Equestrian Camping near Stevenson Ranch, CA

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    Horse Flats Campground accommodates tent and RV camping in the San Gabriel Mountains with multiple sites for equestrians and their horses. Each site includes a picnic table and trash collection, with vault toilets available throughout the grounds. The campground maintains sanitary dump facilities while allowing fires in designated pits. Campground roads remain accessible for horse trailers with adequate parking space at individual sites. Valencia Travel Village offers full hookup sites including 50-amp electric service, making it suitable for larger rigs transporting horses, with three pools and WiFi access throughout the facility.

    Trails connecting to Los Angeles National Forest provide riding opportunities directly from Horse Flats Campground. Mountain terrain surrounds the sites with riding routes accessible year-round except during seasonal closures from November through May when weather conditions may affect trail access. Horse Flats maintains a pet-friendly environment with specific guidelines for keeping horses contained within designated areas. Musch Trail Camp at Topanga State Park offers an alternative option for equestrians seeking a more rustic experience, accessible via a one-mile hike from Trippet Ranch Parking Lot. The trail system connects to larger networks including the Backbone Trail with flush toilets and running water available at the campsites despite the more remote setting.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Stevenson Ranch (13)

      1. Tapo Canyon Park

      4.1(12)8mi from Stevenson RanchRVs, Tents

      "This is a very nice campground near everything but still away from it all. No issues parking our 42' 5th wheel here. Clean and quiet despite the peacocks. They can be rather loud when startled."

      "This campground happens to be very close to home so we went here to try out our brand new pull behind camper trailer for the very first time.
      The campground is small, quiet and very well-kept."

      2. Valencia Travel Village

      4.1(8)3mi from Stevenson RanchRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "A little remote and you have to drive to the nearest town(s), but clean grounds and nice site. Very easy to book online.  The RV park is pretty large so it's a nice daily walk."

      "I didn’t actually stay here as I was looking for a tent camping spot, but I did drive around the facility and it was super clean and looked like a great spot if you’ve got an RV."

      3. Malibu Creek State Park Campground

      4.2(43)22mi from Stevenson Ranch53 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "It is prime location for some great hiking and at night it is super quiet. There are restrooms and showers as well."

      "The grounds were beautiful and well maintained, the camp host super friendly and helpful, the bathrooms well positioned and clean, and the sites had shade and everything we needed."

      from $45 - $225 / night

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      4. Musch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park

      4.6(5)20mi from Stevenson RanchTents

      "If you want a longer hike you can hike up the East Topanga Fire Road and then drop down into Musch Camp on the Backbone Trail from Eagle Junction."

      "Although it’s not the most scenic campground itself, the state park has plenty of beauty to offer on its hiking trails. Not a single other party at the campsite on a Tuesday in September."

      from $7 / night

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      5. Bear Canyon Campground

      4.7(3)28mi from Stevenson RanchTents

      "But otherwise a great spot to spend a few summer days away from anyone not hale enough to trek in a few miles."

      "Crossing the tiny bridge at the west end of Switzer Picinic area(park up top during the weekdays, adds half a mile), you’ll see Switzer Trail Camp."

      6. Horse Flats Campground

      4.4(8)33mi from Stevenson RanchRVs, Tents

      "Horse Flats is not as popular as Buckhorn, and is a little less "green" with regards to the immediate scenery. It is also quieter for this reason, which is nice."

      "We usually only see rangers come around in the morning. With that said, we still like Horse Flats because there is usually a spot or two open if we arrive on a Saturday."

      from $12 / night

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      7. Reyes Creek Campground

      4.8(15)45mi from Stevenson Ranch27 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      from $30 - $154 / night

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      8. Halfmoon Campground

      5.0(2)32mi from Stevenson RanchRVs, Tents

      "Coming from Frazier, CA I was able to access the camp site with a 2012 Chevy Equinox LS FWD (By no means an off-roading vehicle) and return back home with no issues."

      "Beautiful drive down grade valley to get to this awesome site. We were looking for a more remote place to camp and this site satisfied all our needs."

      9. Mount Pacifico Campground

      4.0(2)32mi from Stevenson RanchTents

      "great views 360 degrees once you're on top. a 7 mile hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail from mill creek fire station. fire rings with multiple spots"

      10. Malibu Mountaintop Ocean View

      Be the first to review22mi from Stevenson RanchTents

      from $100 / night

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Stevenson Ranch, CA

    106 Reviews of 13 Stevenson Ranch Campgrounds


    • Erik M.
      Jan. 9, 2021

      Musch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park

      Easy Backpacking Trip in Los Angeles

      Musch Camp is an easy one mile hike from from the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot in Topanga State Park. If you want a longer hike you can hike up the East Topanga Fire Road and then drop down into Musch Camp on the Backbone Trail from Eagle Junction. This will add a few more miles to your hike and allow you to make a loop by hiking back to Trippet Ranch via the one mile Musch Trail.

      The cost is $7 per person per night. You can pay at the Entrance Station at the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot or the Iron Ranger at the camp. If you are parking your vehicle overnight in the parking lot please leave a note on your dashboard so that the Rangers are aware that you are camping at Musch Camp.

      The campground has around 6 campsites in two sections surrounded by fencing. Each site has a picnic table.  FIRES ARE NOT ALLOWED. There is also a restroom with flush toilets' and sinks as well as a water spigot. There are also horse corrals across the trail from the campground. Some of the sites have shade.

      There are meadows down the trail on either side of the campground. There is limited cell service at the campground.

    • Les R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 7, 2016

      Horse Flats Campground

      Standard, quiet campground

      Disregard the "closed for the season" post in the name - this campground is open.

      There are a few campgrounds in this area of the Angeles National Forest. Horse Flats is not as popular as Buckhorn, and is a little less "green" with regards to the immediate scenery. It is also quieter for this reason, which is nice. The individual sites are large and spread out from each other, so it is easy to have some privacy. Make sure to get food and firewood before you start the drive up the mountain, as there is no place to purchase such supplies near the camps.

    • Les R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 25, 2018

      Horse Flats Campground

      Ranger Review: Mountain House freeze dried meals at Horse Flats Campground

      Campground Review

      We come to this campground throughout the year, and its one of our favorite spots for summer camping when we're short on time. It's an hours drive from LA and because the campground is at elevation it stays cooler during the hot months. This is my third review for this campground, and one thing I will say that I've noticed over time is that as the popularity of the campground has increased, so has the noise. We've been kept awake by other campsites on three different occasions now. Part of the issue is that rangers aren't regularly monitoring in order to enforce the quiet hours. We usually only see rangers come around in the morning. With that said, we still like Horse Flats because there is usually a spot or two open if we arrive on a Saturday. Also, the sites are relatively well spread out compared to other SoCal camping options. And it's dog friendly, which is a must for us.

      Things to know before coming

      • bring all your water with you. There is no running water at this campground
      • purchase firewood before driving up the mountain. I've unfortunately seen too many campers collecting wood around the campground to use for fires. Don't do it! Different woods burn differently and also carry differently in smoke, and the Angeles National Forest is often at elevated fire danger levels
      • the drive from the base of the mountain to this campground is about 45 minutes. make sure you have enough gas and have a map / driving directions ready, because there is no cell phone service

      Things to do nearby

      • bouldering, just a short hike away. See more info on routes here
      • hike the Pacific Crest Trail to historic Glenwood Cabin. Here is the route I mapped out if you want to pick up the trail near Bandido campground. And here is more info on the cabin
      • take a scenic chair lift and play disc golf at Mt Waterman, a 10 minute drive away. More info here
      • Hike Rosenita Saddle to Mt Hillyer, see route here

      Product Review

      As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products to review for some of my camping trips. On this trip, we tested out two meals from Mountain House. (See my review of other meal options in my Meander Lake campground review). After cooking these pre-made camping meals, I may never go back! On this trip we had the Noodle with Chicken for dinner and Granola with Milk and Blueberries for breakfast. They were seriously DELICIOUS. Better than anything I can cook with my backcountry kitchen set-up. Here's what I love about these meals:

      • super great taste
      • quick to make. These meals are ready in 10 minutes or less, some are ready as soon as you add water. After a long day of climbing or hiking, or when you're waking up in the morning, it's so nice to have food ready so quickly
      • easy to make. Just add water (boiling, usually). This also means that all we need to pack is a Jetboil, which is so much more convenient than packing a stove, pots, cooking oil, ingredients, cutting boards, etc.
      • lightweight, and you can choose among packaging options for more compactness

      All in all, I'd say these meals are a game changer for short trips or backcountry camping , when you want to pack minimally. If you're doing a week of camping with easy access to your car, then these meals aren't necessarily your cheapest option for the whole week, but it's totally worth the money in terms of taste and convenience (so you can spend more time on other outdoor activities!).

      There are only two things I'd like to see change to further improve Mountain House meals. First, there are no vegan options, and very few vegetarian options. Second, I find the serving amounts to be unhelpful in their current format, because the calories per serving are so low. For example, with the Noodle with Chicken, the pouch says "2.5 services", but there are only 220 calories per serving. If this were your sole meal item for dinner, I'd say that more like 1 serving, especially if you're consuming these meals after a day of rock climbing or hiking. So if I meal plan with Mountain House pouches, you have to calculate servings based on the calories, rendering the "servings" as advertised uninformative.

    • Tony  C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 24, 2019

      Henninger Flat - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

      Great local campsite

      I recently moved to WA from Los Angeles so this review is legit 😁 This was and still continues to be one of my favorite campsite close to Los Angeles, I have plenty of fond memories with close friends at this site. It’s completely exposed all the way to the top, a well worth 3 mile uphill hike to three different camp sites. My favorite is the middle site where you get a clear view of the city, beautiful views at night. They say there’s no water but there is, there’s a spout located by the restroom close to the museum, you’ll have to treat it before using (but don’t take my word for it, they tend to shut it off so take plenty of water for your time there and check it out if you need more) If you continue past the middle campsite to the upper site, you’ll have plenty of space for tents and hammocks just no view due to the trees on the edge. If you continue on that trail for another 3 miles i believe, you’ll get to idlehour campground. It’s a small site right next to a creek, you can continue on to Mt Lowe campground and inspiration point. Back to Henninger, plenty of trees for hammocks and sometimes they have firewood collected. At the museum you can buy soda cans so take some change. Hauling a 24 pack of cold Modelos in my pack was not fun at all, but boy did they taste good at the top hahaha. Bugs can get annoying so carry some bug spray, hang your food and PACK IT OUT!!! Leave no trace behind.

    • Kate O.
      Jul. 18, 2018

      Horse Flats Campground

      Popular with Climbers

      Horse Flats is a popular campground deep in Angeles National Forest.

      There are a bunch of sites (more than 20) and there are vault toilets, fire pits, and picnic tables.

      $12 fee per site, not sure how many cars that means but you might need the adventure pass if you have a lot of other cars parking overnight.

      It's a great escape from the city, about an hour from DTLA. Popular with climbers as there's bouldering in the area.

      Know before you go - it's closed from November-ish to April-ish - so check the forest website before you head out there.

      When driving there, you take a left off the 2 and it's a little past Bandido Group site. Some people have a hard time finding it their first time going.

    • J
      Dec. 6, 2021

      Halfmoon Campground

      Beautiful Remote Campsite

      Spare of the moment trip idea lead me to finding this campsite. Coming from Frazier, CA I was able to access the camp site with a 2012 Chevy Equinox LS FWD (By no means an off-roading vehicle) and return back home with no issues. The drive down into the little valley is spectacular. There are few cool rock faces on the drive into camp which I had a great time doing some bouldering. The campground was shared by one other vehicle and it was fantastic. The site was pretty clean! Only found and picked up the usual (glass, caps, twist ties, styrofoam, toilet paper, etc.) There are a lot of trails near by and the scenery is pretty incredible.

    • John  Y.
      Aug. 16, 2019

      Reyes Creek Campground

      Off The Grid

      I prefer primitive or dispersed camping because I usually like as much privacy as I can get when I'm camping, but with current fire restrictions I was limited to developed campsites if I wanted a campfire (and what's the point of camping without a campfire?). I was also planning the trip on short notice, so developed, reserveable campsites were in short supply. Then I found Reyes Creek.

      The campground is very isolated. 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's no cell service in the camp, but a 5 minute drive up the mountain there's a dirt lot they call the 'phone booth' that gets decent reception. The camp hosts were super friendly and helpful. There are 2 loops for campsites - the center of the main loop seemed pretty flat, but all the sites were visible to your neighbors. Sites on the outside of the main loop offered more privacy, but most appeared to not be very level, and not necessarily well laid out. I stayed in site 11 on the outside of the loop which was large and fairly quiet, but my 6 person tent just barely fit in between some trees which offered some shade and was only on a slight angle. The one downside was the bathrooms - vault toilets that varied in condition, but none that I used were particularly good. If bathroom condition is a major sticking point with you, you may want to look elsewhere.

      As an added bonus, as isolated as the place is, right outside the entrance to the campground is a bar & grill called the Camp Scheideck Lodge. They have a full bar and great food (and the customer-only bathroom is a great step up from the campground). It just changed owners last month (second time in a couple years) and the new owner, Devin, is friendly and welcoming.

      The temperature varies greatly from day to night (90's to 50's when I was there) and there are bugs a plenty, so bring repellant. Firewood is available at the camp, and ice is available at the lodge.

      So if you want a little isolation with privacy, a campfire, and a friendly bar within walking distance, this place is for you. I'll definitely be coming back.

    • Adriela A.
      May. 7, 2019

      Reyes Creek Campground

      Relaxation readily available

      This site is highly accessible but still felt local and gives a great mixture of relaxation and creature comforts. 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. Our fellow campers were very respectful and the grounds were tidy.

    • Mike N.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 27, 2020

      Malibu Creek State Park Campground

      Pricey but worth it

      At $45/night this campground is the most I have paid thus far. I also believe it is worth it as well. It is prime location for some great hiking and at night it is super quiet. There are restrooms and showers as well. For hot showers you will need to purchase tokens at .50 cents each for 2 minutes of hot water. 8 minute hot shower will set you back $2 or take a cold shower for free. The gate to the park closes at 10pm. The campground is tucked away behind all the day use parking area so you won’t be bothered by that if you’re staying multiple days. Not much all spots have shade but the majority of spots do.


    Guide to Stevenson Ranch

    Equestrian camping near Stevenson Ranch, California offers access to diverse terrain within the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains. The area sits at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 5,000 feet, creating variable trail conditions and temperature ranges throughout the year. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer days often exceed 90°F in exposed areas.

    What to do

    Trail riding at Tapo Canyon Park: Full-hookup sites accommodate horse trailers with easy access to hill trails. "There is a camp host on site and the Ranger makes at least a daily visit," reports Larry B. about Tapo Canyon Park. Watch for wildlife warnings as "Rattlesnake warnings are posted everywhere in camp."

    Bouldering near campsites: Horse Flats offers climbing opportunities a short hike from camp. According to Kathleen L., Horse Flats Campground is a "Nice place to stay for climbing - there is mostly bouldering in the area, with some trad stuff." The Pacific Crest Trail section near Horse Flats connects to historic Glenwood Cabin for a day ride.

    Creek exploration with horses: Follow creek-side trails for natural water access. At Reyes Creek, "Trails connecting to Los Angeles National Forest provide riding opportunities" with Antonio C. noting "Plenty of fish in the creek... we still managed to do a small hike up the piedra Blanca trail to upper Reyes."

    What campers like

    Remote trail access: Backcountry camping options connect to extensive trail networks. "Three mile hike from from the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot in Topanga State Park," notes Erik M. about Musch Trail Camp. "You can pay at the Entrance Station at the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot or the Iron Ranger at the camp."

    Vault toilet facilities: Most equestrian sites maintain basic sanitation. At Halfmoon Campground, "The site was pretty clean! Only found and picked up the usual (glass, caps, twist ties, styrofoam, toilet paper, etc.)" according to Jerome A., who adds "There are a lot of trails nearby and the scenery is pretty incredible."

    Seasonal water features: Creek access varies throughout the year. Shannon E. describes Bear Canyon Campground: "Follow the creek (which is GORGEOUS with waterfalls and shade in the spring)... You start to go uphill again and the creek switches its flow so you're suddenly walking upstream."

    What you should know

    Site spacing considerations: Some campgrounds offer better privacy than others. At Horse Flats, "The individual sites are large and spread out from each other, so it is easy to have some privacy" according to Les R., though "as the popularity of the campground has increased, so has the noise."

    Water availability varies: Bring sufficient water for humans and horses. William K. notes Bear Canyon has "lots of water year round, but little wood" while Horse Flats requires you "bring all your water with you. There is no running water at this campground."

    Trail closures occur seasonally: Winter access may be restricted at higher elevations. Anthony K. reports about Mount Pacifico: "Great views 360 degrees once you're on top. A 7 mile hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail from mill creek fire station."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Some facilities maintain play areas near equestrian sites. "The campground has a lush grass area and nice covered playground," writes Bri B. about Malibu Creek State Park Campground, where "Campground is beautiful!! Spacious campsites with fire pits, and clean bathrooms."

    Wildlife awareness: Teach children about local animals including reptiles. At Tapo Canyon, John B. warns "Rattlesnake warnings are posted everywhere in camp" and suggests using "Tapo Canyon trail... a mile down the road. It's a much wider trail, easier to see the rattlesnakes."

    Temperature preparation: Pack for significant day-night temperature shifts. Les R. notes about Horse Flats: "Even though it was 79 degrees in the day, temperature got down to 54 at night" and reminds families to bring "layers and adequate sleeping gear for the night."

    Tips from RVers

    Full hookup locations: Several areas offer complete RV services near equestrian trails. At Valencia Travel Village, Bradley F. reports "Plenty of spots around the grounds with 30 and 50 amp hook ups. WiFi is included with 3 pools and a hot tube, small store, and a really nice laundry facility."

    Road access limitations: Not all equestrian sites accommodate larger rigs. Jennifer S. notes about Reyes Creek: "Camp hosts were great. Vault toilets were in better shape... Nice and relaxing off the beaten path." Larry M. adds this campground is "enjoyable with smaller RV" and has "beautiful, cool creek running through."

    Cell service gaps: Communication availability varies significantly. April Y. warns about Tapo Canyon: "DO NOT expect cell service. I could only work from this spot by placing my mobile HomeFi router on top of the camper. Our Verizon phones were paper weights."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Stevenson Ranch, CA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Stevenson Ranch, CA is Tapo Canyon Park with a 4.1-star rating from 12 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Stevenson Ranch, CA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Stevenson Ranch, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.