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Best Equestrian Camping near Bonita, CA

157 Reviews

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park features several campsites with horse stalls for equestrian campers. The campground provides water sources near the equestrian sites and maintains a trail system accessible directly from the camping area. Horse owners can secure their animals in the stalls while enjoying the camping facilities, which include picnic tables and fire rings. The campground is freeway close but maintains a good feel for unwinding and enjoying the camping experience. Sites cost between $26 and $36 per night with an additional $1 pet fee per pet. Both tent and RV camping options are available, with some sites offering partial hookups (electricity and water) and others providing full hookups.

Boulder Oaks Equestrian Campground offers primitive camping for horse enthusiasts in a beautiful, quiet setting at a higher altitude that provides cooler temperatures. The campground features an entire loop with equestrian sites where riders can keep their horses. Basic amenities include pit toilets, water access, and a dumpster for waste disposal. The $14 fee per night makes this an affordable option for horse camping. Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground also accommodates equestrians with designated sites. The park connects to nice trails and walking paths directly from the campground. While all sites are dry camping with no power or water hookups at individual sites, water spigots are available throughout the grounds. Green Valley Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park provides horse camp options with large flat pads adjacent to water sources, making it convenient for both riders and their animals.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Bonita, California (14)

    1. Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    33 Reviews
    Bonita, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 472-7572

    $34 - $38 / night

    "The campground also has some nice amenities: good trail system, a splash pad (open in spring and summer months), a playground, some areas to have a group picnic, even a large event room."

    "Close to the city, camp is clean and staff is friendly and helpful.

    Showers were clean, and partial hookups are only $35 a night. Cheapest I've found in California."

    2. Kumeyaay Lake Campground

    20 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 668-2748

    $24 - $25 / night

    "Campground was close to freeway exit and nearby local neighborhoods. Despite that, it still felt quiet and comfortable. Sites were clean snd a good size. Bathrooms were nice and clean."

    "You are away from the city, but not too far. The facilities were nice and the only scare was the GIGANTIC spider seen outside the bathroom. We'd for sure come pack...the price is right too :$"

    3. Thousand Trails Pio Pico

    13 Reviews
    Dulzura, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Locations near Jamul Casino. Staff is kind and professional. Full hookups sites. Fill propano available. Spot are very big. The pool and kid playground are great."

    "Showers were nice and warm, and not coin operated - a rarity given the water droughts around CA."

    4. Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Imperial Beach, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 428-2146

    $24 - $90 / night

    "There are nice trails and walking paths right from the campground."

    "There are walking trails walking distance from the campground and the playground in the park was very cool! If you have kids it would be a fun spot for them to play."

    5. Paso Picacho Campground — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

    23 Reviews
    Descanso, CA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 765-3023

    $40 - $250 / night

    "The only downside to this site is that it was very close to the bathrooms. That actually bummed me out a bit when we first arrived, but it ended up not being much of an issue at all."

    "The trash cans were just a few feet from the site and the bathrooms were a short walk just a couple spots away."

    6. Green Valley Campground — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

    16 Reviews
    Descanso, CA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 465-3020

    $40 / night

    "Headed back to the ranger and they gave us an open disabled spot (we have a placard) in the horse camp. It was AMAZING. Large flat pad that had the sweet water river right behind."

    "While both have their positives, I personally love this one for its close proximity to the waterfalls that are a short trail from the campsites."

    7. El Prado Campground

    22 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 473-2082

    $35 / night

    "This is the closest campground to the lakes. Just a couple steps away from the beautiful meadow it overlooks. Lots of trees for hammocking!!"

    "It is a big, big campground that is wooded and adjacent a large meadow, recreational area and lake (when not dried out, drought sucks)."

    8. Thousand Trails Oakzanita Springs

    6 Reviews
    Guatay, CA
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "The entrance is a hair-pin turn (from the south) and you'll need to go a little further north to turn around."

    "The drive getting here is wicked, if you’ve never been here before. In my scooter club, the San Diego Pharaohs, we’ve ridden up here in the mountains plenty, so I knew what I was in for."

    9. Boulder Oaks Eqst

    4 Reviews
    Campo, CA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 445-6235

    $20 - $50 / night

    "Nice big sites and an entire loop with equestrian sites.

    Pit toilets. One dumpster. Water.

    I was there May 5, 2024 and the fee was $14."

    "Found this spot after being turned away from lake Moreno campgrounds. Plenty of room for our trailer and enough space between sites to feel like we were alone out here."

    10. KQ Ranch Resort

    9 Reviews
    Julian, CA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 765-2771

    "Membership costs us around $2000 And have access to / 3000 different camp sites nationwide At any time of the year a drop of a dime essentially"

    "Great location and beautiful scenery in the mountains. The resort has lost of activities to participate in. Also, great hiking trails."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Bonita, CA

4 Photos of 14 Bonita Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Bonita, CA

157 Reviews of 14 Bonita Campgrounds

  • B
    Jul. 8, 2017

    Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    Good urban Experience

    This is a San Diego County Park/Campground. It offers everything from tent/car camping to full hook-up for large RVs. The campground also has some nice amenities: good trail system, a splash pad (open in spring and summer months), a playground, some areas to have a group picnic, even a large event room. There are about 60 camping spaces, mostly partial hook-ups (electricity and water) and a few full hook-ups (electricity, water, and sewer) in the original campground. These sites, 1-60 offer a bit more shade than the newer campsites which are all full hook-up. The newer sites (61 and higher) are on a hill and offer some good views of Bonita Valley. 61 and higher all are all full hook-ups - but you can put a tent on 'em.

    The campground is freeway close and only a few miles away from grocery stores and restaurants.

    This campground has a nice feel. It is a good place to unwind and enjoy a campfire and the whole camping experience. Good place for kids. There are several campsites with horse stalls for the equestrian campers.

    Sweetwater is perched near a Freeway/Toll Road (not a terribly busy one) and it is under the San Diego Airport glide path for incoming flights. So yeah, a little more city than some other campgrounds.

    At this time sites cost between $26 and $36 (?) per night. That gets yo one motor vehicle. Additional vehicles are $4 per night. There is a $1 pet fee, per pet.

    http://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SweetwaterSummit.html

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 21, 2023

    Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground

    So Close to Mexico!

    Nice basic county campground, everything is nice and new and clean. I think once the trees and bushes and things start to grow in, there will be a little bit of separation between the sites, but for now most sites are wide open. 

    The playground area is really cool, all the structures are made of wood and are all natural. Decent showers, you buy tokens from the ranger. There are nice trails and walking paths right from the campground. We didn’t walk to the beach because the area was flooded when we were there, but it appears that you can easily walk to the beach from the campground, it’s about 1.5 miles away. 

    Sites are all dry camping, no power or water at sites, and no dump station at campground. There are water spigots throughout the campground though to fill your jugs. There are yurts to rent, and some equestrian sites as well. The little loop off to the side is tents only. 

    You can see the border wall from the campground, and Verizon thought I was in Mexico when we arrived, haha. Good cell service with ATT and Verizon (not sure if Verizon switched me to the international plan during our stay there).

  • Beth W.
    May. 7, 2024

    Boulder Oaks Eqst

    Beautiful and quiet

    Super cute area, and much cooler since it’s a little higher altitude. Nice big sites and an entire loop with equestrian sites.

    Pit toilets. One dumpster. Water.

    I was there May 5, 2024 and the fee was $14.

  • n
    Jun. 4, 2021

    Green Valley Campground — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

    Horse camp blessing

    Was able to score a site that fit our 28’ trailer- joke was on us... there was NO way it could’ve worked, not to mention there was not a single other trailer, only tents. Headed back to the ranger and they gave us an open disabled spot (we have a placard) in the horse camp. It was AMAZING. Large flat pad that had the sweet water river right behind. Lots of area for the kids to play and ride bikes on the paved loop around the sites. The walk to the waterfall “hike” was manageable and another day we hiked to the airplane monument (don’t get your hopes up lol) and that was a solid moderate hike. Also drove out to hike to stonewall mine Beautiful weather and the falls were super fun to see, and splash in the top most parts (take a left at the split in the trail just at the bottom of the dirt little hill from the entrance)

  • K
    May. 21, 2018

    Green Valley Campground — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

    Close and Perfect for Weekends

    This is my favorite out of the two campgrounds in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. While both have their positives, I personally love this one for its close proximity to the waterfalls that are a short trail from the campsites. Depending on what campsite you are in, you can walk to the trail and down to the falls which are perfect for swimming around when it is hot outside. I love this campground for a quick weekend getaway from San Diego that has minimal preparation. Every site is a drive up site, most have shade and there are plenty of bathrooms. Most sites also have a fire ring and picnic table to use as well. A perfect, lower cost campsite that is great for families and people who want an easy camping experience with some water involved!

  • Eric D.
    Nov. 13, 2019

    Vallecito County Park

    Small family oriented campground

    My wife and our two dogs (small chi mixes) stayed at this campground over Veterans Day weekend. There are two halves, one for RV’s, horses, and a few tent sites and the other half is all tents. In the center are the restrooms/showers, a few parking spots, and camp host’s RV. The sites are pretty small and very close together but even on a busy holiday weekend where nearby Agua Caliente was full, here were plenty of sites available. Camp host was very active driving around welcoming everybody and was helpful with any questions you might have. Tons of coyotes! They’re tricky and smart, so stay sharp at night on walks with furry ones.

    There are fire rings and tables at every site with water sources every few sites. The stage coach station is a historical landmark and sits in the center near the facilities. Pretty cool small cemetery and children’s playground available as well. It was definitely a safe, accessible, and incredibly clean campground. Lots of flies between late morning/afternoon but I’m sure citronella and a cooler period would have solved that problem. We would stay again!

  • K
    Jun. 13, 2022

    Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground

    Quiet campground with nice amenities....Close to awesome tacos!

    We stayed here in February 2022 and it was a great campground in an area where there aren't many free or cheap options to stay in a van or RV. The only drawback we can think of is that all sites are primitive (no hookups). But if you don't need that this is a great place to stay.

    The campground is very nice with new facilities. The showers and bathrooms were clean and the staff working were very friendly and welcoming.

    There are walking trails walking distance from the campground and the playground in the park was very cool! If you have kids it would be a fun spot for them to play.

    The park has cell service, showers, playground, access to hiking trails, super easy to access, and the best part for us is its proximity to delicious tacos. We HIGHLY recommend Ed Fernandez Restaurant Birrieria for birria tacos!

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    Great camp

    Close to the city, camp is clean and staff is friendly and helpful.

    Showers were clean, and partial hookups are only $35 a night. Cheapest I've found in California.

Guide to Bonita

Horse camping in California offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and hit the trails.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

Tips for equestrian camping near Bonita, California

  • When visiting Thousand Trails Pio Pico, be sure to check for any specific regulations regarding horse camping and trail access.
  • At Paso Picacho Campground, plan your visit during the cooler months to ensure a comfortable experience for both you and your horse.
  • Boulder Oaks Eqst provides ample space for horses and is located near trails that are perfect for riding.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and facilities

  • Green Valley Campground — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park features well-maintained trails suitable for horseback riding, making it a popular choice among equestrians.
  • At Oakzanita Springs, you'll find facilities that cater to horse camping, including access to nearby riding paths.
  • El Prado Campground offers a peaceful setting with trails that are ideal for horseback riding, allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty of the Cleveland National Forest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bonita, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bonita, CA is Sweetwater Summit Regional Park with a 4.4-star rating from 33 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bonita, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Bonita, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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