3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Equestrian Campground near Reedley, California offers primitive horse camping facilities with designated sites for riders and their horses. The campground maintained by the Bureau of Land Management provides basic amenities specifically designed for equestrians. Sites accommodate both tent camping and horse trailer parking with adequate space for horses to be secured. The grounds feature basic amenities with primitive facilities that prioritize function over luxury for serious trail riders. Though reviews indicate limited facilities, the campground remains popular with local equestrians seeking convenient access to regional trails.
Trail access directly from the campground connects riders to surrounding public lands and established bridle paths. Located approximately 40 miles east of Reedley in the Sierra foothills, the campground serves as a strategic basecamp for exploring extensive trail networks. Horse owners must bring their own water and feed, as on-site water facilities are limited. The primitive nature of the campground means riders should prepare for self-sufficient camping with minimal services. No reservations are required for the equestrian sites, operating on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the riding season. The campground primarily serves as a functional launching point for trail riding rather than a destination campground with extensive amenities.
"Typical California foothills hardpan and dead grass sites - large and able to accommodate very long combo rigs and have enough width to disconnect and park adjacent to the towable."
"There are many ways to arrive here, but the most direct and easiest is on California State Highway 180. The park is open, but the office is not, so it’s find a spot and check yourself in."
from $40 - $55 / night
"Easy walk to campstore, post office, restaurant, and visitor center. Many trails close by. Very busy in summer. No reservations. Tent only loops available."
"Very quiet but some sledding and hiking activity close by. Sites are a little close to each other, but being so quiet it's not a big deal."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $32 / night
"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
"Some of the sites (75, 76 etc..) look out on Lake Kaweah. It’s clean and well organized. Some highway noise."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $40 / night
"It’s a great spot, this pin location gets Verizon signal along with some of the higher sites if you pull off the road."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $41 - $43 / night
"This is one of my favorite here in sequoia national park south entrance by gen hi way. Park rangers were so helpful at the entrance and they are well organized."
"The lake isn't too cold if you want to rinse or just cool off. Plenty of tree coverage for both some shade and to hang your food."
TravelerCONS: Most sites need some (or a lot) of level help. No RV dump. Pretty popular (so don’t expect privacy). PROS: sequoia is beautiful. You can find some amazing trails.
GuideGreat location, awesome scenery and the sites are pretty nice. The reason for 3 stars is that the toilets are replaced with porta potties ( the machines n ones are locked) and the garbage is over flowing in the dumpster. There was no toilet paper in the women’s “restroom”. That was after the maintenance guy was here.
RangerWe had a spot on the farthest loop, which was beautiful on a ridge but set us about 600 yards/steps from the nearest restroom, which means going to the loo, brushing your teeth or doing the dishes (there are signs not to do these things at the water taps that are closer) all set you back at least 10 minutes if you're not self-contained. Also note the campground has no showers.
TravelerWe stayed at site 67. When bookibg, we were worried it was too close to neighboring sites but it turned out ok. The flattest spot for our giant tent was down the hill and it felt very private. All the sites in our section (66, 67, 68) had sloped parking spots. If you have an RV or sleep in your car, be sure to bring levelers.
The only water was a large sink outside of the bathroom. You could screw a hose to the faucet if needed.
The bathroom was close but not too close. The women’s has 2 stalls and a sink. Bring your own hand soap and hand towel.
We weren’t at the site much during the day so I can’t say for certain if it stays shady during the day but there are many trees. We never needed our canopy.
Azalea allows dogs and the barking echos quite loudly through the campground.
ScoutWe stayed a week here, at first it was good, nice enough place. Our spot was a lot of sand. The bathrooms were full of cobwebs and spiders. The website looks promising, offering a pool, jacuzzi and restaurant. There is no restaurant, the pool doesnt get covered so its filthy, and the "jacuzzi" was filled with algae.
We came on a friday night, the quiet time is not enforced. The river was nice, however the entire length of it was taken up by boats. We hardly found a spot to swim in. We were located in site 10, at the very end in a cul de sac type lay out. Its a gated park so you need a code to enter. We locked our bikes up every single night and the one and only night we forgot, 2 out of our 4 bikes got stolen (mine and my partners, the kids were left) We asked for the surveillance as our site was in direct view of the camera and the office had told us their cameras all of a sudden stopped working around midnight but were working again that morning. Such a strange coincidence! They didnt seem apologetic. We had permanent residence come to talk to us and said they've never had theft issues, if you looked around most people had their personal belongings out every night. The place was very suspicious, I'd check out other options but also if staying a quick night it would be ok. Its right off the highway and really easy to get back on the road. We found a little lizard, and little frogs. However there is cockroaches running everywhere.
The people we met there, and the residents were so awesome, which is why it got 2 stars. The staff however, not so much.
Do not leave belongings unattended!!
ScoutSite 81 does not have a drive up spot to unload your things. There is a short 25 meter walk to your tent sight which is cleared and had a nice view of the sky. No giant pinecones overhead to worry about bonking your head.
GuideThere is camping, which is always fun, and then there is camping in a national park, which takes it to another level. This experience was super fun because this campsite is so close to the General Grant trail, only a few minutes of driving. We visited during the off-season in April, so the sites were FCFS and the directions are pretty straightforward. You put in all the details into the recreation.gov app and then you fill out a white paper which serves as a check in paper with your confirmation so that rangers know you paid. It also allows you to see which sites are available because the ones that are won't have a paper. The bathrooms were decent, and just outside of them as a sink, which is great for dishes. It was a nice and quiet experience and we will definitely be revisiting.
RangerPark on grass mostly but nice quiet place with room to walk and explore
ScoutWe arrived Really Late but Check in was 24/7 possible.
Equestrian camping opportunities near Reedley, California extend beyond the BLM facilities described in the existing information. Located in the San Joaquin Valley at approximately 350 feet elevation, this region provides access to both foothills and higher elevation Sierra trails within driving distance. The climate ranges from hot, dry summers with temperatures reaching 100°F to mild winters, creating seasonal considerations for horse camping throughout the area.
Trail riding at Kings Canyon: The campgrounds near Kings Canyon National Park offer access to extensive trail networks. At Azalea Campground, campers can find "nice trails to village and grants tree" according to Mark M., who adds that "Crystal springs campground adjacent has more trees, more shade."
Water activities during summer: When Lake Kaweah has sufficient water levels, Horse Creek Campground provides opportunities for water recreation. As Tadd N. notes, "We stayed here last May and was fully mesmerized by the view of the lake and the mountains. Nights were equally gorgeous as we watched all the stars."
Wildlife observation: The foothills and meadows offer chances to spot local wildlife. The Western Big Meadow Road area camper therealquaid D. reports, "Higher sites are pretty private and have enough sun coverage for solar, the ones by the road get traffic passing by daily."
Stargazing opportunities: The areas around Reedley offer exceptional night sky viewing away from city lights. Brittney J. at Horse Creek Campground shared, "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."
Proximity to National Parks: Many equestrian-friendly camping areas provide convenient access to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. As Connor N. from Sequoia RV Park notes, "Lots of room to get around. Grassy large spots with full hook ups. Close to King Canyon and other attractions."
Year-round accessibility: Some campgrounds remain open during winter months, allowing for off-season horse camping. Lydia H. from Azalea Campground shared, "We decided to come in the off season in February and we got lucky with weather. Low tonight is only supposed to be in the upper 30s. Very quiet but some sledding and hiking activity close by."
Seasonal lake levels affect camping: Water levels at Lake Kaweah fluctuate dramatically. Matt B. from California Horse Creek explains, "A good campground from late fall to mid spring. In the summer this campground gets flooded from the rising lake waters of lake kaweah, which is fine because it is blazing hot in the summer."
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in lower elevations. Robert S. warns about Horse Creek: "Nice campground on the lake but too hot 100 plus degrees in the summer. Available depending on water level of the lake. Decent fishing and great for boating and watersports."
Limited facilities at some sites: Many horse-friendly campgrounds have basic amenities. Josh M. reports about California Horse Creek: "Still a bit of a mess after the flooding and no staff. Very scenic and beautiful though. Sites are not very level so come prepared."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Reedley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Reedley, CA is Sequoia RV Park with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Reedley, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Reedley, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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