Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Valley Springs is the way to go. Finding a place to stay in California while traveling with your horse has never been easier. At The Dyrt, you can find top-rated spots for horse camping, as reviewed by campers.
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
Beal's Point Campground is one of two locations on the lake that allows overnight camping in the campground. Barbecue pits, shade areas and large grassy areas can accommodate many family picnics and other activities. The Beal's Point Snack Bar also rents beach equipment. The beach equipment includes kayaks, standup paddleboards, shade canopies, and rafts of all sizes. Additionally, catering for family and company picnics, as well as group discount rental rates, are available.
$28 - $48 / night
Monument RV Park has 99 spacious sites near four small fishing ponds and the lake. Recently renovated this park is located at South Shore featuring full hook-ups including 30 and 50 amp electrical service, picnic tables, and fire rings.
Monument RV Park is less than a quarter-mile from the front gate down Camanche Drive on the left just before the trout pond
Fish the stocked trout pond
Lakeside sites for those campers with boats
Short ride to marina and store
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
Miner’s Camp RV Park (Long-Term stay available) is nestled in the hillside and sits above the campgrounds. This park can be rented for up to 14 days or six months and is a short walk away from basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. There are no fire rings available inside Miner’s Camp.
Miner’s Camp RV Campground is located off of Bret Harte Drive close to the tennis and basketball courts
Short walk or ride to beaches, marina, store, or amphitheater
Long terms stay are 6 months at a time-10 day out before return
All sites are full hookups featuring 30-50 amp electrical service, picnic tables, and can accommodate up to 55′ long.
Showers and laundry facilities are located nearby. All RV’s staying within Monument and Miner’s Camp must be self-contained. Self-contained RV’s may also camp at North Shore. We also feature 20 undeveloped primitive sites (on-water) that can accommodate a tent or a self-contained RV.
Sly Park Recreation Area is a wonderful place to bring the whole family for an unforgettable camping experience. Sly Park camping features 10 campgrounds that contain a total of 191 individual sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and barbecue. Vault toilets and water faucets are conveniently located throughout the campgrounds.
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.
Guide
This place and his staff were absolutely amazing. I had a couple of different times where I needed to change the spot and without fail they were there to help. Quite CLEAN everything! I wanted to stop awhile 30 days later I was told goodbye👋 cause I know the rules at a State Park!🤦😔😔💩
Scout
Disappointed to be told they don't allow any buses unless they have the RVCIA (sp?) sticker. There were some really old and knackered looking caravans and daggy RV's in the park, but the place was pretty much deserted as it's November. All in all it was frustrating. ggggrrrrrrr
GuideI am not the easiest but the staff has a heart of gold and at every turn we’re really there to help.
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.
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.
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!
TravelerGreat view onsite, sites are clean. Bathrooms however where not.
LegendGeneral: 69-site campground in two sections – one with electric hookups and one without.
Site Quality: We stayed in the non-hookup section. Site 36 was in a small spur with just four sites and direct access to the American River Bikeway. Although better suited for tents, the site worked fine for our camper van. The fire pit and picnic table were located quite a distance from the short paved camper pad, creating a sense of privacy.
Bath/Shower house: The building closest to us had three toilet/sink combos, one toilet only (there was an outside sink) and two showers. No soap, paper towels, or air dryers in any of the toilet rooms. Showers took quarters – two to turn it on and although I did not time it, two quarters gave a decent amount of time for the shower. Good hot water and a bench but no hooks.
Activities: Folsom Lake with all water-related activities. In addition to biking, the paved American River Bikeway was good for walking, running, and horseback riding. The grass was very dry, and I was surprised to see there was not a fire ban, as we’ve seen in almost every other campground not located on the coast. Four stars for the abundant recreation activities.
Ranger
I worked at Sly Park as the Rainbow Camp camphost from early June-mid September and had a fantastic experience. The park itself is gorgeous and well managed while the rangers and hosts are super friendly. Day use areas and day use parking fill up very quickly, especially on weekends, so arrive early if you want a good spot. The hiking trails around the lake are beautiful and easy to traverse. I’m in my mid 40’s and walked the south side waterfall trail from Hazel Creek to the first dam and back in about 3 hours…and I’m by no means a regular hiker. The rangers and camp hosts alike make regular rounds to insure that there is no picnicking/day use or day use parking going on in the numbered camp sites and to make sure the park rules are being followed. Numbered sights are available by reservation only.
Rainbow, Kam Loop, Dogwood and Hazel Creek camping loops are nicely shaded and stay much cooler than the camping loops toward the front of the park but it can be tough to get a larger motorhome or travel trailer into the back of the park. The roads are very narrow with plenty of blind corners. Unsupervised children on bicycles, hikers, and other campers walking dogs on the roads is very common, unfortunately so are speeding cars. Be cautious on the roads and keep a close eye out.
There is plenty of potable water spigots available throughout the park and plenty of pit toilets. There is also a lovely, short hike to a waterfall! It’s just a 1 mile walk along the lakeshore from the Hazel Creek day use parking area. I definitely recommend this campground. It does get very busy on weekends, so if you would rather not deal with the “Weekend Warrior” type of campers, book your stay for mid-week (Mon-Thurs) and probably avoid camping in July altogether.
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.
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.
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!
Guide
Beautiful view of the lake, level plot, toilets, picnic table, potable water, fire ring, grill, recycling stations and large dumpsters. Dog friendly too. This campsite has everything you need to enjoy a nice evening by the lake. However, booking online or by phone is a pain in the ass. If you toussle around with the website, you'll see what I mean. We were also unable to reach anyone by phone.
They do not do walk-ins for campsites on Fridays or Saturdays. We came on a Sunday and were able to set up camp and leave our stuff to hit the grocery store in Pollock Pines. I think it was $45 for the night but very well worth camping in an established zone for the first time in a week! We drove into our site in a Ford E-350 and next to us was a converted schoolbus. Many SUVs as well. The camp host was on premises as well.
At the time of this review, the store across the check-in gate, Sly Park Resort, was closed until further notice.
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
Ranger...then you want a good location for your home base. Cal Expo definitely has the centralized location for exploring Old Sac, Cal Expo, State Capitol, the rivers and beyond. Cal Expo RV Park is a parking lot where your rig is nose-down, not necessarily level, and your septic goes uphill to drain. It is quite noisy at night with traffic, sirens and other noise.
ScoutThis is a very clean and well maintained State camp ground. Full hook ups, but unfortunately low water pressure.
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 company 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 Valley Springs, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Valley Springs, CA is Lake Amador Resort with a 3.9-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Valley Springs, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 equestrian camping locations near Valley Springs, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
