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Equestrian Camping near Valyermo, CA

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    Horse Flats Campground offers tent and RV camping sites in a setting popular with equestrians visiting the Angeles National Forest. Located at an elevation that provides cooler summer temperatures, the campground features large, spread-out sites that accommodate horses and provide adequate space between campers. The first-come, first-served sites are arranged in groups of 2-4, with fire rings and picnic tables available at each location. While Horse Flats lacks running water, it provides vault toilets for visitors. The campground remains relatively quiet compared to nearby Buckhorn, though weekend occupancy can reach 75% during peak seasons. Visitors describe the area as nicely secluded with plenty of space for multiple campers.

    Trails surrounding Horse Flats Campground connect to numerous riding opportunities, including access to the historic Pacific Crest Trail. Riders can follow routes to destinations like Glenwood Cabin or take the trail from Rosenita Saddle to Mt. Hillyer. The nearby area offers excellent bouldering opportunities for climbers wanting to combine activities with their horse camping experience. Horse owners should come prepared with all necessary water for themselves and their animals, as no water sources are available on-site. The campground typically operates from April through October, closing during winter months. Bug activity can be significant during warmer months, making insect repellent essential equipment for both riders and horses visiting the area.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Valyermo (17)

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      1. Horse Flats Campground

      4.4(8)11mi from ValyermoRVs, 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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      2. Mount Pacifico Campground

      4.0(2)11mi from ValyermoTents

      "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"

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      3. Bear Canyon Campground

      4.7(3)22mi from ValyermoTents

      "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."

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      4. Discovery Land

      Be the first to review15mi from ValyermoRVs, Tents

      from $25 - $50 / night

      5. Mojave Narrows Regional Park

      3.2(10)33mi from ValyermoRVs, Tents

      "The lakes are nice, there are mountain views, and some cool hikes to explore in the riverbed area."

      from $3 - $40 / night

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      6. Rancho Jurupa RV Park

      4.1(18)41mi from ValyermoRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Nice level grounds to walk around. Lakeside has gravel roads / pads... other side has asphalt roads / concrete pads. Restrooms are clean and acceptable."

      "The lakeview area has dirt roads, sparse grass and a few spots close to the lake. The Cottonwood campground has concrete pads and well maintained grass throughout."

      from $40 - $55 / night

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      7. Spring Camp Campground - TEMP CLOSED DUE TO FIRE

      Be the first to review17mi from ValyermoTents
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      8. Bell Mountain Road

      4.2(6)38mi from ValyermoRVs, Tents

      "There is some garbage, target shooting in the distance and the occasional maniac driving through too fast and kicking up lots of dust. Generally it was quiet."

      "We pulled in at night and passed a few other people camping, but there are so many little roads/trails around we had no problem finding a spot."

      9. Hesperia Lake Park and Campground City Park

      4.0(3)34mi from ValyermoRVs, Tents

      "Nice views of the lake but it's fenced off and access to the lake and park close in the evening. There is a small older bathroom there a flush toilet and a shower"

      "Tents RVs fishing showers water electric hookups and reasonable ducks beautiful lake! Buttt..you can only stay 5 days. 😔"

      from $35 - $40 / night

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      10. Tapo Canyon Park

      4.1(12)50mi from ValyermoRVs, 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."

      Check Availability
    View all 17 campgrounds

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Valyermo, CA

    5 Photos of 17 Valyermo Campgrounds

    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Valyermo, CA

    98 Reviews of 17 Valyermo Campgrounds

    • Rick S.
      May. 4, 2018

      Mojave Narrows Regional Park

      Could be better, like it once was

      Been here many times since it is local to me.

      This place has changed a lot over the years, and not necessarily for the good, in my opinion.

      What there is:

      • Trailer camping
      • Tent camping
      • Fishing
      • A playground
      • Small water park
      • Two lakes to fish at
      • Trains, lots of them
      • Bathrooms with showers
      • Frisbee golf
      • Picnic tables and shelters

      What there is no longer:

      • Paddle boats
      • Horse riding stables
      • Horses and cows
      • Other interesting animals
      • Water in the grass fields where the animals roamed
      • Arenas

      Beware of skunks and loud trains!

      It is still a somewhat nice place to visit for a couple hours with the kids.

      We have camped in a tent. The tents sites are adjacent to the lake.

      Trailer camping isn't too bad, other than being adjacent to the busy railroad. Most sites have grass.

    • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Nov. 26, 2023

      Mojave Narrows Regional Park

      You'd better like trains!

      General: A mix of FHU RV sites tent sites, group sites around Horseshoe Lake and some additional dry camping and equestrian sites around Pelican Lake. There are also four RVs you can “rent” in the Horseshoe Lake area. The sites around Horseshoe Lake are close to an active rail line. And by active, I mean really active – I stopped counting after I counted 24 trains lumbering by during our short overnight stay. 

      Site Quality: IMO the waterfront tent sites are the nicest. They are farthest away from the trains (but not far enough!) The other dry sites have paved camper pads; some are “doubles” which would kind of suck if both sites were occupied by people who did not know each other! (Ours was one but fortunately, this was not the case for us on a Sunday in November). 

      Bath/Shower House: There were two restrooms about equidistant from our campsite, but both were very basic– no soap, hooks or shelves and no mirrors (it looked like they had been ripped off the wall). The floors were concrete, and the entire appearance was very drab. I did not use the shower. 

      This was an overnight stop for us, so we did not take advantage of any of the activities (horseback riding, hiking, disc golf, fishing). There was a very nice playground in the day-use area, a reasonable walking distance from the Horseshoe Lake sites. I had called about a week ahead of time to make a reservation (the online reservation system has been down for quite some time) and was assured would not need a reservation. However, there is a gate that is locked at 4 pm and we knew we would not arrive in time, so we called and were able to make a phone reservation when our site was assigned. We were a little concerned when we saw a security guard making rounds around 10 pm (and this combined with the locked gate), we wondered if we were in a safe environment, although we did not encounter any problems. Make sure you know that the park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (which seems a bit bizarre) so you will need to know the gate code after 4 pm and on those days (the code seems to change daily). Also, I read that seniors (62 and older), active duty military, and veterans receive a $5 discount Sundays through Thursdays but you have to go to the office and show proof and then you will receive a “rebate” a few days later (which we did). This was just an overnight for us as we worked our way back home but we would likely not stay here again.

    • Jessica B.
      Oct. 15, 2023

      Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat

      Great spot in the high desert away from the city & next to HOT SPRINGS!

      • Easy going campground with all the necessary amenities for camping and a great spot for our large group of 18 adults & 10 kids to gather and camp out together. You will have to drive 6 miles of mountainous dirt roads to reach the property, but it takes you away from all signs of the city and surrounds you in nature when you get there, making a very nice camping experience.  The spring pools at our site were so relaxing to have all to ourselves and well worth it to reserve for our party! The deep creek hot springs were absolutely fabulous, as they were situated next to a cold creek where we could do therapeutic hot cold plunges. The hike to the hot springs was fairly tough, but we found it easily with the trail starting right on the property! Definitely recommend camping here, just make sure you download directions prior so you don't end up at the wrong place and run into a crazy guy at a shack next door!
    • 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.

    • L
      Dec. 10, 2025

      Rancho Jurupa RV Park

      Clean Park with Amenities

      Usually come week after Thanksgiving when 25% occupied. They provide gate / bathroom / laundry codes for late arrivals. Nice level grounds to walk around. Lakeside has gravel roads / pads... other side has asphalt roads / concrete pads. Restrooms are clean and acceptable. Lakeside showers require tokens... inquire at check-in. Limited shower seating to change clothes both sides. Easy drives to downtown area to see Mission Inn Christmas lights and walk around lake at city park. Cabins on-site look good and had some holiday lights. Store on-site has basics for camping and fishing. Overall a good place at this time of year.

    • Michelle K.
      May. 17, 2018

      Mojave Narrows Regional Park

      Not bad

      This is a nice little retreat from the desert. The only real complaint I have is the train. It takes a little while to get used to it going by. Wish they still had the paddle boats and horse back riding. The little zero gravity water park is nice if you have children.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    Guide to Valyermo

    Horse Flats Campground offers secluded camping in Angeles National Forest at 5,500 feet elevation. The campground remains cooler than surrounding areas during summer months due to its higher elevation position. Sites are arranged to accommodate equestrians with their animals, making it one of the few dedicated horse campgrounds near Valyermo, California.

    What to do

    Bouldering opportunities: Horse Flats Campground provides excellent climbing routes for all skill levels. "Nice place to stay for climbing - there is mostly bouldering in the area, with some trad stuff. Plenty of sites!" notes Kathleen L. about Horse Flats Campground.

    Hot springs exploration: Deep Creek Hot Springs offers a natural retreat after hiking. "The hike to the springs is pretty rough but also worth it when you get there," reports a visitor to Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground. This natural feature requires moderate hiking ability but rewards with natural thermal pools.

    Archery practice: The range at Tapo Canyon provides weekend instruction opportunities. "There is archery with lessons for kids on the weekends. Very fun!" says a reviewer about Tapo Canyon Park. The range opens to the public on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm for a $5 fee.

    What campers like

    Seasonal temperature variations: The higher elevation offers relief from summer heat. "We camped here this weekend, which is the latest we've gone before the winter months... Even though it was 79 degrees in the day, temperature got down to 54 at night," says Les R. about camping at Horse Flats in October.

    Accessibility for overnight trips: Many campsites sit within reasonable driving distance from urban centers. "It's a great escape from the city, about an hour from DTLA," notes Kate O. about Horse Flats Campground, making it practical for weekend outings without extensive travel time.

    Wildlife viewing: The area hosts diverse birds and animals. "Lots of birds. Fishing. Wide open spaces," mentions a reviewer about Mojave Narrows Regional Park, where the unusual surface flow of the normally underground Mojave River creates habitat for various species.

    What you should know

    Limited connectivity: Cell service ranges from minimal to nonexistent. "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," warns April Y. about Tapo Canyon Park.

    Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds close during winter months. "Know before you go - it's closed from November-ish to April-ish - so check the forest website before you head out there," advises Kate O. about Horse Flats.

    Insect preparation: Bug activity increases during warmer months. "Bring some bug spray if you're bugged by bugs," advises Josh F. about Horse Flats. Another camper at a nearby site notes: "Lots of flies. Toilets were unbearable with the amount of flies."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground facilities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "The campground has a lush grass area and nice covered playground," notes a visitor about Tapo Canyon Park. These amenities provide recreation options for children when not hiking or exploring.

    Educational opportunities: Wildlife viewing teaches children about desert ecosystems. "Lots of birds," notes a reviewer about Mojave Narrows, where the unique river conditions create opportunities for nature observation and learning.

    Camping near water features: Some sites offer fishing access for family activities. "There are two lakes to fish at," mentions a reviewer about Rancho Jurupa RV Park. The park also features "a splash pad, park, mini golf" according to another camper.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection considerations: Look for level, well-spaced sites with adequate facilities. "Good size campsites. Full hookups, Public Restrooms and nice playground area," notes Larry B. about Tapo Canyon Park, indicating the amenities available for recreational vehicles.

    Weather preparation: Temperature variations require planning for both heat and cold. "We stayed here for the weekend... Went in January with snowfall, hardly any campers and nature all around!" reports Kelly Anne M. about Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground, highlighting the need for seasonal preparation.

    Gate access logistics: Some campgrounds restrict late entry. "Gates close at 10 pm, you're provided with a security gate code to get back in if you're out late," notes Jody R. about Rancho Jurupa Park. This information helps RVers plan arrivals and departures accordingly.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Valyermo, CA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Valyermo, CA is Horse Flats Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 8 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Valyermo, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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