2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Skyline Wilderness Park accommodates equestrians with extensive riding trails and open fields for camping. Multiple hiking paths include routes designated for horseback riders, with the park's 850 acres offering varied terrain suitable for both beginner and experienced equestrians. Horse owners can access parking areas sized for trailers near the camping zones. The campground provides water sources accessible to horses and features areas where horses can be kept near camping spots. Sites back up to wilderness areas where visitors frequently spot wildlife within minutes of setting up camp. The park's location just 5 minutes from downtown Napa makes it convenient for riders seeking supplies or evening dining options. The Dyrt includes reviews of campgrounds near Sonoma, California.
Located approximately 30 minutes from Sonoma, Skyline Wilderness Park connects to several trail systems popular with equestrians. Riders particularly enjoy the Lake Marie Trail and Fire Road, which offers beautiful views of the Napa Valley. Horseback riders share most trails with hikers and mountain bikers, with clear signage indicating permitted uses. The trail system includes some challenging terrain with elevation changes providing good workouts for both horse and rider. Trail maps are available at the park entrance kiosk, where staff can provide current information about trail conditions and seasonal closures. The park includes a modest day-use fee in addition to camping fees, making it economical for horse owners planning longer stays. Well-maintained grounds and respectful users help maintain the quality of the equestrian experience throughout the seasons.
"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."
"This location is easily accessible for all. Biking, trails for hiking and the gardens are gorgeous. Rvs and horses welcome."
"There's nothing dramatically beautiful about this park, but if you like California country living - oaks, madrone, rolling hills, and lots of sunshine - than you'll enjoy it here. "
"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."
Available this weekend
from $43 / night
"Spring Lake has been that for us. We have been here for 2 weekends in the last few months."
"It’s close to the entrance but the driveway only had a slight grade. Mostly folks with trailers. The sites are not too close together but it is easy to see into the surrounding neighbors."
from $35 / 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!!"
Available this weekend
from $45 / night
"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."
"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."
from $30 - $90 / 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"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $200 / 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!"
from $75 - $120 / night
"The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses"
from $15 / night
"Next to a stream and surrounded by hills. The only tough part is getting across the stream to some of the hikes."
TravelerGreat camp with amazing views. But, you should not camp alone. I've been here often this month and have seen a herd sheep eating the grass on the hillside, heard a pack of coyotes several nights in a row, until I heard a Mt Lion doing it's bird like sounds at night, as it circled my rv. This is last night, 10/07/2026 - mt lion presence detected, not seen. Be careful.
TravelerCowboy Camp had everything I had heard it offered & more! There was plenty of space when I visited and I got to pick a spot down by the water. Easy access & semi-secluded. The spot was half shaded and half sunny by 3 PM. Perfect for our truck to park in & stay cool. Vaulted toilets were in decent shape & even had TP. Lots of awesome spots to pull off at on the way there from Winters area. Beautiful views of flowing green water & colorful trees.
LegendLas Trampas is one of those wonderfully odd camping experiences that almost feels like you’ve discovered something you weren’t supposed to know about. Despite sitting on the doorstep of Danville and San Ramon, this 6,050-acre preserve quickly trades suburbia for steep ridges, oak woodland, grasslands and some terrific views across the East Bay. And camping here is decidedly primitive: the Corral Area is a single reservable group campsite for 17–50 people, rather than a conventional campground with individual sites. That means lots of privacy, lots of space and very little resembling a traditional developed campground.
While my earlier review goes into considerably more detail, I thought I’d revisit this campground with a quick topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS - along with a fresh batch of photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Remarkable feeling of seclusion considering you’re only minutes from the suburban East Bay, with Oakland lying just beyond; (2) Having essentially one primitive group camping area makes this feel more like your own private campground than a conventional campsite; (3) Picnic tables, BBQs, food-storage box and a drinking-water spigot provide just enough infrastructure without spoiling the primitive experience; (4) Direct access to a huge trail network with Rocky Ridge reaching 2,024 feet and panoramic views toward Mt. Diablo and the surrounding valleys; and (5) Abundant wildlife, seasonal wildflowers, grazing cattle and those beautiful rolling East Bay hills make the setting the real amenity here.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) This is group camping only, with a 17-person minimum, so it simply doesn’t work for a couple or small family looking for an ordinary campsite; (2) No hookups, showers or flush toilets - here, primitive means primitive; (3) Water at the campsite should be considered unreliable, so bring your own rather than betting the weekend on the spigot; and (4) Many of the best trails are steep, exposed and short on shade, which can make hot-weather hiking considerably more strenuous than the beautiful scenery initially suggests.
Insider’s Tip: Bring more water than you think you’ll need and make time for a ridge hike. Las Trampas is one of those places where climbing a few hundred feet completely changes your perspective especially when the suburban Bay Area seemingly disappears beneath you, which is precisely what makes camping here so unexpectedly special.
Happy Camping!
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.
GuideThe location is great since you’re close to st Helena and Calistoga. The road is narrow and the spots are tricky to back into. It was our first time with out 20ft trailer and we struggled a bit, took us three tries we kept having to drive around the loop of the campground. Lots of poison oak. Dog friendly on the paved road/path. We didn’t use the pool, but it’s open 1-5pm and it’s spring fed. Lots of kids, definitely kid friendly since it’s so small!
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.
GuideGreat spot to camp and explore the Santa Rosa area. No hook ups but there is a spot to fill fresh water tank and a dump station. Sites are well spaced and very clean. Will get weekend locals so you will likely hear people having fun :) My go to in the area.
TravelerI stayed overnight in the winter so it was pretty empty. The sites are all separate and not too close to one another like they look in photos. The hosts were very nice and it was very quiet when I was there. It's close enough to where you could walk into town but I drove because it was raining. I will definitely be camping here again.
Equestrian camping near Sonoma, California features both coastal and inland options ranging from full-service parks to primitive sites. The region's Mediterranean climate creates ideal riding conditions through spring and fall, with average daytime temperatures between 65-80°F. Winter camping remains viable with proper preparation as overnight temperatures rarely drop below 40°F in lower elevations, though coastal areas experience frequent fog and wind.
Trail riding at Point Reyes: The Coast Campground at Point Reyes National Seashore offers multiple hiking paths that connect to scenic coastal vistas. "The hike to the campsite went by fast. Only 1.8 miles, not too bad on the elevation gain either," shares Char A., who adds that "the beach was sandy and beautiful, not that many people around."
Beach exploration with horses: Bodega Dunes Campground permits equestrian access to miles of coastal shoreline. "Hiking among the sand dunes and along the beach provide some really stunning scenery. Reaching the beach, you'll find as much coastal sand as you can handle with miles and miles of it to yourself," notes Shari G.
Volcanic trail riding: Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve features unique volcanic terrain suitable for experienced riders. "The Volcanic Trail, once a quarry haul road, contains most of the stops on the self-guided volcanic tour," explains Elliott B., adding that "bikes are allowed on the fire trail, but there are lots of hikers and dog walkers in this park so be mindful."
Lake access at Ritchey Creek Campground: Located in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, this site offers water access for horses. "We found a great trail close by at Lake Hennessey. If you're a wine drinker, during non-COVID times you can catch a wine bus from here!" mentions Peter M., highlighting the campground's versatility.
Privacy between sites: Anthony Chabot Regional Park features separated camping areas ideal for horse trailers. "The sites are free form and come as you are, basically you're assigned to a section and you camp where there room to do so," explains Leanne R., adding that "sites backs up to Wilderness and saw a doe within 10 mins of setting up camp just a few steps away."
Equestrian-friendly coastal camping: Wildcat Campground in Point Reyes offers terrain suitable for both riders and horses. "The six mile hike to reach the campground is stunning. The hike changes drastically over the course of the six miles ranging from lush forests to grassy fields to breathtaking coastal views," notes Michaela C., describing the trail variety.
Seasonal considerations: Coast Campground experiences significant temperature fluctuations. "During the day it actually got pretty hot at our campsite (#1), lots of exposure probably around low 70s. At night it did get chilly, 38-39 degrees F, nothing a good sleeping bag couldn't fix," reports Char A.
Water availability: Bothe-Napa Valley State Park provides limited water access for horses. "Be careful of the poison oak, it is prevalent there as it is so anywhere in Northern California," warns Robert S., highlighting an important safety consideration.
Trail conditions: Some trails near Bodega Dunes Campground require preparation for sand. "I have to confess that I feel pretty silly for not being as prepared for the sand as I should have been from the name of the campground. Who would have thought!?" admits Michael I., adding "We walked around sites 22-55 and all seem to be entirely on the sand. Come prepared to deal with sand."
Kid-friendly activities: Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers accessible recreation for families with horses. "There are plenty of easily accessible hiking and biking trails in the area. While you can get down to the lake easily, there's no swimming for either dogs or humans," notes Lori T., cautioning about water restrictions.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Skyline Wilderness Park features abundant wildlife for children to observe. "Wild turkey, deer, wood peckers regularly seen!" reports Adam B., highlighting the natural educational opportunities.
Playground access: Liberty Glen at Lake Sonoma includes facilities for children. "There is also a playground on site, with multiple trails. When hiking in the area be aware of the local wild boar problem," advises April H., providing important safety information.
Site selection: Bodega Dunes Campground offers varying levels of privacy and shade. "The campground was clean with sites that were easy to back into. The sites were separated by trees and shrubbery, give the feeling of a more privacy. We were in site 60 and thought it was very nice," shares Jon M.
Utility connections: Skyline Wilderness Park provides essential hookups for horse trailers. "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., giving perspective on the tradeoffs.
Supply planning: Liberty Glen Campground requires preparation for supplies. "Bring everything you need, the closest store is in Cloverdale, 20 minutes away," warns April H., highlighting the importance of advance planning when traveling with horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sonoma, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sonoma, CA is Skyline Wilderness Park with a 4.2-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sonoma, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Sonoma, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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