Snake Lake Campground offers designated equestrian camping sites approximately 9 miles from Quincy. Several established campsites in the Plumas National Forest provide horse-friendly facilities with trailer parking, accessible trail systems, and basic amenities for overnight stays. The region's terrain combines forested areas with open meadows, creating suitable environments for horse camping at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 feet.
What to do
Trail riding from camp: Snake Lake Family Campground connects directly to several riding paths within Plumas National Forest. Scott R. notes it's "Great place to camp. Easy to get to, maybe 15 minutes from town. Hiking, 4 wheeling, fishing. One of my favorite places to camp."
Fishing opportunities: Whitehorse Campground provides lake access for anglers. "Fishing was good. Clean camp," reports Ty G., though he mentions the "30+ minute drive to town" and "hour long drive with a trailer down the wash board road" as considerations when planning your trip.
Lakeside recreation: Taylorsville County Park offers water activities alongside equestrian opportunities. Barbara S. mentions, "Beautiful Taylorsville is always a good place to set up my tent. Many spots, some with hook ups! Lots of trees and good burgers at the local market!"
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Equestrian campers appreciate the ample room at most Plumas National Forest horse camps. At Soldier Meadows Campground, Amy C. shares, "The campsites are huge, with lots of room to spread out. There is no water at this campsite, but if you bring your filtration system you can get water just steps away from your campsite."
Clean facilities: Taylorsville County Park maintains their restrooms well. Karissa R. confirms, "The bathrooms and showers are clean and exactly what you would expect from a county park. There are lots of tall trees for shade during the day, and the trees separated the spots enough that groups can be separate or together."
Natural surroundings: Campers value the forest setting. At Sly Creek Campground, Renee A. describes, "With pristine wilderness surrounding your tent, you can camp alongside the beautiful reservoir. Wildlife is all around you and you can see some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see in your life."
What you should know
Bear awareness: Horse camping in this region requires proper food storage. At Haskins Valley Campground, Julie B. warns, "Not all of the spaces have bear boxes and we had a nice visitor one morning. Be sure to put your food in your car if you don't have a bear box."
Limited services: Most equestrian campsites have basic amenities only. Sarah J. from Whitehorse Campground explains, "Vault toilets are very common and a non-issue. Sure they don't smell like an indoor bathroom- but these were serviced every day! Not a concern. They work for what you need them to do."
Road conditions: Access roads to horse camps can be challenging. Several campgrounds have dirt roads that may require careful navigation with horse trailers, particularly after rain or during early/late season.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly spots: Haskins Valley Campground offers family-friendly locations near water. Julie B. shares, "We have been comping here for 3+ years and we love it. The campground is nice and the spots seem to be spacious. It's close to the lake and market. We love to get ice cream before dinner."
Wildlife viewing: Children often enjoy the abundant wildlife. At Sly Creek, Renee A. notes, "Wildlife is all around you" making it educational for youngsters learning about nature while horse camping.
Swimming access: Some campgrounds offer water recreation alongside horse facilities. Addison G. describes Haskins Valley as "along a cove in the lake. Super nice hosts and nice campers... Always camp here when we go to the lake."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: RV campers with horse trailers should prepare for uneven terrain. At Bidwell Canyon Campground, Sean J. warns, "A lot of the sites are very uneven, ours was almost terraced... When I took a drive around it looked like many were similarly sloped/terraced not a flat site."
Limited hookups: Most equestrian camps near Meadow Valley have few or no hookups. Crystyn C. notes that finding full hookups is rare but valuable: "If you are looking for a small campground with full hookups, on the lake... this is for you. The campsites aren't huge or very level, but the fact that it has full hookups for $45/night, is small, and on the lake made up for that fact."
Water supply planning: With limited water sources at many horse camps, RVers must bring adequate supplies. Amy C. advises that at Soldier Meadows, "There is no water at this campsite, but if you bring your filtration system you can get water just steps away from your campsite."
