Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Milford is the way to go. It's easy to find Milford equestrian campgrounds with the Dyrt. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Antelope Lake is one of the more remote, quiet lakes on the forest. At 5000 feet in elevation, Antelope Lake is located in the north eastern part of the Mt. Hough Ranger District. It is a small remote lake with 15 miles of shoreline. Surrounding the lake are mountains blanketed with pine and fir trees. Protected coves around the lake attract several species of migrtory birds. The campgrounds are usually open by Memorial Day weekend and closed by the middle of October. These dates are subject to change depending on the snow level in the area. DIRECTIONS Antelope Lake is located 30 miles NE of Taylorsville on the Genesee/Antelope Lake Rd. From Janesville, on Hwy 395, take County Rd. 208 for four miles, then FS Rd. 28N01 for nine miles, turn right on FS Rd. 28N03 for two miles. Closest towns to purchase gasoline are Greenville and Janesville.
This six unit campground is located five miles north of Frenchman Lake. This a family and equestrian campground. This is the only equestrian campground on the Beckwourth District. There is a horse corral across the road from the campground with a table and fire ring. Each campsite has a table, fire ring and food locker. A vault toilet is provided. There is a hand pump with potable water. No garbage service is provided.
Come camp on our private hilltop property, adjacent to sharp mountains, and overlooking the city of Susanvile, CA!
Lassen County Paradise boasts an award winning 26 mile camping and hiking trail. Campers are strongly encouraged to stay multiple nights or make arrangements for a long-term trip to experience all the activities Lassen has to offer. We are at the epicenter of three nearby lakes - Lake Almanor, Eagle Lake, and Pyramid Lake - and other parks, like Lassen National Forrest, equipped with open spaces and OHV areas. Plus everything else fit for outdoor enthusiasts, such as hiking, ranching, swimming, snow sports, and more all within 10-30 minutes! Some nearby towns include Chico, Klamath Falls, and Reno.
We invite you to pitch your own tent, park your own RV or car at one of our designated campsites. Water is located near the property on the bizz johnson trailhead and gallons are also sold or re-filled in town.
Please feel free to contact us with questions or inquiries. We look forward to your visit!
$35 / night
Lookout Campground is located on the California/Nevada border just west of Reno, Nevada. It sits at an elevation of 6,770 feet in a large aspen grove. It is not a highly developed campground, but it is considered a secret hideaway by those lucky enough to know about this remote gem.
Adjacent to the campground is 'Crystal Peak', which can be accessed by vehicle or a short hike. This area is also popular for off-highway vehicles, wildlife viewing, and hunting opportunities.
Visitors to this campground will be surrounded by a lush aspen, pine, and fir forest. Sites are well spaced to afford visitors plenty of privacy.
Crystal Peak is known for its impressive crystal formations. Dog Valley and Peavine Mountain are popular off-highway vehicle and mountain biking areas. The American Discovery Trail also runs through this area.
$6 / night
East Meadow Campground is located alongside the scenic Jackson Meadow Reservoir, in the Tahoe National Forest. Its location provides for a great base camp, allowing visitors to enjoy a wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting. East Meadow Campground is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
The adjacent 1,000-acre lake offers excellent opportunities for boating, canoeing, water skiing, swimming and fishing. Anglers will find rainbow and brown trout. A boat ramp is located at Pass Creek Campground. A designated swim beach is nearby. The lake is an irrigation source, meaning its level will drop as the season progresses. A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail meanders along the east side of the lake. It is open to hiking and horseback riding and provides opportunities for viewing wildlife. Hunting and biking are popular activities in the surrounding area.
Jackson Meadow Reservoir is situated in a rolling forested valley, where visitors are awarded beautiful views of the Sierra Crest and English Mountain. The campground lies on the northeastern shore of the lake, in a forest of pine and fir trees. Some sites have a view of the lake, and boats can be moored nearby.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 994-3401.
$24 / night
During the winter season campground remains open with no snow plow or other services. Snake Lake is located in the Meadow Valley area off of Bucks Lake road and boasts shady lakeside campsites for tents, RVs, OHVs and horses. the multi-use campsite has 17 sites; 8 of them with corrals for equestrian campters. There are no hookups. Horses are allowed overnight in equestrian campsites only. Activities include fishing, hiking horseback riding on OHV trails and non-motorized boating. Snake Lake is not recommended for swimming. During winter months there is no snowplow service and water and restrooms shut down. There is no garbage service at Snake Lake Campground. Please remember to "Pack it in, Pack it out".
Whitehorse campground is located within three miles of Bucks Lake in the northern Sierra Mountains on the Plumas National Forest. The Bucks Lake area offers year-round recreation activities including fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, skiing,snowshoeing and horseback riding.
Bucks Lake provides fishing, boating, and canoeing. There are walking trails to the lake. A hiking trail runs from the campground and provides access to Buck Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail which runs adjacent to the campground.
Whitehorse is set in fir and pine trees offering shade during the warm summer months. Situated at 5,500 feet in elevation, the campground is settled along a small creek that feeds into Bucks Lake.
The nearby Bucks Lake Lodge has a bar, restaurant and store offering fishing supplies and groceries.
$31 / night
Black Rock Campground is a walk-in tent campground that features shoreline sites. Campsites are adjacent to the lake. Spaces are also available in the parking area for overnight RV camping. Open campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 20 walk-in units Potable water, vault toliets, trailer space Boat launch Click here for photo tour
Scout
We had a great time up at Antelope Lake. It is a very pretty lake and would definitely recommend going. However, the camp host there was very rude and very unaccommodating. I booked 6 campsites for two nights, when I showed up on Friday, the campground was not full so I moved to my trailer to a different site because it was close to friends and family. The site I moved to was first come first serve. The camp host was hounding me - saying I must pay for the site I moved to even though the campground wasn't full. Originally, I paid close to $500 for all 6 sites and the camp host made me pay for the extra site that wasn't even taken/reserved. Be careful of this guy! I think this guy might be pocketing the money.
Traveler
Sadly we were delayed and would not have arrived at Pyramid Lake until 2am so we didn’t stay. We did however visit the lake and museum and visitor center and it was well worth it! We will definitely be back to try and camp here again. We spoke with the locals and they confirmed that once you purchase the camping permit ($15) then you just drive to the lake and find a spot - very rustic, very cool! The lake itself is absolutely beautiful. We can’t wait to come back… maybe during a full moon and fishing season! Be sure to visit the museum and definitely stop at the INDIAN TACO spot on the way to the lake… it was delicious!
Scout
It's along a cove in the lake. Super nice hosts and nice campers. The bathrooms are kind of gross but that's expected. Always camp here when we go to the lake.
Guide
This site is really close to Reno, except for the time it takes on the dirt road. We went in one way and out the other. Our way in was from 395 at Bordertown north of Reno on Long Valley Road. Once on the dirt the first couple of miles were bad washboard. Slow going. Then, the rest of the trip had some challenging driving with rocks and ruts. We went really slow and everything was fine. We left via Dog Valley Road and hit the pavement again in Verdi.
We visited for a night mid-week. Only one other campsite was occupied. The trail from the campground to Crystal Peak was great. It's more like Crystal knoll. The history of Cristal Peak is amazing, and the crystals are everywhere. Really nice views from atop the knoll too. Many people visit just for the day to collect crystals.
TravelerWe stayed for 3 days on the beach next to the picnic leantos. We were the only ones camping on the beach. Very quiet. We have a 24' Class C motorhome. The beach was very clean and orderly. The Marina has a great store for just about anything you may need. The staff was very helpful.
Guide
Perfection. It was early October, and while the AM Temps dropped to 32°F. I wanted to stay one more day. The toilet needed pumping out, to be expected at the end of the season. The water pump didn't produce, I had plenty. I recommend bringing enough to wash with as well as drink. This time of year, the creek was a babbling brook. For the 5 days I stayed, at most 3 campers, and one only stayed one night. Very peaceful, just what the doctor odered. Road is very easy to get down. I look forward to going back. However, I am posting a picture of a notice posted at the entrance. I would not pay for this campsite. It was perfect for what it was. If they do start charging, then I believe it would not be worth it.
Guide
Back again for the first time since the Sierra winter. Reservoir is pretty high, and not too busy this weekend with boaters. Bugs were minimal, a far cry from about 3 weeks ago at a nearby site. We were in Site 16, which has the ‘camp’ side opposite of our camper door - only reason we gave 4 stars & not 5. Otherwise outstanding!
Legend
Despite the beautiful Joshua trees this campground is not a great to stay. The roads are in terrible condition, trash is strewn throughout, and staff is less than friendly or helpful. Roads are terribly narrow and sites are small and very uneven. Not a great place for a trailer nor class A. No direct access to park via road. Is next to neighborhood
GuideSuper place, hosts are friendly & helpful! Some spots are tricky to back in, but easy walk to the reservoir for beach/water time. Some campers moored their boats/jet skis just off the campground. Gravelly shore and bottom, excellent paddleboarding & kayaking, but be aware this is a water sports lake - so expect powerboats & jet skis.
ScoutGreat place
GuideVery pretty views of the valley from the campground, and having hiking trails start from the campground was really nice. Only complaints are very close neighbors and little shade.
Scout
I had a very enjoyable time looking out at the scenery. I had peace and quite with no large buildings and being on a private road. It all gave me the feeling I was one with the nature all around me. The camp also represents and embodies that same unity.
TravelerThe campground and hosts were….awesome! The hosts were attentive and drove around in their golf cart regularly and diligently and were informative and friendly. The camp was good too. All was fairly quiet and the spots are far enough apart. However, the lake was dismal. It smelled like sewage and there was an algal scum floating all over the surface…the bad part is, we didn’t notice the smell until we were already in the water. I have been out on the lake about 20 years ago and it was great, from a boat out in the middle somewhere. From the beach? Miss me with that, please. One can rent a boat…only for fishing… We might stay there again, if we bring kayaks or boats or something.
RangerFree! I do love free. I had spent the day in the sun and had no intentions of driving four hours away. I did Subway Cave 👍🏻, Burney Falls👍🏻, and took a much needed nap by Hat Creek.
I pulled into another campground but there were kids running everywhere and the second I got out the mosquitoes came at me starved for my blood. I left.
The next was Bogard. I had literally no idea where I was. I needed rest.
It was beautiful. Aspens fluttered. Owls hooted through the night.
Most of the sites are for horses so I tried to take another without corrals as I’m not a horse but light was fading, I took a horse one.
I met all my fellow campers. So many dog cuddles. Kids rode bikes and played hide n seek.
5 other sites were taken so it was nice and quiet.
I found some wood someone had placed in my site previously and had a nice fire before sleep took over.
It was hot so no rain fly on my tent and the stars were abundant. So were the bugs.
Literally the only downside.
Easily 30 bugs came to bed with me. I used repellent to no avail.
But hey. It’s free.
TravelerCamping here was great. Many different spots from able to use the marina or at the boat launch still on pavement or just right down on the beach next to the water. Only biggest issue is there is no trees. So no shade. Bring your easy ups.
GuideTHE CAMPGROUND
The campground is great. Many sites have lots of space between them, while a few are side-by-side with just a vehicle parking space separating them. Each has a level, wood-bordered dirt/gravel pad set up for a tent - usually placed in as quiet/remote corner of the site as possible. Each has a picnic table, some type of fire pit (some have a metal ring with nice flipping grate, some are just a circle of large stones), and some type of cooking setup (some have a standard campsite charcoal "grill" while others have a metal table to set your cooktop on.
Very quite. Only noise is campground noise and one infrequently trafficked dirt road nearby (see below).
Campfires are allowed. If you drive in from the south (via Verdi), there is currently a designated area to collect firewood - it is scheduled for a prescription burn and you can pick up any wood from the forest floor - bring an axe and saw.
I visited mid-week during peak July season - there were two other campsites occupied (out of 20 total).
The campsite is in the middle of Dog Valley. The area is used for off-road recreation, so you may run into a few off-road buggies or trucks, and some may stay at the campground. But most stay in other "dispersed" camping, and there aren't nearly as many vehicles as you might see, for example, in a Nevada dunes off-road park.
The Crystal Mine is nearby… quick drive, bit longer walk. I didn't find many walking trails in the area, but may have missed them.
Verizon cell service picked up one bar, intermittently. Enough to get out occasional status update texts and check the weather, but not enough to be able to read stuff off the internet unless… you…. are…. really…. really… really… patient. If you hike up the hill at the nearby Crystal Mine, Verizon gave 2 bars and 5G… you are line of sight to Cold Springs.
There is basically no radio reception at the campground, but one AM station came in during the drive.
There are two 'vault' toilets, both of which were clean and well maintained… no real odor, no spiders, etc. I saw one water spigot but it required a keyed handle to open so it was inaccessible … no other sources of water (potable or otherwise) at the site.
Trash cans are provide. No food/bear lockers provided (bear-safe food storage not required … but always a good precautionary measure).
I give it four stars because it is a good campground, and may be a good base for off-roading or mountain biking, but doesn't have many major sites nearby (hiking trails, rivers, lookout points, etc.) and I didn't find a variety of hiking trails nearby (a major one does run through the general area). Would be tough to keep kids busy, but great for a 2 day getaway for a couple.
Ok… let's talk THE ROAD….
The road is one of the reasons this site generally isn't too packed. There are two main ways in…
From The South (Verdi)
This is the roughest path. It has a fairly good incline and then decline into the valley, so I can only speak to my summer experience, but I suspect this may present a challenge for winter/wet driving.
For this route, you will spend 8.5 miles on a dirt road. I'd estimate this road is 10% "standard country dirt road, flat, fairly level, no major ruts, drivable by any vehicle at 25-30MPH." About 75% of the road is "unmaintained hill road, where you have to hug one side or another to avoid 6-inch+ ruts, loose rocks up to 5" in diameter, passable by a 2-wheel drive vehicle with reasonable ground clearance and not concerned about rocks on the paint, driving 10-15 MPH." The remaining 15% still probably doesn't require 4-wheel drive, but could benefit from it, involves going 5MPH to navigate deeper ruts or 'potholes'. The entire route is totally 100% passable by any truck/Jeep, even 2-wheel drive, driven slowly and carefully at times. Subarus would be fine. I *think* a standard sedan could make it, but you run a very good chance of bashing in the underside of your car… it is doable and I saw a little hatchback do it, but I personally wouldn't recommend.
From the North (Cold Springs)
For this route, you will spend 10 miles on a dirt road.
The first 3.3 miles (about 33%) is "standard country dirt road, flat, fairly level, no major ruts, drivable by any vehicle at 25-30MPH." Very easy driving. About 65% is "unmaintained hill road, where you have to hug one side or another to avoid 6-inch+ ruts, loose rocks up to 5" in diameter, passable by a 2-wheel drive vehicle with reasonable ground clearance and not concerned about rocks on the paint, driving 15 MPH." The remaining 2% is the harder road, as described above… just a few specific spots/turns, not long sections.
This north route is easier, but either way you go, there will be tougher sections.
To be fair - this isn't "off-roading." There are no boulders or 'technical' challenges. It is just an unmaintained (or rarely maintained) dirt road that has ruts, especially in uphill/downhill areas where the water runs across the road. Definitely not just a 'country dirt road', but a more typical mountain backroad.
Pictures below show the most common sections - 75% of the south path and 66% of the north path look like that or a little bit worse. The pictures aren't the worst sections - just more of the 'typical' road you can expect for most of the way.
Final comment: All of the above is about dry, summer driving. After rains, when the ground is wet, or in the winter - could be a very different experience.
TravelerCamp on Pryamid lake shore or full hookups @marina RV park tents trailers etc. Indian Reservation permits required. Fireworks sold & allowed designated areas. Also, fishing is great and seasonal. Activte Quiet community 
ScoutFirst time there and we reserved a spot, site 21 and the door of our camper wasn’t facing our camp. I noticed a few sites like that. It’s pretty tight spaces and not a lot of privacy. We ended up moving to site 4, had more room and our door was facing our camp :)
GuideNothing terribly good or bad about this site. Lakefront is a plus, great if you’re in the area...probably not worth a trip unless you’re boating.
LegendWe did not stay the night here, as there was too much snow on Bridge Creek Springs Road in April for our RV to be able to get through. We spent the night in a clearing nearby though, and walked over to the campground to check it out.
The camp sites are nicely spread out, and each comes with a picnic table and steel fire pit. The website says max trailer length is 25 ft, but the sites looked plenty large enough to accommodate longer vehicles.
There is lots of shade, almost no sun, so if you rely on solar power keep that in mind.
Not maintained during the winter, but the campground is open. There are two unisex handicap accessible vault toilets, and one was unlocked and the other was locked. We saw several sites with dedicated horse corrals at the site.
There is also a day use area.
We saw a sign pointing the way to “water” but did not see any water spigots in the campground. The sign may have been referring to Pine Creek which passes along behind the campground. The website does mention handpumped water though, so maybe there was a spigot that we didn’t see.
During the winter the campground has kind of an eery, disheveled look. However, when maintenance starts up again, and when the Aspen change color in the fall, this campground is probably a beautiful place.
Zero cell service.
No fees even during open season.
Legend
Officially this is listed as an equestrian campground. We were there during the off season so no one else was around. The campground was quiet and peaceful. Website stated that fees are not collected at this time. There are only 6 sites here and it is a compact little campground. The sites are a good size but the loop is tight and it took some creative maneuvering to back into our site.
The road in was fairly smooth with some areas of washboard, managed fine in our 26’ Class C. Water is available from an hand pumped spigot at the entrance of the campground, website states non potable but we drank it and it was fine and in fact tasted really fresh. There is no garbage so pack in and pack out.
The bathrooms were open. Each space has a bear box, fire pit and picnic table all in good condition. Sites were relatively flat and a mix of sun and shade.
There is hiking and biking on the main dirt road and on the multiple side roads. There was a few vehicles coming and going but not so busy as to be annoying.
The view of the huge meadow was nice and just before you reach the campground there are a few buildings that are open and some horse corrals.
Zero cell service from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
GuideSo beautiful! The lake is nestled in the mountains. The scenery, fishing and water sports are superb! There are ample campgrounds with spots from tent camping to RV camping. They also have group camping right on the water! If you love mountain lakes, don’t miss this one... and book early!
Traveler
This is a great spot for camping. There are very nice and large spots for both Camper and Tent camping. 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. The road isn’t too close, and there isn’t much traffic after 9:00 or so anyways.
There is also a water access to go easing and a few deep spots for swimming.
There are also 3 Poké stops and a gym for Pokémon Go players.
GuideThis campground is a super fun place to spend a weekend with friends. Several group sites available. Mind you this lake isn’t far from Reno, NV and surrounding valleys so it can get quite rowdy at night during peak season. Would not recommend for families looking for a quiet, serene getaway. Boat ramp for launching boats and jet skis. Water is warm enough to swim June-August. Great fishing! Vaulted toilets were very clean. Many sites are located very near or on the water due to the unique shape of this lake. Most sites are pretty good sized and offer some privacy with tree coverage. Would recommend booking reservable on-the-water sites well in advance.
Scout
The campgrounds is small, which was perfect. A total of 19 spaces, but on a Sunday night there were only 5 filled spaces. Trees and birds! Chipmunks! Walking trails connect to the campground! What a delight and right near Bucks Lake!
It is bear country, and the campsite was visited by a bear at night. Just one night, when the night before the dumpsters were emptied. The bear messed with the campground dumpster but left everything else alone. All the garbage goes into bear proof dumpsters. Don't leave it out in cans. Those are labeled PLASTIC and CANS. Just do what they say- and keep your food stuffed locked up. Head the warnings- right? The bear, after speaking to the host, is well known locally. They have watched it grow up.
Someone reviewed poorly because of vault toilets. Maybe they have never been camping. 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. And there was even toilet paper stocked!
ScoutBathrooms had a horrific smell, trash overflowed the receptacles all four days we were there; not to mention the huge “bear country” signs to make sure trash is properly disposed of, but the ranger just drove by it multiple times with her truck bed empty. It’s right by the main road/interstate; large trees are placed in front of the camp area..I’m assuming so a car will hit the tree and offer sometime of protection?! Yikes. We made the best of it but we will not be back. I’ve heard of other great sites around bucks lake and will be sure to check those for the future.
ScoutSo remote and private but everything you need at the campground with water access within walking distance. Sites are great with picnic tables and bathrooms near by.
Horse camping in California offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine companions. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the scenic trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Milford, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Milford, CA is Antelope Lake Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Milford, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Milford, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
