1 campground with availability this weekend
Horse Creek Campground serves as the main equestrian access point to the Sequoia National Forest backcountry. Located near Lemon Cove, the campground accommodates horses with access to nearby bridle trails and adequate space for horse trailers. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water. Horse Creek operates both tent and RV camping options with some sites suitable for horse trailers, though no dedicated horse corrals are available on the premises. Campers need to bring their own portable containment systems or use highlines for horses. The campground remains accessible throughout the year, making it suitable for riders seeking extended trail opportunities during different seasons.
The Western Big Meadow Road Camping Area provides another option for equestrians exploring Kings Canyon National Park trails. This established camping area connects directly to several backcountry horse trails and offers more primitive accommodations. The main campground area features basic toilets and trash collection without dedicated horse facilities. Big Meadow Road sites accommodate larger vehicles and horse trailers with sufficient clearance for maneuvering. Most equestrians visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon typically access the backcountry trail system from these established camping areas. Riders should obtain the required wilderness permits for overnight backcountry horse trips. Verizon signal remains accessible at higher elevation sites along Big Meadow Road, allowing riders to maintain communication during extended trail excursions.
"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
"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
"It’s a great spot, this pin location gets Verizon signal along with some of the higher sites if you pull off the road."
"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
"Really secluded surrounded by trees, close to bathroom and water faucet. The bathrooms are clean and have toilet paper. Right next to a river, where the sound relaxes you."
"Lone Pine Lake is your first option, about 2.8 miles from the trailhead at Whitney Portal. This is a beautiful little lake, surrounded by pines and imposing granite walls."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $34 - $95 / night
"I loved hearing the creek just 30 feet away from my campsite. The views were fantastic and the CG was near the rock formations and trails. Vault toilets clean, no water."
"Near Lone Pine, just off Whitney Portal Road, adjacent to Alabama Hills, so lots of exploring opportunities! Great dark skies for stargazing and photography."
from $10 / 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.
ScoutBeautiful place to camp!
RangerGreat view of Mt. Whitney! Some sites narrow and/or sloped so selection important especially if have slide-out. Clean concrete floors in pit toilet bldgs. Water available during our stay. Nice hiking trail west side of campground for valley and Whitney Portal views! Paved roads in campground. Easy access to Whitney Portal and town. Overall very nice stay.
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.
RangerHeavy winds for most of the day, but less in the evening. Beautiful views of the mountains. Well spaced spots, clean restrooms and plenty of availability even when arriving Saturday around noon of labour day weekend
RangerThis is an older campground with fantastic views of Mt. Whitney. When I say older, I refer to narrow driveways and sites close to one another. The narrow driveways mean that if you have a camper or RV, you will not have a lot of room immediately out of the door. Maybe that's important to you, maybe not-just an FYI. Every site appears to have a tree capable of providing shade. There is a host on site. It has the standard amenities-table, fire ring w/grill, water & restrooms. The North Fork of the Lone Pine Creek runs along the north side of the campground and sites are available along side it. Most of these are tent sites. Site 39 sits right at a nice little pool in the creek & I saw trout in this pool. (it is a tent site) People in the campground were fishing. It wasn't crowded and most folks seemed to spend just one night.
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!!
Equestrian camping near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks offers access to high-elevation terrain ranging from 6,500 to 8,500 feet. The area receives heavy snowfall from October through May, with many sites accessible only during summer months. Temperatures vary significantly between day and night with summer days reaching 85°F while dropping to 40°F after sunset.
Trail riding to Grant Grove: Access the General Grant Tree from Azalea Campground where you can ride directly to the sequoia grove. "Good trails to village and grants tree. Crystal springs campground adjacent has more trees, more shade," notes Mark M. The route offers moderate terrain suitable for intermediate riders.
Backcountry exploration: Experienced riders can access remote alpine lakes from Monarch Lakes Backcountry Sites via established equestrian routes. "Great site to get to after a short (semi difficult) hike. If you want to head off into other parts of the backcountry (or are coming back) this is a great calm and serene area with fantastic scenery," reports Elliott B. Pack appropriate high-altitude gear for horses.
Winter riding: Some areas remain accessible during winter months with proper preparation. "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," explains Lydia H. about winter conditions at Azalea Campground.
Proximity to multiple trail systems: The central location provides access to both parks. "Azalea is great because it is central to both Kings Canyon and Sequioa. Good size spaces, lots of sites, trees and meadows everywhere," states Kristil C. Most riders appreciate the ability to access different trail networks from a single base camp.
Cell service for trail planning: Western Big Meadow Road Camping Area provides connectivity crucial for checking weather and trail conditions. "This pin location gets Verizon signal along with some of the higher sites if you pull off the road. Higher sites are pretty private and have enough sun coverage for solar," explains therealquaid D. The signal strength varies by carrier but remains strongest at higher elevations.
Water access for horses: Natural water sources supplement what riders must carry. "This spot is great if you want to be right by the water. The campsite is sometime filled with water so it is a seasonal thing. Be careful for snakes in this area," advises Angel C. about Horse Creek. Seasonal availability affects access to natural water sources.
Limited facilities: Many equestrian sites lack dedicated horse infrastructure. "While tents and RVs are mostly mixed, there is a small tent only loop. The closest showers are down the mountain at Stony Creek Village or at Cedar Grove Visitor Center and Village," explains Annie C. at Azalea Campground. Pack portable containment systems or highline equipment.
Bear precautions: All food and scented items require proper storage. "Don't forget to use the bear boxes. There is no need to drive to see big trees as there is a nice trail from the campground that leads to the General Grant Sequoia Grove," reminds Annie C. Pack bear-proof panniers for trail rides.
Seasonal closures: Winter conditions limit access to many areas. "Montecito Bay Lodge just down the road has an all you can eat buffet Breakfast/Lunch $9 Dinner $20, the closest supplies are Kings Canyon Visitor Center, and Stony Creek Gas Station (closed oct-apr). You might want to double check with the Visitor Center if this road is open when it's snowing," advises therealquaid D.
Choose sites with level ground: Many campsites have challenging terrain for setting up horse containment. "Site#106. Unlevel, but most in this area are not level.#107 not bad. Some loops have no bathrooms so be aware of where you reserve," warns Mark M. about Tuttle Creek Campground. Sites near creek beds tend to offer more level ground.
Plan for temperature fluctuations: Bring appropriate clothing for significant day/night temperature changes. "It did get chilly at night, but as long as you bundle up in your tent, you'll be completely fine. There are tons of mountain squirrels running around the campground frequently, and they are so cute and entertaining to watch," notes Elise F.
Accessible trail options: Select routes appropriate for younger or less experienced riders. "I'd camp here to hike Meysan Lakes and the start of the Whitney trail to Lone Pine Lake, neither of which require permits for day hikes. It's a great camp for acclimatization," suggests Jeff V. about Whitney Portal.
Trailer parking considerations: Not all sites accommodate large horse trailers. "Lots of room to get around. Grassy large spots with full hook ups. Close to King Canyon and other attractions," reports Rick L. about Sequoia RV Park. Call ahead to confirm trailer space availability.
Water management: Many equestrian sites lack full hookups for RVs with horse trailers. "New camp host arrived a day after us very well maintained clean dump station easy access," notes Randy W. Plan water usage carefully or bring portable water tanks.
Site reservation strategy: Book specific sites that accommodate both RV and horse equipment. "This is a great Corp of Engineer Campground just minutes from Sequoia National Park. Sites are big and well spaced from each other. No hook up but fresh water and a dump station are available at the campground," explains Rob E.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is Azalea Campground — Kings Canyon National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
TheDyrt.com has all 21 equestrian camping locations near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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