Hans V.
Ranger
RangerSouth Ridge Yellow Post Sites
The first two spots are close together. First one a bit small but better cover from Santa Anna winds. Nicely in the forest and close to the village.
Equestrian Camping near Winchester, CA
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Horse camping options near Winchester, California are limited despite the area's popularity for equestrian activities. Lake Skinner Recreation Area, approximately 15 minutes from Winchester, permits horses in specific camping areas and provides direct access to several riding trails that wind around the 1,400-acre reservoir. The campground features over 200 sites across three distinct camping loops, though equestrians should note that none of the sites have dedicated horse corrals or stalls. Horse owners must bring portable corrals or use high-line systems for overnight stays. The park maintains several miles of multi-use trails suitable for horseback riding, with terrain ranging from flat lakeside paths to rolling hills with views of the Temecula Valley wineries.
Trailer parking at Lake Skinner accommodates larger rigs with full hookup sites available for extended stays. Reservations are recommended, especially during the popular spring months when wildflowers bloom along the riding trails. Many trails connect to wider regional networks, though riders should prepare for moderate foot traffic on weekends. Equestrians planning overnight stays must bring all necessary horse supplies as the camp store, while well-stocked with general camping items, offers limited equine-specific gear. The park enforces strict clean-up requirements for manure and feed, with designated disposal areas provided throughout the campground. Day-use equestrian access is also available for those wanting to trailer in for riding without overnight camping.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Winchester (36)
1. Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground
"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! "
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $300 / night
2. Lake Skinner Recreation Area
"This is a great family campground right around the corner from Temecula, Murrietta, and Menifee."
"The charge $10 per person per day to fish in their Lake. And you can’t swim or let the kids play in the lake because it’s a reservoir."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $45 / night
3. Launch Pointe Recreation Destination and RV Park
"Canopy Court area has easy and close access to the splash pad, the playground, a large grass area, and even the pool. The boat launch is very near by too but we had no use for that."
"I had site 126 in the fields, corner site and lake view. This campground has a pool, splash pad, park, dog park and access to the lake. They also have a band on Saturday nights."
Check Availabilityfrom $55 - $140 / night
4. Dripping Springs Campground
"well ran, all sites were marked open or reserved with the arrival and departure date on it, bathrooms are the cleanest vault toilets we have ever seen (and we camp all over), there is a fire station located"
"Equestrian sites up the hill. Saw a few rabbits and lizards, not too loud, it’s peaceful and good distance between some sites."
12 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $25 - $50 / night
5. Reflection Lake RV Park
6. Yucaipa Regional Park
"Close to the city but far enough away from the lights. There is a ton of stuff to do here. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, water slides, disc golf, bike trails. The RV spots are beyond huge!"
"Tons of hiking trails and within 30 min drive of major shopping/grocery stores. Big Bear is about an hour away with and awesome drive up the mountain."
7. O'Neill Regional Park
"Rv sites, tent sites and equestrian (horse) sites. Paved road is good for bike riding. Behind my Camp site was a few different hiking paths. Restroom buildings have water, toilets, and showers."
"It has several restrooms, showers, equestrian areas, nature trails and picnicking for day use too."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
8. Camper Resorts of America
9. South Ridge Yellow Post Sites
"Very nice to find a campsite this private on a weekend in southern California elevation is high enough that temperatures were very enjoyable (mid 80's)"
"Yellow Post #2 – San Bernardino National Forest Secluded, free, first-come-first-served tent site tucked deep in the forest near Hemet, CA."
10. Rancho Jurupa RV Park
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $55 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 12 min from San Diego, CA
- 1 hr 29 min from Los Angeles, CA
- 2 hrs 18 min from Oxnard, CA
- 2 hrs 25 min from El Centro, CA
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Winchester, CA
5 Photos of 36 Winchester Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Winchester, CA
332 Reviews of 36 Winchester Campgrounds
- PPaula A.
ScoutO'Neill Regional Park
Nice campground family friendly
I found the campground to be very friendly kid friendly and pet friendly. The spots were spacious and some had privacy others were out in the open. The rangers were very friendly and helpful, they helped me set up my tent when they saw I was having trouble. There are trails to explore. A great last minute getaway from the city and not to far, the bathroom was clean and modern with hot showers and toilets.
- Michael E.Scout
Reflection Lake RV Park
Don't visit too expensive
Has a security guard that thought she was God or something like that. Never seen anybody or place so petty on the place and still searching for the championship horseshoe pits and I can't stop talking about the dark green of the fishing lakes and the fish swimming on their sides
D F.ScoutLake Perris State Recreational Area Campground
Nice lake, challenging crowd
The scenery is unique and enjoyable, with nice views of either sunrise or sunset, depending on site. I found the lake itself very pretty. However when we arrived 4 vehicles are in our spot, people were nice enough moving but we had to go door to door knocking on camper to ask who's cars they were due to no signal and no rangers nearby. Our site was pretty dirty with lots of trash, copious ants near the drainage attachments, and two of the nearby groups had excessive tents extending into the back of our site making our view look more like a homeless encampment and less like a serene mountain sunset. They also were littering, urinating outside, and excessively drinking and partying like crazy until the wee hours. As a family group we felt really uncomfortable. It seemed like not all spots are like this, however, on my walk around deer loop in the morning. If you do go, the water activities and rentals look fun, the walking trail/biking trail was nicely done, and you could optimize your spot by booking a whole group of spots (instead of booking one, book one on the right and left side to avoid feeling like you have entered homeless refuge). It maybe was a bit worse as we were here over a holiday weekend. But we most likely won't be back, there are other places that are less expensive and with better enforcement and a family atmosphere. If you want to party it is probably a fine spot, and if you love water sports also likely ok. I thin it's a beautiful place with unique scenery and a lot of potential, but needs more enforcement regarding guest code of conduct.
Edited and gave 3 stars instead of 2. Views are really nice now that our poorly behaved neighbors left. Worth considering a visit during less busy times.
Max P.
TravelerLake Perris State Recreational Area Campground
Loud music at night
Despite the fact that one night costs $42, there are a lot of stupid, miserable people here who listen loudly to stupid music through their stupid speakers after 10pm. It's also full of cockroaches here and it's annoying.
Trash M.
GuideLake Perris State Recreational Area Campground
A CRAP HOLE
If you like camping in a Walmart parking lot or on the streets, this place is for you.
No rangers working after the park close for day use. Didn't see one going through the campground. If you like to party all night and you have a loud system no problem. NO RAGERS AROUND. Be prepared keep your food in your car lot of rats, mice, skunks and coyotes. THE LAKE SUCKS, hard to launch your boat on and off, docks will mess up your boat. Fishing no fish they don't stock the lake. Marina is very over priced and out in the sunny parking lot. I live in LA I now got to SILVERWOOD LAKE, just as close as this place, and nicer, if you like to stay up all night Perris Lake is for you. If you want to work hard to get you boat on and off lake so you don't damage your boat, this place is for you.
- TTed D.Traveler
San Bernardino National Forest Wild Horse Equestrian Campground
Watkins Glen OK
When I booked at the reservation site I screenshot that water and 30 amp power was available at my site. There is NO water hook up. Overall it’s good 7 out of 10. Lots to do within 2 hours of this place. Staying for 6 days.
Robyn C.TravelerLake Perris State Recreational Area Campground
It’s ok
Place is ok. Quiet so far. Nice people.
FiftysevenNine T.GuideBlack Rock Campground — Joshua Tree National Park
h2o & sewage
On the outskirts of Joshua Tree National Park in an old growth Joshua Tree grove. The trees are tall and fat, very close to each other. Heftier than the trees inside the Park.
It has water and dump station, otherwise the campgrounds inside the Park are more majestic with huge rocks.
If you're a fulltime RVer or vanlifer with an efficient solar system, having water in/out and a place to stay safely for cheap is grand. It's four klicks from malls, thus ideal if you need stuff. As a fulltime RVer I book several consecutive days with the app. The grounds are empty on weekdays, thus can spend quality time organizing my rig, thoughts, and plans.
From June to autumn half the campsites are shuttered. The area has limited visitation in summer.
Guide to Winchester
Lake Skinner Recreation Area near Winchester offers alternatives for those seeking equestrian camping facilities. Located 15 miles from downtown Winchester at an elevation of 1,400 feet, the area features varied terrain from flat grasslands to chaparral-covered hills. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures often exceeding 95°F and mild winters with occasional rainfall between December and March.
What to Do
Fishing at local lakes: Lake Perris State Recreation Area provides year-round fishing opportunities with various species. "Lake Perris has been good to me and my friends, always catch something, maybe not a lunker but fun," notes John H. about his Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground experience.
Hiking nearby trails: Dripping Springs Campground offers access to multi-use trails through varied terrain. "There is a great hike right out the end of the campground, although it gets HOT because this is more desert land than forest," explains Kate W. about her visit to Dripping Springs Campground.
Water activities for summer months: Launch Pointe Recreation includes a splash pad for children during hot weather. "The campground was clean as can be- no overflowing garbages, all utilities tastefully hidden. The privacy fence in each spot is nice and our kids loved the playground," shares Stephen H. about Launch Pointe Recreation Destination and RV Park.
What Campers Like
Convenience to wineries: Temecula Valley wine country lies just minutes from some campgrounds. "It's located away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but easy and close to get back in. We arrived on a Friday, enjoyed some wineries on Saturday, and went home Sunday," reports Jessica M. about Dripping Springs Campground's location.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Many campgrounds prioritize cleanliness and upkeep. "Great park staff at check in, and at the camp store. Park is beautifully landscaped with trees and lush grass. We had a great time exploring the lake and hiking, well worth visiting," writes WereHere about their stay at Lake Skinner Recreation Area.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several parks feature playgrounds, splash pads, and open play areas. "We love this campground. It's local to us but a great place to getaway with family. It's family friendly, great flat biking for kids, large dirt area used for parking during the Balloon and Wine festival that kids can play on and ride bikes in," says Erin & Travis M. about Lake Skinner Recreation Area.
What You Should Know
Extra fees for activities: Some parks charge additional fees beyond camping costs. "They charge $10 per person per day to fish in their Lake. And you can't swim or let the kids play in the lake because it's a reservoir," Jennifer D. notes about Lake Skinner Recreation Area.
Limited site privacy: Many campgrounds have closely spaced sites with minimal screening. "The sites are right up next to each other so there's not much privacy. The campground itself was standard. They have options for water and electric or full hookups," explains Stefanie W. about Lake Skinner.
Seasonal considerations: Summer heat affects camping comfort substantially. "This site is great if you like hiking, biking, MTB, and running. It is very clean, and the showers are free and clean as well. It's tucked back in the canyon, but you will still hear all the traffic from the road," reports Mike G. about O'Neill Regional Park.
Tips for Camping with Families
Seek campgrounds with shade: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F. "Most of the sites don't have shade (I'm not telling my favorite site number), and they are sort of close together. That said, I still like going here. There are 3 different camping loops that seem to have their own personality," shares david N. about Lake Skinner Recreation Area.
Look for water features: Splash pads provide relief from heat. "Great campground for families. Lots of activities for the kids to do, like smores by the fire, art, splash pad, and play ground. Facility was clean," notes Jeff E. about Launch Pointe Recreation.
Consider camping seasons: Spring offers wildflowers and more moderate temperatures. "If you're a family of 3 kids, 3 dogs, 3 adults and a cat that run our business from the road there's things that are important to us as digital nomads. Very safe & secure. The staff was incredible. Ideal for children with all the fun things to do," explains Brian C. about Launch Pointe.
Tips from RVers
Check site leveling: Many campsites require significant leveling equipment. "Our site was flat, and it was easy ground for stakes. Although keep an eye out for critter holes. Tons of little animals hanging out (rabbits, birds, chipmunks)," shares Kim L. about her experience at Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park.
Verify hookup availability: Hookup types vary significantly between campgrounds. "This is a great park in Southern Orange County. I switched to a travel trailer several years ago and now use Ortega Flats campground. The sites are big and well spaced, with 30 amp electric. The water is off for the time being. The dump station is very close by and easy to access," explains Ronald about Caspers Wilderness Park.
Access to nearby services: Most campgrounds are within 15-20 minutes of supplies. "This is a great family campground right around the corner from Temecula, Murrietta, and Menifee. It has tent, partial, and full hookup sites along with a camp store, fishing, biking, bathrooms, and day use areas," writes Andy H. about Lake Skinner Recreation Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Winchester, CA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Winchester, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Winchester, CA is Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 45 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Winchester, CA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Winchester, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 36 equestrian camping locations near Winchester, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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