We're here to help you find where to go horse camping in Sonora. It's easy to find Sonora equestrian campgrounds with the Dyrt. These scenic and easy-to-reach California campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
Glory Hole Recreation Area is located at New Melones Lake on the Stanislaus River. The 12,500 surface-acre lake is the fourth largest reservoir in California and is situated along the edge of the Mother Lode, the rich gold vein that prompted the California Gold Rush of 1849. At an elevation of 1100 feet, the diverse and resource-abundant Foothill Oak Woodlands hug the 100 miles of shoreline. Popular activities on and around the large, yet uncrowded lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and picknicking. The New Melones Visitor Center offers year-round interpretive events and a museum highlighting natural and cultural resources.
Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and road and mountain biking are just a few of the activities available in Glory Hole Recreation Area. Camping is also permitted in designated campsites. Equestrian trails are also present in the Peoria Wildlife Mitigation Area and open for the general public. Other interesting sites include Natural Bridges, which can be accessed from Parrott's Ferry Road and has a nice hiking trail and a creek that flows through a marble cave. The Table Mountain Trail provides visitors an opportunity to hike to the top of an extensive lava flow which occurred over nine million years ago.
New Melones Lake is located in Northern California between the historic gold rush towns of Sonora and Angels Camp. The terrain varies from rolling hills to steep marble cliffs, and the vegetation consists of oaks, Ponderosa pines, chamise and buckbrush shrubs. Visitors can experience the beauty of New Melones by hiking the many trails in the Tuttletown and Glory Hole Recreation Areas. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. For those who wish to venture outside the main recreation areas, there are many unique places to visit. Overall, the geography is quite varied and provides many opportunities for all types of recreation.
For facility specific information, please call (209) 459-7290.
Glory Hole Recreation Area is surrounded by many places of natural beauty including Natural Bridges, Camp Nine, Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, Moaning Caverns, Big Trees State Park and Columbia State Park. Angels Camp Museum, Calaveras County Museum and Sonora Military Museum also provide great opportunities for learning interesting information about the area. Surrounding communities are popular vacation and retirement destinations and provide necessary services and shopping opportunities. Golfing, snow skiing, river rafting, commercial caves, historical railroad and Native American museums are close by as well.
All site changes and cancellations need to be done through the Recreation.gov website.
$22 / night
Please note: Tent Camping is by reservation only.
Here at Lake Amador we have a large campground consisting of 113 sites located on a 100 acre portion of the facility that is surrounded by shade giving Oaks. Most campsites have running potable water, some have electricity and many sites are located on the waters edge when the lake is full. There are hot showers and flush toilets located throughout the campground and some sites located by swim pond also have free WIFI access!
Lake Amador also has a 73 site Deluxe RV Park on a private peninsula. All sites located in the RV Park have Full hookups and FREE WIFI. Some sites are reserved year round for residents and as vacation spots. All open RV sites are first come first served so call prior to your visit to check availability.
At the Lake Amador Clubhouse we offer food and fun. There you will find both air conditioning and a large fireplace so no matter the weather outside you can always find refuge inside. While there you can utilize the FREE WIFI, play pool, horse shoes, foosball, watch TV or even play Checkers, Chess, or Cribbage on our custom gaming tables. The Clubhouse features a well stocked Beer Bar as well as The Tackle Box Café where you can get a delicious Breakfast and Lunch on the weekends. Now if supplies are all your after you’ll be happy to know we also have a fully stocked general store with any essentials you may have forgotten at home.
$25 - $45 / night
The North Pines Early Access Lottery has ended and regular booking windows have resumed. Campsites at North Pines are available up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. (PT). For example, on February 15, arrival dates for the time period June 15 to July 14 become available to reserve, and therefore, the full arrival date window would be from season opening to July 14. North Pines Campground is located in breathtaking Yosemite National Park in Central California's rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range at an elevation of 4000 feet. The site is situated in the heart of Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Within Yosemite, visitors can gaze upon waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, vast wilderness areas and so much more. Reservation tips! Campsites in Yosemite are extremely popular and typically sell out in minutes on the regular on-sale dates. Login to your account or create a new account before the 7:00 a.m. (PST) release time. You may only add reservations to your cart and proceed with your reservation if you are logged into your account. The recreation.gov call center does NOT have access to additional sites or additional information beyond what is published on recreation.gov.Yosemite National Park Campground Reservation Dates
Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, auto touring, and photography are all very popular activities within the park. Hiking trails range from the easy paved, two-mile roundtrip walk to Mirror Lake/Meadow, to the grueling but rewarding 14- to 16-mile trek to Half Dome (permit required). Both of these trails begin near the Pines Campgrounds, and many additional trailheads are within Yosemite Valley. Rafting the Merced River is a fun way to cool down on a summer day when water levels are sufficient. Yosemite Valley also offers numerous guided bus tours, educational programs, museums, ranger-led activities,and an art center with workshops.
Yosemite Valley is forested with a diverse mix of California black oak, Ponderosa pine, Incense-cedar, White fir, and Whiteleaf Manzanita, which offers a pleasant combination of sun and shade. Through the trees, Yosemite's telltale granite cliff faces are visible, and the gentle, refreshing Merced River flows nearby.
Within one to two hours, visitors can drive or ride a shuttle bus to some of Yosemite's most grand viewpoints and historic sites. Glacier Point offers sweeping views of Yosemite Valley, Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and Clouds Rest, among other notable landmarks. A visit to Wawona and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center is like stepping back in time. The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada, with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite domes and peaks. Beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is home to spectacular scenery and numerous wilderness trailheads.
Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date only incur a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged (Exception: 1 night reservations do not incur an additional $10 fee, but do not receive a refund). No-shows will be assessed a $20 service fee along with the loss of the first night's fee.
$24 / night
Dispersed camping takes a lot more effort than camping in a developed campground, but for those with an adventurous spirit, it can be a lot of fun.
Here are some important points to remember about dispersed camping:
The maximum length of stay in a forest ranger district is 21 days per year. Please practice good outdoor ethics about camping, travel and behavior while visiting. Dispersed campers are allowed to park within one vehicle length (including any tow vehicle) of a National Forest transportation route and walk into camp. Dispersed camping is not permitted in developed campgrounds and day use areas. Other areas closed to dispersed camping include historical and archaeological sites. Also, be certain that you are within the boundaries of the National Forest before setting up camp. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway. Dispersed camping is not allowed in these areas: within one mile of Pinecrest Basin along 7N83, Clark Fork Road along Hwy 108 between Clark Fork Road and Kennedy Meadows Road Leave No Trace Camping – Camp so no one notices you while you are there, and no one even knows you were there after you leave. Please respect nature and other visitors by keeping noise to a minimum. Always pack out whatever you pack in. No permanent structures are to be constructed to an area, such as building rock-lined fire pits, trenches around tents, or carving into trees. Human waste should be deposited in a hole dug 6 - 10 inches deep and then covered with organic soil. Vehicles are not permitted off of roads, but if you can safely park your vehicle adjacent and parallel to the road and are not blocking the roadway, you may park and camp. Most sites will have a parking spot nearby while other sites may not. Because the footprint of a vehicle can have a large impact to soils, please do not create new “parking spot” for a campsite. Please park in designated or already impacted spots. If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest. We want you to learn some of the many reasons to enjoy the quiet and solitude of dispersed camping, it’s up to you to LEAVE NO TRACE.
Modesto Reservoir Regional Park is located at 18143 Reservoir Rd., a few miles from the town of Waterford, just off Highway 132. It offers over 3,200 acres of land and 2,800 acres of reservoir for recreation and camping.
$40 - $60 / night
Yosemite Ridge Resort is located on State Highway 120, which is open all year and only 12 miles from Yosemite National Park’s west gate. We are located in Buck Meadows, population 50, within the beautiful Stanislaus National Forest surrounded by pine covered mountains. Since we are so close to the park, our lodging near Yosemite Park is the perfect base camp for your Yosemite Adventure, whether it be for one night or one week.
$40 - $80 / night
Legend
How do you snag a reservation in one of the most popular campgrounds in the entire NPS with just a few days notice? Easy! Set up a Dyrt Alert with your Dyrt PRO subscription. We did this and turned 1 night in the valley into 10. Here's to shoulder season camping! But come prepared as you might need your kayaking gear and your snowshoes on the same trip.
This is a great campground in valley, with many sites right by the Merced River, a view of Half Dome in the background, and a little forestry action means that you even get some sunshine down through those big pines and can recharge with solar in a few key sites. We were also able to run our Starlink to get some work done. You can walk to many trails, bike to others, and even stroll over to Curry Village for a meal, shower, or an ice cream.
What you have in these campsites is very similar throughout this park, paved spot with not a lot of room for big rigs, small area for tents, a spot for your car, picnic table, fire ring, and a food/ cooler/ cooking equipment storage locker. Seriously y’all, they will ticket your butt for not storing food properly– they do not mess around here in this park with feeding wildlife, either on accident or on purpose. And you will quickly learn why because the ground squirrels do not give a#$%^ about you except that you are a quick source of Cheetos-- and they’ll even climb up your leg to get some. Don’t even get me started about the Ravens, they are smart and they have a taste for potato chips! Bears make regular visits to these campgrounds, too.
The “Comfort Stations” as the NPS calls them means a couple of toilets that flush, a sink with cold running water, and a hand dryer. Bring your own soap. They can stay on top of cleaning them, but do your part too. Showers can be purchased at the Yosemite Curry Village area and they are just fine, but there is a high demand for them so plan ahead.
Unlike most parks, Yosemite has its own grocery store, gas station, bike rentals, restaurants, visitor’s center, park film theater, gift shop– and if you come at the right time of year, you can see “Shakespeare in the Park’s” live theater.
You can bike, hike, paddle, float, climb, sightsee, stargaze, climber stalk, waterfall gawk and walk. But parking is a bitch. So just leave everything at the campsite and hop on the bus to get around the park and the different hiking areas. The buses also have bike racks so you can bike as much as you want, then hop on the bus if you’re not feeling it anymore.
There are so many beautiful hikes, but please don’t go to the popular ones in the middle of the day, or maybe do, that way I can enjoy the less popular ones on my own time at my leisure. Understand that the valley is one of the most “touristed” destinations outside of Disney World, and get your head around it, settle in and make nice-nice with all the other folks who have been dying to come. But please don’t feed those squirrels, ravens, or bears!
Depending on which way you come into the park, the closest town with reasonable grocery store prices can be up to an hour away. So, it’s worth the price of admission to stock up on your way into the park.
Guide
Drive to the back area for tree shade and level grounds. Side of road camping. Camping on Ridgeline
Scout
So disappointing this app has failed us like 5 times now on camping spots. Not the right location.
GuideWooded campground, cool weather, good phone reception, many spots taken with no activity probably by locals. Lake, hiking, close shopping.
Guide
This area is beautiful. At almost 9000 feet elevation, it is a great place to escape a heat wave on either side of the Sierra. Reno was having 104 degree highs, so we were looking for elevation that was not too far away. 20 degrees cooler here. Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass is an interesting drive. About 1-1/2 lanes wide, winding, no guard rails. The 7 mile dirt road from Highway 4 to Highland Lakes takes awhile. We go slow. We put our van with a great unobstructed view over the lake out the slider and from under our awning looking towards Hiram Peak. The hiking in the area was spectacular. Lots of trails, snow fields, wild flowers, and wonderful views.
Traveler
Amador is a laid back camping spot that never disappoints. Great for families. Not a party destination but you can still have a great time! 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. There is also a old school playground for the kids. The staff is super friendly and always there to help. I take my kids at least 3-4 times a year and enjoy any of the seasons. There is Frisbee golf as well.
Scout
B
ScoutNear the revie
ScoutWe enjoyed our first visit and will definitely come back! The park is a mix of old RV’s that folks have long term stays and open spots for visitors. Some nice spots and some tight spots. We stayed in site 62 with 41 foot MH. There was no room for a tow vehicle and we did not put our awnings out. We enjoyed fishing from the bank and had some good luck with power bait. The resort is very clean and quiet!
TravelerThere is no dispersed camping on this road. Only trailheads leading into the Carson/Iceberg Wilderness. It is great for hiking or backpacking in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. Stay at the campgrounds of either Sand Flat or Clarks Fork and do some day hikes.
Traveler
Super fun spot went in September. Dirt road to get to spot is pretty rough but my Taurus wagon did just fine. There are a few people on dirt bikes ripping around trails so not fully secluded but still a good spot.
Guide
Convenient, has a general store as well as a restaurant/bar. Staff is welcoming. Ports pottys, but there are showers.
We had a large spot right on the creek. Its less then a ten minute walk to silver lake. I’d come back again.
Guide
Nice place lil shade open and close to water
TravelerThere are no Volt toilets here nor running water but pretty good Verizon signal. Lots of trails to ride your bike and walk.
TravelerThis is a nice little private camp spot for the most part, There's a campground with its own fence around it for private camping With signs posted very near it, "no camping here" in the other spots without the signs good to go.
ScoutToilets are full to the brim and the camp host is a psychopath thief. Beware of this guy, he is not whom he appears and has no problem stealing and deceiving you. NOT RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME!
Guide
Never been up 108 past strawberry, after some research and talking with friends, we decided to camp here. Definitely did not disappoint. Beautiful views, close enough to the river. Camp sites were nice and bathrooms. Host was super nice too. Lots of hiking trails near by. Can't wait to come back up here.
Guide
We were there for 1 night. The view at campsite 57 is gorgeous! However, be prepared for the heat. It can reach up to 110F in summer. It is toasting even with shade. Restroom and showers need maintenance.
TravelerThis campground was a great find. Baker and deadman’s were FULL so we drove out a little to Clark’s and it did not disappoint. Lots of good site. Single and double. It’s not right off the river but a short walk to it. Loop A has vaulted toilets loop b has flush. Water all through out. First come first serve but there are plenty of sites.
GuideWe stayed at North Pines for 4 nights after winning the new lottery they did this year. It was so amazing! The site was actually really large. We didn't set up tents but it would've fit several. The site had its own small beach right on the river. Unfortunately the water was too swift to swim while we were there but I think most times it would probably be good. It says it fits a 24 ft trailer. We have about a 25 foot trailer, more like 28 with the hitch, and my husband's F250 hooked up still pretty much fit in the spot. That does include a few feet of overhang over the back curve. We also had my sons CRV and when we unhooked we were able to fit both cars on the pad no problem. We have verizon and cell service pretty much sucked but it's yosemite so you get over it. We could get some calls/texts, def no internet except at Yosemite Village. There are enough trees for a hammock and we had one up. Bathrooms were flushable but the nearest shower is in Curry Village. My parents stayed in site 303. It's small and right next to the bathroom. Their 29 ft RV fit perfectly though. Plus their site obviously floods in the winter/spring cause there was mud everywhere.
TravelerBear valley is my favorite place to go camping, the most you get close to the top of the mountain, the most curvy the road is, so be prepare. There is a point where the paved road disappears and is only dirt road, you can keep driving as far as you want, it is easy to find a good spot to park and set your camp. The night views are amazing!
ScoutFinally got to break in our roof tent so decided to check this out. Our site was awkwardly slanted (so I thought we would trip and fall into the lake) but on the lake so that was nice. 4 wheel drive recommended since I saw people struggling to get in and out of sites. Lots of mosquitoes. Bring Raid and repellent. Friendly staff at cafe/registration and dog friendly. Water was murky so we didn't bother going in but lots of fishermen and we could see fish in the water. Okay overall. Maybe will stay at a different site next time.
GuideNice campground on the lake. We stayed in the dry camping area which was right on the lake. We noted that the sites were very close together with no privacy, but that was ok since there were few people there. The showers worked well and didn’t require coins, and there was a dump station up front by the fish cleaning station. Note that there’s a gate that closes so that you can’t enter - we just barely made it by the 9pm Friday closing time (I think this time varies by day of the week).
Scout
Nice place quiet lots of places for big RVs pull through spots and back in spots they have spots for family reunions have showers store boat ramp nice place to camp North Shore is not for RVs it's for tent camping the South Shore has hookups 30 50 amp service full hookups all around a good place good people quiet time is 9:00 p.m. till 7:00 a.m. I believe doesn't mean you can't be up just no loud music no carrying on to disturb the other people lake is almost full
Traveler
This was our first time here. It was quiet and the sites were clean. There is no shower and only a couple outhouses so it’s definitely only if you want to use your camper/rv bathroom. The hookups worked good but the sewer hookup is elevated so you will probably want sewer hose supports to lift your hose. There is a fishing pond directly next to the campground and access to the lake just a few minutes away.
ScoutGreat location and full hook ups. Open year round, planning on coming back during the Winter!
GuideGreat spot for a tent or small trailer. The dirt road up is full of ruts and potholes, but my Toyota Yaris made it up. Some noise from chainsaws in the distance one day, and some target practice, but neither lasted long. 2 bars LTE of Verizon.
Horse camping in California offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the companionship of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sonora, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sonora, CA is Woodward Reservoir with a 4-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sonora, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 equestrian camping locations near Sonora, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
