Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Idyllwild is the way to go. Camping with horses is a beautiful way to experience nature. These scenic and easy-to-reach California campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park trail maps and more! Black Rock Campground lies among one of the thickest Joshua tree forests in Joshua Tree National Park. Its location on the park's northern perimeter makes it a popular rest stop for hikers, birders, horseback riders and RV campers. Black Rock is one of four campgrounds in the national park that requires reservations year-round. To get the most out of your visit, Plan Like a Park Ranger Travelers who enjoy warm, dry winters flock to Joshua Tree from October through May, when temperatures hover between 70 to 90 degrees during the day and drop anywhere between 40 to 60 degrees at night. Summer is the park's off-season due to uncomfortably high desert heat. Black Rock is at an elevation of 4,000 feet and has a mix of both sun and shade.
There are many great hiking trails around Black Rock, including some with spectacular views of the low desert and high peaks around Palm Springs. Popular rock climbing sites are within a half-hour drive from the campground.
The unique shape of Joshua trees and the huge rocks that surround them draw tourists and scientists alike to the national park. Within the Black Rock facility, the surrounding trees form silhouettes against the landscape during sunrise and sunset and display bunches of blooming white flowers in early spring. Campers staying at Black Rock may have the chance to view the elusive desert tortoise, found only in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Visitors may also want to keep their eyes out for more typical desert inhabitants such as lizards, rattlesnakes, scorpions, coyotes, ravens and desert tarantulas during the cooler months of the year. Bobcats and mountain lions do live in the park, however they are rarely seen near humans. Birders may also be pleasantly surprised at the variety of species found around the campground.
This location is staffed. Please call (760) 367-3001 to speak with local staff.
Reservation Cancellations & Changes Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure. There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date. Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Changes or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window: Once a reservation date has begun, customers cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center (see below for early departures). If the location is staffed, on-site personnel may or may not be able to assist with changes or cancellations (check with local staff). No-Shows Overnight Facilities: A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out (noon) time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time (noon) on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first nights recreation fee for a campsite. *Note: the entire reservation will be cancelled for no-shows.
$25 / night
$25 - $45 / night
The Heart Bar Campground provides access to some of southern California's greatest backcountry hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, as well as a nice play to experience nature. A variety of recreation opportunities are available in the surrounding area as well, leaving little more to be desired from a campsite.
A variety of backcountry hiking, biking and horseback riding trails can be found near the campground, including the famed Santa Ana River Trail, which provides miles of scenic mountain views and points of exploration. The Wildhorse Creek Trail, which explores 5 miles of rolling terrain in the area, is accessed just north of the campground and leads to a remote camping area south of Wildhorse Meadow. It climbs nearly 1,100 feet in elevation and is moderately difficult. Creek fishing is also available nearby.
The campground is nestled among pine-covered mountains, at an elevation of 6,880 feet. It is not far from Big Bear Lake, but far enough to retain a remote and secluded atmosphere. The mature trees provide some shade to the area, but understory is limited, leaving campsites with little privacy in some places.
Big Bear Lake and its adjoining town are located approximately 20 miles from the campground, offering a variety of water-related recreation opportunities, as well as golf, shopping and restaurant options.
Rules & Reservation Policies As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. Late Cancellations Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival. Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge. No-Shows Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. Refunds Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location. Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777." Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July
$29 - $58 / night
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park trail maps and more! Ryan Campground lies amid the huge, steep rock formations for which Joshua Tree National Park is known. In close proximity to many boulders and rock formations, it is a popular camping location for families with kids. Ryan Campground is one of four campgrounds in the park that requires reservations year-round. To get the most out of your visit Plan Like a Park Ranger Travelers who enjoy warm, dry winters flock to Joshua Tree from October through May, when temperatures hover between 70-90 degrees during the day and drop to a 40-60 degree range at night. Summer is the park's off-season due to the uncomfortably-high desert heat. Ryan is at an elevation around 4,400 feet.
Several hiking trails also leave from the campground. There are plenty of rocks and Ryan Mountain to explore outside the facility. Clear desert skies are perfect for star-gazing.
Campsites are nestled on a flat, sandy surface between large boulders that tower in unique shapes over the campground and rise up from the otherwise uniform desert landscape. The rocks were formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago and have been exposed and shaped by wind and water over time. They brighten with soft pastel hues during the morning and evening sunlight and low with campfire light by night. Visitors may want to keep their eyes out for typical desert inhabitants such as lizards, rattlesnakes, scorpions, ravens, squirrels and desert tarantulas during the cooler months of the year. Bobcats and mountain lions do live in the park, however they are rarely seen near humans.
Cape Rock, Ryan Mountain, and Hidden Valley
Reservation Cancellations & Changes Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure. There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date. Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Changes or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window: Once a reservation date has begun, customers cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center (see below for early departures). If the location is staffed, on-site personnel may or may not be able to assist with changes or cancellations (check with local staff). No-Shows Overnight Facilities: A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out (noon) time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time (noon) on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first nights recreation fee for a campsite. *Note: the entire reservation will be cancelled for no-shows.
$20 / night
Dripping Springs campground is a wonderful campground adjacent to the Agua Tibia Wilderness.
Recreation in the area includes hiking, trail running, and backpacking.
The campground is adjacent to sensitive riparian habitat which is home to the endangered Arroyo Toad. The hills surrounding the campground are covered in southern California chaparral which is host to a diverse population of flora and fauna. The mountain tops above the campground are lined with coniferous forest.
The campground is directly adjacent to Agua Tibia Wilderness. This wilderness area includes a 20-mile hiking loop. The campground is also near Temecula, California, and the Temecula Wine Country.
$15 - $30 / night
There are 19 Coon Creek Yellow Post Campsites available on a first-come-first-serve basis. No reservations. Maximum of 8 persons per campsite. Amenities includes picnic table and fire ring. There are no restroom facilities or drinking water.
McCall Memorial Equestrian Park, located 4 miles south of Idyllwild, CA, and one-quarter mile west of Mountain Center off Highway 74, is a unique 88-acre mountain park designated specifically for equestrian camping and trail riding.
Situated at an elevation of 4,400 feet and surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest, McCall Park provides access to several excellent trails that meander through tall pine trees, open meadows, and past seasonal streams, affording breathtaking views of the San Jacinto Mountains, gentle flatlands and rolling hills as well as the rock-strewn peaks that tower above Idyllwild. This park provides opportunities for small parties or large groups to meet for day rides or overnight events, with excellent accommodations for horses and riders including 53 sturdy pipe corrals, barbecue and picnic facilities, and plenty of space for camping.
$30 - $280 / night
Launch Pointe is the Southern California RV Camping destination place to be. It was designed to provide guests with a truly unique RV resort experience. Launch Pointe is conveniently located between Los Angeles and San Diego, off the I-15 freeway.
$55 - $140 / night
Traveler
We stayed two nights here in a campervan. It's a really great location to explore the park. The rocks give some good shade. Space #9 was shady in the mornings. The toilets were fine. It was really quiet, they're were a few other campers mostly in tents. No sign of any rattlesnakes or other critters either. Except loads of cute squirrels, and some mice and lizards.
Legend
This place is reservation only, through recreation.gov. The rangers at the visitor center do not handle anything with reservations whatsoever. We managed to get two nights fairly last minute, only to arrive and find the campground mostly empty. That’s pretty aggravating, probably due to people making reservations and not showing up.
Sites are $25/night, and rec.gov does not charge a processing fee, which is so nice.
The roads throughout the campground are in terrible shape, but we managed in our 26ft class C. The roads and many of the sites are washed out and crumbling. Most sites are not level. Our site,#90, was ok with leveling blocks.
There’s recycling here (no glass accepted), trash dumpsters, flush toilets, and a free dump station with potable water fill. No showers here. There are many hiking trails directly from the campground, which is nice, but dogs are not allowed on the trails.
ATT had good service and Verizon was usable but very weak.
Scout
Great campground for families. Lots of activities for the kids to do, like smores by the fire, art, splash pad, and play ground. Facility was clean
Traveler
My husband and I tried to get to the Coon Creek yellow post sites on May 21st, but the gate was up, as the road right at the gate was washed away. So there's no way to get in to the sites right now. Hopefully the forest service will repair the road soon, but there weren't any crews out there, so it's probably going to be a while (hopefully before mid-summer!). :(
Unfortunately, I didn't think to get a picture of the washed out portion of the road, as there was a truck right behind us, also trying to get to the sites.
GuideStayed for one night and we totally enjoyed our stay there. Beautiful place. Cell service was very good.
ScoutI guess it depends on what you like. Tent campers or class b campers might be alright but I didn't like it. The roads in are narrow and absolutely terrible. I was in site 97 and it was way out of level. I suggest not getting there at night because the roads are not well marked.
Scout
My boyfriend and I love this campground! It’s gorgeous and filled with trees, the rangers are awesome and there’s several hiking trails nearby. We will definitely be back
LegendRyan campground was a little further out from the middle of everything. Rocks were still present but not as large as at jumbo or sheep’s pass. Great collection of sites. Any would be good - some really fun ones tucked in the rocks. Pit toilets clean and serviced regularly. Plenty of garbage and recycling containers. Fire pits, bbq and nice picnic tables at each site.
Legend
Love the rock formations within the campground and proximity to hiking from the campground. Pit toilets, garbage and recycling available. Fire pits, bbq’s and picnic tables at every site. Roads were passable - there’s a chunk of the road missing near the entrance but it gets a lot better back by the sites.
Scout
Clean, pet friendly and good for kids.
Guide
Might be my favorite campground ever. Very quiet, we were here midweek before Christmas. Very dark at night which was so great. Little lake for fishing, we didn’t catch anything. Very little traffic. Huge sites. Most sites are dry or water/ electric only no sewer but there is a dump station. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Camp is a good distance from any stores. Target was about 15 minutes.
GuideDecent layouts on the ground Every spot is open to wind but none the less ! Very peaceful spot. Must reserve!!
ScoutSite #13 Electric - plenty of room for four people in two tents with two trucks. Not camping-camping but great for an overnight when you just need to sleep under the stars. They sell wood for $5. Only real con was that we encountered a tarantula and had to remove it from our camping area. Great place for kids first camping experience.
LegendTucked on the outskirts of Mission Viejo is an oasis of green grass and groves of the twisting and searching limbs of Coastal Live Oak trees. If you stuck me in the middle of this park, I’d never know that I was miles away from the sprawl of suburbia of a major metropolitan area…shhh don’t tell anyone.
There are 3 campgrounds within this regional park -- one soley dedicated to RV's that require electrical hook-ups (Ortega Flats), a group campground (San Juan Meadow), and another which is a mix of tents and off-grid RVs (Live Oak). This review is specifically for the off-grid Live Oak Campground which s aptly named because you’ll find yourself enjoying the ample shade of these amazing arbors, but plenty of sun to run our solar powered system.
The campsites can be reserved but there is plenty of room for first-come first-served travelers as well. The sites offer enough space to tuck away a tent in the corner, or set up the longer trailer, as well as the typical picnic table and fire ring. Plenty of port o potties are scattered throughout the campground and served the large groups gathered here on Easter weekend. We indulged in making a fabulous brunch of Wood Fired Waffles to celebrate the holiday! As of April 2023, they were still experiencing a well water issue, so no water was available from the faucet, but the river running through the park was useful for obtaining water to wash dishes.
Hiking, biking and horseback riding trails meander throughout the park. The campground borders on a small creek for fishing, but is off-limits to wading and swimming because of the instability of the opposite bank. Keep an eye on the kids! Be sure to check out the volunteer-run Nature Center on the property which is full of great information about flora, fauna, and native history.
The closest store for firewood, and groceries is just a few miles back toward town. And, the closest beach is just about 30 minutes away, so a great option for a day trip.
ScoutVery nice gated and secure campground with many amenities.
ScoutDoes not allow tent camping
Traveler
Our family stayed at Heart Bar over Memorial Day weekend.
The campground was great. The spaces are enormous. We felt like we had a Midwest backyard all to ourselves! The parking was fairly level, but we still needed a couple inches of leveling block to sleep flat.
The wildlife in the alpine environment is great. The stellar jays are up and about at sunrise to pick over your evening scraps.
The campground is close to the river for fishing and gold panning. We only found pyrite, but it was fun to try.
RangerVery polite courteous no rude people here we enjoyed every minute of our week stay prices vary in how close to lake u r
TravelerLet me start by saying if you don't like sharing the site with your neighbor, kids and partying until the wee hours, this place may not be for you.
It's a very nice park like setting with a lake, actually a reservoir, so no swimming but, there are fish in it. $10 per day to fish. Very family friendly with a splash pad and playground for kids. Lots of kids!
They have full hookups with easy access but, the sites face each other and are very small. Privacy isn't an option.
It seems the camp store is one of the main attractions. Lots of people going back and forth to stock up and replenish.
In all, a nice place to overnight in a pinch but, that's about it.
Traveler
I have been staying in my rv full time for ten years. And this campground is absolutely the worst. Good: the lady who takes the reservations is very friendly at first. Bad: First day: check in. The spot is very difficult to get to up a hill. And small. Almost impossible to park. Plug in electricity. Sewer hookup was good. Screw on the water to their connection. And it breaks. Water flooding my site for 45 minutes before they shut it off. Maintenance guy on site comes and fixes it. Didn’t even try to hook up the water and on day 3 it breaks again. Spraying my rv with high pressure water again. Flooding inside. Water all over the electrical connection. So much water flooding my travel trailer starts sinking and sliding down the hill. Office doesn’t care. They come fix it again. This time it decides to hold until we are packing up our campsite. Then it blows water all over again. Told the office that they broke the jack on the front of my rv. Flooded my rv. The “nice” lady in the office now becomes very defensive telling me that they take accountability for nothing that happens at their rv park. So I call the company that owns the campground. Basically the same response. There is a very nice county rv park that is much less expensive right around the corner. Stay there and your trip will not end up being the nightmare that mine was. These guys ruined a great vacation. P.s. the lake is disgusting. Maintenance guy looks like he’s on drugs. And there are old tweeker trailers all over the park.
Scout
Only a few spots here that aren’t really secluded but since it’s not usually crowded you do get some privacy. The bathrooms and showers are CLEAN as heck!! Mostly families here so it was nice and quiet at night except for the wildlife. Few trails for wandering around as well. Great Verizon service
GuideWe stayed at campsite #9 for 1 night (5/18/23 - 5/19/23). We had a wonderful stay. The campsite is spacious. The vault toulet is clean. If you gonna stay in this campsite, be cautious of rattlesnakes! One showed up right next to our tent at 7:45am. Other nearby campers told us they saw it at this campsite the day before as well. Maybe this is its home. Scorpions are also spotted by other campers in this campground. See attached photos and videos. Stay safe during camping!
ScoutWe really liked Ryan campground. The camp sites are private feeling, and spaced far enough apart. It's smaller than Jumbo Rocks; there aren't as many, um, rocks-- but there were enough to keep our 9 year old climbin' and happy. The camp host was really nice, and the campground was super clean. And of course Joshua Tree park is epic!
RangerGreat little campground 25 min from Big bear. Higher elevation so its a great place to cool down in the summer nights
Guidethis area is emaculately kept. we enjoyed roaming throughout the various areas of the Park. No water as of March 2023 but stable electricity and clean dump area
Guide
Older park, sites gravel and not level. Bathrooms/laundry need updates/repair. Pool and hot tub. Accommodation based on sales pitch to join as a member.
GuideThis campground is very nice. The roads could use some work and if you have a RV/Trailer/Van you may want some block to help get you level. The sites are nicely spread out. Bathrooms are extremely clean. Overall I had a very nice stay aside from the weather being not so great.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Idyllwild, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Idyllwild, CA is Black Rock Campground — Joshua Tree National Park with a 4.2-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Idyllwild, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 30 equestrian camping locations near Idyllwild, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
