17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Eastern Sierra Tri County Fairground offers horse corrals for equestrians camping near Toms Place, California. The fairground provides full hookup sites for RVs along with dry camping options for tent campers. Horse owners have access to on-site corrals, making this location particularly suitable for those traveling with equine companions. The fairground features clean shower facilities, restrooms, and level sites arranged in a gravel lot. While spaces are relatively tight and close together, the location compensates with convenient access to downtown Bishop's restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. Camping rates vary based on hookup needs, with prices starting at $20 for dry camping and $35 for electric and water connections.
Located approximately 40 miles from Toms Place, the fairground serves as a practical base camp for exploring the region's riding opportunities. The central location allows easy access to trails in both the White Mountains and Sierra Nevada. No dedicated bridle paths exist directly from the campground, but numerous riding areas are accessible within a short trailer drive. The fairground's amenities support practical horse camping needs with its combination of hookups and horse containment options. Riders report mixed experiences, noting the fairground prioritizes function over scenic camping atmosphere. The location primarily serves equestrians seeking convenient overnight accommodations while traveling through the Eastern Sierra region rather than destination trail riding experiences.
"Twin lakes is Located in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. Upper and lower twin lakes are a fantasic place to set up base camp and explore the sierras."
"Twin Lakes and all of the surrounding Mammoth area is gorgeous. You'll have plenty of hikes to choose from, go fishing, or hit the slopes (biking during the summer and snowsports in the winter)."
from $34 / night
Check Availability"Multiple locations near by not listed. It gets a bit dusty and windy. Lots of off road vehicles. All the camper vans rolled in after dark and it filled up quick."
"Easy access to all vehicles except some areas that may need a little higher clearance. Nicely secluded but not many great open views in the area since it is in the Forrest among the trees."
"I agree the road out is pretty scary I don't advise trailers but I have seen them while driving in. It is one lane and you must pull out for opposing traffic."
"Our campground was right next to the river, and hiking trails to lakes, meadows and hot springs run directly off of the campground. The host was wonderful, it was all around perfect."
from $37 - $78 / night
Check Availability"After driving around every overcrowded campground in mammoth lakes we were lucky enough to find this campsite on Dyrt. It had many open spots even in July with beautiful views of nearby mountains."
"It’s within walking distance to Lake Sotcher as well as Reds Meadow Pack station and trailheads for Rainbow Falls and Devils Postpile."
"This was a good staging site to go up and down the June Lake Loop for the colors. I am a tent camper and at this time of the year it is COLD. Most of the folks were in RVs. "
"The nearby lake was beautiful, especially in early morning, and it provided an entry and exit point to the quieter side of the CA wilderness, such as Ansel Adams Wilderness (for when you don't want to"
from $32 - $64 / night
Check Availability"Very close to downtown. It is an open field, some might feel a bit exposed. Very nice staff & clean facilities."
"Campsites near office and fairgrounds have dump stations if there is an open site. Currently the gas station in town that normally has a station is closed"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Thousand Island Lake is a trek to get to but once you get there, well you don’t really want to leave."
"Thousand Island Lake is a backcountry camping area located at 9,839 feet elevation in Ansel Adams Wilderness within the Inyo National Forest, California."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"These sites are well maintained and include fire pits, bear lockers and close access to restrooms, water and dumpster. Tree cover helps keep it cool."
"Some of the sites offer nice privacy and are tucked into trees and meadows. Only downside was the mosquitos but I know they are everywhere."
from $50 - $99 / night
Check Availability"There were signs on the way in for both free range cattle and horses, but we didn't see any. Cell service with Verizon, weak but usable."
"It is a beautiful campground located off Kaiser Pass Road. Even in June there was so many wildflowers and vibrate green. There was bathrooms and each site had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box."
"When I visited some people had buried human waste next to the campsite and I cleaned it up. Most easily accessed via Kaiser Pass. Be aware that the road is steep, narrow, and has blind corners."
GuideGreat location right in the middle of Yosemite Valley. Great access to beautiful hikes and scenery. The camp sites are spacious. Because it's an equestrian campground, you will smell the horses and stables....be prepared. The river is close to the campgrounds and are refreshing on a hot day.
GuideI agree the road out is pretty scary I don't advise trailers but I have seen them while driving in. It is one lane and you must pull out for opposing traffic. But definitely one of my most favorite places in the Sierras. The views are amazing, I recommend giving yourself extra time to stop and get out for the views a few times on the way in.
Once in the campground/resort area there are two separate loops to camp in as well as cabins to rent and a small dispersed camping area there is also a general store, bath house, and small Cafe that are all seasonal since the road is closed most of the year. So open and close dates vary depending on snow. You can get firewood, drinking water at the store but it can be a little pricey, so I recommend bringing your own. The baths/showers are usually included for anyone paying for a campsite, but this may have changed. It is very cheap for day use persons to use the showers though. The sites are all very nice and surprisingly private though some are pretty close together. All provide a firepit, table, bear box, and parking space. I love that there are bear boxes at such a remote place! There are vault tiolets and dumpsters for trash. The river runs along one side of the campsites so about half of the sites are on the river. Bring extra bugspray for these sites as you are close to the water.
Most important if you made it this far reading 😅😂 there are multiple NATURAL HOT SPRINGS!! There are several different pools located across the river from the campgrounds. They are all over the hillside and range in temperature from lukewarm to bath water to Hot. They also pump the natural mineral water to the bathhouse for the showers! The springs are the main reason to come out and camp. There are also tons of hiking trails and other lakes in the area including 2 thermal lakes and tons of breathtaking views. I highly recommend this place. 🏞🏕
Also: I have not personally stayed in the cabins or dispersed camping area only the paid sites along the river, but I have been here several times and have seen them. There is also a corral area for horses so I'm not sure if that qualifies it as an equestrian camp but there is a spot for the horses.
TravelerIf you wanna get away and camp next to a river and down a trail and shoot your gun or go fishing you can freedom you can horseback ride if you have horses he can fish there are fish there trout it's beautiful peaceful.
TravelerThis campground is in the heart of Yosemite Valley. It is great to camp on the valley floor, especially during peak season as traffic from all main gates to the valley floor is very congested. There is a shuttle stop right outside the campground. You are also in easy walking distance to the path to Mirror Lake and the ever popular Mist Trail. Shuttle stops at all valley attractions and you can easily get to the Pizza Deck in Half Dome Village, the deli in Yosemite Village, and many different hiking trails. Some spots are right along the Merced River. No showers here, but hot showers are close by at Half Dome Village. We will be back!
LegendIt is hard to get a Camping spot in Yosemite but well worth it if you do. I got up early many a morning to try and get a day here or there for our summer trips out west. You can always try the daily lottery in the village office which we did one day. So Any campground in the valley is good and in close proximity to everything going on. This campground is located on the Merced river and is primitive. The horse stables are in this loop as well.There is a water station by entrance to fill up. No electric, sewer or shower. There are bathrooms with an outlet (Yea- can charge your Phone but get in line) You can bathe in river like I do or go to curry village and pay for a shower at housekeeping. You get a fire ring and a bear box at each site. Generator hours are limited so plan accordingly.
RangerThousand Island Lake is a trek to get to but once you get there, well you don’t really want to leave. This view is absolutely beautiful, and it changes rapidly with the rising and setting sun so make you have your camera ready for it. This is completely back country so you gotta pack it all in. There are some rules you have to follow while camping at this lake, 30 feet off of the trail and then another 100 feet away from the water. This can be hard to do as your camp may be on a slant or in the wide open, however you have plenty of space to choose from at this location. There is another rule about camping past a certain peninsula but from everyone we talked to they had no idea which peninsula the map was actually referring to, so you just walk past a couple of them and hope you’re in the right spot. The water is very cold but still feels great after a long hike all day.
There are multiple routes to getting to this lake, you can come. The John Muir trail and the PCT lead to this location, also Mammoth California has a trail that leads here as well. We even encountered mule train options on our way in if you prefer that type of transportation. But this is definitely somewhere you want to visit.
GuideWe were lucky to get 5 days in a row during 4th of July weekend in 2021 at one of the best sites within North Pines campground. We set up camp at site #515, we had a fire pit, bear locker, picnic table and two tents! Within walking distance is the edge of the Merced river, from there you have views of Yosemite Falls. One of my favorite activities was take a short walk with a floating tube from the campsite to the entrance of the campground and hop into the river float back down and get off near our campsite! Our site also offered a good amount of shade and was a short walk from the restrooms. We were surround amongst the giant granite cliffs. One of the best camping trips with great company. 10/10 would recommend.
LegendNorth Pines is one of three campgrounds on the floor of Yosemite Valley. Across the Merced River from the other two campgrounds and adjacent to the horse stables, it is relatively isolated with no major roads running by it. Nevertheless, it is well connected to the rest of the valley amenities, with a quick walk to the bus station, a longer walk (1 mi) to the visitor center via the Valley Loop Trail, or a drive (if you don't mind braving traffic and searching for parking spaces).
The sites are not well defined. You have a place to park and besides that, it is a little of a free-for-all with the adjacent sites as to where you set up your gear. Despite that, we had plenty of room to set up our large 10 person tent, without feeling crowded or that we were overspilling our space. We were there the last weekend it was open (Oct 26/27) and all sites were booked. There are no hook-ups, and the comfort stations only have toliets and sinks (no showers), a fresh water faucet, and a disposal "toliet" for dish water. All dishes must be washed at camp. The facilities were fairly clean, though the disposal toilet often backed up. Being late October, I was expecting very cold conditions. But the weather was great! 70s during the day and 40s at night. Clear skies. Absolutely beautiful.
Our site was located right next to the comfort station, and in hindsight I wish we had found a place a little farther away. But besides the proximity, our site was nice with a fire pit and picnic table. Quiet hours are from 1000-0600, and we had to remind our neighbor campers who came back drunk at midnight to shut it, but that seems to be more the normal than abnormal these days. There were mostly tents in the campground, with a few small RVs and trailers. Generators are allowed during limited hours, but the noise wasn't overwhelming, since they were few and far between.
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. This weekend I got to test the Wenzel Great Basin 10 tent (https://wenzelco.com/great-basin-10/). Overall, my impression of this tent is that it is a solid and reliable tent. Yes, it has a few design items that could be improved for ease of use, but overall it served us well and I look forward to using it again. The tent is a domed center-opening design, with two side "rooms" that can be separated by zipped curtains, making three interior spaces total. My husband and I filled up on room with two large cots facing length wise (we had them oriented along center line and still had enough room to move along the sides). The other side has more than ample room for my daughter's small cot, which ran the width of the tent along the side window. Very comfortable for three people.
Yes, this is a huge tent. Can it be set up by one person? Probably, if that person is patient and tenacious. Two people work much better. A few design items we found annoying were the pole connections, which would frequently catch on the tent pole sleeves and center strap. Also, the zipper flap on the tent's door would frequently get caught in the zipper, making it almost a necessity to use two hands to open and close the tent. Besides these two small inconveniences, the tent worked great. The rain fly fits snug against the tent roof. The construction felt sturdy and we liked the design of the three interior rooms.
Overall, we had a fun two nights in Yosemite. We might make a tradition out of going for the closing weekend each year.
GuideGet there early enough to find a spot. Multiple locations near by not listed. It gets a bit dusty and windy. Lots of off road vehicles.
All the camper vans rolled in after dark and it filled up quick.
Mammoth Village was a short drive away.
Equestrian camping near Toms Place, California offers access to both Sierra Nevada and White Mountain trails. The high-elevation terrain ranges from 7,000-10,000 feet with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F days and 40-50°F nights. The area experiences significant snowfall from November through May, limiting access to many trails and campsites during winter months.
Fishing opportunities: Twin Lakes Campground provides excellent fishing access with diverse catch possibilities. "We love to fish here, both on shore and in a boat (def bring your boat if you have one). The views are insanely gorgeous!!!" notes Rosie R. The lake supports multiple fishing styles for various skill levels.
Hot springs exploration: Mono Hot Springs features several natural thermal pools of varying temperatures. "There are several different pools located across the river from the campgrounds. They are all over the hillside and range in temperature from lukewarm to bath water to Hot," explains Mollie M. Some springs require short hikes to access.
Waterfall hikes: Rainbow Falls can be reached via a 4-mile loop trail from Reds Meadow. "The campground is right on the lake for great views and incredible sunsets and rises. There are lots of trails to hike, many leading to waterfalls or creeks," shares Mary C. from Twin Lakes Campground.
High-elevation stargazing: The area's minimal light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing conditions. "Weather is beautiful, nights are dark. Great starscapes," reports Troy H. about Scenic Loop Dispersed Camping - Eastside, located at approximately 7,800 feet elevation.
Wildlife sightings: Local campgrounds offer opportunities to observe native animals in their natural habitat. "We always sea bald eagles here! Fishing is really good!" shares Taylor about Twin Lakes Campground. Bears are also commonly reported in the area, requiring proper food storage.
Seasonal alpine wildflowers: The meadows burst with color during summer months. "Even in June there was so many wildflowers and vibrate green," writes Darlene M. about Sample Meadow Campground, noting the colorful displays that follow snowmelt.
Bear safety requirements: Bear activity is reported throughout the region. "Keep you food in the bear lockers, they have daily visitors late in the evening and throughout the night," advises Jason F. about Twin Lakes Campground. All camps require proper food storage in bear-proof containers or lockers.
Mountain road conditions: Access roads to many sites require careful navigation. "The drive in was an adventure. The last 18 miles over Kaiser Pass took 1.5 hours. A sub-par road surface little bigger than one lane in many places made transit interesting," reports Chris M. about Mono Hot Springs. Contact ranger stations for current road status before departure.
Seasonal weather extremes: Thousand Island Lake Backcountry sits at nearly 10,000 feet with variable conditions. "Remember that you're at elevation so it can get cold at night even in the summer," notes Jonathan G., highlighting the need for appropriate cold-weather gear regardless of season.
Creek exploration: Sample Meadow Campground offers child-friendly water features. "The Kaiser Creek provides hours of fun for the kids and you are close enough to trail heads for the adventure seekers in your group," recommends Regina P. The shallow creeks allow safe water play during summer months.
Beginner fishing spots: Silver Lake at June Lake provides accessible fishing for children. "It's worth it to grab a fishing license up the road at Ernie's," suggests Brandon L. about Silver Lake Campground at June Lake. The lake is regularly stocked and offers shoreline access.
Multi-generational activities: Twin Lakes Campground supports diverse recreation options. "Bring water toys for the kiddos. The small beach is perfect for hot days," advises Rosie R., noting the combination of swimming areas, hiking trails, and fishing spots suitable for various ages.
Campsite selection strategy: Rosie R. from Twin Lakes Campground suggests: "We decided to camp further away from the lake (towards the back of the campground), as there were less people and it was more quiet and secluded. The year-round folks and the crowds tend to camp closer to the lake."
Alternative fairground camping: For those traveling with horses, Eastern Sierra Tri County Fairground provides practical options. "Has full hookup sites as well as no hookup sites. Park is clean & well run but spaces are small and tight. Pretty much a gravel lot. Level. One side has mostly shade, the other full sun," notes Ariel & John W., describing the functional layout for equestrian camping needs.
Site reservation timing: Agnew Meadows Group Camp offers good availability during certain periods. "This was a great campsite with lots of availability. In fact, one night we had the whole campground to ourselves," shares Jamie D., highlighting the potential for securing sites even without advance booking during weekdays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Toms Place, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Toms Place, CA is Twin Lakes Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Toms Place, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Toms Place, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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