Best Equestrian Camping near Antonito, CO

Equestrian camping options near Antonito, Colorado are limited, with none of the ten campgrounds in the area explicitly listing horse corrals or dedicated equestrian facilities in their amenities. Hopewell Lake Campground, located approximately 30 miles from Antonito in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, provides the closest approximation to horse-friendly camping, with several reviews mentioning livestock pens at some campsites, though official policies regarding horses remain unclear. The campground features picnic tables, toilets, and trash collection, with campsites spacious enough to accommodate various camping setups including RVs. Some sites have livestock pens, but visitors should contact the campground directly to confirm current equestrian policies. Campground data and reviews near Antonito, Colorado is regularly updated on The Dyrt.

Located within Carson National Forest, Hopewell Lake Campground sits at 9,500 feet elevation and offers access to numerous hiking and biking trails that may be suitable for horseback riding, though specific equestrian trail designations aren't mentioned in the available data. The surrounding forest roads and dispersed camping areas provide additional options for equestrians seeking more space or privacy. Fishing opportunities abound at the lake itself, while the high-elevation terrain offers cool temperatures even in summer months. Visitors note the campground is particularly quiet during weekdays, with more activity on weekends. For equestrians requiring dedicated facilities, contacting the Carson National Forest ranger station regarding current horse camping regulations and suggested locations would provide the most accurate guidance for planning a horse camping trip in this region.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Antonito, Colorado (10)

    1. The Chicken Ranch

    2 Reviews
    Antonito, CO
    2 miles
    +1 (719) 201-1085

    $20 - $65 / night

    "Red Lake hike was awesome and easy."

    2. Ponderosa Campground

    5 Reviews
    Capulin, CO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 376-5857

    "The website listed for this campground is correct Ponderosa campground Antonito, CO."

    "Close to lots of fishing and hiking in the area. Beautiful place to watch the sunset and the stars at night. Nice and quiet at night."

    3. Hopewell Lake Campground

    8 Reviews
    Tierra Amarilla, NM
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 245-6521

    $24 - $125 / night

    "My wife and I have stayed at Hopewell Lake twice now. The first time we stayed here, we stumbled upon this little gem of a site while driving from Durango, CO to Taos, NM."

    "No luck fishing but several people around us were catching very nice sized trout.

    Vault toilets were well stocked and clean."

    4. Rio Costilla Park

    10 Reviews
    Red River, NM
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 586-0542

    $30 / night

    "This is the first campground I’ve found in New Mexico where I felt like I was camping in Colorado, it was so green and beautiful!"

    "The park is HUGE and just so beautiful. 10,000 acres of aspens and ponderosa pines only one hour away from the town of Taos."

    5. The Mesita Ranch

    Be the first to review!
    Costilla, CO
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (412) 443-8148

    $10 - $11 / night

    6. Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

    5 Reviews
    Carson National Forest, NM
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-8678

    "Many open areas to camp right off the highway. The views of the mountains across the valley are best after the fork in the road. Please pick up extra trash if you use"

    "I didn’t see anyone else camping or driving by. The forest is a nice mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees. I saw two elk across a swath of sage."

    7. Cimarron Campground

    10 Reviews
    Red River, NM
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 586-0520

    $22 - $40 / night

    "Beautiful location in a place I wasn’t expecting it to be sooo green! Very relaxing and remote as there is zero service. It was perfect & exactly what we were looking for."

    "There is a walking trail at the back of the campground to get to Surree Ponds."

    8. Little Arsenic Springs Campground

    1 Review
    Questa, NM
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-8851

    $7 / night

    "Hiking trails down to the Rip Grande river are close by."

    10. Holbrook Road

    Be the first to review!
    Blanca, CO
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 852-7074
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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Antonito, CO

42 Reviews of 10 Antonito Campgrounds


  • Christa A.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Rio Costilla Park

    So spacious!

    This is the first campground I’ve found in New Mexico where I felt like I was camping in Colorado, it was so green and beautiful! The camp sites were nicely spaced, so we felt like we were primitive camping, but it was nice to have a picnic table, especially because we have a small child. Family friendly. We wish we would have brought our 4x4 vehicle because we had initially planned to camp at little blue lake, but my Subaru Impreza was not powerful enough/didn’t have high enough clearance to make it up the road that lead to the lake! We are definitely planning on camping back to check out the lakes. The only negative thing was that we found some trash at our site from the previous campers. Also, some cows woke us up early in the morning, which was cool, but also scared the shit out of us!

  • Michael M.
    Aug. 30, 2017

    Ponderosa Campground

    The River runs through it

    The website listed for this campground is correct Ponderosa campground Antonito, CO.

    Phone 719.376.5857

    This is a very relaxing place to stay and it seems like most of the people there have been there many times before. The drive in is easy on Route 17 and does not require a vehicle with high ground clearance. They do allow campfires, they have clean bathrooms and a shower house. I stayed in a backpacking tent after driving all day arriving on a Friday at about 4:00 PM. The campground is set-up for small campers and has some cabins for rent too. The bathrooms with showers are clean and comfortable. The sites have fire rings with grates and picnic tables. The owner manager is great, providing quality fishing advice, conversation and even a free cup of coffee in the morning. Hiking on the CDT is near the campground and fishing is right in the campground. The steam train is right up the pass and I happened to be there the night before opening day catching a photo when I drove over the pass to Chama New Mexico. The Cumbres and Toltec Train traveling between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. This is a very nice drive and Chama is a cool place to visit, it is a trail town on the CDT.

    I will visit this campground again for sure.

  • Lila L.
    May. 18, 2020

    Rio Costilla Park

    Unbelievable beauty

    The park is HUGE and just so beautiful. 10,000 acres of aspens and ponderosa pines only one hour away from the town of Taos. All sites offer a fire pits and some come with nice picnic tables under roofs by the clear river. Only $25 a day you can get to enjoy the nature. We didn’t take our TRD pro Taco coz we thought our All wheel super handling SUV would be good enough but definitely there are some off-roading you can enjoy. Be sure to bring your truck or Jeep to enjoy more. No cell phone reception. There are no water available and porta potties were not ready yet. The lake was closed but we still had so much fun hiking and exploring the acres of wonderland. Will definitely go back there!

  • Tyler G.
    Jun. 22, 2016

    Hopewell Lake Campground

    Wonderful Campground in the scenic Tusas Mountains

    My wife and I have stayed at Hopewell Lake twice now. The first time we stayed here, we stumbled upon this little gem of a site while driving from Durango, CO to Taos, NM. It was enchanting enough that we made sure to make it back for an opportunity to take in the scenery and relax during a long weekend. The only issue we ran into was an abundance of mosquitos, but this should be expected during the late Spring/early Summer in northern New Mexico and can be easily addressed with a citronella candle and a bit of bug spray. Our most recent stay was on one of those rare nights where you can pull off the rain fly and not worry about a midnight downpour, which left us with a wonderful view of the stars, and the sites are private enough that, as long as you don't set up next to the table, it's comfortable with an open tent and away from prying eyes.

    The campground is nice, very well maintained, and the site host is friendly and helpful. The grounds are a

  • T
    Jul. 23, 2022

    Rio Costilla Park

    Dispersed............ but not. Worth the trip!

    My wife and I spent 3 days and 2 nights at Rio Costillo and really enjoyed our time.  We are typically dispersed campers, so paying to camp is a bit of a departure.  The fee to camp has increased to $30 per night, but we decided to give it try.  It was probably more about what we didn't experience that we enjoyed the most.  There is NO FIREWORKS permitted and NO ATV's permitted.  Thus, a pleasant and quiet camp trip.  There have been no recent fires in the area, so the views were beautiful!.  Not sure how many head of cattle roam the park, but they could care less about you and do not pose any threat.  The sites are spread apart so much that it feels like dispersed camping.  Portable toilets are close to all sites, but no running water.  The lakes were closed at the time of our visit (clearing the road of fallen trees we were told).  Most of the sites were close to running streams of water, though we only fished in the Rio Costilla outside the park entrance.  The fees are $30 per vehicle/night and $10 to fish per person per day.  No fee to fish in the river outside of the park, only a NM license or out of state permit.

  • Jade T.
    Jul. 11, 2022

    Cimarron Campground

    Beautiful!

    We stayed July 1st-5th, 2021. Beautiful location in a place I wasn’t expecting it to be sooo green! Very relaxing and remote as there is zero service. It was perfect & exactly what we were looking for. Vault toilets are well kept and within good proximity to most sites. The grass was about knee high, so yard games/ activities weren’t possible. The hiking trail to the lake was reasonable and not too inclined/strenuous. It rained only in the afternoons but everyday.

  • Parth P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2024

    Little Arsenic Springs Campground

    Amazing Cliffside campsite

    There are two campsites I3 and I2 that are cliffside campsites with amazing views.

    It is first come first serve. I didn’t have any issues finding a spot, there was only one other campsite that was occupied when I visited.

    Hiking trails down to the Rip Grande river are close by.

  • Karen  N.
    Jun. 7, 2021

    Hopewell Lake Campground

    Campfires 🔥 allowed

    Very nice campground. Camp host, Dawn, was very pleasant. No luck fishing but several people around us were catching very nice sized trout.

    Vault toilets were well stocked and clean. Trails near b for hiking and biking

    Extra dispersed campsites up dirt road from campground entrance

  • J
    Aug. 29, 2020

    Rio Costilla Park

    Great spot

    Camped here the last 2 nights and it was fantastic. For $25/night it’s a good deal. There’s not clearly marked camping areas, which is both kinda cool and a little disorienting. Some of the camping areas have small, perfectly sized covered picnic table areas which are absolutely wonderful. The campsites are nearly all along a babbling brook, stream, or river. The roads to the entrance, to the campsites, and definitely up to the lakes are best suited if not exclusively suited for trucks and 4WD vehicles. Currently there’s no restroom facilities unless you personally rent a porta-potty to be brought to your campsite. We’ll be coming back. A word for tent campers, at least during my stay the volume of RV’s virtually dominated the park.


Guide to Antonito

Horse camping in Colorado offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • Many sites at Ponderosa Campground provide easy access for horse trailers, making it convenient for equestrian campers.
  • The Chicken Ranch features spacious areas for horses, allowing for a comfortable stay while enjoying the natural surroundings.
  • At Rio Costilla Park, campers can find ample space for horses, along with nearby trails for riding.

Equestrian campgrounds include essential facilities

  • Cimarron Campground offers well-maintained facilities, including picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for relaxing after a day of riding.
  • Hopewell Lake Campground provides vault toilets and trash disposal, ensuring a clean and comfortable environment for horse campers.
  • The Mesita Ranch features reservable sites with amenities that cater to both horses and their owners.

Activities for horse campers

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Antonito, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Antonito, CO is The Chicken Ranch with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Antonito, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Antonito, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.