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Best Equestrian Camping near Sawyers Bar, CA

60 Reviews

Carter Meadows Horse Campground provides equestrian-specific accommodations near Sawyers Bar in Northern California. The campground features multiple sites designed for horse trailers and equestrian camping from June 13 to October 20. Campsites include picnic tables and fire rings with fires permitted throughout the season. The facilities are accessible via drive-in access, making it convenient for horse trailers and equipment. Pets are allowed at the campground, enabling visitors to bring dogs alongside their horses. Hidden Horse Equestrian Campground, located in Fort Jones, offers additional horse-friendly camping options with drinking water and water hookups available. Both campgrounds operate seasonally, typically closing during winter months when mountain roads become difficult to navigate.

The surrounding Klamath National Forest provides extensive trail riding opportunities accessible from these horse camps. Lacks Creek BLM land offers free dispersed camping options with toilets and allows pets, providing alternative equestrian accommodations with more primitive settings. The gravel roads to some areas require careful navigation with horse trailers but generally remain passable for most vehicles during the camping season. Trails connect to wilderness areas where riders can explore mountain terrain and creek crossings. Campgrounds in this region tend to fill quickly during summer months, especially on weekends, making advance reservations advisable when available. Many sites can accommodate multiple horses with sufficient space for portable corrals or highlines where permanent facilities aren't provided.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Sawyers Bar, California (11)

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Sawyers Bar, CA

8 Photos of 11 Sawyers Bar Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Sawyers Bar, CA

60 Reviews of 11 Sawyers Bar Campgrounds

  • Sharon B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 17, 2021

    Elam Backcountry Camp — Redwood National Park

    Heavily trafficked way point into the park

    I camped here in late March 2021 during a 2 night, 3 day hike of the Redwood National & State Park. This campground is the first one you come upon while hiking in from the Orick Horse Trail Trailhead. There are picnic tables and two bear lockers, (there's another by the horse coral). I stopped for lunch at this site on my first day. I think this is the primary campground used by most hikers, (and the gravel bar near by).

    If I were to plan another trip I would only use this campsite as a way point on the way to more secluded sites. This is a main thoroughfare, so people will pass by your site. It's also the only horse camp. There was a sign that directed hikers to camp on the gravel bar instead of Elam. I think this is more likely in summer because of traffic as I only saw one horse rider on day hike.

    This is wilderness, so appropriate caution must be taken, Bear canister is required is you do not have access to a site with a bear locker.

  • H
    Apr. 11, 2021

    Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

    Enjoyable Stay

    This campground is conveniently located right on the 101 Hwy, close by to the ocean and right down the road from tons of Redwood Nat’l Park trails. Because of its proximity to the Hwy, this means you will hear vehicles but it’s not obnoxious and didn’t bother us. The closest amenities (groceries, gas, and one or two small restaurants) are about a 15 min ride south in Trinidad. Orick, the closest town to the north, is very run down, but I think it has a gas station and small market. The grounds are very lush and green. You do have to watch where you walk because there is Elk dung everywhere, but that is a small price to pay for being able to see an herd of Elk almost every day. The ladies at the front desk were very friendly to us. They did warn us about keeping distance from the Elk and doing things like, looking out your RV’s window before walking outside in case the Elk were right there. When they say that the Elk come right into the campground, they are not joking! We stayed in a site in “the meadow”. They are quite close to each other but we got lucky with and end spot and no one on the other side of us during our 2 night stay. Our site had full hook ups, a picnic table, and fire pit. They had a clean laundry room, which we didn’t have to use during our stay so I cannot attest anything other than it’s cleanliness. The bathrooms were also very clean, but sadly the showers required quarters. We didn’t have any but we’re able to exchange cash for some at the front desk. It was $1.50 for 6 minutes of shower time. Overall, we liked this campground a lot and would stay here again.

  • Jason M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 13, 2024

    Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

    No Elk, But Great Stay

    We used this as a checkpoint in 2021 when traveling from Oregon to Southern California via HWY-101. The park is clean, and we had a great time walking around and resting between the legs of our trip. We arrived after hours and our stay information was available in an envelope at the main building. Here's a view from the back-in site 510. We would stay here again.

  • Jason D.
    Jun. 20, 2022

    Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort

    Hidden gem

    We were looking for.a place to camp near Redding, our home town. This campground is about 30 mins from Redding. It was an easy tow on rural but well maintained roads all the way to the campground. Easy tow for my 25.5 foot travel trailer and 2019 Chevy taho .

    The store is well supplied with camping and fishing needs. The park has lots of trees for shade and the spaces are wide. Wider than any other places we have stayed . The spots are grassed, all clean and well maintained. Everyone there was very nice and will happily give you fishing advice, if you ask.

    Our dogs loved the area down below, we would take them off leash and let them do dog-things.

    Just around the corner from the campground ( walking distance) is access to the river. The whole family enjoyed dipping in when it’s warm outside

    We will be back

  • N
    Jul. 1, 2019

    Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

    The Name Says It All

    Rosevelt Elk roam through the campground. They were obviously used to people. We stayed on the “meadow” side where the elk roam through your campsite. The “forest” side is quite dark as you are camping in the redwoods. We had full hook ups on the meadow side. I am not sure if the forest side had full hook ups. They have a small pond with a ton of polliwogs in it (end of June). No fish in the pond as a couple of otters came in and ate the all the fish. Close proximity to the southern end of Redwoods National Park and many California State Parks. All in all this was a once in a lifetime experience!

  • Erin S.
    Nov. 29, 2021

    Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

    Close encounters of the elk kind

    Stayed three nights over Thanksgiving weekend in a 29 foot travel trailer.  Due to the holiday the office was closed when we arrived so we picked up our paperwork at the front door.  To my dismay, our site was different than the one we reserved and it was the closest to the highway.  This is one of a couple black marks against this campground - I was moved and received no heads up and no avenue for recourse since I arrived on a holiday.  All in all, the site wasn't too bad.  It was large enough for our trailer and truck and decently spaced from our neighbors.  The road noise was there but not too bad.  The second black mark was the wifi.  Not sure if it was our site location, but the signal was poor - very rarely were we able to connect (also we had Verizon with barely any signal).  All the utilities were in decent shape and worked fine.  Bathroom was clean and there were plenty of toilet and shower stalls.  I never used the laundry but there were three washers and three dryers that looked fairly new.  The store had some basic grocery and supplies (a bit overpriced, but that's because there isn't much local competition).  There was an old one room schoolhouse on location that still had a lot of displays in it from when it was a museum (just ask at the office to be let in).  And the ELK!  

    Let me tell you about the elk. Our first morning the herd came in the far side of the campground.  We kept an appropriate distance and watched as they grazed and roamed the meadow.  Then we didn't see them for a few days.  The morning we planned to leave, we got up before dawn to make an early get away.  That plan was foiled when we opened the door and realized we were surrounded by the herd - over 40 elk surrounded the trailer, some as close as 10 feet away.  We watched, and waited, and eventually they moved away, allowing us to go outside to break down.  

    Overall, a nice campground.  It's very close to the local parks.  I would stay here again.

  • C
    Aug. 2, 2019

    Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort

    Very quiet, close to lots of fishing

    This is a great little mom and pop rv campground. There are tent sites away from the rv part, but we never checked that area out. The rv spots are very clean, and even though they’re close together with no privacy it was an amazingly quiet park. The park is about 1/4 full time residents, 1/4 permanent vacation spots that people keep trailers at and visit from time to time and the other half is campers. We stayed for a week and became buddies with the camp host Craig who gave us great fishing tips for the area and had some great conversation with as well. The owners were very nice and run a tight ship. The rv spots are full hook up with nice green grass, no cable but ok Verizon signal and we got a few local channels on the tv antenna. They have a nice little store and a fish cleaning stand. We fished Lewiston lake less than 10 min. away and Whiskeytown Lake about 20-25 min. away with great luck. The little town of Lewiston is pretty cool and a 5 min walk from the campground as well is the trinity river. We will definitely be back.

  • Naomi H.
    Jul. 23, 2019

    Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

    Beautiful

    The campground was clean and had a lot to explore. We enjoyed seeing elk as we pulled in. We went on some nice walks around the pond and watched the otter swim in the water. Conveniently located near several nice beaches as well. Showers were basic but clean. The sites weren’t very private but overall we had a great time here. This was our second stay and we have liked it both times.

  • M
    May. 12, 2023

    Horse Flat Campground

    No Upkeep

    We visited early Oct 22.

    The first review for this campground is not for this campground. 

    The road up the the campground is a rough dirt road. Eagle Creek is a beautiful creek as are most of the creeks coming out of the Trinity Alps. We live on one of these creeks near Weaverville. The campground proper has not been maintained. Very little evidence of recent campers. Many of the sites have been degraded by debris carried by flooding. The turn around at the end of the campground road has serious washout problems. The campground road is narrow. Trees are dying causing danger from falling limbs &/or trees. The canopy is dense enough that there is very little sunlight. There are a few sites below the road that are nicer & next to creek but parking is sparse. We spent about 3 hours there before deciding to find a more hospitible camping site. Verizion (best carrier for Trinity Co) coverage was nonexistant.

Guide to Sawyers Bar

Horse camping in California offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.

Equestrian campgrounds include essential amenities for horses

  • The Carter Meadows Horse Campground provides reservable sites and allows fires, making it a great choice for horse campers looking for a comfortable stay.
  • At the Hidden Horse Equestrian Campground, you'll find drinking water and picnic tables, ensuring a pleasant experience for both you and your horse.
  • The Horse Flat Campground allows pets and features picnic tables, perfect for those who want to enjoy meals outdoors with their horses nearby.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • The Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort offers a well-maintained environment with ample shade and green grass, ideal for resting your horse after a day of riding.
  • Lacks Creek BLM provides a free camping experience with plenty of space for horses, making it a popular choice among equestrian campers.
  • The Hidden Horse Campground is accessible by vehicle and offers a rustic experience, perfect for those looking to connect with nature and their horses.

Tips for equestrian camping near Sawyers Bar, California

  • When visiting the Horse Flat Campground, be prepared for a rough dirt road and limited amenities, but enjoy the beautiful surroundings and space between campsites.
  • The Carter Meadows Horse Campground is a great spot for those who want to reserve their site in advance, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
  • For a more adventurous outing, consider the Lovers Camp Trailhead, which offers access to stunning trails and beautiful scenery, perfect for a day of riding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sawyers Bar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sawyers Bar, CA is Lovers Camp Trailhead with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sawyers Bar, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Sawyers Bar, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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