We're here to help you find where to go horse camping in Red Mountain. Finding a place to camp in California with your horse is easier than ever. With our help, you'll find the best California equestrian campsites from scenic to easily accessible.
Borax Bill Park has Free dry camping on a first-come, first-served basis. Power and water hook-up campsites are also available for $25/day.
Walker Pass Campround is located just off of California State Highway 178 and at the junction of the Owens Peak and Cache Peak segments of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Located at 5,000 feet, there are pinyon pines and a few Joshua trees in this semi-arid setting and outstanding views of the dry, rugged foothills of the Southern Sierras. The campround includes eleven walk in sites for Pacific Crest Trail hikers and tent campers. The camprgound also has two sites for car camping. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring. Hitching racks and corrals are available for horses. No potable water is available at this site.
Rainbow Basin Natural Area is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern with outstanding views and geological and paleontological features.. Many visitors come to see exciting multi-colored rock formations and walk the scenic canyons. A variety of desert adapted wildlife are found here, including the desert tortoise. Owl Canyon Campground is a first-come first-served campground with 22 campsites (no hookups). Campsites include a picnic table and a fire ring. Fee is $6.00 per night. There is a single tap centrally located for potable water that is brought in weekly by truck. It is advised to bring your own drinking water. There are vault toilets , but no dump facilities. Holding tanks can be emptied at facilities in the towns of Baker and Barstow. Please take all trash out with you. Permits are needed to remove fossils. If any are found, please leave them in place and notify the BLM Barstow Field Office at (760) 252-6000. Activities include hiking, camping, photography, sightseeing, and horseback riding. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Bring sufficient water, food, clothing, equipment, and first aid supplies for your activity. Rainbow Basin is a mix of public and private lands, including those held by the Southern Pacific Railroad. Respect private landowners__ rights. Land ownership status can be found on the "Cuddeback Lake" Desert Access Guide. These BLM maps can be purchased from any of the California Desert District BLM offices. Rainbow Basin has a diverse landscape of hills, canyons and washes. Multicolored rock walls and mesas are accented by changing light conditions, making for many photographic opportunities. The washes are good hiking trails for experiencing the area's natural beauty. Wildlife viewing is best during early morning and evening hours. In Fossil, Coon, and Owl Canyons, birds tend to gather in thick vegetation. Vegetation is critical for wildlife water, food, and shelter. So, washes in Rainbow Basin have been closed to vehicle travel to protect these areas. Within this Area of Critical Environmental Concern, routes are posted with "open" route markers. Use of passenger vehicles and four-wheel drive vehicles is permitted only on designated and signed "open" routes. All routes not signed as "open" are CLOSED to vehicles. Staging of off-highway vehicles (e.g. ATVs) is not allowed in the Rainbow Basin area or at Owl Canyon Campground. The Fossil Canyon Loop Road is an interesting route for vehicle touring. This one-way narrow dirt road is best driven with a high clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles. Weather extremes and poisonous snakes are desert hazards common to this area. Rainbow Basin has a flash flood risk as well. Avoid low-lying areas during storms and remember that rain upstream can cause flooding even though it is not raining in the immediate area.
$6 / night
Scout
Office is only open th-tue, but staff roaming the area are very helpful. Dry camp the other days anywhere you want. Need tokens for showers, which you can get when office is open.
ScoutThe Thousand Trails Campground in Morgan Hill, CA. Is a hidden gem. I loved it. They have everything I needed when I needed it. Will definitely use again.
GuideMy family would camp here once a year for 4-5 days. It is dispersed camping, so there are no hookups or designated sites. It is primarily for off road enthusiasts, however, we just came out here to enjoy the desert and go for walks. We would usually go toward the end of the year when it is not so hot (Oct-Dec) and have had a variety of weather over the years. From beautiful skies, to wind, rain and snow. The wind always picked up in the evening, so don't forget to roll up your awning. Our rig is a 30' bunkhouse trailer being pulled by a full size 4x4 truck. Although you don't need 4x4 and probably any car can make it out there. You just might have to drive slow as some of the road are pretty tore up. The camping is all over the valley and I can't see ever showing up and not being able to find a good spot (for what it is). There will be dust and some dirt bikes, trucks and OHV's rolling around. You will probably hear some of them long into the night. But I think there are areas you can go to get away from a lot of it and enjoy the stars and solitude of the desert. As you drive in you pass a ranger station. $10 gets you water to fill up your tanks and a pass to use their dump station.
Legend
Along Hwy 178 towards Ridgecrest you'll find this campground that is small but quiet and clean. It is not for big rigs or RVs.
There are 2 sites with fire pits and covered picnic tables that could fit a large van at most. There is one other spot that is level but has no fire pit or covered table. Further back are several scattered picnic tables and tent spots. There are also 2 unisex ADA accessible pit toilet bathrooms which were quite filthy.
This is a stop along the Pacific Crest Trail. The scenery is an amazing mix of Joshua Trees, pines, chaparral, mountains and large rocks, some snow on the peaks facing north. It is close to the highway so there is some road noise and people stopping to use the bathroom. The road in is paved and narrow and potholed but passable.
There was no cell service with AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile.
There is a donation based drop box for camping fee so pay what you want or what you can afford.
Fires and charcoal grills are not allowed per sign at info board, camp stoves are ok.
Scout
Dry, clean, every spot level, good cell service
TravelerThis pin took me to private property and the owner wasn't too happy about it and me being there. The actual Owl Canyon Campground is down the road to the East of the pin. There are two pins for Owl Canyon Campground, one is correct and this one listed as Rainbow Basin Owl Canyon Campground is incorrect
RangerWe really enjoyed our weekend. We camped one night and explored/ hiked around the area. We also did the scenic drive. Very cool spot in the Mojave. We will be back.
TravelerPotable water. Toilets houses. BBQ. Fire pits. 5 mile washboard road in! Go slow! Dark nights. Very quiet. Clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Red Mountain, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Red Mountain, CA is Borax Bill Substation with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Red Mountain, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Red Mountain, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
