8 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Cowboy Camp offers one of the few horse-friendly camping locations in the greater Guerneville region, providing toilet facilities, trash service and fire rings in a dispersed camping environment. Located approximately 40 miles northeast of Guerneville, this primitive campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with drive-in access. The facility is situated in an open area suitable for horse trailers, though it lacks dedicated horse corrals or stalls. Visitors should note the absence of drinking water at the site, making it necessary to bring adequate water supplies for both campers and horses. Campgrounds closer to Guerneville like Bodega Dunes, while offering more amenities, do not provide specific equestrian facilities.
Trail riders can access nearby riding paths from Cowboy Camp, though specific equestrian trail information is limited. The campground serves as a practical base for exploring the surrounding terrain on horseback. While the camp lacks specialized equestrian amenities such as wash racks or feeding stations, its open layout accommodates horse trailers and provides sufficient space for temporary containment systems that visitors bring themselves. The relatively basic nature of the facilities suits experienced equestrians who are prepared for primitive camping conditions. Visitors should plan accordingly by bringing all necessary horse supplies, including containment equipment, feed, and ample water. The campground's 2.6-star rating reflects its utilitarian nature, best suited for self-sufficient riders seeking a no-frills horse camping experience in the greater Guerneville region.
"This campsite is centrally located on the peninsula. Access to several roadside dog friendly beaches within minutes. The bay and the beach are within walking distance to campground."
"There are also equestrian trails, so you can book a horseback ride from a local ranch as well!!"
from $45 / night
Check Availability"We just stayed here for 2 nights, great location very close to Calistoga and not to far from Saint Helena! Next time i would love to try out a cabin or yurt."
"Good access to wineries close by. Only real downside was that because of the dry conditions we could not have a campfire."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"If you talk to the the ranger at the gate, most of the time they will let you drive around the grounds and pick any open site."
"The walk down to swim in the lake was a significant downhill but the dip was worth it! Funny dead trees sticking out of the lake were fun to climb on."
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"It’s close to the entrance but the driveway only had a slight grade. Mostly folks with trailers. The sites are not too close together but it is easy to see into the surrounding neighbors."
"Spring Lake has been that for us. We have been here for 2 weekends in the last few months."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"This location is easily accessible for all. Biking, trails for hiking and the gardens are gorgeous. Rvs and horses welcome."
"We only stayed overnight the staff was very friendly,lots of stuff to do around the campsite from hiking,mtb,watch horses, frisbee golf and then you have napa where you can get wine,brewery,and restaurants"
"West Marin offers an incredibly picturesque location to explore, and Coast Camp is about as good as it gets."
"The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed). There are two routes to hike in."
from $30 - $90 / night
Check Availability"in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach and a 3.2 kilometer (2.0 miles) round-trip walk to [Alamere Falls](https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/alamere_falls.htm"
"Really great site right next to the water and beach. The hike in is pretty easy and beautiful. We had fun making a fire on the beach at night. It's pretty windy, so be prepared."
"Next to a stream and surrounded by hills. The only tough part is getting across the stream to some of the hikes."
RangerThis campsite is centrally located on the peninsula. Access to several roadside dog friendly beaches within minutes. The bay and the beach are within walking distance to campground. The bathrooms are clean and the showers are coin operated. Sites are flat and semi private. The staff is friendly and campground is large.
GuideIt is always windy and therefore cold on the beach. That is why there are such big sand dunes.
Regardless, a beautiful place to visit and camp. There are also equestrian trails, so you can book a horseback ride from a local ranch as well!!
TravelerGreat free campground! We've stayed here many times. It's open, grassy level and quiet. Next to a stream and surrounded by hills. The only tough part is getting across the stream to some of the hikes. It's a hot spot for horses which of course have no stream problems, so the only negative is fly's sometimes. But just keep your screen door closed (& fly swatter handy). We always manage to level out in our 23" Winnebago View. There is lots of open space so no crowding. There is a rural road near by but traffic noise isn't a problem. Perhaps I should say it's awful so fewer people come and it's not discovered.
RangerThis campground is nice with newer bathrooms and shower facilities, but it's also very open and exposed. Great access to Spring Lake's water-based activities and hiking trails, plus easy access to Trione-Annadel State Park for hiking and mountain biking. Howarth Park, a city park, also borders Spring Lake Regional Park and provides access to boating and fishing on Lake Ralphine, plus they have a small train, carousel, tennis courts, and a softball field. Overall a good campsite for families in need of lots of recreation options, but not the best for those wishing to "get away from it all."
RangerSkyline Wilderness County Park is a great little campground just outside of downtown Napa. There are always a lot of RVs there, but thankfully the tent section is separate from most of the RVs. The tent area leaves a little to be desired and is basically just a stretch of grass with picnic tables, BBQs and very little separation or cover from trees. Of course you don’t really think wilderness camping when you think of Napa Valley.
Despite being close to town there is actually quite a bit to do in the park and once you get back from the campground a bit you can really feel kind of far away from the congested Napa Valley. There are quite a few hiking trails and some offer beautiful views of the valley. By far the most popular is the Lake Marie Trail and Fire Road and Manzanita is popular with mountain bikers.
The River to Ridge Trail is nice and provides access to the Kennedy Park, the Napa River, and miles of bike paths, but check at the kiosk if the gate next to highway 221 (Soscol Ferry Road) is open and I have found it to not have a very consistent schedule.
According to a couple of friends that are pretty die-hard disk golfers, the course at Skyline is one of the best and most challenging in the area. I found it to be pretty fun, especially is your expectations are extremely low.
Being Napa Valley there is of course wine tasting and having a parking spot at the campground you have the perfect opportunity to take an Uber or car service to ensure your safety while enjoying Napa’s most famous export.
This is not a park that will provide you with memorable hikes or photos for your Instagram, but it is a decent place to stay in Napa if you’re the type that prefers to sleep in a tent or RV over a very pricey hotel.
ScoutThis location is easily accessible for all. Biking, trails for hiking and the gardens are gorgeous. Rvs and horses welcome.
GuideWe only stayed overnight the staff was very friendly,lots of stuff to do around the campsite from hiking,mtb,watch horses, frisbee golf and then you have napa where you can get wine,brewery,and restaurants that's only 5 minutes away....would definetly be back here again
GuideThis was a great campground to come on a winter weekend. Only 90 minutes from home to site. We stayed on site 3. It’s close to the entrance but the driveway only had a slight grade. Mostly folks with trailers. The sites are not too close together but it is easy to see into the surrounding neighbors. The bathrooms were clean but older... 2 of the stalls were incredibly narrow. There were showers but I didn’t look at them. The campground is next to a very popular lake. Lots of trails. A great place to bring a bike too.
It is close to town. We picked up a pizza at Urban Pizza on our way. Excellent Pi! There were tons of restaurants though if you need to pick something up.
GuideDry camped here with my 20ft R-Pod. Had a fun time. Walked to the water park on spring lake that featured an inflatable, floating obstacle course/ bouncy house thing. The kids LOVED that. As far as local and regional parks go, this is top notch. But compared to some of California’s more beautiful state and national parks, it doesn’t quite measure up. Would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could!
Cowboy Camp offers one of the few horse-friendly camping options in the Guerneville region. This dispersed camping area sits at around 1,200 feet elevation in California's Inner Coast Range, characterized by rolling hills and oak woodlands. The camp experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F, while winter brings cooler conditions with occasional rainfall that can create muddy terrain for horse riders.
Trail riding at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park: Located about 30 miles east of Guerneville, this park offers several miles of riding trails. "We were here as a stop in our road trip so it was a perfect stay. They provide WiFi and hot shower. Very clean space," notes Letícia I. about the nearby Skyline Wilderness Park.
Beach exploration: The coastal campgrounds provide access to miles of shoreline. "The beach was sandy and beautiful, not that many people around," says Char A. from Coast Campground, which is about 25 miles southwest of Guerneville.
Stargazing: The rural setting offers excellent night sky viewing opportunities. "The sky at night is ideally suited for star gazing since the north bay doesn't get as much fog as the general SF bay area and the city lights don't pollute the night sky too bad!" shares Patrick O. from Coast Campground.
Privacy between sites: Many equestrian campers appreciate camps with adequate spacing. "Sites were nicely bushed in so as to have a bit of privacy. The walk down to swim in the lake was a significant downhill but the dip was worth it!" reports Kelly M. about Liberty Glen.
Natural surroundings: The native landscape provides a rustic camping experience. As Craig A. notes about Wildcat Campground, "Good sites, reasonably separated and level. Can be windy, but low brush provides some protection. Very peaceful and well worth the hike in."
Convenient location: Skyline Wilderness Park offers proximity to both horse trails and amenities. "A safe, beautiful, affordable property to spend outdoors time on. Convenient sites with complete hookup and also restroom/showers handy. The 800+ acres of hills, woods and fields offers archery, disc golf, hiking, horseback riding and more," says Jamie G.
Water requirements: Unlike Cowboy Camp, some nearby campgrounds do provide water. "Sites are free form and come as you are, basically you're assigned to a section and you camp where there room to do so. Sites backs up to Wilderness and saw a doe within 10 mins of setting up camp just a few steps away. Level sites, water, picnic table and grill at each spot," explains Leanne R. about Skyline Wilderness Park.
Seasonal considerations: The area experiences significant weather variations. "Make sure you are prepared for the temperature swing. 89 in the day and down to 51 at night," advises Tanya B. about Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.
Terrain challenges: Some camps have challenging terrain. "Beautiful and close to downtown Calistoga however the campgrounds were infested with poison oak. Maybe just the time of year and because of so much rain this year? Not sure but it was thick and lush everywhere," warns Samantha T. about Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.
Choose shaded sites: Summer heat can be intense in this region. "If you want a sunny site, go for the center of the loop in the 60s/70s. We prefer shade and some space. Have stayed in 36 and 90. 36 was big enough for two tents. 90 only," recommends Emily W. about Bodega Dunes Campground.
Plan for wildlife encounters: The area has diverse wildlife. "We did see a few foxes, or the same fox a few times, so make sure to keep camp sites clean," advises Michael I. about Bodega Dunes Campground.
Pack for variable temperatures: Coastal influence affects weather patterns. "Given that the campground is on the water, it can get very chilly at night and the wind tends to pick up," notes Haley C. from Bodega Dunes.
Select level sites: Finding flat ground is important for comfortable stays. "RV Campsites are nothing fancy and close together. But the park itself is nice...hiking trails, views, nature, and close to Napa," notes Rich J. about Skyline Wilderness Park.
Plan for limited hookups: Most equestrian camping near Guerneville has minimal services. "We arrived after hours end of May on Thursday night. Selected non-reserved level paved site in 54-89 loop (close to bay). Paid using supplied envelope and check drawn on US bank. Two clean restroom/shower buildings in this loop. Each had token machine ($1 for 5 minutes)," shares Leonard H. about Bodega Dunes Campground.
Choose appropriate campground loop: Some areas accommodate larger rigs better than others. "They are generally smaller pull-in sites geared more toward tents, vans, and small travel trailers. There are just a handful of sites that can accommodate bigger RVs," explains Shari G. about Bodega Dunes Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Guerneville, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Guerneville, CA is Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Guerneville, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Guerneville, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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