Best Equestrian Camping near Lake Sonoma in California
Looking for the best horse camping near Lake Sonoma? Equestrian camping is the best way to experience nature. Search horse campsites and discover top-rated spots, as reviewed by other campers.
Best Equestrian Sites Near Lake Sonoma, CA (8)
1. Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Bodega Bay, California34 Reviews•118 Photos•578 SavesBodega Dunes (Sonoma Coast Camping) has a potable water fill station and a dump station that service both campgrounds . There are no potable water filling areas at Wright's Beach. Do not use spigots for your filling needs. Fill up your water tanks at Bodega Dunes prior to you arrival. Maximum trailer length is 27' and hook-ups are not available. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and a paved parking spur. Running water and flush toilets are available in the bathrooms. Max occupancy is 8 people and two vehicles per campsite. All vehicles MUST stay on paved parking spurs. Any vehicles that do not fit may be taken to the overflow parking lot in the day use area. Wright's Beach does not offer group camping. When the campground is full, the overflow area on either side of the kiosk may be used for self-contained vehicles on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are recommended, especially on the weekends, holidays and during the peak season.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- RVs
$35 / night
2. Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Deer Park, California26 Reviews•66 Photos•196 SavesLocated in the heart of the beautiful Napa Valley wine country, the Park offers Napa valley camping, picnicking, swimming, and hiking trails that go through stands of coastal redwoods as well as forests of Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone.
Park is open year round.
A few drop-in sites are available on a first-come-first-serve especially during the off season.
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
$43 / night
3. Liberty Glen Campground - Temporarily Closed for Maintenance
Cloverdale, California4 Reviews•9 Photos•87 SavesOverview
Liberty Glen Campground is located at the top of Rockpile Road overlooking Lake Sonoma. A short 45-minute drive north of Santa Rosa and a two-hour drive from San Francisco. World famous vineyards and a rich history surround the lake, where visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring the area's extensive trail network.
Recreation
Lake Sonoma offers a wide variety of recreational activities such as, Archery Range, Air Rifle Range, Disc Golf, Outdoor Gym, Dog Park as well as other nearby activities. The lake provides great boating and swimming opportunities. Anglers fish for large and smallmouth bass, catfish and sunfish. A small native population of rainbow trout exists in the waters as well. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders enjoy exploring several miles of trails in the Liberty Glen area, including the Serpentine, Rancheria and Cove Trails.
Natural Features
Lake Sonoma is nestled in the beautiful coastal foothills of Sonoma County, California. Liberty Glen is situated on a ridge above the Warm Springs Arm of the lake. The campground offers scenic views of the lake, and the shoreline can be accessed from the site with a strenuous one mile hike.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- RVs
- Tents
$75 / night
4. Coast Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore, California9 Reviews•25 Photos•349 SavesOne- to six-person sites: 12 Seven- to 25-person sites: 2 Coast Campground is nestled within a small coastal valley with easy access to the beach and tidepools. The beach is within 220 yards of the campground and tidepools are located ~720 yards to the southeast. One may access Coast Campground by foot, bicycle, or horse; not by boat, auto, or RV. The shortest approach on solid ground is via the 1.8-mile slightly uphill hike on the Laguna and Fire Lane Trails, starting at the Laguna Trailhead just east of the hostel. There are 12 regular sites and two group sites.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$30 - $90 / night
6. COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground
Mendocino Lake, California1 Review•2 Photos•32 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
7. Middle Creek Campground
Upper Lake, California2 Reviews•4 Photos•25 SavesOHV Staging Area, Equestrian Staging Area (no camping).
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
8. Dixie Glade Campground
Stonyford, California1 Review•8 Photos•6 SavesThis campground is located on Forest Road M10, just above the Fouts Springs OHV area. There are 7 sites with tables and grills. Corrals and hitching post are available for packstock animals. A short trail__ (.8 mile) connects to the Deafy Glade Trail providing access to the Snow Mountain Wilderness.
- RVs
- Tents
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Tent Cabin
- Glamping
Recent Equestrian Reviews in Lake Sonoma
102 Reviews of 8 Lake Sonoma Campgrounds
Natalie T.
Traveler
Cowboy Camp
Camp closed
Visit was for 11/19/2024 found the gates locked, no entry. Seasonal? No signage to tell.
Shari G.
Legend
Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Quiet Spot Along the Spectacular Sonoma Coast
Have you been over to Bodega Bay? I think you'd like it there. Our friends sure know us well! While the town doesn’t look much different than when it appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”, the cafes in the village have definitely upped their game.
Bodega Dunes State Park is a great way to experience the area without the same activity and noise in the camp grounds down closer to the water. The campsite loops wind through the coastal Live Oak and Bishop Pine trees and provide some privacy in between sites in some areas, though some sites are right on top of each other.
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. Many of the sites have decent open sky resources for solar power and satellite internet, though many in the lower areas had standing water and torn up asphalt pads from the heavy rains the last couple of years.
The bathrooms were clean and comfortable with flush toilets and warm showers (coin operated). My only complaint about the bathrooms is that there weren’t quite enough for the demand, in my opinion, but a few port-o-potties might help offset that during the busy season.
Hiking among the sand dunes and along the beach provide some really stunning scenery. Reaching the beach, you’ll find as much coastal sand as you can handle with miles and miles of it to yourself. The water, which is normally pretty cold year round, can also be pretty rough for swimming.
A short drive away is the gorgeous Bodega Head Trail which winds up along the headland and offers amazing scenery. It’s sort of like a small Point Reyes National Seashore, but much easier to get to.
Bodega Bay has a couple of small grocery stores, gas stations, and more than a few restaurants to meet nearly any craving. The area is known for its Dungeness Crab Harvest, so be sure to check that out when it's in season!
Laura M.Legend
Doran Regional Park
Big and Busy
Great (and big) park in Bodega Bay with several separate campgrounds. We got lucky and snagged a last minute spot for 2 nights in August. Easy access to the beach, lots of day use areas all around this park, and bonus: a dog beach that was available on a trial basis when we were there- dogs got to run free on this little patch of enclosed beach- wonderful. Hope it becomes a permanent feature!
Showers were $2 for 5 minutes, there’s recycling here (a separate bin for propane cylinders too).
This campground has a lot of in and out traffic and day use visitors and overall more activity than the Westside campground across the way. We enjoyed both of them.
- kken K.
ScoutBodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Clean campground
There is upward of 90 sites, many are for just tents and are on sand with fire pit. I have our travel trailer there and are the site # in the 70's and are on a asphalt pad, which makes it cleaner and level. Down side would be close to a road and traffic during day, but at night very quiet except for fog horn which is no big deal. The beach walks and adventuring the coast and local fair makes it all worth it. Water and dump station available, not at campsites but at entry of park
Emma R.Traveler
Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Close to wine country
Lovely campsite with very sweet camp hosts. Always waved when they drove by.
Chose site 17 because of the beautiful tree seen in another review but was felled prior to our arrival, so no big tree. We did however get a beautiful view of the stars.
Two things to note, some of the sites (didn’t look like all of them had this issue) have an incredibly fine dusty dirt that gets on absolutely everything, it made our feet, legs and sandals completely beige from the dust and we had to wipe them with wet wipes before going into our tent and tracked a fair amount into our car upon leaving.
The other thing we were disappointed with was that we had to pay for showers on top of already paying over $50 for our site for one night, we felt that was a pretty big con and that it should be included in the fees.
Overall, you can’t get closer to the wineries and it was an otherwise lovely site.
Catherine L.
GuideCowboy Camp
Quiet
Quiet stop, but I wouldn't call it the most beautiful stop I've ever stayed. Camping spots are to the left and the right I'd the day use. Pit toilets. No garbage.
Gina D.GuideRitchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Beautiful
This rv site was awesome.It's quiet beautiful, lush green. Be aware tho. It's full of poison oak!!!! But yiu can get around it.
There are no hook ups. But the sights are mostly shaded, so it was a great help and I did not go in a hot time of the year. They have good hours for use of generators as well We Brought our electric bikes and rode to the geyser in Calistoga and to multiple wineries It was a great way to travel
Michelle W.
RangerDoran Regional Park
Amazing location
I loved my spot right by the ocean. The bathrooms were nice and had hot water.
Stay in the Cove campsites!- Mark E.Scout
Doran Regional Park
Great Place but impossible to get into anymore!
It sucks that so many people go here now. Allowing people to book so far in advance takes away from people trying to camp that have to travel from great distances that cannot risk arriving for the first come first serve spaces!!!
- DDerek D.Scout
Cowboy Camp
2/9/2024 —- closed
The camp area is closed, as of 2/9/2024. No indication of that on the BLM website.
RoamingAspen V.TravelerRitchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Quiet in Winter
Nice sites in Oak, Madrone and Manzanita forest. As many have mentioned, it’s also a Poison Oak farm, but if you keep to the trails and roads it’s fine. Many sites are not level. Road is narrow. Bathrooms clean, showers although clean were not inviting. ATT was a bar, occasionally two. Was able to make a call if I stood still. Minutes away from Calistoga and St. Helena. We imagine it’s a very busy place in peak season, but a nice quiet getaway in winter.
Jorg F.TravelerCowboy Camp
Cowboy Camp
Great 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.
Patricia Y.GuideCowboy Camp
FLIES!
No trees just dry open land inhabited by an unusual amount of flies. It was crazy how thick they were. An almost dry creek runs alongside the open field of camping pads. To close to the road and way to exposed to feel comfortable to stay. If I needed a place to get some shut eye before heading onward, then maybe. I had a car full of flies that went to the coast with us. It was crazy.
Chris N.GuideDoran Regional Park
Lovely water access
This campground is lovely. Easy access to potable water. Helpful hosts. Access to both the cove and ocean. For us the downside is that we were surrounded by large RV’s, which is not our preference. After 8 when they generators turned off it was lovely.
If I returned to this campground my preferred spot would be 75 or 76 as they are private and have bay access.
Ivette D.ScoutBodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Beautiful!
Stayed at this campsite at the tail end of a storm so not many folks pitching a tent. The campground was quiet and met some lovely people every now and then. The sites were distant enough to give each camper privacy. Bathrooms and showers were really clean compared to other places. You had to pay for hot water, but $20 got 3 of us enough hot water for 3 days.
The trail to the beach was a nice walk and easy to follow. The beach itself was quiet and only a few folks were out there after the storm.
Overall, a beautiful campground, I'm hoping to go back again and stay in the same spot.
- Neil T.Legend
Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Nice Setting - hope you like foghorns
We got a great workout hiking in the dunes to see the sunset over the ocean.
Lots of cool and funky trees.
Bathrooms could be updated/cleaner.
Nice place to eat in Valley Ford called Rock Oysterfeller.
There is a foghorn that sounds off every 10 seconds or so. I didn’t notice it when we set up camp…maybe the wind and waves. But in the middle of the night it woke me up. I thought it was some Tsunami warning or something. I managed to read what it was and after a while managed to sleep through it.
- GGeorge K.Scout
Doran Regional Park
Great winter get away
Walks, birds, great sky, no hookups but nice
- JJoshua H.Traveler
COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground
Great spacious campground
We had a great time when we stayed a night here in October. The campground is nice and has a lot of availability- even on weekends!
The camp facilities are fine. The sites are spacious and there are a mix of shady and sunny sites. The flush bathrooms are fine, and there are free showers. Our young kids had a great time playing on the playground which was an unexpected bonus.
We stayed on a Saturday night and there weren't that many other people in the campground. I'm not sure why it's not busier, as it's just as nice as the state park campgrounds we've stayed in. The town of Ukiah is pretty close as well, so you can get food or supplies easily.
We had OK cell coverage with Verizon- we could usually browse the internet but streaming videos were difficult (you could download and watch them pretty quickly, but just streaming was hit and miss).
keith B.GuideDoran Regional Park
Perfect
Great campground to visit with the family and get away. Fires are allowed most of the year. The campground has coin operated showers and flushable toilets. As well the day use area allows fires in designated fire pits of course. Restaurants and bars are about a 10 to 15 minute drive away. Highly recommended the best campsites are near Cove camp
Joe C.ScoutRitchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Great campground near wineries.
WE just stayed two nights camping and had a great time, site was good, bathrooms and showers were clean. Good access to wineries close by. Only real downside was that because of the dry conditions we could not have a campfire.
It was not a problem for us but ATT reception was poor, could not get messages at the site but sometimes could while moving around the campground.
- CColleenScout
Doran Regional Park
Not for privacy or quiet
There's a loud boat horn, all day and night. Miwok is set up as a group campsite so there is no privacy or space between neighbors. There is no view other than other campsites or the parking lot at most of the Miwok campsites. Prepare for cold wind and wetness (fog, humidity) at your camp. The facilities are safe, clean, and monitored.
allison W.Legend
Coast Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
Earn it
Hike in (or boat in) — part of what makes this place so amazing is the awesome and unspoiled nature. Miles and miles of hiking trails, unique ecosystem you won’t find anywhere else along the coast (or in the world!). This is an experience everyone who loves the Bay Area should have at least once.
- AAsh C.Guide
Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Camping in wine country!
Great spot for cheap and restful accommodation while Visiting wine country. Yurts, and campsites, pull thru and rv sites. Not super cheap cuz you are in California but way more affordable than any hotel and 5 minutes from Calistoga, thru vineyard lined lanes. Lots of hikes for a hike level. Mosquitos started coming out but tolerable. Nice trickling river and peaceful pondering spots. Great bathrooms but bring lots of quarters for showers, helpful staff! Rico you are the best for giving me firewood!
Lisa C.GuideBodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Small location, amazing proximity to quiet beach
This location has no hookups but does have a dump station, vault toilets and small bbq grills available. Beautiful sunsets just a short walk away in the dunes. Day use is also available
- DDan U.Scout
Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Wonderful location - mediocre sites
The location of this campground is amazing, if a trip to Napa Valley's wine country is on your bucket list. The camp sites are okay, but road and access is narrow for many sites and the gravel pads aren't particularly level. We stayed at site 049 which is a nice quiet spot away from the restrooms -but has trees, rocks, and bollards obstructing ability to cut the wheel and back in. The restrooms were fairly clean and stocked with TP, but no soap or papertowels, so plan to bring those. Also the park is prominently overtaken with poison oak... we knew what to look for and very cautiously avoided it, but it is everywhere, so if you're not familiar with poison oak, be warned.
Overall, an okay experience but I would not repeat at this location.
Bill F.TravelerDoran Regional Park
Beautiful views for days!
Beautiful spot to spend a little time. Take in some coastal wildlife and walk along the beach. There’s no hookups at RV camp sites so be prepared. There’s potable water connections to top up in the site areas and there’s a dump near the entrance. Generator hrs while I was here were 8-8 but with the wind noise I never heard one. It was windy as heck (mid May) but ymmv. Cell service is spectacular. I carry AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and it’s some of the best service I experience camping anywhere.
- ccami R.Guide
Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Lovely campground
Nice campsites that are surrounded by greenery, not too close together. Well-sheltered. Unfortunately not good beach access from this campground (you have to drive).
Guide to Lake Sonoma
Horse camping near Lake Sonoma in California offers a unique blend of scenic trails and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a perfect getaway for horse lovers.
Equestrian campers like these nearby activities
- Enjoy the beautiful trails at Liberty Glen Campground - Temporarily Closed for Maintenance, where you can explore the scenic landscapes around Lake Sonoma.
- Experience the thrill of riding through the picturesque surroundings at Doran Regional Park, which provides easy access to both the cove and ocean.
- Discover the diverse wildlife and stunning views while horseback riding in the Mendocino National Forest near Dixie Glade Campground.
Campers appreciate these amenities for horses
- Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park features hitching posts and water troughs, making it convenient for equestrian campers.
- At Bu-Shay Campground, spacious sites accommodate both tents and horses, ensuring a comfortable stay for all.
- Cowboy Camp offers a rural setting with ample open space, perfect for horse camping and enjoying the great outdoors.
Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and water access
- Middle Creek Campground provides access to trails suitable for horseback riding, along with picnic tables and fire pits for a complete camping experience.
- Coast Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore is a hike-in campground that allows for equestrian camping, with nearby trails leading to stunning coastal views.
- California Dixie Glade Campground features a variety of sites that cater to horse campers, ensuring a peaceful and enjoyable stay in nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lake Sonoma?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lake Sonoma is Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 34 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lake Sonoma?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Lake Sonoma, with real photos and reviews from campers.