Best Equestrian Camping near Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara, California, is one of the Golden State’s quintessential beach towns. With pristine beaches and immaculate ocean views, you’ll want to stop and smell the roses (and the ocean air).

The best camping near Santa Barbara is just up US Route 101 at El Capitan State Beach. If you’re looking for mountains or free camping, your next best choice is the nearby Dick Smith Wilderness. With an RV resort nearby and tent campsite options available, you should have no problem finding a place to sleep. No matter whether you prefer the beach or the mountains, you’ll find campgrounds to suit you near Santa Barbara, CA.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Santa Barbara, California (14)

    1. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    59 Reviews
    Santa Ynez, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 686-5055

    "There are tent sites overlooking Lake Cachuma, and tent sites in the shady grass, and almost everything in between."

    "It’s a Quite campsite near Santa Barbara if you don’t want to spend the night in the city! We booked the day before and as we arrived a few other sites were free."

    2. Thousand Trails Rancho Oso

    7 Reviews
    Goleta, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "We chose it because it was near Santa Barbara. And it was affordable (with Thousand Trails). So near to Santa Barbara is a relative term. It’s a 35 minute drive on a lovely windey mountain road."

    "I drove up the 101 by the coast of Santa Barbara on a Wednesday. It was beautiful, and pretty chilly by the water. Then I made the climb up the mountains to Rancho Oso."

    3. Upper Oso Campground - Temporarily Closed

    1 Review
    Goleta, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $40 - $49 / night

    "Water was available from the many spigots around the campground. The soothing sound of the flowing creek and the hooting of an owl made for a peaceful night."

    4. Los Padres National Forest Sage Hill Campground

    1 Review
    Goleta, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $150 - $154 / night

    "Clean bathrooms, good flat camping spots for your tent, a good group area, conveniently located water, and great hiking trails with some awesome views of the hills."

    5. Reyes Creek Campground

    15 Reviews
    Pine Mountain Club, CA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $30 - $154 / night

    "It's about a 40 minute drive from the nearest town (and therefore the nearest gas station or market - plan ahead). There is no power, or water."

    "There is a bar at the campground entrance if that is your speed, but we took advantage of the winding creek side path behind site 18."

    6. Sycamore Campground

    7 Reviews
    New Cuyama, CA
    28 miles
    +1 (818) 424-8256

    "Great hikes nearby and the beach is just a short walk away! We saw lots of cute animals during our stay. The campsite pass also gets you free parking at pretty much any beach along the PCH."

    "Less than 1/2 mile walk to the beach. Bike or hiking trails."

    7. KCL Campground

    22 Reviews
    New Cuyama, CA
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (661) 391-6000

    "trail to hill top. Equestrian site for sure."

    "There is an area for your horse. Walk in sites, rv/car camp/van/tent sites. It’s first come first serve, no reservations and it’s free."

    8. Holiday Group Campground

    1 Review
    Ojai, CA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $150 - $154 / night

    "They got a nice nature trail , this time there was decent size water flowing , got tables and bathrooms. There was a trail was had to much poison oak in the entrance we couldn’t enter."

    9. Colson Canyon Campground

    6 Reviews
    Santa Maria, CA
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 968-6640

    "Few fire pits and tables a couple flat spots for camping, 30-45 minute drive from Santa Maria. Drive slow down the dirt road as to not upset the residents of Colson Canyon."

    "Clean site Areas are well spaced out First compound of campsites are the best end of the road are the trails to hike and only able to fit 3 trucks up there comfortably Bring your own toilet amenities"

    10. Barrel Springs Campground

    2 Reviews
    Los Alamos, CA
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    "There's plenty of tree and shade coverage, nice spread out spots to set up camp, and good nearby hikes.

    We stayed here during our PCT thru hike after crossing mile 100."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Santa Barbara, CA

9 Photos of 14 Santa Barbara Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Santa Barbara, CA

129 Reviews of 14 Santa Barbara Campgrounds


  • e
    Jun. 15, 2022

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Nice campsite!

    It’s a Quite campsite near Santa Barbara if you don’t want to spend the night in the city! We booked the day before and as we arrived a few other sites were free. Showers are a bit expensive with 4x25ct per 3 minutes and the water can’t be stoped!

  • M
    Oct. 9, 2020

    Thousand Trails Rancho Oso

    Honestly

    We stayed at Rancho Oso for two weeks. We chose it because it was near Santa Barbara. And it was affordable (with Thousand Trails). So near to Santa Barbara is a relative term. It’s a 35 minute drive on a lovely windey mountain road. Beautiful drive!!! The problem was the resort does not have wifi or Verizon cell service. So I had to commute daily, I work remotely. If you want remote this is good. The other problem was ants. The 2nd day we came back and we were infested. We were able to move spots but what a hassle. We used all of our available poisons (windex, bug spray, rubbing alcohol) to kill or drown them. Then vacuumed for hours. It took two weeks before they were gone. The resort knew they had a problem but didn’t really help. So we recommend you be proactive and watch for them and maybe spray your perimeter occasionally. So no wifi and cell service - on them. They need to fix this.
    Ant infestations- they should spray. Hot, dry, things closed because of Coronavirus and fire risk - not on them.
    If you want remote, it’s good.

  • S
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Please Don’t Tell Anyone About This — OOPS

    This is tragi-comedy: I was invited to a wedding in Santa Barbara. It was summer and the most fleabitten motel prices were astronomical. I began to look at campsites within driving distance, I was desperate. Booked Catchuma and thought, hoorah, I’ve defeated the tourism trap. 

    Well… from the moment I arrived . . . I really could not care less about the wedding. My god. I think I’ll leave it at that. 

    Bring binos. Boat, bring your canoe/kayak.

  • Amanda M.
    Oct. 3, 2018

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Cachuma Lake - in the heart of Los Padres National Forest

    I am a native of Santa Barbara, CA, so I grew up going to Cachuma Lake. Cachuma Lake’s main recreational area is on a bluff overlooking the lake. There you can find tent sites, yurts, cabins, and full hookups for RVs. There are also smaller campgrounds at lake level - we prefer to stay in the Mohawk Shores campground, which is at lake level. The Mohawk Shores campsites are in a more densely packed oak grove, offering more shade and more privacy than the upper-level campgrounds. A few years ago they started pricing the “lakeside” sites in Mohawk more expensively than the rest of the sites in the area; ironic though, since the lake has been so empty the last few years due to the drought, and these sites are no longer lakeside.

    The campsites each have their own picnic table and firepit with a grate, and water spigots are available in various places around the campground. Mohawk has its own bathroom with flushable toilets and coin-operated showers - the bathrooms and showers are kept clean. I prefer to shower in the showers located in the upper-level campgrounds, as they are in their own individual, lockable stalls, rather than the locker-room type set up in the bathroom in Mohawk. There are multiple dumpsters available for trash AND recycling around all of the campgrounds.

    Caution: There is a lot of poison oak around the park!

    We have rented a yurt a couple times, and hope to do so again soon. The yurts have bunk beds inside (bring your own bedding!), an overhead light, and a heater. Outside each yurt is a picnic table, charcoal barbeque, a firepit, and a water spigot.

    We will often bring an easy-up to use in the day-camp areas in the upper-level of the park. There are oak trees all over the park, but if day use site with a table under a tree gets snagged, it’s nice to have the easy-up for shade - if you have one, I would recommend bringing an easy-up if you are going to camp in the upper level campgrounds, not all of the sites have shade.

    A small but well-stocked general store is available, as well a small (expensive) gas station. Cachuma also has a pool (for an additional fee), gameroom, playgrounds/jungle-gyms, and disc golf courses available.

    Cachuma Lake is a great place for wildlife viewing and birding. I am a photographer, and love seeing all of the birds that hang out around Cachuma - ducks, coots, Western and Clark’s grebes, loons, osprey, hawks, turkey vultures, turkeys, quail, American white pelicans, cormorants, etc. I have gotten my best birding photos at Cachuma Lake. Deer can often be viewed on the shores of the lake, and we have even seen bobcats and foxes. Pontoon boat tours to view wildlife launch every day from the marina.

    Keep in mind that you CANNOT SWIM in Cachuma Lake. Silly, I know, but they justify it because Cachuma lake is Santa Barbara’s drinking water source. You are allowed to boat, kayak, and fish on the lake, but no swimming! Motor boats and pontoon boats are available to rent, and now they even have kayaks to rent hourly! My dad has a small 14 ft fishing boat, and we enjoy taking the boat out on the lake to fish and sightsee.

    There are endless trails around Cachuma Lake in Los Padres National Forest. There are some mellow hikes around the perimeter of the lake itself, offering nice views of the lake and the surrounding Santa Ynez and San Rafael mountains.

    Figueroa Mountain is near Los Olivos - Grass Mountain and Figueroa Mountain are both beautiful hikes, especially in the spring when the wild flowers are in bloom. Both are strenuous, steep hikes, but the views are totally worth the effort.

    Cachuma lake is about a half an hour from the city of Santa Barbara, 15 minutes away from Santa Ynez (if you like to gamble check out the Chumash Casino), 20 minutes away from Solvang, and 20 minutes away from Los Olivos. There is fantastic wine tasting available in any of these small towns, and everywhere in between - you are in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country! There are endless tasting rooms available inside the towns, and countless vineyards that you can visit to wine taste. A popular wine trail is on Foxen Canyon Road - it is a lovely drive on a country road with some really beautiful and quality wineries and vineyards.

    Solvang is a fun town to visit - it was originally a community full of Danish immigrants, so the Danish theme has stuck. It is very touristy, but even as a native, I still enjoy going to Solvang. There are a lot of shops, antiques, candy stores, restaurants and tasting rooms to visit. We are partial to the Solvang Restaurant, and for more than just their Danish Aebleskivers. If you don’t know what an aebleskiver is - its DELICIOUS. Aebleskivers are round Danish pancakes that are shaped like a ball - they serve them with amazing homemade raspberry jam and powdered sugar. Everything at the Solvang Restaurant is good, from their traditional breakfasts to their Scandinavian offerings to their sandwiches.

    More Food Recommendations:

    Cold Springs Tavern is a historic site dating back to the 1880s when it was a stagecoach stop. Cold Springs Tavern has a full bar and serves some quality meat selections, including famous Santa Barbara style tri-tip. If you are there on a Sunday, they start serving traditional tri-tip sandwiches around 11am - BEST tri-tip sandwiches around! They cook up the meat on giant barbeques outside, and serve the sandwiches hot off the grill - just tri-tip and fresh garlic bread, YUM. They have homemade salsa and homemade BBQ sauce to dress the sandwich with. Sundays at Cold Springs Tavern is a popular spot for locals to go have a beer or a drink with tri-tip, and there’s always a fun atmosphere.

    If you are in the mood for some quality Mexican food, Dos Carlitos in Santa Ynez is a favorite spot.

    Los Olivos Grocery has a great deli with delicious sandwiches - both hot and cold - and a good selection tasty deli side dishes. The store also has a good selection of local wines.

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $30/night

    **Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    **Drinking Water: Yes

    **Showers: Yes (coins needed)

    **Picnic Table: Yes

    **Firepit: Yes

    **Cooking Grate: Yes

    **Shade: Yes

    **Cell Service: Yes - Limited

    Animal Bins/Food Lockers: No

    Trash: Yes

  • Ralph W.
    Apr. 9, 2021

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Our yearly go to for a great RV place

    We love this place. spaces are good sizes and easy to get into and out. Park is clean and well kept. Very nice and quiet. Plenty to do whether it is hiking, boating, fishing, or biking, or more. One recommendation,  don't take the 154 from just outside of Santa Barbara. It is full of crazy curves and up and downs for what seems like forever if you're in a TT or 5th Wheel. Go up the 101 to Buelton and cut across to on the 246 to the backside of the 154 to the lake. You will thank me.

  • H
    Jul. 26, 2018

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Fun easy camping spot! Great for families with little kids

    There's a lot to do here for kids; little hikes, boating, pool, parks, and the nature center is always a favorite for my kids. We've stayed in the main camping tent area, RV sites and the 500 sites down the road, all were great! It's close enough (about 20-30 min) to Solvang and Santa Barbara so you can take little day trips if you are staying a while. Dog friendly!

  • Butch C.
    Sep. 25, 2018

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Old time Favorite

    This a a very nice campground nestled in the hills of Santa Barbara county. The sites for dry camping are the largest that I have every come across in 50 years. The full hookup sites are your standard size that you see at most rv parks. The lake is nice but is at an all time low water level because of the ongoing drought. The Danish town of Solvang is 12 miles away and there must be 50 places that you can go wine tasting in the area if that is your thing.

  • Holly  K.
    Feb. 25, 2021

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Among the Oaks

    We've camped here several times. This last trip was for a week. We had a site w hookups near a group area. The group areas are closed due to COVID so it was very quiet and peaceful. There were not many campers even though the weather was perfect and the whole park was green and lush. Lots of gorgeous oak trees full of woodpecker communes. Showers are clean but if you need a handicapped shower you have to go find a ranger or go to the gate and ask it be unlocked- which is a pain if you are disabled and is the reason I gave 4 and not 5 stars. Showers are clean...cost $1.00 for three minutes but it takes half that time for the water to get lukewarm. Those are my complaints. But this is a really spectacular campground next to beautiful Cachuma Lake. Big sites. 30 minutes of a beautiful drive to Santa Barbara. Campground is very COVID conscious. They take no walk-ins and space campers apart. The RV area is full and less space between sites. We started camping here in the pandemic and have returned twice. Rangers and hosts are very friendly. It's also a pretty campground to walk around and has some nice hiking trails nearby. Has a swimming pool (closed because of COVID) , a laundromat and multiple group areas. Has been a refuge during the pandemic.

  • MomentoMori C.
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Near Santa Barbara but Hot!

    We were there in the middle of summer in the dumpster fire year of 2020. Make sure you get the correct weather report of ‘Cachuma Village’ and not assume it is the same climate as the much cooler Santa Barbara (15 degrees difference).

    There are hundreds of campsites and many have RV hookups. I found the following YouTube video helpful when reserving a space. We were glad we picked a space that was under the canopy of two mature trees. https://youtu.be/sDWHOIo66F4

    Although the lake looks beautiful, it is only a boating lake. There is no swimming nor paddle boarding allowed on the lake. There were plenty of fishing boats there as well as rentable pontoon boats.

    There is not much of a hiking experience at the Lake except to walk around it. As we walked around, we loved seeing how other campers set up their camps since we’re relatively new campers.

    We brought our dog and she loved it despite having little balls of thorns attach to her paws like magnets. (See picture). We ended up having to just carry her.

    We’d love to go back again but next time we’ll make time to rent a boat and go fishing ON the lake.


Guide to Santa Barbara

Horse camping in California offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian enjoyment, with numerous campgrounds catering specifically to horse enthusiasts.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • At Thousand Trails Rancho Oso, visitors can enjoy horseback riding opportunities in a remote mountain setting, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
  • Cachuma Lake Recreation Area features abundant hiking and mountain biking trails, making it an excellent spot for equestrian campers to explore the scenic surroundings.
  • Reyes Creek Campground offers access to beautiful trails, ideal for horseback riding and enjoying the natural beauty of the Los Padres National Forest.

Equestrian campgrounds include horse-friendly amenities

  • Thousand Trails Rancho Oso provides facilities for horse owners, including horse rentals and a chance to view farm animals, making it a family-friendly destination.
  • At Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, equestrian campers can find ample space for their horses and enjoy the picturesque views of the lake.
  • Barrel Springs Campground is a rustic site that welcomes horses, offering a peaceful environment for both campers and their equine companions.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best horse riding tours in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara's best horse riding tours combine scenic beauty with expert guides. The guided tours at Cachuma Lake Recreation Area take riders through oak-studded hills with beautiful lake views. Tours range from beginner-friendly one-hour rides to half-day adventures. In the Santa Ynez Valley, several professional outfitters offer wine country tours that combine riding with vineyard visits. Sycamore Campground area has operators offering tours through riparian canyons with river crossings during certain seasons. For more adventurous riders, guided backcountry excursions into the Santa Barbara mountains provide challenging terrain and spectacular panoramic views. Most tours require reservations, especially during peak tourist season from May through October.

Where can I go horseback riding in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara offers several excellent horseback riding locations. Thousand Trails Rancho Oso is a premier destination about 35 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara via a scenic mountain road. The ranch provides trails through beautiful Los Padres National Forest terrain. Another option is Los Padres National Forest Sage Hill Campground, which offers access to numerous riding trails with varying difficulty levels. The Santa Ynez Valley area also features several ranches and stables that provide trail access. For those seeking more organized trail systems, the front country trails in the Santa Barbara foothills offer spectacular views of both the mountains and coastline.

Are there beach horseback riding options in Santa Barbara?

Yes, beach horseback riding is available near Santa Barbara, though options are limited and seasonal. The most popular beach riding experience is offered at Reyes Creek Campground area, where guided tours take riders along scenic coastal trails with beach access points. Another option is near Holiday Group Campground, where equestrian services operate beach rides during non-peak beach hours. Most beach riding experiences are guided tours rather than independent riding opportunities due to permit requirements and environmental regulations. Beach rides typically need to be booked in advance, especially during summer months. The best times for beach riding are early morning or late afternoon when beaches are less crowded and lighting conditions create stunning coastal views.