounds in this region operate from late May through mid-October, with some sites closing earlier depending on weather conditions.
Trail riding from camp: East Meadow Campground connects to several backcountry routes including access to the Pacific Crest Trail. "Access to the Pacific crest trail & many other hiking routes" notes Anthony K., who frequently visits with his horses.
Beach access with horses: At Logger Campground, riders can cool down their mounts after trail rides. "Right next to the water, and close to town" reports Brenna D., making it convenient for horse trailers needing supplies.
Wildlife viewing on horseback: Morning rides offer the best wildlife spotting opportunities. "The lake attracts lots of wildlife and it is bear country" advises Davidson L.H. at Logger Campground, suggesting fall visits when "you can have the lake to yourself" and wildlife is more active.
Clean facilities: Bidwell Canyon Campground maintains well-kept restrooms for riders returning from dusty trails. Jessica P. confirms "bathrooms were top notch clean!" which matters after long days riding.
Spacious campsites: Many equestrians appreciate the layout at East Meadow Campground where "sites have plenty of space" according to Julie B., providing room for horse trailers and equipment.
Natural water features: Riders value the water access for their horses. Aliona C. notes East Meadow offers "water access within walking distance" while remaining "remote and private" - perfect for skittish horses needing quiet surroundings.
Bear safety protocols: Secure feed storage is mandatory in this region. Sarah J. at Whitehorse Campground advises, "Keep your food stuffed locked up. Head the warnings. The bear, after speaking to the host, is well known locally."
Seasonal water levels: Late summer brings lower water levels at many locations. Regarding Sly Creek Campground, Renee A. mentions, "With pristine wilderness surrounding your tent, you can camp alongside the beautiful reservoir" but water access points change throughout the season.
Road conditions: Some access roads require careful navigation with horse trailers. Ty G. cautions about "the hour long drive with a trailer down the wash board road" to certain campgrounds, recommending arrival during daylight hours.
Kid-friendly water activities: Sly Creek Campground provides safe shorelines for families with horses and children. "We enjoyed getting into our kayaks and on to the water" shares Renee A., noting the area was "very quiet and peaceful" even with children and horses.
Wildlife education opportunities: Teach children about respecting wildlife while camping with horses. Erin C. from Logger Campground says their "kids love camping here" and appreciates the "clean campground, great fishing, and nice trail around lake."
Temperature considerations: Pack for temperature swings when camping with children and horses. Davidson L. warns "cold nights starting in September" at Logger Campground, suggesting extra blankets for both humans and equines during fall visits.
Site selection for horse trailers: Black Rock Campground requires careful site selection for RVs with horse trailers. Mary F. cautions "roads are terribly narrow and sites are small and very uneven" making it "not a great place for a trailer."
Dump station availability: Plan water management carefully as many equestrian sites lack full hookups. Marty P. notes about Logger Campground: "Pay dump just offsite" and recommends making reservations for "the right size spot" when traveling with horses and RVs.
Parking configurations: Check site layouts before booking. Ron A. from East Meadow explains, "We reserved a spot, site 21 and the door of our camper wasn't facing our camp" requiring them to relocate to "site 4, had more room and our door was facing our camp" - important when unloading horses and gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Downieville, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Downieville, CA is East Meadow Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Downieville, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 equestrian camping locations near Downieville, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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