26 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Holcomb Valley Ranch covers over 400 acres surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest land, providing equestrian campers with ample room for horses to roam. The ranch features large, well-spaced campsites with fire rings and picnic tables, positioned away from other campers for privacy. Horse owners appreciate the spacious camping areas that accommodate trailers and offer direct access to numerous riding trails. The camping area borders a scenic meadow where visitors regularly spot mule deer grazing in the evenings. The rough, rocky road leading to the ranch requires careful driving, especially for those pulling horse trailers.
Positioned approximately 20 minutes from Big Bear Lake, Heart Bar Campground offers another option for horse enthusiasts with its proximity to equestrian trails. The campground sits higher above the highway, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and entry points to the San Gorgonio Wilderness for trail riding. Several equestrian campgrounds in the area allow riders to access an interconnected network of trails suitable for day rides of varying difficulty. The topography resembles the Eastern Sierra, with dry desert winds and sage brush scents creating a distinctive riding environment. Winter temperatures can drop to around 40 degrees at night, requiring extra blankets for both riders and horses. Riders should be aware that firewood can be purchased on-site, and each campsite includes bear boxes for secure storage of feed and tack.
"There are a lot of equestrian campgrounds in the area so be prepared to see horses on the near by trails."
"The first thing to mention is the location. The back of the campground faces west where the rolling mountains seem to part in a way that showcases the beautiful California sunset."
from $29 - $58 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to the hot springs and no services to speak of. Basically a patch of dirt you can occupy for $10 a night. Loved it."
"Super fun place to visit with the hot springs trail. Went in January with snowfall, hardly any campers and nature all around! Two nights are perfect."
from $10 - $119 / night
Check Availability"There's other rough roads further in and access to hikes nearby. I loved how quiet it was, except for neighbors since sound carries so easily even though spots are quiet apart from each other."
"Trees provide lots of shade and some privacy despite campsites being fairly close to one another. Easy road in most anything can drive it."
"Close to the city but far enough away from the lights. There is a ton of stuff to do here. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, water slides, disc golf, bike trails. The RV spots are beyond huge!"
"Tons of hiking trails and within 30 min drive of major shopping/grocery stores. Big Bear is about an hour away with and awesome drive up the mountain."
"You will have to drive 6 miles of mountainous dirt roads to reach the property, but it takes you away from all signs of the city and surrounds you in nature when you get there, making a very nice camping"
from $15 - $119 / night
Check Availability"The lakes are nice, there are mountain views, and some cool hikes to explore in the riverbed area."
from $3 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Short drive to the park and easy to get to the main grocery stores. The sites are not very shady and there is not too much privacy but overall it's a nice place and the bathrooms are very clean."
"This campground is a little outside the main Joshua Tree area. It used to be the only campground you could reserve ahead. "
from $35 / night
Check Availability"There is some garbage, target shooting in the distance and the occasional maniac driving through too fast and kicking up lots of dust. Generally it was quiet."
"We pulled in at night and passed a few other people camping, but there are so many little roads/trails around we had no problem finding a spot."
"Nice place to camp, weather is around 75 during the day and about 50 to 36 degrees cold through out the night. Has everything you'll need. Bathrooms are close by, showers HOT water available."
"The Pacific Crest Trail passes nearby. It is away from the populated cities, but not far from them. It still gives you a sense of seclusion."
from $3 - $40 / night
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ScoutHas a security guard that thought she was God or something like that. Never seen anybody or place so petty on the place and still searching for the championship horseshoe pits and I can't stop talking about the dark green of the fishing lakes and the fish swimming on their sides
ScoutThe scenery is unique and enjoyable, with nice views of either sunrise or sunset, depending on site. I found the lake itself very pretty. However when we arrived 4 vehicles are in our spot, people were nice enough moving but we had to go door to door knocking on camper to ask who's cars they were due to no signal and no rangers nearby. Our site was pretty dirty with lots of trash, copious ants near the drainage attachments, and two of the nearby groups had excessive tents extending into the back of our site making our view look more like a homeless encampment and less like a serene mountain sunset. They also were littering, urinating outside, and excessively drinking and partying like crazy until the wee hours. As a family group we felt really uncomfortable. It seemed like not all spots are like this, however, on my walk around deer loop in the morning. If you do go, the water activities and rentals look fun, the walking trail/biking trail was nicely done, and you could optimize your spot by booking a whole group of spots (instead of booking one, book one on the right and left side to avoid feeling like you have entered homeless refuge). It maybe was a bit worse as we were here over a holiday weekend. But we most likely won't be back, there are other places that are less expensive and with better enforcement and a family atmosphere. If you want to party it is probably a fine spot, and if you love water sports also likely ok. I thin it's a beautiful place with unique scenery and a lot of potential, but needs more enforcement regarding guest code of conduct.
Edited and gave 3 stars instead of 2. Views are really nice now that our poorly behaved neighbors left. Worth considering a visit during less busy times.
TravelerDespite the fact that one night costs $42, there are a lot of stupid, miserable people here who listen loudly to stupid music through their stupid speakers after 10pm. It's also full of cockroaches here and it's annoying.
GuideIf you like camping in a Walmart parking lot or on the streets, this place is for you.
No rangers working after the park close for day use. Didn't see one going through the campground. If you like to party all night and you have a loud system no problem. NO RAGERS AROUND. Be prepared keep your food in your car lot of rats, mice, skunks and coyotes. THE LAKE SUCKS, hard to launch your boat on and off, docks will mess up your boat. Fishing no fish they don't stock the lake. Marina is very over priced and out in the sunny parking lot. I live in LA I now got to SILVERWOOD LAKE, just as close as this place, and nicer, if you like to stay up all night Perris Lake is for you. If you want to work hard to get you boat on and off lake so you don't damage your boat, this place is for you.
TravelerWhen I booked at the reservation site I screenshot that water and 30 amp power was available at my site. There is NO water hook up. Overall it’s good 7 out of 10. Lots to do within 2 hours of this place. Staying for 6 days.
TravelerPlace is ok. Quiet so far. Nice people.
GuideOn the outskirts of Joshua Tree National Park in an old growth Joshua Tree grove. The trees are tall and fat, very close to each other. Heftier than the trees inside the Park.
It has water and dump station, otherwise the campgrounds inside the Park are more majestic with huge rocks.
If you're a fulltime RVer or vanlifer with an efficient solar system, having water in/out and a place to stay safely for cheap is grand. It's four klicks from malls, thus ideal if you need stuff. As a fulltime RVer I book several consecutive days with the app. The grounds are empty on weekdays, thus can spend quality time organizing my rig, thoughts, and plans.
From June to autumn half the campsites are shuttered. The area has limited visitation in summer.
ScoutNice rustic campground as running toilets and sinks. Picnic tables and fire pits I'd start here again
GuideFor a NP campground, this was nice, but not remote. You are essentially in Yucca Valley, which may be great or not-so-great depending on your expectations. The Joshua trees are plentiful and it was quiet. The facilities were dated, but functional. The staff were incredibly nice and helpful. Despite the proximity to the town, we did have a mountain lion walk through our campsite after dark (we saw him as we pulled in after viewing a sunset in the park). The ranger confirmed they are in the area, but we did not see signage to the effect (we could have missed it). You have to drive through a couple of towns to get back the the Joshua Tree entrance to the park, so be aware the location does not provide direct access. There are hiking trails in the area, but we did not hike them.
Equestrian camping near Lucerne Valley, California provides access to desert and mountain terrain between 3,000-7,000 feet elevation. The high desert climate brings temperature variations of up to 40 degrees between day and night, especially during winter months. Campgrounds in this region feature a mix of established sites with amenities and dispersed camping opportunities on Forest Service land.
Mountain biking access: Heart Bar Campground sits along the Alpine bike path, making it convenient for campers looking to explore the San Bernardino Mountains on two wheels. "There's a beautiful meadow to hike through, and you can drive 10 minutes to Jenks Lake for some fishing and lake views," notes Amy B. from Heart Bar Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The Black Rock Canyon area provides opportunities to observe local fauna in their natural habitat. "We saw mule deer and of course the horses! Check out grand view mountain trail, it was a gorgeous view - across the lake," shares Francisco G. from Holcomb Valley Ranch.
Hot springs soaking: Deep Creek Hot Springs offers natural thermal pools adjacent to a cold creek. "Easy access to the hot springs and no services to speak of. Basically a patch of dirt you can occupy for $10 a night," explains Dan X. The trail to the springs requires moderate effort but rewards with therapeutic soaking options.
Spacious campsites: Many equestrian campgrounds provide extra room for horses and equipment. "The campsites are huge - I doubt there's a bad spot. The drive up is treacherous if you have a lil sedan - I was worried for my Honda Fit," comments Emily B. about Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat.
Natural water features: Streams and small lakes offer respite from desert heat. "With temperature nearing 90 or at least it dealt like it. The mountain cooled stream was just what our family needed to get unbound and grounded," shares Armando C. about Seven Oaks Lodge.
Dark night skies: The remote location provides excellent stargazing conditions away from city lights. "When you hike up the trails and look back you can see the cityscape/city lights in the not so far distance," notes Christopher D. about the contrast between the campground and surrounding urban areas.
Road conditions: Access to many equestrian camping areas requires careful driving. "Tips: When you're on the road heading into Holcomb go slow (Rocky). Prep for dusty ground sediment," advises Francisco G., highlighting typical high desert road challenges.
Seasonal considerations: Winter temperatures drop significantly after sunset in this region. "Dropped to around 40 degrees at night so bring extra blankets/jackets. Bring firewood from town," warns Francisco G., emphasizing the need for adequate cold-weather gear.
Wildlife awareness: The area supports diverse wildlife populations that campers should respect. "The campground sits higher above the highway and displaces sound nicely. This spot is excellent for wildlife viewing and entry to the wilderness for hiking and exploring," explains Nick L. from Coon Creek Yellow Post Sites.
Kid-friendly water options: Some campgrounds offer swimming opportunities suitable for children. "We spent 4 days at the Ranch on a Peninsula Site near the Barn. Sunrise and sunset views are absolutely gorgeous. Clean porta potties, fire rings, we had two picnic benches and far from any other campers," reports ReadySetCamp S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lucerne Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lucerne Valley, CA is Heart Bar Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lucerne Valley, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 equestrian camping locations near Lucerne Valley, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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