1 campground with availability this weekend
Horse camping near Sacramento is limited, with most campgrounds lacking dedicated equestrian facilities. According to available data, none of the campgrounds in the immediate Sacramento area feature horse corrals or specialized equestrian accommodations. Beals Point Campground at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area accommodates tent and RV camping with pets allowed, but does not offer horse-specific amenities. Sites are spaced nicely with numerous trees providing shade, though the proximity to roads results in traffic noise throughout the night.
Trail riders must travel beyond Sacramento's immediate vicinity to find suitable horse camping. The American River Bikeway near Folsom Lake permits horseback riding alongside its paved path for cyclists and pedestrians. Campers report clean facilities at Beals Point with accessible toilets and coin-operated showers that require quarters. The campground connects to extensive trail systems, though water levels at Folsom Lake fluctuate seasonally, affecting beach access. Horse owners should verify current equestrian trail conditions and restrictions before planning trips, as many state and regional parks have specific regulations regarding horses on trails and at campsites.
"Folsom Lake is a very large lake which touches 3 counties (Sacramento, Placer & El Dorado). Beals Point is right on the border of Folsom & Granite Bay on Folsom-Auburn Rd."
"As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $48 / night
"WELCOME TO ASCENSION RANCH Ascension Ranch is an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities."
"Super relaxing and has a lake that is at the end of the trail. Super convenient. It was cool to experience the animals that were in the pastures as well. I'd definitely come back."
Available this weekend
from $59 - $115 / night
"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"
from $40 / night
"There are tons of activities to partake in: relax and do nothing, hike (entire lake is 9.5 miles with a waterfall!)"
"They are set into the mountains with trees behind you. The park rangers are very present to keep people in check and the camp host drives by multiple times to keep the bathrooms clean."
"About 1.5hr from Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. Built thick forest of the Sierra mountains. Nice size campsites. Water and Electricity only."
"It reminded me of Lake Pillsbury north of Clear Lake Ca where we as a family had been camping since 1981. But with just over 2hr drive not 6hr with trailer. There is a pool, and kids pool."
"Our site was next to the raft launch/pickup, so there were a couple of groups picked up during the day. Bathrooms were average and the site was maintained well."
"Small cars made it down ther without difficulty)
Once at the camp ground, right on the waters edge, grab up the 3rd site on the right. It is literally on the edge of the river."
"The good part is this is a beautiful place in the trees to camp with nearby hiking,. And it's equestrian friendly if you want to bring your horse. The Verizon connection was strong."
"Close to Georgetown and to the El Dorado National Forest. Super clean and easy to get to. Signs off 193 are well marked! The have horse corrals too if you’re into that. Highly recommend!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $3 - $8 / night
"There is a fishing pond directly next to the campground and access to the lake just a few minutes away."
"Great location and full hook ups. Open year round, planning on coming back during the Winter!"
GuideFriendly staff and a camp host selling firewood. Clean flush toilets and hot showers for 50 cents. A little difficult to find a level spot for a van in the dry camping area, and most spots were right on the side of the road. It would be more enjoyable if one could pull off into the dirt area for level spots out of the main drag.
ScoutEasy to find campsite, we arrived after hours on a Monday so drove around to find a spot and then paid using the collection box and envelopes, we couldn't get the QR code to work. Phone reception here is good. There is a constant hum of traffic but it is not loud and it is quiet around camp. Toilets and showers are clean and well stocked with toilet paper. We didn't stay long but saw some wildlife, coyote and squirrels mostly. A little bit of rubbish around from campers but overall very tidy. The sites are flat pull-in or reverse-in style, there are also some campsites marked with wheel chair access.
GuideWe have stayed here a few times. I have a sister that lives here and this place is only about 3 miles from us! $80 for a back in space.
LegendGeneral: Beals Point is one of two locations on Folsom Lake for camping. Large campground with a mix of electric and non-electric campsites plus some group sites.
Site Quality: Drives are paved and mostly level. We camped in a little “cul-de-sac” with just four sites. While these sites back up to the American River Bike Trail (aka Jedediah Smith Recreation Trail), it was overgrown, and I did not see direct access to the trail as we did the last time we were here.
Bath/Shower: Typical CA state park layout– all-gender units with toilet and sink (but no soap, towels, or dryers) and showers. Unlike other CA state parks, these take quarters instead of tokens. The units could use a little TLC, but what was most disheartening was how other campers had trashed them– toilet paper (and worse) scattered all over the insides. Obviously not the fault of the campground.
Activities/Amenities: Folsom Lake is the draw, and people were fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The 32-mile paved multi-use American River Bike Trail is easily accessible. There is a snack bar/concession stand for beach rentals, but it was not open when we were there.
Our stay here this time was over a weekend; it was completely full, and it reminded us once again that we prefer to camp during the week and shoulder seasons when campgrounds are less crowded!
TravelerOur family loved it here. Great staff. The poo was clean and heated. They had volleyball, karaoke, clean bathrooms and open showers.
There is even a cute pond to fish out of.
Theirs an old town that has two stores open. One is ice cream and the other is breakfast and lunch.
Everything is affordable.
GuideWe booked the Eagles Nest campsite, and the views were awesome! We stayed two nights and had a good time. There are two spots down below the main road that are accessible but recommend at minimum AWD, especially if visiting during the rainy season. The host was very helpful got us a case of water and even had fresh eggs that we bought. 👍🏼
TravelerNot much camping in the but Skyline fit the bill. Typically RV style campsites but showers were good, and the grounds were beautiful. Good hiking trails as well.
TravelerThey call this the off season, but only if your reason for coming is wine industry happenings. Beautiful weather, lots of space, lush green fields. The hiking here is unreal, the native plant garden is a lovely escape, and the facilities are clean and well tended. This one's a keeper.
GuideCame here for a moto trip and really enjoyed the spaciousness, layout, and natural beauty the area had to offer. You’re also about 3 or 4 miles away from the Georgetown OHV which made it an easy ride to get to the dirt.
As others have mentioned, getting to town is a short 15 minutes despite feeling like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Some decent restaurants and a pretty awesome grocery store there so you don’t have to fret if you forget anything.
I can’t speak for other months, but coming around Thanksgiving was just about perfect.
Equestrian camping near Sacramento, California offers access to several trail systems throughout the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The region sits at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,500 feet with a Mediterranean climate featuring hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Many campgrounds in the area aren't equipped with designated horse corrals, though some provide trail access that accommodates riders with proper permits.
Trail riding at Auburn State Recreation Area: The 30,000-acre recreation area features several equestrian-friendly trails with varying difficulty levels. Ruck-A-Chucky Campground within the park sits along the American River. "The 3 mile road down is a bit treacherous (maybe don't take your RV) but makes you feel 'out there'. Highly recommended," notes Kevin W.
Disc golf at Lake Amador: The resort offers multiple disc golf courses suitable for players of all skill levels. "As disc golfers, of course we love camping here, having 3 courses to choose from. But there is something for everyone in the family here, there is amazing fishing, boating and swimming," writes Christy L.
Hiking to waterfalls: Several campgrounds offer access to waterfall trails. At Sly Park Recreation Area, "there is also a lovely, short hike to a waterfall! It's just a 1 mile walk along the lakeshore from the Hazel Creek day use parking area," recommends Michell C.
Gold panning in American River: Visitors can try their luck at finding gold in the region's waterways. "If you're lucky and know how to read the river, gold panning is a must," says Jason A. about the American River at Ruck-A-Chucky.
Lake access for water activities: Many campgrounds provide direct access to lakes or rivers. At Lake Amador Resort, "the lake itself is beautiful! If not camping overnight i love to get a day pass and just hang out on the beach!" shares Abigail S.
Equestrian-friendly trails: Dru Barner Campground caters specifically to horse owners. "Must visit for horse lovers!" emphasizes Maxim B. The campground features horse corrals and access to multiple trail systems.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Sacramento region offers diverse wildlife viewing. "The wildlife is RIGHT THERE! We saw a tarantula near the tee box on 2. I woke up with 4 deer casually strolling through our campsite, a huge group of turkeys were cruising around the whole weekend," reports Christy L.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained amenities. Mike R. notes that Beals Point Campground has "Coin operated shower very nice and clean bathroom clean showers."
Water levels fluctuate seasonally: Lake levels change dramatically throughout the year. "The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely," reports Melissa S. about Beals Point.
Fire restrictions vary by season: Summer fire restrictions can impact camping plans. "They also follow fire season safety and you should plan for that," advises Carly D. about Sly Park Recreation Area.
Reservation requirements differ: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others allow first-come, first-served camping. "You can call and reserve or just show up and find an open spot," explains ProfG999 about Dru Barner Campground.
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures can be extreme. "The Sacramento area gets very hot in the summer, and this campground provides some but not a ton of shade," warns Lizzy C. about Beals Point Campground.
Look for dedicated swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas for children. At Lake Amador, "they have a water hole with a fun slide, which is all kept nice and clean with tables you can sit at. I would recommend a pop up tent for shade if you go to the water hole," suggests Moonlit_starrynights.
Choose campgrounds with playgrounds: Some campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. Lake Amador has "an old school playground for the kids," according to Moonlit_starrynights.
Consider safety around water: Water safety is important for family camping. At Ascension Ranch, "we had a view of the lake, the campground was relatively quiet. Very peaceful. There was a nice trail down to the water, and is dog friendly," reports Julie D.
Bring quarters for showers: Many campgrounds require coins for shower facilities. "The showers take quarters and have hot water most of the time. The showers are very big its actually quite peaceful and nice," shares Abigail S.
Check road conditions before arrival: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. Ruck-A-Chucky has a "3 mile road down [that] is a bit treacherous (maybe don't take your RV)," warns Kevin W.
Site selection matters: Choose RV sites based on your specific needs. At Skyline Wilderness Park, "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.
Cell service varies by location: For those needing connectivity, service quality differs across campgrounds. At Dru Barner Campground, ProfG999 reports, "I used my WeBoost and was able to teach online and even stream some TV."
Consider dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer dump stations. "We pulled in with a travel trailer and an SUV with small cargo trailer. They made us rent 2 spots even tho we could have fit it one as the sites are HUGE. Full hookup, no wifi, cable connection but no cable, and NO BATHROOMS," warns Patty G. about Dixon May Fair.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at equestrian campgrounds near Sacramento?
Equestrian campgrounds near Sacramento offer varying levels of amenities. Ascension Ranch provides an off-grid experience on oak savanna along Folsom Lake with farm animals and natural surroundings. Skyline Wilderness Park welcomes horses with accessible trails and gorgeous gardens. Common amenities at equestrian campgrounds include corrals or hitching posts, water troughs, manure disposal areas, and access to riding trails. Some locations offer basic facilities like vault toilets and picnic tables, while others may provide water hookups, electricity, and shower facilities. Most have designated parking areas for horse trailers and camping spaces designed to accommodate both horses and humans.
Do I need special permits for horse camping in Sacramento County?
Most equestrian campgrounds near Sacramento require standard camping permits rather than special horse permits. At Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, you'll need to reserve your campsite ahead of time through the California State Parks reservation system. For camping on National Forest land like Ghost Mountain RV Campground, you'll need to secure your campsite reservation. While specific horse permits aren't typically required, you should always check with the specific campground or land management agency before arrival as regulations may change seasonally.
Where are the best horse camping locations near Sacramento?
Several excellent horse camping destinations are available within a short drive from Sacramento. Dru Barner Campground — Eldorado National Forest is a standout option with dedicated equestrian facilities including horse corrals, nearby hiking trails, and a peaceful forest setting. It's accessible via well-marked signs off Highway 193 near Georgetown. Sly Park Recreation Area offers dedicated horse camping sites in a forest-dense environment with access to a 9.5-mile lake trail perfect for riding. Both locations are within a reasonable drive from Sacramento and provide the necessary facilities for camping with horses.
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