Best Equestrian Camping near Green Valley Lake, CA
Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground and Heart Bar Campground accommodate horses in the San Bernardino National Forest near Green Valley Lake. Both provide primitive camping options with limited horse-specific amenities. Heart Bar Campground sits near a small meadow bordering the San Gorgonio wilderness, making it excellent for wildlife viewing and wilderness access. The campground features several loops with approximately 20 campsites each, providing decent spacing between sites for privacy. Ground tethering is the primary option for horses as no dedicated corrals are available at these locations.
The trail system surrounding these campgrounds connects to extensive equestrian-friendly routes through the San Bernardino Mountains. Heart Bar's location provides access to Alpine trails approximately 25 minutes from Big Bear Lake. Many equestrian campgrounds exist in the area, so riders should expect to encounter horses on nearby trails. Primitive camping conditions require horse owners to bring their own water, feed storage, and portable containment systems. The back of Heart Bar Campground faces west where the rolling mountains showcase beautiful California sunsets, providing a scenic backdrop for evening rides. Morning deer grazing in the meadow areas offers pleasant wildlife viewing opportunities for campers with horses.