6 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Horse Creek Campground and Horse Creek provide seasonal horse camping options near Pixley, California, with dedicated trailer parking and big-rig friendly access at both locations. Both campgrounds accommodate tent and RV camping with pets allowed and drinking water available. Horse Creek Campground offers reservable sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and trash service. Sites vary in levelness with some experiencing seasonal flooding when Lake Kaweah rises. The bathhouse facilities, which include showers and toilets, are sometimes non-operational, requiring campers to use portable toilets instead. Many sites have limited shade while others feature good tree coverage, particularly on the inner loop.
Located along Highway 198 on the way to Sequoia National Park, these equestrian campgrounds provide access to nearby riding trails. The campgrounds sit approximately an hour from the national park entrance, making them convenient bases for park exploration. Water hookups and some electric hookups are available for RV campers. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees, and the lake water level changes dramatically throughout the year, affecting campsite availability and access to water recreation. The stargazing opportunities are exceptional due to the surrounding foothills that block some light pollution, while wildlife sightings include coyotes, rattlesnakes, and various bird species.
"We are working out way north through CA and Horse Creek was in a convenient spot. Site very clean and well managed and overall its a pretty spot. Only 2-3 large and dispersed bath rooms."
"The tap outside the building didn't work and neither did the water fountain. The host was not there for check-in."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"The sites themselves are nice, located in a grassy meadow around a reservoir This is the most grass we have seen in several months."
"Some of the sites (75, 76 etc..) look out on Lake Kaweah. It’s clean and well organized. Some highway noise."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"There are trails to hike. FYI, there is no cell reception and no provided wifi. Personally I think that’s a good thing 😬."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Nice long drive to a beautiful destination"
"We did a backpacking trip from Johnsondale Bridge down to Fairview Campground following the Rincon trail in May. It was hot but the views and the quietness was beautiful!"
GuideWe are working out way north through CA and Horse Creek was in a convenient spot. Site very clean and well managed and overall its a pretty spot. Only 2-3 large and dispersed bath rooms. A number of large groups around the site which looks fun but it felt more like an urban park than being in nature.
TravelerWe chose this campground to be an easy "getting back to camping" campground since it was supposed to be developed and even have showers.
Cons: The central restrooms/showers have been non-operational for over a year based on the maintenance log of the porta potty. While the porta potty was well maintained, there were no hand wash stations or anything to make up for the loss of sinks and showers. The tap outside the building didn't work and neither did the water fountain.
The host was not there for check-in. Thankfully, we ran into a very kind maintenance worker that gave us the predator rundown for the area and told us how to get to our site. The host eventually showed up, but was not there for at least 5 sets of campers who were trying to check in.
Nearly every campsite has a major hill, so most will not have a good flat area for a tent. Site 61 is flat and a couple of others have flatter grounds, but many will have you sleeping on an angle.
Cons Site 61: The previous group was very disrespectful of the site and left glass shards everywhere. We had to sweep it away from our tent site and kept finding more as we were using our site. It was especially a problem since we brought our dog, so eventually we just laid tarps out to let her walk on instead of the dirt for her safety.
No shade at all. While most other sites had trees or an aluminum awning to provide some sort of shade, Site 61 had nothing. Thankfully, we planned for that, but definitely worth mentioning for other campers. Most sites on the inside of the loop had good tree coverage, so if that's what you're looking for definitely book one of the inner loop sites like 63.
For those looking to be fully removed from the world, you should know this campsite is RIGHT off the highway, so there is traffic and some headlights if drivers have their brights on. That didn't bother us, but we've lived off of major streets for years, so we tune it out pretty well.
Pros: There was running water, but you had to find it near other campsites. (Closest one to ours was near Site 63, which was very convenient)
Pros Scenery: The stargazing is beautiful. There is some limited light pollution emanating from the other side of the foothills, but because you are surrounded by foothills you get some good, dark surroundings to really appreciate the stars. Similarly, the sunrise and sunset were slightly late/early because the sun was contending with the surrounding hills. When the sun was rising over the hills, there was a beautiful glow to them.
Pros Site 61: You have absolutely no neighbors, which gives you more privacy and the ability to face out in any direction and enjoy the scenery.
Predators: Coyotes, rattlesnakes, meat bees (bring cheap canned meat to set out during the day and they will leave you alone for the most part)
Cool Wildlife: Various birds, though I was never able to get a good enough look to identify them. There were also bats at night that really helped with the bug problem and created a cool ambience while stargazing. My husband loved listening to them hunt!
Overall: We enjoyed the site, but were extremely grateful that we are redundancy packers. If we didn't have our extras, we probably would not have had a good time since it was 100+ degrees every day we were there and the grounds weren't totally as advertised. (Toilets, showers, etc)
GuidePros: Nicely designed tent sites, plus flush toilets and (free!) showers. Absolutely gorgeous views of Kaweah Lake in the foothills of Sequoia NP. Convenient location also, as it is on the road into Sequoia; it takes about an hour to get from the campground to the park entrance. I think this campground is also a nice alternative to staying in Sequoia; it didn't seem bears were at all a concern here, while they are in the park. It was a nice alternative to tent camping alone in an area bears frequent.
Cons: Outdated facilities - the toilet/shower house was in rough shape and not really clean. There was also a steep hill to walk up to the bathhouse that had been partially washed out, so somewhat of a hazard. Additionally, one of my nights there I got no sleep whatsoever because there was a group of young guys partying all night. And it was the works - loud music, yelling, swearing, vulgar language, and because the campground is pretty open and in a valley, it echoed throughout the entire campground. Definitely one of the downsides of 'unstaffed' campgrounds that only have a host on site; these guys were breaking every apparent campground regulation and were allowed to do so. I would say one other weird thing about this campground is that they have signs that say they close the gates after 9 pm, and their exit has tire spike strips! One night I went into the nearest town for dinner, but I was stressed about getting back by 9 pm. It's probably the first campground I've ever encountered that, and it's really weird.
I'm torn on whether I'd stay here again.. maybe, if there weren't any other campgrounds in the area.
ScoutThis is a great Corp of Engineer Campground just minutes from Sequoia National Park. Sites are big and well spaced from each other. No hook up but fresh water and a dump station are available at the campground. Two well located bathrooms with good showers at no additional cost. During the summer months the Rangers put on a Campfire program at the campground every Saturday evening. When the lake is full you can walk right up to the waters edge and actually boat in for camping. The staff (Camphosts and Rangers) are friendly, knowledgeable about the local areas and go out of their way to assist campers. Highly recommend this campground especially if visiting Sequoia National Park.
RangerWe spent 2 nights here on our way to Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP. The spot was nice, right on the lake with nice mountain views. Sites were generally not level as it is situated on the hill down to the lake. Bathrooms were messy and half were out of order due to a maintenance project. The RV Dump station was also unavailable (same reason). During peak season I'm sure this is a great spot, but at the time of our visit it was a bit out of sorts. If we pass by again in the future we'll give it another try.
LegendSort of weird setup, with no same-day reservation and don't come by and see if any sites are unreserved and available. It seems you must reserve online 24 hours in advance, so it's not surprising that there are a lot of other rules here. The gates close at 9:00 p.m. The sites themselves are nice, located in a grassy meadow around a reservoir This is the most grass we have seen in several months. Water levels are high right now, and some sites are actually flooded but you can enjoy fishing, swimming, and boating in the reservoir. Each site seems to have a picnic table and a fire ring with a grill on it. Some sites have shade awnings. There are both pull through and back in and tent only sites. Communal pump out, trash, recycling, and water is available. It looks like they are using porta-John's and flush toilet facilities. The showers only run for a few seconds and you have to keep hitting the button to get more water, but it is hot. Good T-Mobile coverage. Very close to Sequoia National Park. Short drive to Three Rivers or Visalia for resupply. This campground is a bargain.
TravelerThis is a small place with very few campers. Some of the sites (75, 76 etc..) look out on Lake Kaweah. It’s clean and well organized. Some highway noise.
RangerPark on grass mostly but nice quiet place with room to walk and explore
GuideStayed here for a couple nights, the warm weather has been quite appreciated. No wind either. Lots are spacious and all have a great view. Supposedly the lake is full up to here at other times in the year. For now it’s quite the ways but you can see it far off near the dam.
Horse Creek Campground and Horse Creek provide seasonal camping options for equestrian enthusiasts and general campers near Pixley, California. The campgrounds are situated in the foothills surrounding Lake Kaweah, with elevations ranging from 600-800 feet. Water levels fluctuate significantly throughout the year, affecting site availability during spring runoff when the lake can rise and submerge lower campsites.
Stargazing at night: Horse Creek Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing due to its location in the foothills. "Nights were equally gorgeous as we watched all the stars," notes Tadd N. in his Horse Creek Campground review, highlighting one of the area's natural attractions.
Wildlife observation: The area hosts diverse wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year. According to Brittney J., "There were also bats at night that really helped with the bug problem and created a cool ambience while stargazing. My husband loved listening to them hunt!"
Hiking nearby trails: Venture to nearby South Rincon Trail for more challenging terrain. Hayley K. describes it as having "views and quietness [that were] beautiful" but cautions that the trail is "mostly exposed and with lots of chaparral and little water," making preparation essential.
Mountain views: The scenic backdrop provides constantly changing vistas as light shifts throughout the day. Alison S. notes that at Horse Creek, "Some of the sites (75, 76 etc..) look out on Lake Kaweah. It's clean and well organized."
Lake access when water levels permit: Seasonal changes create different camping experiences. Angel C. shares that "This spot is great if you want to be right by the water. The campsite is sometime filled with water so it is a seasonal thing."
Spacious sites in certain areas: Horse Creek Campground offers various site configurations with some providing more privacy. According to Rob E., "Sites are big and well spaced from each other. No hook up but fresh water and a dump station are available at the campground."
Bathhouse reliability varies: Facilities maintenance can be inconsistent between visits. Brittney J. reports, "The central restrooms/showers have been non-operational for over a year based on the maintenance log of the porta potty. While the porta potty was well maintained, there were no hand wash stations."
Site terrain challenges: Many campsites feature uneven ground. Josh M. at QuailValley observes, "Sites are not very level so come prepared," a consideration that applies to multiple campgrounds in the region.
Seasonal closures: Check availability before traveling as campgrounds may close temporarily. Martin T. noted in July 2023 that Horse Creek Campground was "Closed as of 6/30/23 (most likely temporarily)," highlighting the importance of verifying operational status.
Wildlife cautions: Be aware of potential wildlife encounters in the area. Angel C. advises, "Be careful for snakes in this area," a reminder to maintain awareness when camping in this foothill region.
Select inner loop sites for shade: Tree coverage varies significantly between sites. Brittney J. mentions that "Most sites on the inside of the loop had good tree coverage, so if that's what you're looking for definitely book one of the inner loop sites like 63."
Consider heat factors: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F. Fabricio M. at Frog Meadow Campground describes "hot temperatures although nice breeze" and notes they "had to drive 3 miles up where the river flows to cool down."
Rangers provide educational programs: Seasonal campfire talks offer educational value. Rob E. points out that "During the summer months the Rangers put on a Campfire program at the campground every Saturday evening," providing additional entertainment for families.
Site selection for large rigs: Choose sites carefully based on access requirements. Michael P. notes that at QuailValley, "That road off of the 65 is pretty decent as we have a 32 foot fifth wheel" and "there are some creek side sites that are very large."
Prepare for limited hookups: While water hookups exist, electrical connections aren't universal. Cliff K. observed at Horse Creek Campground that sites are "spacious and all have a great view," but RVers should note the limited hookup options mentioned in other reviews.
Dump station availability: Verify working status of sanitation facilities before arrival. Connor N. reported that "The RV Dump station was also unavailable (same reason). During peak season I'm sure this is a great spot, but at the time of our visit it was a bit out of sorts."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Pixley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Pixley, CA is Horse Creek Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 10 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Pixley, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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