Mojave Narrows Regional Park accommodates horses in its extensive recreational area, offering campsites near the riparian corridor where the Mojave River surfaces. The campground features both RV and tent sites with water and electric hookups, making it suitable for equestrians traveling with various camping setups. While the park once featured horse riding stables with horses, cows, and other animals, these facilities are no longer available according to recent visitors. Campsites have paved pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, with most RV sites offering grassy areas. The park charges a daily entry fee plus camping fees, with discounts available for seniors, veterans, and active military personnel on weekdays. Trains frequently pass nearby, creating significant noise that may disturb horses sensitive to sound.
The park connects to several riding trails that wind through cottonwood groves alongside the Mojave River's rare above-ground section. This unique ecological area provides a green oasis in the desert landscape, particularly attractive during spring when temperatures are moderate. Summer temperatures can become extremely hot and winter brings cold conditions, affecting both rider and horse comfort. Access to the park requires knowing gate codes after 4pm and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the park office is closed. Nearby, Hesperia Lake Park offers an alternative camping option with water and electric hookups, though it limits stays to five days maximum. Both locations provide opportunities for riding in high desert terrain with mountain views, though neither currently offers dedicated horse corrals or specialized equine facilities that were once a highlight of the regional park system.
$3 - $40 / night
"The lakes are nice, there are mountain views, and some cool hikes to explore in the riverbed area."
"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."
$35 - $40 / night
"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. 😔"
$10 - $119 / night
"Easy access to the hot springs and no services to speak of. Basically a patch of dirt you can occupy for $10 a night. Loved it."
"Super fun place to visit with the hot springs trail. Went in January with snowfall, hardly any campers and nature all around! Two nights are perfect."
$15 - $119 / night
"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"
$25 - $300 / night
"Already been here twice once in 01/25 and 11/25 great campsite some have access to running water facet if not there are some that are close by, have also close by trash bins, has a little shop near by"
"It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more! "
$40 - $55 / night
"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."
$29 - $58 / night
"There are a lot of equestrian campgrounds in the area so be prepared to see horses on the near by trails."
"The first thing to mention is the location. The back of the campground faces west where the rolling mountains seem to part in a way that showcases the beautiful California sunset."
$12 / night
"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."
RangerWe normally camp in the other side of Big Bear, but decided to try a new campground this year. Overall we really liked this campground. Although some of the sites are close together most of them have good separation. There are a lot of equestrian campgrounds in the area so be prepared to see horses on the near by trails. It’s close enough for a quick trip to the lake yet you are far enough away that you still get the true camping experience.
ScoutI only saw the first 9 or so sites and stayed I think at site #9. For the most part, spacious spots, fire ring, picnic table, a lot of trees, and varied slopes. Road in is placed initially then dirt but is fine. There's other rough roads further in and access to hikes nearby. I loved how quiet it was, except for neighbors since sound carries so easily even though spots are quiet apart from each other. You'll pass an equestrian campground on the way in that you might be able to get water from.
GuideBeen 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:
What there is no longer:
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.
LegendGeneral: 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.
ScoutHeart Bar Campground is one of my favorites. The first thing to mention is the location. The back of the campground faces west where the rolling mountains seem to part in a way that showcases the beautiful California sunset. The campground is away from the town enough to feel secluded and quiet. If you plan to camp in the Big Bear area, I strongly suggest giving Heart Bar a try. The beauty of the surrounding environment is worth it alone.
Scout
TravelerAlready been here twice once in 01/25 and 11/25 great campsite some have access to running water facet if not there are some that are close by, have also close by trash bins, has a little shop near by sells wood fire starter batteries and other things you might need.
RangerThis campground is great! It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more! There is also a museum off the entrance road to the lake. The Perris Auto Speedway is also very close to the campground. They have full hookup, partial hookup, and tent camping sites. Many of the sites have shade trees but some are exposed and can get hot during the summer.
RangerUsually 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.
Victorville sits in California's high desert at 2,726 feet elevation, where the Mojave Desert's arid climate creates dramatic temperature variations. Equestrian camping near Victorville offers access to unique riparian environments where underground water surfaces, creating unexpected oasis-like conditions. Camping options range from developed sites with horse-friendly amenities to primitive areas with trail access.
Disc golf adventures: At Mojave Narrows Regional Park, visitors can enjoy the frisbee golf course alongside other outdoor activities. "This place has changed a lot over the years, and not necessarily for the good, in my opinion... Frisbee golf, picnic tables and shelters" notes Rick S., who mentions the variety of recreational options still available despite some facilities being discontinued.
Mountain biking access: The area around Heart Bar Campground provides excellent terrain for cyclists. "Great campground 25 minutes from town. Accommodates travel trailers/rv well, water spigots around. Lots of trees, shade & blue jays. Alpine bike path!" writes Ricky S., highlighting the accessibility of biking trails from camp.
Hot springs soaking: For a unique natural experience, Deep Creek Hot Springs offers therapeutic mineral waters. "Worth your bucklist! Super fun place to visit with the hot springs trail. Went in January with snowfall, hardly any campers and nature all around!" shares Kelly Anne M., describing the year-round appeal of this natural feature.
Desert riparian corridors: The rare above-ground sections of the Mojave River create unique camping environments. "I used to go here a lot as a kid, both for RV camping and fishing. It's an interesting area, as a rockbed forces the normally underground Mojave River to the surface here, meaning that this is one of the only parts of the river to flow above ground year round," explains Megan S. about Mojave Narrows Regional Park.
Seasonal wildflowers: Spring brings colorful blooms to the high desert terrain. "Grear to camp here in the fall season!" shares LAURIE R. about Mojave Narrows, while Amanda L. notes the varied terrain at Coon Creek Yellow Post Sites: "For the most part, spacious spots, fire ring, picnic table, a lot of trees, and varied slopes."
Mountain views: The surrounding peaks create a scenic backdrop for equestrian camping. "Sleeping with a completely open tent and viewing the night sky was amazing. Moon lit the entire mountain up," describes Justin B. about Horse Flats Campground, capturing the nighttime visual experience.
Gate access codes: Several campgrounds have specific entry requirements. "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)," advises Lee D. about Mojave Narrows Regional Park.
Train noise levels: Railroad proximity affects some camping areas. "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," warns Lee D., providing specific details about the frequency of train disturbances.
Temperature extremes: The high desert experiences significant temperature variations. "It's a green Oasis in the desert, spring is probably the best time to go as it can get very hot in summer and very cold in winter," advises Megan S., explaining the seasonal conditions at Mojave Narrows.
Water activities: Hesperia Lake Park and Campground offers family-friendly water features. "Tents RVs fishing showers water electric hookups and reasonable ducks beautiful lake! Buttt..you can only stay 5 days," notes Wendi S., highlighting both amenities and stay limitations that families should consider.
Playground access: Some campgrounds include dedicated children's play areas. "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," shares Michelle K. about Mojave Narrows Regional Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids can observe desert animals in their natural habitat. "This unique ecological area provides opportunities to see birds and small mammals. "Plenty of room to be by yourself and shoot some pictures," notes Bryan about Mojave Narrows, describing the spaciousness that allows for wildlife observation.
Site selection: Rancho Jurupa RV Park offers various site options for different RV setups. "Large concrete pads, easy backing in and hooking up. Lots of grass, great place to camp in groups," advises Paul C., providing specific details about the RV site features.
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary by campground. "Water and electric only on camp sites. No dump site there. There's nice shade on probably half the sites, the other ones have little or none," notes James's C. about Hesperia Lake Park, detailing the specific utility limitations.
Leveling requirements: Some sites require additional preparation. "This campground could be a 5 rating...level,paved, separated FHU sites with picnic tables and fire rings," comments Rich J. about Mojave Narrows Regional Park, noting the variable site quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Victorville, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Victorville, CA is Mojave Narrows Regional Park with a 3.2-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Victorville, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 equestrian camping locations near Victorville, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
