2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Liberty Glen Campground near Lake Sonoma offers equestrian camping facilities in the rolling hills of northern California's wine country. The campground accommodates both riders and their horses with multiple loop trails accessible directly from the camping area. Horse trailer parking is available at designated sites, though no dedicated horse corrals are present on the property. Campers with horses should bring their own portable containment systems or tie-outs. The campground provides standard amenities including drinking water, toilets, and trash service, with sanitary dump facilities available for RVs. Most sites remain unclaimed even during peak seasons, allowing groups traveling with horses to secure adjacent campsites by arriving early and speaking with rangers at the entrance gate.
Trails around Lake Sonoma connect riders to various scenic routes through oak-studded hillsides and along the lakeshore, offering moderate terrain suitable for most experience levels. Riders frequently encounter wildlife, including wild boar, which are legally hunted in the area during certain seasons. For additional equestrian-friendly options in the region, Cowboy Camp provides primitive camping with direct trail access, though it lacks drinking water facilities. Trail access at Lake Sonoma may require negotiating significant elevation changes, as the hike to the water involves a substantial downhill trek. When camping with horses, visitors should bring all necessary supplies, as the nearest store is in Cloverdale, approximately 20 minutes from the campground. The archery range near Lake Sonoma offers another recreational option for visitors seeking varied activities during their stay.
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $100 / night
"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!!"
Available this weekend
from $45 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $43 / night
"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
"Next to a stream and surrounded by hills. The only tough part is getting across the stream to some of the hikes."
"Campsite is above lake, no access feom campground. Not all water faucets have hose attachment."
"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
"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
TravelerGreat camp with amazing views. But, you should not camp alone. I've been here often this month and have seen a herd sheep eating the grass on the hillside, heard a pack of coyotes several nights in a row, until I heard a Mt Lion doing it's bird like sounds at night, as it circled my rv. This is last night, 10/07/2026 - mt lion presence detected, not seen. Be careful.
TravelerCowboy Camp had everything I had heard it offered & more! There was plenty of space when I visited and I got to pick a spot down by the water. Easy access & semi-secluded. The spot was half shaded and half sunny by 3 PM. Perfect for our truck to park in & stay cool. Vaulted toilets were in decent shape & even had TP. Lots of awesome spots to pull off at on the way there from Winters area. Beautiful views of flowing green water & colorful trees.
TravelerUpside: almost no one here, including security and onsite host (private and undisturbed), no road noise, great playground, bathrooms, showers and water views.
Downside: no onsite host, book online (reserveca.com). Some spots are VERY OPEN no privacy and all overgrown meadow. Campsite is above lake, no access feom campground. Not all water faucets have hose attachment.
See attached map for most private $35 spots ( not waterfront) and the blue dot has a water spiket with hose attachment.
GuideApparently this place has been closed for four years and is just re-opening. It definitely looks like it. Sections of the campground are still closed, and the parts that are open were ROUGH. This places does have potential- views of the lake are good, bathrooms have showers. By far the worst part of camping here is that there was no camp host and no park ranger. Saw unsafe fire practices, and experienced extremely loud music that went to 2:00 am and started again at 6:30 am. Did I ask for it by coming here on Fourth of July weekend? Probably. On the whole, the entire experience felt like trying to camp in a run down city park. Having no one to contact when things get out of control after the sun goes down invites campers to try to regulate other campers, which is always recipe for disaster. I’ve camped in all kinds of place - Nat’l park, state parks, county parks, BLM, National Forests, and have experienced the full range of camping experiences . I will never come back to this place again.
GuideThe location is great since you’re close to st Helena and Calistoga. The road is narrow and the spots are tricky to back into. It was our first time with out 20ft trailer and we struggled a bit, took us three tries we kept having to drive around the loop of the campground. Lots of poison oak. Dog friendly on the paved road/path. We didn’t use the pool, but it’s open 1-5pm and it’s spring fed. Lots of kids, definitely kid friendly since it’s so small!
GuideGreat spot to camp and explore the Santa Rosa area. No hook ups but there is a spot to fill fresh water tank and a dump station. Sites are well spaced and very clean. Will get weekend locals so you will likely hear people having fun :) My go to in the area.
TravelerI stayed overnight in the winter so it was pretty empty. The sites are all separate and not too close to one another like they look in photos. The hosts were very nice and it was very quiet when I was there. It's close enough to where you could walk into town but I drove because it was raining. I will definitely be camping here again.
TravelerLove this campground. So many sites that feel snug and cozy, embedded in nature and not too close to neighbors.
The bathroom on one of the loops is in repair; but in the loop by camp sites 90s it’s working well.
GuidePack earplugs if you are not a deep sleeper, keep reading to find out why. The campsite is located in a unique location near the pacific coast highway 1. There are large trees and sandy dunes to explore. There's a little bird under habitat protection, so no dogs on trails, but you can take your dog walking on Marshall beach just a few miles up north on the coast. There's a RV park with a friendly little cafe with sunny outdoor seating and honey lavender lattes back down south. The campground is quite large and bushes give excellent privacy. The state park staff offer a large cardboard box of firewood for $10 dollars. Lower light pollution makes for good night sky views. Unfortunately the proximity to the highway and a lighthouse make the night noisier than it should be. The boat horn from the lighthouse can be heard every 10 seconds blasting faintly, but loudly enough to make falling asleep tough, I used earplugs which made this maneageable, but the lighthouse starts the horn interval at nightfall and doesnt stop sounding the horn until 6AM. The amenities like a sink and indoor bathrooms make up for this.
Lake Sonoma offers equestrian-focused camping options in northern California, approximately 20 miles northwest of Healdsburg. The area sits at elevations between 500-2,700 feet with oak woodland and chaparral ecosystems dominating the landscape. During summer months, temperatures regularly reach 90°F with cool 50°F evenings, while winter brings considerable rainfall averaging 40 inches annually.
Explore archery range: The Lake Sonoma area includes an archery range for visitors seeking alternative recreational activities. "There is also an archery range at a nearby area of the Lake. Check their website for the latest check in information," notes a visitor to Liberty Glen Campground.
Hike to swimming spots: The lake offers swimming opportunities accessed via hiking trails. "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," shares a camper who visited Liberty Glen.
Visit Bodega Bay: For a coastal day trip, Bodega Bay is accessible within an hour's drive. "This is the second campground we've visited in Bodega Bay and enjoyed the more private campsite found here. We had a grand time exploring Bodega Bay and enjoying the seafood available," reports a visitor to Bodega Dunes Campground.
Nearby wine country access: The region's location provides convenient access to wineries. "It's so nice to be right in the Napa Valley. If you're a wine drinker, during non-COVID times you can catch a wine bus from here!" explains a visitor to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.
Site selection flexibility: Some campgrounds allow campers to choose their own sites upon arrival. "If you talk to the ranger at the gate, most of the time they will let you drive around the grounds and pick any open site. This is great for groups, especially if you have a few loud people in the mix because you can pick a more secluded site," notes a Liberty Glen Campground visitor.
Relative solitude: Even during peak seasons, many campgrounds retain uncrowded conditions. "I've been to Liberty Glen 3 times, and even in peak season the campground is never full," shares one camper. Another notes, "Both times were fairly full, but never totally full. You can make a reservation, but you cant pick your spot until you get there."
Amenities vary by season: Water availability fluctuates at some locations. "Check their website for the latest update on if they have potable water on site, it can vary from year to year," advises a Liberty Glen visitor.
Wild boar presence: Local wildlife includes wild boar populations that are legally hunted. "When hiking in the area be aware of the local wild boar problem. Due to overpopulation, bow hunting of wild boars in the Lake Sonoma area is legal most of the year," reports a camper.
Limited supplies nearby: The remote location requires bringing necessary provisions. "Bring everything you need, the closest store is in Cloverdale, 20 minutes away," mentions a Liberty Glen camper. Similarly at Coast Campground, a visitor notes, "Always expect fog. Expect cold and damp at night."
Playground amenities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "Our young kids had a great time playing on the playground which was an unexpected bonus," shares a family that stayed at Bu-Shay Campground.
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds have bike-friendly environments. "This is a great place for family, kids rode bikes all weekend. Nobody was too loud or partying late," notes a visitor to Bodega Dunes Campground.
Trail accessibility considerations: When choosing equestrian camps with children, assess trail difficulty. "Coast camp in kind of the tale of two campgrounds. Sites 1-7 are located on the inland side of the Coast Trail just south of the junction with Firelane Trail. They're spread out in a scrub-brush area that provides a nice amount of privacy and protection for the wind," reports a Coast Campground visitor.
Campsite surface conditions: RV campers should note the terrain at horse campgrounds near Lake Sonoma. "Sites are nice with picnic tables. Some more level than others. Nice big trees," explains a visitor to Bodega Dunes Campground.
Dispersed camping alternatives: For RVers seeking primitive options with equestrian access, Cowboy Camp offers an alternative. "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," shares one RVer.
Sanitary facilities: Dump stations are available at select locations. "The bathrooms are clean and comfortable with flush toilets and warm showers (coin operated)," notes a Bodega Dunes visitor, while another adds "Good hot water pressure. Saw some porti-potties in other loop so don't know what's working over there."
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 Liberty Glen Campground - Temporarily Closed for Maintenance with a 3.8-star rating from 4 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.
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