James W.
Traveler
TravelerMalibu Creek State Park Campground
Nice spot with great hiking. Limited facilities. No hookups. $1 for 2 minute shower (tokens).
Equestrian Camping near Ojai, CA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Thousand Trails Rancho Oso near Santa Barbara provides horse-friendly camping accommodations with trail riding opportunities on site. The campground features tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, yurts, and glamping options alongside equestrian facilities. Located in a remote mountain setting approximately 35 minutes from Santa Barbara, the property offers limited cell service and no WiFi, creating a true getaway experience. The seasonal creek and surrounding trails provide natural scenery for riders, with wild turkeys and occasional deer sightings common throughout the property. Horseback riding opportunities must be reserved in advance as they frequently book to capacity.
The mountain access road to Rancho Oso presents challenges for larger vehicles, particularly those not in optimal condition. RVs navigate a winding mountain road with steep sections that demand reliable brakes and transmission systems. Daily guided trail rides connect campers to the surrounding Los Padres National Forest trail system. The campground maintains clean restroom facilities, a recreation center, swimming pool, and hot tub for guests. Visitors should prepare for variable weather conditions and take precautions against ants, which have been problematic for some campers. The surrounding Santa Ynez Mountains provide scenic riding terrain with connections to longer backcountry routes for experienced equestrians and their mounts, making this one of the most accessible horse camping options near Ojai.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Ojai (13)
1. Reyes Creek Campground
"It's about a 40 minute drive from the nearest town (and therefore the nearest gas station or market - plan ahead). There is no power, or water."
"There is a bar at the campground entrance if that is your speed, but we took advantage of the winding creek side path behind site 18."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $154 / night
2. Holiday Group Campground
"They got a nice nature trail , this time there was decent size water flowing , got tables and bathrooms. There was a trail was had to much poison oak in the entrance we couldn’t enter."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $150 - $154 / night
3. Halfmoon Campground
"Coming from Frazier, CA I was able to access the camp site with a 2012 Chevy Equinox LS FWD (By no means an off-roading vehicle) and return back home with no issues."
"Beautiful drive down grade valley to get to this awesome site. We were looking for a more remote place to camp and this site satisfied all our needs."
4. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
"We stayed during the recent storm of the century in Central California so weren’t able to take advantage of what the park has to offer. The sites are very long and not too jammed together."
"As with many southern California lakes, there is no human contact with the water due to it being a reclamation center. Unlike many other southern California lakes, this one has a pool!"
5. Malibu Creek State Park Campground
"It is prime location for some great hiking and at night it is super quiet. There are restrooms and showers as well."
"The grounds were beautiful and well maintained, the camp host super friendly and helpful, the bathrooms well positioned and clean, and the sites had shade and everything we needed."
1 Site AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $45 - $225 / night
6. Tapo Canyon Park
"This is a very nice campground near everything but still away from it all. No issues parking our 42' 5th wheel here. Clean and quiet despite the peacocks. They can be rather loud when startled."
"This campground happens to be very close to home so we went here to try out our brand new pull behind camper trailer for the very first time.
The campground is small, quiet and very well-kept."7. Thousand Trails Rancho Oso
"I played some mini golf, right next to the horseshoe pits, but other amenities you use at your own risk. The store, and kitchen are closed."
"Horse trips were booked up, so call in advance."
8. Valencia Travel Village
"A little remote and you have to drive to the nearest town(s), but clean grounds and nice site. Very easy to book online. The RV park is pretty large so it's a nice daily walk."
"It’s right near Magic Mountain theme park and many useful stores nearby: Home Depot, Walmart, Target, genetic stores, movie theaters. I’ll camp here again."
9. Upper Oso Campground - Temporarily Closed
"Water was available from the many spigots around the campground. The soothing sound of the flowing creek and the hooting of an owl made for a peaceful night."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 - $49 / night
10. Sycamore Campground
"Great hikes nearby and the beach is just a short walk away! We saw lots of cute animals during our stay. The campsite pass also gets you free parking at pretty much any beach along the PCH."
"Less than 1/2 mile walk to the beach. Bike or hiking trails."
Drive Time
- 28 min from Oxnard, CA
- 1 hr 12 min from Los Angeles, CA
- 1 hr 38 min from Santa Maria, CA
- 1 hr 52 min from Bakersfield, CA
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Ojai, CA
9 Photos of 13 Ojai Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Ojai, CA
170 Reviews of 13 Ojai Campgrounds
- SSonali U.Traveler
Valencia Travel Village
Very fine.
I was lucky to find this place. It’s well run, comfortable, friendly. Nice spots.
Travis P.
ScoutMusch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park
Amazing topanga oasis
The hike-in experience has captivating views and diverse environment. Really felt away from the " concrete jungle" of the city.
Kevin M.
LegendCachuma Lake Recreation Area
Tons of people but a great campground
ITS BIG.... tons of great sites some not do good, some packed right others lots of space, a great lake, a fun bar café, super good general store and lots of people, ther is plenty to do and it's a big chunk of land. And the oak trees and wildlife is fantastic....looking forward to seeing how winter is
- SSonali U.Traveler
Valencia Travel Village
Great place, great folks
I do recommend. Beautiful, peaceful place. Good folks. It’s right near Magic Mountain theme park and many useful stores nearby: Home Depot, Walmart, Target, genetic stores, movie theaters. I’ll camp here again.
Anthony H.ScoutMalibu Creek State Park Campground
rude staff and don’t answer phone
don’t try to reach out to this park via phone with any questions, they won’t answer you. they won’t even answer the phone when their own reservation agents are calling them. gates close strictly at 10 so if you’re camping here make sure to show up by then. showed up at 9:58 after leaving a music festival early to make sure i made it on time, and their staff was immensely rude to me about not making it on time. the morning staff is incredibly nice, apologizing for the problems and giving me advice. the night staff though has a problem and they take it out on their visitors. for how rude they were to me, somehow the campsite across from me showed up at 11pm, so seems like they pick and choose who to give problems. avoid camping here. campsites are very close together and nothing special.
- AAJ G.Scout
Malibu Creek State Park Campground
Crowded but convenient
Great hikes all around and close to beaches and city. Good sites were 26, 7, 49.
Mike M.TravelerCachuma Lake Recreation Area
Amazing lake, zero escape from city noise
The lake was amazing. The bar & grill stocks some great craft beers (didn't try the food so can't speak to its quality). The store was well stocked, the staff were friendly and helpful. The sites were reasonably well spread out (at least where we were).
That's the good. Here's the bad.
Ants. So many ants. But that's just camping - come prepared with ant spray, ant baits, and diatomaceous earth.
But the worst part was the group campsite near us. Nice enough people, looked like they were having a great time and making good memories for their kids. But someone brought a jobsite style generator - one of the extremely noisy ones - and had it running from 7am to 10pm every day, so that constant rattle was completely inescapable. You can't hang out in your site in peace. You can't wake up and enjoy the birds. You can't sing by a campfire. All you have is rattling generators.
We told the park staff about this, but it didn't seem to matter. And we never once saw park staff anywhere near our site - I haven't been to a single other campground, whether county, state, federal, or private, where that's been the case.
Hans V.
RangerMalibu Creek State Park Campground
Nice semi wooded
Small and not level spots, but OK spreaded. Toilet building is fine (paid showers though).
Guide to Ojai
Rancho Oso Equestrian Campground sits in the Los Padres National Forest at 3,000 feet elevation, approximately 35 minutes from Santa Barbara via Paradise Road. The mountain terrain features oak woodlands and seasonal creeks that typically run from winter through early summer. Summer temperatures reach 90-100°F while winter nights drop to 30-40°F with occasional snowfall.
What to do
Trail riding connections: Access the Los Padres National Forest trail system directly from Reyes Creek Campground. "There is a bar at the campground entrance if that is your speed, but we took advantage of the winding creek side path behind site 18. Our fellow campers were very respectful and the grounds were tidy," reports Adriela A.
Wildlife viewing: Observe local fauna at Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, where photography opportunities abound. "Cachuma Lake is a great place for wildlife viewing and birding. I am a photographer, and love seeing all of the birds that hang out around Cachuma - ducks, coots, Western and Clark's grebes, loons, osprey, hawks, turkey vultures, turkeys, quail, American white pelicans, cormorants, etc," notes Amanda M.
Archery practice: Practice target shooting at Tapo Canyon Park on Saturdays from 9am-1pm for a $5 fee. "The archery range is one of the best in California. There is a members area and the original range is open to the public on Saturdays from 9-1, with a nominal $5 fee," explains a reviewer.
What campers like
Remote mountain settings: Halfmoon Campground offers seclusion and quiet surroundings. "We were looking for a more remote place to camp and this site satisfied all our needs. We were the only ones there and the scenery was pleasing. There is access to some nice hiking trails of Los Padres National Forest," shares Antonio C.
Creek access: Many equestrian-friendly campsites feature natural water features. "Found it browsing campsites; what a beauty. Sitting alongside a creek, the camp is clean, quiet, the ranger is super friendly and knowledgeable of the area," notes Viktoria B. about Reyes Creek.
Well-maintained facilities: Campgrounds near Ojai prioritize cleanliness. "Bathrooms were clean and flushable. Creek was flowing and had an abundance of toads. Water was available from the many spigots around the campground. The soothing sound of the flowing creek and the hooting of an owl made for a peaceful night," reports Antonio C. about Upper Oso Campground.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout equestrian camping areas near Ojai. "No cell service, but I put my WeBoost up higher. No OTA channels with my Winegard antenna. I only watch TV at night anyway, and I have the Dish Playmaker, so no biggie," explains Tom W. about camping at Thousand Trails Rancho Oso.
Seasonal weather considerations: Temperatures fluctuate dramatically between seasons and day/night. "The temperature varies greatly from day to night (90's to 50's when I was there) and there are bugs a plenty, so bring repellant," advises John Y.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ojai, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ojai, CA is Reyes Creek Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 15 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ojai, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Ojai, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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