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Equestrian Camping near Pioneer, CA

36 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Horse camping options near Pioneer, California range from free primitive dispersed sites to a developed lakeside resort located 30 minutes away. Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed camping area allows tent camping with free dispersed sites located near Arnold. The dirt road to access the camping area contains ruts and potholes but remains accessible to most vehicles. This camping area features primitive conditions with no facilities—no restrooms, running water, or hookups. Fire permits must be obtained from Cal Fire, and campers should check current fire restrictions. The ground consists primarily of dusty dirt, which may affect comfort for both humans and animals.

    Located 30 minutes from Pioneer, Lake Amador Resort offers more developed camping options with water access. While no specific horse corrals are listed in the amenities, the campground provides lakeside sites suitable for various camping styles including tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options. The resort features full hookups for RVs, drinking water, picnic tables, and restrooms. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer, wild turkeys, and other animals frequently observed throughout the campground. Water activities are available at the lake, though water levels can vary significantly throughout the year due to the reservoir's private management.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Pioneer (36)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Sly Park Recreation Area

      4.8(13)20mi from PioneerRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "There are tons of activities to partake in: relax and do nothing, hike (entire lake is 9.5 miles with a waterfall!)"

      "They are set into the mountains with trees behind you. The park rangers are very present to keep people in check and the camp host drives by multiple times to keep the bathrooms clean."

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      2. Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed

      3.9(7)16mi from PioneerTents

      "Be sure to obtain a fire permit from Cal fire and check fire restrictions in the area have a bucket full of water and a shovel next to your fire at all times again this place was amazing"

      "The roads are not four-wheel drive and are perfect for van lifers. I would not pull a trailer of any kind up here. Or a vehicle with low clearance."

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      3. Ghost Mountain RV Campground

      3.8(12)23mi from PioneerRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It reminded me of Lake Pillsbury north of Clear Lake Ca where we as a family had been camping since 1981. But with just over 2hr drive not 6hr with trailer. There is a pool, and kids pool."

      "About 1.5hr from Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. Built thick forest of the Sierra mountains. Nice size campsites. Water and Electricity only."

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      4. Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

      4.2(33)38mi from Pioneer49 sitesRVs, Tents

      "As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely."

      "The facilities are clean, easy access to lake beach swim area, and easy access to near by stores. This camp area is near city area but feels like you are far away from it."

      from $33 - $58 / night

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      5. Pine Cone - Sly Park Recreation Area

      5.0(1)20mi from PioneerRVs, Tents

      "Beautiful view of the lake, level plot, toilets, picnic table, potable water, fire ring, grill, recycling stations and large dumpsters. Dog friendly too."

      from $37 - $47 / night

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      6. Hilltop - Sly Park Recreation Area

      4.0(2)21mi from PioneerRVs, Tents

      "Beautiful lake and campground. We will be back in August."

      "Other good sites up here are 111 (full shade all day) and 113 with the awesome lake view."

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      7. Cedar Creek Ranch

      Be the first to review11mi from PioneerRVs, Tents, Glamping

      from $85 - $150 / night

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      8. Glory Hole Recreation Area

      4.1(9)29mi from Pioneer144 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Showers and bathrooms aren't working but otherwise a great place to camp. been going to the nearby Tuttletown camp for showers and working bathrooms while they work on Gloryhole."

      "The lake's water was too low for a swim though :( sad"

      from $18 - $22 / night

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      9. Fallen Leaf Campground - South Lake Tahoe

      4.4(35)44mi from Pioneer208 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "The campground itself is beautiful, walking distance to Fallen Leaf Lake and short drive to South Lake Tahoe. My husband, my pup and I liked the campsite a lot."

      "From the East you’ll pass thru all of that, past the Camp Richardson and finally turn away from Lake Tahoe into Fallen Leaf Campground."

      from $47 - $128 / night

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      10. USBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground

      4.1(8)29mi from PioneerRVs, Tents

      "The only downside is that the park closes at 8:00 pm so we had to sleep behind the entrance until 4:00 am when they opened the door again. A Fire ring and a bench available at each spot."

      "Sites were a good size and were tucked down a slight hill from the road which was great for privacy. Bathrooms were kept very clean and well stocked."

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Pioneer, CA

    8 Photos of 36 Pioneer Campgrounds

    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Pioneer, CA

    243 Reviews of 36 Pioneer Campgrounds

    • FThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jan. 23, 2022

      Ascension Ranch

      Heaven On Earth

       WELCOME TO ASCENSION RANCH Ascension Ranch is an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities. Family owned, we're a small operation with big dreams. Offering a serene environment, an abundance of farm animals, and good old fashion ranch activities, we invite you to spend some time with us out on the ranch! Come play for the day or reserve a private campsite, and see what all the fuss is about. Some of things you'll come across at Ascension Ranch include baby farm animals, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, more horses, ranch dogs, puppies, chickens, equestrian activities, secluded campsites, amazing views, access to endless trails around and of course, good company.

    • Aaron S.
      Aug. 11, 2016

      Clark Fork Campground

      Clark's Fork: A modern campground away from civilization.

      Clark's Fork is a large campground with 88 sites – all of which are situated with lots of space so that you aren’t too close to your neighbors. The availability of adjacent “double sites” makes this campground a great place for larger groups of families and friends. The 25 sites on Loop A offer vault toilets and cost $19 an night. Loop B sites offer flush toilets and cost $20 a night. There are also 14 nice family-sized equestrian sites and one group equestrian site. Sites are within easy walking distance of the water. No matter what kind of camping you want to plan, Clark's Fork offers options. A RV dump station is located near the entrance to the campgrounds. The Clark's Fork Campground is on a first-come, first-served basis. This beautiful wooded campground is on the Stanislaus River, recommended for your fishing and scenic pleasure.

    • C
      Jun. 19, 2023

      Dru Barner Campground — Eldorado National Forest

      Beautiful quiet place

      The good part is this is a beautiful place in the trees to camp with nearby hiking,. And it's equestrian friendly if you want to bring your horse. The Verizon connection was strong. Even when the campgrounds full on weekend. It's very quiet, more soldier in the week. Bring water as there is none available due to poor quality.

    • Melissa S.
      Jun. 27, 2021

      Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

      Not bad

      Nice campground. As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely. It can be a little noisy with the close proximity to the road. But park is clean with lots of trees.

    • Tiffany M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 21, 2022

      Sly Park Recreation Area

      Best camping trip ever !

      This is a well-kept and forest-dense camping spot. There are tons of activities to partake in: relax and do nothing, hike (entire lake is 9.5 miles with a waterfall!), kayak, fish, sun bathe, swim, play games at your camp, if you have a horse- camp with your horse in one of those sites). It just really is amazing that this gem is only (approx) 1 hour from Sacramento! I cannot wait to go again!

    • DThe Dyrt PRO User
      Feb. 28, 2022

      Dru Barner Campground — Eldorado National Forest

      Found by accident…TWICE!

      Never been during peak (summer) but both times we have stayed here in winter and it was FANTASTIC! Close to Georgetown and to the El Dorado National Forest. Super clean and easy to get to. Signs off 193 are well marked! The have horse corrals too if you’re into that. Highly recommend!

    • Elliott B.
      Sep. 28, 2018

      Fallen Leaf Campground - South Lake Tahoe

      Nice location, but has a few major issues

      We got a last minute cancelled site at the Fallen Leaf Campground, and thought we’d truly lucked out. We stayed at site 87 which is nestled among towering native pine trees on the South end of the campground and one of the few sites which doesn’t have neighbors on all sides. The sites have the standard standing BBQ's and fire rings at all sites (but we couldn’t utilize them because of the fire ban), old picnic tables and various amounts of space for RV’s/cars and the tried and true bear box. In this campground you NEED to utilize the bear boxes. They have signs everywhere about the mass amount of bear activity and how there is a mother and her 2 cubs which have been terrorizing the campground for some time this season (2018). Again, you need to keep everything (food, toiletries, etc.) in the bear box at all times. The sites are reservable, and on top of the $35 (nonelectric) per site there is a $7 fee for a second vehicle, Yurts go for $86 which do have power and a nonrefundable $10 service fee…. While the campground allows dogs, they aren’t allowed in the Yurts.

      There’s lots of bear proof dumpsters around the campground, lots of potable water in strategic spots and a number of decent restrooms, and it was nice that at some of them they provided hot (pay) showers (at $1 per 3 minutes) and while the ADA has some control the standard one has no control over the heat or pressure its simply on or off. Also, the restrooms have no soap, paper towels, or hand dryers, etc. Which was a little disappointing for the cost.

      My biggest disappointment in the setup of the campground has to do with the bears and cleaning your dishes. There is no dish-washing area in the entire ~200 site, ~14 bathroom campground. They specifically ask that you don’t wash your dishes in the sinks or at the water spigots as they don’t want any food particles going down the drains. So, when I asked about disposing of the dish water they said to just toss it at the base of a tree, as it’s dry and the trees would appreciate it. This doesn’t help keep the bears away… While we scrapped and collected every bit of food waste we could and tossed it into the dumpsters, ff you’re just tossing food scrap-soaked water at the base of the trees the bears are going to come for the smell… I’ve stayed at other sites in bear country which have setups for disposing of the waste water and food scraps to detract bears and Fallen Leaf definitely is lacking and this is possibly part of the reason they’re having such an issue with bears.

      While, our site (87) would probably normally be a great location with the Fallen Leaf Lake being the only thing behind you and no neighbors on at least 2 of your sides, we happened to somehow book the same weekend that a corporate event was taking over the vast majority of the campground with almost 200 people….

      While, not entirely the campgrounds fault it was a little disruptive to have this mass number of people come directly next to us in site 88 for their meals as they’d decided to make that site the meal prep site for breakfast (they started prep at 5:30 am) and dinner (we actually had to ask the drunk group to stop screaming at midnight) these were both well outside the “quiet hours” and definitely surpassed the “6 people per site” rule.

      Otherwise this campground is in a great location to see the area as it’s only approximately one-quarter mile north of Fallen Leaf Lake. The trail from the campground was only 3 sites over from us. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is directly across Highway 89 and is a great location to talk to the Rangers about other potential hikes in the area. They also have interpretive programs, guided walks on the Rainbow Trail and to the Stream Profile Chamber (which was closed because someone decided to break it. Although it should be repaired now… end of September 2018). Also, nearby Baldwin Beaches or Pope Beach, which cost $10, or you can go to the Tallac Historic Site with tours and events at its historic buildings and grounds and the free (dog friendly) Kiva beach which is exactly the same as the other pay access beaches….

      There’s also a really nice paved bike trail that runs 3 miles along Highway 89 and can be used to access all of the above. You have access to excellent day hiking and backpacking in Desolation Wilderness via the Glen Alpine or Mt. Tallac trailheads which are also nearby.

    • Joe R.
      Jun. 17, 2022

      Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

      Great family friendly camping

      I joined my brother and his 2 young kids at this great camp ground. The facilities are clean, easy access to lake beach swim area, and easy access to near by stores. This camp area is near city area but feels like you are far away from it.

    Guide to Pioneer

    Dispersed camping options near Pioneer, California range from lake-adjacent sites to forest locations at elevations from 3,000 to 8,000 feet. The region's Mediterranean climate brings hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters with occasional snow at higher elevations. Many areas require campers to pack out all trash and bring their own water supply.

    What to do

    Fishing at multiple lakes: Lake Amador Resort offers good trout and bass fishing according to campers. "Fishing is good for trout and bass! Nice beaches to hang out at! Kayak and paddle board rentals make exploring the lake relaxing and fun!" notes Alyssa S. from Sly Park Recreation Area.

    Waterfall hikes: Easy trails lead to waterfalls near some campgrounds. "There is also a lovely, short hike to a waterfall! It's just a 1 mile walk along the lakeshore from the Hazel Creek day use parking area," shares Michell C. from Sly Park Recreation Area.

    Disc golf courses: The area offers multiple disc golf courses for outdoor recreation. "As disc golfers, of course we love camping here, having 3 courses to choose from. But there is something for everyone in the family here," says Christy L. from Lake Amador Resort.

    Equestrian trails: While dedicated horse corrals are limited near Pioneer, Fallen Leaf Campground offers access to trails suitable for equestrian use. "Hiking trails right out of camp... Plenty of tall trees... Rushing river to the west," explains Ryan W. from Fallen Leaf Campground.

    What campers like

    Wildlife viewing: Many campsites offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. "We saw a tarantula near the tee box on 2. I woke up with 4 deer casually strolling through our campsite, a huge group of turkeys were cruising around the whole weekend," reports Christy L. about Lake Amador Resort.

    Lakeside camping: Direct lake access remains popular among campers. "We had a spot a 20ft from the lake. It was a meteor shower night and it was amazing. I would recommend this place during the cooler months," advises Reylan T. about Lake Amador Resort.

    Privacy options: Some campgrounds offer secluded sites away from crowds. "Great campsite! Lot 38 on Pinecone Strip, really private. No other campsite really visible. Close to bathrooms and water," shares Melissa M. about Pine Cone - Sly Park Recreation Area.

    Star viewing: Clear night skies provide excellent stargazing opportunities. "The stars are breathtaking at night. Gotta be my favorite part. It's also fun to look across the lake and see all of the campfires sparkling in the distance," notes Carly D. from Sly Park Recreation Area.

    What you should know

    Fire restrictions: Fire permits are required and restrictions change seasonally. "Be sure to obtain a fire permit from Cal fire and check fire restrictions in the area have a bucket full of water and a shovel next to your fire at all times," advises Raymond M. from Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed.

    Road conditions: Some dispersed camping areas have difficult access roads. "The dirt road up is full of ruts and potholes, but my Toyota Yaris made it up," reports Michael S. about Top of Arnold dispersed camping area.

    Limited facilities: Most dispersed camping areas lack amenities. "This campground was the best campground that I've been to in a long time take note that this is real camping so there is no bathrooms. There is no running water. There is no showers," explains Raymond M. about Top of Arnold.

    Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds require advance booking. "Book far in advance to get a spot in summer," advises marcus K. from Fallen Leaf Campground.

    Tips for camping with families

    Water activities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated swimming areas for children. "Amador is a laid back camping spot that never disappoints. Great for families. They have a water hole with a fun slide, which is all kept nice and clean with tables you can sit at," shares Moonlit_starrynights from Lake Amador Resort.

    Easy hiking trails: Family-friendly trails are available near many campgrounds. "This is a great place to camp or to make a day trip if you're near the area. Campsites are well kept. Beautiful hikes that are easy for young children. Plenty of trails to choose from," notes Monique R. from Sly Park Recreation Area.

    Consider timing: Weekdays offer a quieter experience for families with young children. "It does get very busy on weekends, so if you would rather not deal with the 'Weekend Warrior' type of campers, book your stay for mid-week (Mon-Thurs) and probably avoid camping in July altogether," suggests Michell C. from Sly Park Recreation Area.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection: Choose sites based on your specific RV needs. "Hilltop sites are better for smaller campers. I have an 18' trailer and sites 126-128 are really nice. They are set into the mountains with trees behind you," advises Bea I. from Beals Point Campground.

    Road navigation: Interior campground roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. "Rainbow, Kam Loop, Dogwood and Hazel Creek camping loops are nicely shaded and stay much cooler than the camping loops toward the front of the park but it can be tough to get a larger motorhome or travel trailer into the back of the park. The roads are very narrow with plenty of blind corners," warns Michell C. about Sly Park Recreation Area.

    Seasonal considerations: RVers should be aware of weather variations throughout the year. "Even in the summer it can snow...BE WEATHER AWARE," cautions Ryan W. about camping at Fallen Leaf Campground.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Pioneer, CA is Sly Park Recreation Area with a 4.8-star rating from 13 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 36 equestrian camping locations near Pioneer, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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