Limited equestrian campground options exist in the immediate San Pablo area, though several regional parks offer horse-friendly facilities within driving distance. Anthony Chabot Regional Park permits horses on specific trails throughout the campground area, but no dedicated horse corrals or equine accommodations are available on site. The park features numerous hiking and equestrian trails with some connecting to the 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail system. Wild turkeys frequently roam through the camping areas, and the eucalyptus groves provide both shade and natural insect repellent benefits for horses and riders.
Las Trampas Regional Wilderness allows horses on most trails but provides minimal equine-specific amenities at the campground. Riders appreciate the trail connections to Las Trampas ridge which offers spectacular views of East Bay and Mount Diablo. The campground's barbed wire fence helps keep roaming cattle and wildlife separated from camping areas where horses might be kept. Horses and riders regularly share these trails with hikers and cyclists, particularly during weekends. Campers must pack in all necessary horse supplies as no feed stores or equine facilities exist within the immediate area. For dedicated horse camping facilities with corrals and wash stations, equestrians may need to travel farther to destinations like Point Reyes National Seashore which offers more extensive horse camping options.
$25 - $200 / night
"Anthony Chabot Campgrounds sits high up on the Castro Valley Hills overlooking Lake Chabot. There are several awesome hiking trails going down to the lake as well as some equestrian trails."
"as usual some spots are better than others but most close to restrooms and/or water. lots of poison oak and star thistle right off trail. great deterrent for kids to stay out of tick areas but id worry"
"This location is easily accessible for all. Biking, trails for hiking and the gardens are gorgeous. Rvs and horses welcome."
"We only stayed overnight the staff was very friendly,lots of stuff to do around the campsite from hiking,mtb,watch horses, frisbee golf and then you have napa where you can get wine,brewery,and restaurants"
$75 - $120 / night
"Tilden is great for anyone looking for a close park right outside of the Berkeley/San Fran area. It is a rather large park area that overlooks Berkeley."
"Tilden offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish. The campsites have lots of fire pits. The weather is always great too!"
$15 / night
"The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses"
"in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach and a 3.2 kilometer (2.0 miles) round-trip walk to [Alamere Falls](https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/alamere_falls.htm"
"Really great site right next to the water and beach. The hike in is pretty easy and beautiful. We had fun making a fire on the beach at night. It's pretty windy, so be prepared."
$30 - $90 / night
"West Marin offers an incredibly picturesque location to explore, and Coast Camp is about as good as it gets."
"The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed). There are two routes to hike in."
$45 / night
"This campsite is centrally located on the peninsula. Access to several roadside dog friendly beaches within minutes. The bay and the beach are within walking distance to campground."
"There are also equestrian trails, so you can book a horseback ride from a local ranch as well!!"
$43 / night
"We just stayed here for 2 nights, great location very close to Calistoga and not to far from Saint Helena! Next time i would love to try out a cabin or yurt."
"Good access to wineries close by. Only real downside was that because of the dry conditions we could not have a campfire."
$15 - $200 / night
"This hidden gem hides behind the vineyard crested mountain range just due south of Livermore."
"Campsite amenities were great, easy access to water and bathrooms. Bathrooms were spotless the whole weekend, even though it was a holiday weekend and every site was booked."
RangerThis campsite is centrally located on the peninsula. Access to several roadside dog friendly beaches within minutes. The bay and the beach are within walking distance to campground. The bathrooms are clean and the showers are coin operated. Sites are flat and semi private. The staff is friendly and campground is large.
LegendAnthony Chabot Campgrounds sits high up on the Castro Valley Hills overlooking Lake Chabot. There are several awesome hiking trails going down to the lake as well as some equestrian trails. The hiking trails go around the lake. Dogs are allowed but they should be on a leash. Lake Chabot has a marina that rents boats for recreational use and fishing. It's a few miles driver to get there from the campgrounds. I only gave it 4 stars because of that. They have tent and RV campsites, but no RV hookups.
GuideIt is always windy and therefore cold on the beach. That is why there are such big sand dunes.
Regardless, a beautiful place to visit and camp. There are also equestrian trails, so you can book a horseback ride from a local ranch as well!!
LegendSibley Regional Preserve
San Francisco East Bay residents actually have a volcano in their backyard at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. Originally called Round Top Park, Sibley shares with Temescal and Tilden Parks the distinction of being one of the East Bay Regional Park District's original parks.
The Sibley backpack camp is a small, primitive hike-in site for a maximum of 15 campers (although this would be super cramped in my opinion, unless it a bunch of small kids), a moderate 0.2 mile walk from the parking lot (NO VEHICLE ACCESS). The site has basically 360 degree views of Mount Diablo, Vollmer Peak and Tilden Park. There are only two tent pads - approximately 10'x25' and 10'x20'. Site has 2 picnic tables, 1 serving table, and a pit toilet close by which was very clean and well maintained.
During the day you’ll have lots of people walk semi/sorta by the campground, but there is no reason that anyone would walk through your area as if they did they’d tumble off and down the side of a nice steep hill…
No wood fires or BBQs are allowed; only camp stoves are allowed for cooking, your night time enjoyment.
Drinking water is 0.2 miles from camp at the trail head so keep that in mind before it gets too dark to hike back and forth for a drink.
There are several trails providing tons of access throughout the preserve. The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses the preserve along the ridgeline between Wildcat Canyon and Anthony Chabot Parks. Round Top Road goes from the Sibley visitor center to the top of Round Top. Round Top Loop Trail circles Round Top peak. Volcanic Trail, once a quarry haul road, contains most of the stops on the self-guided volcanic tour.
Dogs are allowed throughout this section of the park and in camp on leash but are not allowed on the adjacent Huckleberry trails. Also, the EBRPD lists, dogs “must be under owner's control at all times” and must not disturb other animals or park visitors, but I definitely saw a lot of loose well behaved dogs running free.
Bikes are allowed on the fire trail, but there are lots of hikers and dog walkers in this park so be mindful. Also, Horses are allowed but there is no hitching rail and no water troughs in the park (or at least that I saw anywhere).
If you decide to try and bike be mindful that most trails are hiking and equestrian only. A few trails are multi-use. Bicycles are not allowed on narrow-gauge trails, except on the Skyline Trail between the Sibley visitor center and Old Tunnel Road. Bicycles are allowed on the wider-gauge fire trails and paved roads but are not allowed on Sibley Round Top from EBMUD water tank road junction to top of Round Top Peak.
Vehicles must be parked in the staging area and display a valid overnight parking permit: 3 parking permits are included in the reservation and will be mailed 5 days in advance. No additional parking permits are available. Otherwise, you can actually get here via public transport by Taking the AC Transit CB bus to the Mountain Blvd stop, them walk about 3 miles to the park.
While you can check if it’s already reserved online. Reservation must be completed at least 5 days in advance by calling 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2.
RangerSkyline Wilderness County Park is a great little campground just outside of downtown Napa. There are always a lot of RVs there, but thankfully the tent section is separate from most of the RVs. The tent area leaves a little to be desired and is basically just a stretch of grass with picnic tables, BBQs and very little separation or cover from trees. Of course you don’t really think wilderness camping when you think of Napa Valley.
Despite being close to town there is actually quite a bit to do in the park and once you get back from the campground a bit you can really feel kind of far away from the congested Napa Valley. There are quite a few hiking trails and some offer beautiful views of the valley. By far the most popular is the Lake Marie Trail and Fire Road and Manzanita is popular with mountain bikers.
The River to Ridge Trail is nice and provides access to the Kennedy Park, the Napa River, and miles of bike paths, but check at the kiosk if the gate next to highway 221 (Soscol Ferry Road) is open and I have found it to not have a very consistent schedule.
According to a couple of friends that are pretty die-hard disk golfers, the course at Skyline is one of the best and most challenging in the area. I found it to be pretty fun, especially is your expectations are extremely low.
Being Napa Valley there is of course wine tasting and having a parking spot at the campground you have the perfect opportunity to take an Uber or car service to ensure your safety while enjoying Napa’s most famous export.
This is not a park that will provide you with memorable hikes or photos for your Instagram, but it is a decent place to stay in Napa if you’re the type that prefers to sleep in a tent or RV over a very pricey hotel.
RangerThis campground is nice with newer bathrooms and shower facilities, but it's also very open and exposed. Great access to Spring Lake's water-based activities and hiking trails, plus easy access to Trione-Annadel State Park for hiking and mountain biking. Howarth Park, a city park, also borders Spring Lake Regional Park and provides access to boating and fishing on Lake Ralphine, plus they have a small train, carousel, tennis courts, and a softball field. Overall a good campsite for families in need of lots of recreation options, but not the best for those wishing to "get away from it all."
ScoutThis location is easily accessible for all. Biking, trails for hiking and the gardens are gorgeous. Rvs and horses welcome.
Scoutas usual some spots are better than others but most close to restrooms and/or water. lots of poison oak and star thistle right off trail. great deterrent for kids to stay out of tick areas but id worry if we brought dogs! we were at #45, family sites and there were families with kids all over. there even was a patch of grass for kids to play on. trails nearby good for easy mountain biking and hiking
LegendWhat a find! This hidden gem hides behind the vineyard crested mountain range just due south of Livermore. Once you get off the 680/580 highways, you'll be immediately swept into a different wind-strewn, rocky landscape that you'll have to wind around several bends on some decent inclined well-paved roads before making your arrival to Del Valle regional park.
You'll have to pay the$10 to get through, but this is one of the few parks where that fee, if maximized, is a great investment. The campgrounds here are all incredibly well maintained, spacious (perhaps a bit too spacious and open in some places). With a great number of trails to take in any direction, the great find here is the well-appointed lake that rents kayaks, paddle boats and canoes. There's even horses you can rent nearby if you get tired of all the hiking.
There's plenty of places to picnic if you get tired of eating at your campsite. Be wary of the weekends, especially long holiday weekends where this park gets completely overrun. Other than this, it's a fantastic camping site.
Happy Camping!
Equestrian camping near San Pablo, California offers trail access throughout the East Bay Regional Park system, spanning over 1,300 miles of trails at elevations ranging from sea level to 3,849 feet at Mount Diablo's summit. Winter camping brings average temperatures of 40-60°F with frequent morning fog, while summer months typically reach 70-85°F. Riders should prepare for microclimates that can shift dramatically within short distances across the region.
Trail riding at Del Valle Campground: The park features moderate to challenging trails with connections to the Ohlone Wilderness Trail system. "The hills are pretty intense, but they're beautiful! The lake is also very picturesque... Lots of turkey and deer in the area," notes Emmy, who frequently visits Del Valle Campground.
Explore volcanic terrain: Just 30 minutes from San Pablo, riders can navigate unique geological formations. "San Francisco East Bay residents actually have a volcano in their backyard at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve... The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses the preserve along the ridgeline," explains Elliott B., who recommends Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.
Lake access for horses: Many trails provide water access for horses to cool down during warm weather. "Great lake for paddling as the speed limit for boats is low... 'Private' covers along the lake to hang out in," mentions Tom G., highlighting areas where riders can safely approach shorelines with their horses.
Wildlife encounters: Riders frequently spot native animals along East Bay trails. "We love Anthony Chabot! The eucalyptus groves make the air smell wonderful, and there is so much wildlife to see (deer, turkeys, owls, etc.). It's a great natural area that is so conveniently located in the Bay Area," says Amanda P. from Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Proximity to urban areas: Many equestrian-accessible campgrounds provide wilderness experiences despite being close to civilization. "This site is a nice hidden gem that many won't know even has a campground... Located just off of 680, you'll take Bollinger Canyon Road where you'll head just north of Las Trampas Stables," shares Stuart K., who documented trail conditions at Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.
Uncrowded weekday options: Scheduling trips Monday through Thursday typically means more solitude. "Midweek in June the park, which is fairly large, is still nearly empty... There are trails running throughout the park and around the lake that are a mix of wider open trails and narrower, through the woods, but groomed trails with plenty of up and down to make for a good hike," explains Ryan W., who stayed at Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Trail conditions vary seasonally: Winter rain creates muddy sections that may be hazardous for horses. "I'd maybe try coming in spring (May) as the wildflowers in the area are amazing!! Saw them off the Tomales Point Trail, which I highly recommend," suggests Elliott B. from Wildcat Camp.
Parking limitations: Most equestrian-friendly sites have specific trailer parking areas with limited spaces. "3 parking permits are included in the reservation and will be mailed 5 days in advance. No additional parking permits are available," explains a camper regarding reservation requirements at Sibley.
Vegetation awareness: Certain plants pose risks to horses and riders. "Very nice campground, great for a quick getaway... Unfortunately it had the horse riders come right by as this is really the only way they can get to the hitches," warns a Wildcat Camp visitor about navigating certain areas.
Kid-friendly equestrian activities: Several parks offer programs specifically for younger riders. "Tilden Park offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish. The campsites have lots of fire pits. The weather is always great too!" shares Nicholas M. about Tilden Regional Park.
Multi-activity options: Families appreciate locations with diverse recreation beyond riding. "There is a swimming area, & there are picnic tables & nice-sized camp sites... The lack of cell reception really helps the feeling of being away from the city life," notes a Del Valle visitor, highlighting the digital detox opportunity.
Safety considerations: Parents should review specific rules before bringing children on equestrian camping trips. "Be aware of the poison oak as well... Not sure what this campground is like during peak season, but it was a great little getaway for us during the first week of March," advises Lori T., who observed seasonal hazards at Anthony Chabot.
RV sites with equestrian access: Limited options exist for larger rigs with horse accommodations. "Clean showers and bathrooms, some trees, close to Raley's Grocery store. Easy drive to the wineries of Napa Valley, a little further to Sonoma but a nice drive," reports Lori H. about Skyline Wilderness Park, which offers both RV sites and trail riding.
Hook-up considerations: Many equestrian-friendly campgrounds have minimal RV services. "RV Campsites are nothing fancy and close together. But the park itself is nice...hiking trails, views, nature, and close to Napa," notes Rich J. about Skyline Wilderness Park's facilities.
Weather preparation: RVers should anticipate coastal weather patterns affecting horses and camping comfort. "Bodega Dunes State Park is a great way to experience the area without the same activity and noise in the camp grounds down closer to the water... There are just a handful of sites that can accommodate bigger RVs," explains Shari G. about Bodega Dunes Campground options for larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near San Pablo, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near San Pablo, CA is Anthony Chabot Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near San Pablo, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 equestrian camping locations near San Pablo, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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