1 campground with availability next weekend
Horse Flats Campground in the Angeles National Forest offers rustic campsites suitable for equestrian use with trails accessible directly from the camping area. Located at 5,000 feet elevation in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Pomona, the campground features primitive sites with room for horse trailers. The standard amenities include vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings, though visitors should note there is no drinking water available on site. Campers report the individual sites are large and spread out from each other, providing adequate privacy and space for horses. The campground maintains a quieter atmosphere than some of the more popular locations in the area.
The surrounding forest offers multiple trail connections for horseback riding through diverse mountain terrain. Equestrians access several miles of scenic trails directly from the campground, with routes suitable for day rides of varying difficulty. Horse owners must bring their own water for their animals as well as all necessary feed and equipment. The campground operates seasonally, typically open from May through November, though weather conditions may affect accessibility. Weekends can be busier, but weekday visitors often find ample space for camping with horses. During summer months, early morning rides are recommended to avoid midday heat on exposed trail sections. The campground requires standard Forest Service fees but remains more affordable than equestrian facilities closer to urban areas.
"Nice level grounds to walk around. Lakeside has gravel roads / pads... other side has asphalt roads / concrete pads. Restrooms are clean and acceptable."
"The lakeview area has dirt roads, sparse grass and a few spots close to the lake. The Cottonwood campground has concrete pads and well maintained grass throughout."
from $40 - $55 / night
"Rv sites, tent sites and equestrian (horse) sites. Paved road is good for bike riding. Behind my Camp site was a few different hiking paths. Restroom buildings have water, toilets, and showers."
"It has several restrooms, showers, equestrian areas, nature trails and picnicking for day use too."
from $20 / night
"Already been here twice once in 01/25 and 11/25 great campsite some have access to running water facet if not there are some that are close by, have also close by trash bins, has a little shop near by"
"It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more! "
from $25 - $300 / night
"Horse Flats is not as popular as Buckhorn, and is a little less "green" with regards to the immediate scenery. It is also quieter for this reason, which is nice."
"We usually only see rangers come around in the morning. With that said, we still like Horse Flats because there is usually a spot or two open if we arrive on a Saturday."
from $12 / night
"Awesome park, clean, level paved pads with a parking space..nice amenities, small NEX nearby. Wildlife reserve adjacent to the park made it nice for walking the dogs, too"
"Very clean, cement slab, walking paths well lit and near to many areas to explore. Wetlands on the base and birds galore."
"But otherwise a great spot to spend a few summer days away from anyone not hale enough to trek in a few miles."
"Crossing the tiny bridge at the west end of Switzer Picinic area(park up top during the weekdays, adds half a mile), you’ll see Switzer Trail Camp."
"Great hiking and equestrian trails. Excellent equestrian camping with a private corral right next to each campsite in the equestrian area."
"Casper is a great park located 15min from the city. It has three main camping areas that cater to campers, RVs and horses. There are a number of hiking trails around that range from a 1 to 12 miles."
from $20 - $25 / night
"Tons of hiking trails and within 30 min drive of major shopping/grocery stores. Big Bear is about an hour away with and awesome drive up the mountain."
"Close to the city but far enough away from the lights. There is a ton of stuff to do here. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, water slides, disc golf, bike trails. The RV spots are beyond huge!"
"Canopy Court area has easy and close access to the splash pad, the playground, a large grass area, and even the pool. The boat launch is very near by too but we had no use for that."
"I had site 126 in the fields, corner site and lake view. This campground has a pool, splash pad, park, dog park and access to the lake. They also have a band on Saturday nights."
from $55 - $140 / night
ScoutBeautiful spot on seal Beach naval weapons command base. A bit pricey, but has showers and free laundry facilities seems to be on the flight path to John Wayne Airport beautiful grounds must have a DBIDS card to get in and out of base if not military.
ScoutI found the campground to be very friendly kid friendly and pet friendly. The spots were spacious and some had privacy others were out in the open. The rangers were very friendly and helpful, they helped me set up my tent when they saw I was having trouble. There are trails to explore. A great last minute getaway from the city and not to far, the bathroom was clean and modern with hot showers and toilets.
ScoutHas a security guard that thought she was God or something like that. Never seen anybody or place so petty on the place and still searching for the championship horseshoe pits and I can't stop talking about the dark green of the fishing lakes and the fish swimming on their sides
ScoutThe scenery is unique and enjoyable, with nice views of either sunrise or sunset, depending on site. I found the lake itself very pretty. However when we arrived 4 vehicles are in our spot, people were nice enough moving but we had to go door to door knocking on camper to ask who's cars they were due to no signal and no rangers nearby. Our site was pretty dirty with lots of trash, copious ants near the drainage attachments, and two of the nearby groups had excessive tents extending into the back of our site making our view look more like a homeless encampment and less like a serene mountain sunset. They also were littering, urinating outside, and excessively drinking and partying like crazy until the wee hours. As a family group we felt really uncomfortable. It seemed like not all spots are like this, however, on my walk around deer loop in the morning. If you do go, the water activities and rentals look fun, the walking trail/biking trail was nicely done, and you could optimize your spot by booking a whole group of spots (instead of booking one, book one on the right and left side to avoid feeling like you have entered homeless refuge). It maybe was a bit worse as we were here over a holiday weekend. But we most likely won't be back, there are other places that are less expensive and with better enforcement and a family atmosphere. If you want to party it is probably a fine spot, and if you love water sports also likely ok. I thin it's a beautiful place with unique scenery and a lot of potential, but needs more enforcement regarding guest code of conduct.
Edited and gave 3 stars instead of 2. Views are really nice now that our poorly behaved neighbors left. Worth considering a visit during less busy times.
ScoutThe hike-in experience has captivating views and diverse environment. Really felt away from the " concrete jungle" of the city.
TravelerDespite the fact that one night costs $42, there are a lot of stupid, miserable people here who listen loudly to stupid music through their stupid speakers after 10pm. It's also full of cockroaches here and it's annoying.
GuideIf you like camping in a Walmart parking lot or on the streets, this place is for you.
No rangers working after the park close for day use. Didn't see one going through the campground. If you like to party all night and you have a loud system no problem. NO RAGERS AROUND. Be prepared keep your food in your car lot of rats, mice, skunks and coyotes. THE LAKE SUCKS, hard to launch your boat on and off, docks will mess up your boat. Fishing no fish they don't stock the lake. Marina is very over priced and out in the sunny parking lot. I live in LA I now got to SILVERWOOD LAKE, just as close as this place, and nicer, if you like to stay up all night Perris Lake is for you. If you want to work hard to get you boat on and off lake so you don't damage your boat, this place is for you.
TravelerPlace is ok. Quiet so far. Nice people.
GuideThe title says it all. It's nice, cheap, and quiet. Sites are spacious but beware of the ground squirrels. They're everywhere. Site 42 has a lot of traffic due to trail heads at the back of the site.
Horse Flats Campground offers equestrian facilities at 5,000 feet elevation in the San Gabriel Mountains. The sites accommodate horse trailers with direct trail access for riders. Several miles of mountain trails connect directly to the camping area, providing terrain suitable for various skill levels and durations.
Bouldering opportunities: Rock climbing enthusiasts can find multiple bouldering routes near the campground. "Nice place to stay for climbing - there is mostly bouldering in the area, with some trad stuff. Plenty of sites!" notes a visitor to Horse Flats Campground.
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Access the PCT from nearby trailheads for day hikes or longer treks. The trail to Mount Pacifico offers "great views 360 degrees once you're on top. A 7 mile hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail from mill creek fire station," according to a hiker at Mount Pacifico Campground.
Creek exploration: Bear Canyon provides streamside camping with water features. One camper reports, "Follow the creek (which is GORGEOUS with waterfalls and shade in the spring) and go all the way to the end. Trail tends to get iffy at points, but you kinda get to know the flow of it if it disappears into rocks or the creek" at Bear Canyon Campground.
Secluded camping sites: The individual sites provide privacy and space. "This campground has multiple sites. Fire pits & along Bear Creek (seasonal). Can be reached from Tom Sloan Saddle or Switzer Falls Trailhead," notes a camper at Bear Canyon.
Seasonal access benefits: Late season camping offers unique advantages. One visitor reported, "We camped here this weekend, which is the latest we've gone before the winter months... Even though it was 79 degrees in the day, temperature got down to 54 at night" at Horse Flats Campground.
Mountain biking trails: Riders appreciate the trail network around Caspers. A visitor mentioned, "If you like hiking or mountain biking this is a great park for you!" at Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park.
Limited amenities: Prepare for primitive camping conditions. "Three fire pits, dig your own commode, lots of water year round, but little wood. Expect to forage far if you want a fire," advises a visitor to Bear Canyon Campground.
Seasonal weather considerations: Higher elevations mean variable conditions. A camper noted, "This past week had record high temperatures for all of Southern California, so I can't say how representative our experience was compared to typically late fall trips in other years" at Horse Flats.
Wildlife awareness: Animal encounters are common. "Plenty of squirrels, bunnies, the occasional deer and coyotes at night, signs warning you are now in mountain lion territory," reports a camper at Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park.
Kid-friendly activities: Choose campgrounds with appropriate recreation options. "If you're camping with kids, it doesn't get much better than this! Great playground for children. Easy and fun 'Story Trail' hike for children. The hike features a new book every month, each page is mounted to a placard along the trail," suggests a family at O'Neill Regional Park.
Water features for children: Splash pads and pools provide relief during hot weather. A visitor to Launch Pointe Recreation mentioned, "Amenities are very good for young kids. Canopy Court area has easy and close access to the splash pad, the playground, a large grass area, and even the pool."
Site selection for families: Corner sites offer more space and better views. "I had site 126 in the fields, corner site and lake view. This campground has a pool, splash pad, park, dog park and access to the lake," reports a camper at Launch Pointe Recreation.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain. A visitor noted, "The sites were all uneven. Every camper we saw had to do major leveling efforts" at Launch Pointe Recreation.
RV site navigation: Maneuvering larger vehicles requires planning. "We reserved a spot for a rig with slide outs on both sides to accommodate our 39'er but it took some creative parking to get the rig into the spot in a way that we could actually open both sides," advises an RVer at Launch Pointe.
Hookup considerations: Check current utility status before arrival. "The sites are big and well spaced, with 30 amp electric. The water is off for the time being. The dump station is very close by and easy to access," reports an RVer at Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Pomona, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Pomona, CA is Rancho Jurupa RV Park with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Pomona, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 equestrian camping locations near Pomona, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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