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Cowboy Camp provides one of the few horse-friendly camping opportunities in the region around Kelseyville, California. The dispersed Bureau of Land Management campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with space for horse trailers in an open, grassy area adjacent to a seasonal creek. While the campground does not feature dedicated horse corrals or stalls, riders can use available space to set up temporary paddocks or high-lines for their horses. The campground offers basic amenities including vault toilets but lacks drinking water, so equestrians must bring their own water supply for themselves and their horses. Flies can be problematic during warmer months, particularly around the horse areas. The camping area occasionally closes seasonally without notice, as visitors have reported finding gates locked at various times of year.
The campground serves as a trailhead access point for the surrounding trail network, making it convenient for daily rides directly from camp. Riders can cross the nearby creek to access additional trails, though water levels vary seasonally and may affect crossing conditions. Horse owners should be prepared with fly protection during summer months when insects are particularly abundant. The campground's open layout provides ample room for multiple horse trailers and camping setups without feeling crowded, even during busier periods. Located within reasonable driving distance of Kelseyville, the camp offers rural seclusion while maintaining accessibility for supplies. The surrounding terrain features rolling hills and varied landscapes suitable for horses of different experience levels. The unpaved access road is generally navigable for horse trailers, though conditions may change seasonally.
"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"Beautiful location, campground was easily accessible going up Elk Mountain Road. Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers."
"If it's in a beautiful location and if you're into four-wheeling or dirt bikes, you're going to have a blast."
from $8 / 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"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"Next to a stream and surrounded by hills. The only tough part is getting across the stream to some of the hikes."
"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"Was 0.75 miles away from water (we have been in a drought?) but beautiful spacious campsite. Even with annoying neighbors, you can have peace and quiet."
"The local store is about a 10 minute drive away and during the summer has ice beer and provides firewood for sale (during winter no ice but plenty of snow)."
from $5 / night
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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.
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.
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!!
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."
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!
LegendThis is such an incredible area to camp! The California coast is hard to beat. This campground is in the sand dunes, with a short walk to the beach. This is absolutely one of the best places to see the sunset. The campground had showers and full bathrooms! 10/10 would recommend.
RangerI like this campground. There are some cool hikes to the dunes and to the beach. Go to the wharf near by to pick up some live crab to boil over the fire. Overall a great campground for adults and kids. Go with a group or a romantic getaway. Experience northern California Coast and see where they filmed Hitchcock's "The Birds."
GuideNice campground at a state park in Northern California. Nice large sites but some have views of nearby housing. Some also have a LOT of sand. Clean bathrooms and showers.
Cowboy Camp is one of several horse campgrounds near Kelseyville, California, located in Lake County at approximately 1,300 feet elevation. The Bureau of Land Management site sits within rolling grasslands characteristic of this region's terrain. During summer months, temperatures frequently exceed 90°F, while winter brings cooler conditions with occasional rainfall affecting trail conditions.
Trail riding from camp: Cowboy Camp serves as an access point for the Cache Creek Ridge Trail system, offering both beginner and intermediate riding routes. "Great free campground! We've stayed here many times. It's open, grassy level and quiet. Next to a stream and surrounded by hills," notes Jorg F. at Cowboy Camp.
Visit nearby wineries: Lake County's wine region surrounds Kelseyville with tasting rooms within 20-30 minutes of most campgrounds. "When visiting the Napa wine valley... nice tourist towns. There are nice hiking trails in the park," explains Robert S. from Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.
Water activities: During summer months, Lake Pillsbury offers fishing and swimming opportunities. "When the water level is high great fishing from this camp ground," says Jeanette C. about Oak Flat Campground.
Spacious camping areas: Many equestrian campers appreciate the open layouts at sites near Kelseyville. "There is lots of open space so no crowding. There is a rural road near by but traffic noise isn't a problem," reports Jorg F. about the dispersed camping experience.
Wildlife viewing: The grasslands and wooded areas support diverse wildlife. "Quiet and peaceful, watch elk, birds, lizards, toads/frogs on weekdays," shares Angela at Oak Flat Campground.
Proximity to supplies: Most horse-friendly camping areas maintain reasonable distance to towns for restocking. "There's a small town not far, 15 minutes or so, that has gas, a market, pizza places, and a few other stores. So there's plenty of access to food and gas when necessary," explains Justin W. from Middle Creek Campground.
Seasonal closures: Several equestrian campgrounds in the area close without warning. "Visit was for 11/19/2024 found the gates locked, no entry. Seasonal? No signage to tell," reports Natalie T. about Cowboy Camp.
Insect conditions: Flies can be problematic at many horse camps near Kelseyville, particularly in summer. "FLIES! No trees just dry open land inhabited by an unusual amount of flies. It was crazy how thick they were," warns Patricia Y.
Water supply concerns: Most horse-friendly sites require campers to bring their own water supply. "It's got dropped toilets and it has potable water. Problem is that the spigots don't have any hose fittings, so you can't hook up," notes Justin W. about facilities at nearby Middle Creek.
Quiet weekday visits: For families with children, timing can significantly impact experience. "All but the hardiest of wildlife and people should avoid the weekends. We finally learned our lesson after every Friday and/or Saturday over years has been disrupted by people yelling and/or blasting music," advises Angela.
Playground access: Some campgrounds near Kelseyville offer dedicated play areas. "Our young kids had a great time playing on the playground which was an unexpected bonus," shares Joshua H. from Bu-Shay Campground.
Creek exploration: Seasonal streams provide natural play areas for supervised children. "A seasonal creek runs alongside the open field of camping pads," notes Patricia Y., though parents should check water levels and conditions before allowing play.
Leveling challenges: The terrain at many horse camps requires preparation. "We always manage to level out in our 23" Winnebago View," reports Jorg F. about navigating Cowboy Camp's uneven surfaces.
Road condition awareness: Access roads to equestrian camping areas vary seasonally. "This site served its purpose; spot to sleep after a long day of driving. The disbursed camping area was down a gravel road to the left next to the day use vault toilet through a cattle gate," explains Crispin S. from Cowboy Camp.
Site selection strategy: RVers should arrive early to secure suitable spots. "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," advises Jorg F. about navigating Cowboy Camp with larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Kelseyville, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Kelseyville, CA is Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Kelseyville, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Kelseyville, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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