Looking for the best horse camping near Mack? Equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. These scenic and easy-to-reach Colorado campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
Devils Garden Campground is located deep within the heart of beautiful Arches National Park in Southeastern Utah, at an elevation of approximately 5200 ft.. The campground is situated among natural sandstone arches and fins and is only 18 miles north of the park's entrance and 23 miles from Moab, Utah.
Hiking trails are abundant in Arches, including the Broken Arch Trail, a scenic loop with a trailhead conveniently located within the campground. Trails are varied and offer something for everyone, from the easy 0.3-mile loop around Balanced Rock to the steep and strenuous 3-mile round-trip trail to Delicate Arch. Other recreational activities in the park include guided hiking tours of the Fiery Furnace, an off-road vehicle route, road biking and picnicking.
The campground is forested with mixed stands of Utah juniper and pinyon pine. Flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca and other desert wildflowers dot the landscape, offering vivid color to the surrounding red rock desert. Arches National Park has the highest concentration of natural arches in the world. Over 2,500 of these unusual rock formations can be found here. Towering spires, fins and balanced rocks complement the arches, creating a remarkable assortment of landforms in a relatively small area. The park is within an arid, high desert environment with hot summers and cold winters.
Southeastern Utah offers breathtaking scenery, hiking, road and mountain biking opportunities, rafting and scenic driving routes. Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park are within a 45-minute drive of Arches' entrance. Moab offers numerous restaurants, shops and museums. The desert around Moab is a mountain biker's dream, with hundreds of miles of slickrock and single-track trails for all riding abilities.
$100 - $250 / night
$5 - $10 / night
$10 - $20 / night
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed on the GMUG National Forests. Please observe the guidelines on selecting a dispersed camping site on our forest. For comprehensive information on dispersed camping opportunities refer to the dispersed camping guidelines for the GMUG National Forest.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd576017.pdf
Traveler
Easy to find with Google maps. Plenty of open space. 15min off 70.
Dirt road, a bit bumpy, but we easily pulled our 21ft Micro Minnie
and it was doable for almost any vehicle. We didn't go to far up into the sites so I can't speak to further in. Rolled in at midnight and was still simple to find in the dark.
TravelerApple map directions are spot on. Lots of room - I chose to go up a rutted road a ways, for privacy. There was one camper at the flat bottom. Check weather for rain chance if you don’t have 4x4.
GuideThis was a beautiful place to camp. There were a few places along the road you could stop and camp. We stayed at the farthest site out because there were other campers at the other sites. All sites could fit more that one camper if needed.
Beautiful sunsets and sunrises at this location. The road leaving up was doable for our low clearance Winnebago solis.
Scout
Very easy to get to via the 139. The drive in locations are level and the sites are easy to reach with a camper van.
However, what surprised us was the amount of empty gun ammunition laying around on the campsite. As a European this might be more confronting than for a USA citizen, but it made us feel a bit uncomfortable. The sound of people doing target practice nearby also didn't help. Furthermore there was some burnt couches and chairs dumped on site 1 which contributed to the site feeling a bit sketchy.
Overall, we hade a fine overnight stay.
Guide
We arrived last minute on memorial day weekend and were able to get a spot. Helpful hosts. Well maintained bathrooms. Kid friendly nighttime ranger talks in the amphitheater. Great starting point for several hikes
ScoutPulled in around 10pm and followed up the rutted road to a campsite. There were some folks camped on the lower lot, but being on top of the hill gave great morning views. Definitely recommend for a pitstop from Denver to Zion.
Go right at the sign for the range after ~4 miles off 70 and some rutted gravel roads. You can pull off there, or we drove up a bit (prob wouldn't recommend if you're in a sedan). Fire rings were available, but it was quite windy and we got there late.
TravelerLong road with lots of options like the other reviews say. We drove in at 10 pm and there were at least 7 other people staying on the road. Road has lots of ruts and some of the pull off areas are pretty rutted, too. We weren't too sure if our van could handle those, so we had to pick one that was a little smoother. Perk, is that we both had really good service (Verizon)!
GuideQuiet area for a quick stop overnight. 3 pull through spots great for a camper or smaller RV plus a couple of back in spots with rock fire rings. Near town and close to i70.
Note: there are several coyotes in the area. Be sure to keep an eye on your pets.
GuideIf you have ATVs, dirt bikes, horses, etc. this is a great place for you. It’s just 4 miles off of I-70 but still secluded. It is a designated OHV area so no worries about people stopping you from ripping around and exploring.
That said - I’m a quiet camper and prefer to avoid OHV areas calling them Obnoxiously High-noise Vehicle areas. I’m kidding, obviously. Seriously, everyone enjoys the outdoors in their own way and I don’t begrudge anyone their enjoyment. I took the chance and it was very quiet while I was there. Only one couple other than me that I’m aware of.
The weather was mild in mid-April during my stay - got to about 70 during the day and around 40 at night. It was windy during the day but it is a very open space and it is western Colorado. When the wind died down, the mosquitoes came out and they were persistent. I hiked around and they weren’t just at my campsite. There is a water treatment facility in the area and just down from the main camping is a treatment pond so I’m guessing that’s the culprit.
The road in is unpaved once you leave the small town but very easy. I base those sorts of claims off of the VW Jetta Scale - the vehicle I had for 8 years before my current vehicle. There are a few low creeks crossings but the beds are small and both were dry when I came through. Even if they had water, I still would have crossed if I were still in my Jetta. The roads were washboarded so don’t bring the nice china.
The pull offs are plentiful and large. Most could hold a few trailers or several vehicles and some have fire rings. I did not have a fire because the fire danger was too high (ALWAYS CHECK BEFORE HAVING A FIRE). The road is a loop so just follow it around until you find the spot you want.
The space is wide open and surrounded by 360 views of mountains. Sunset and Sunrise were great but - for you photographers - the light changes really fast so scout the compositions you want ahead of time.
No wildlife that I was aware of aside from birds and our mosquito friends. I didn’t hear coyotes, I didn’t even see deer tracks. Just horse and tire tracks.
Oh, on the way in there was a sign that said “Private Property, No Trespassing” and it looked like it was for the road going in; however, the other signs revealed that it was for the area around the water treatment plant. There isn’t a lot of signage, just one saying it’s an OHV area and one saying it’s a Limited Use area. Other signs are just to protect the sensitive areas.
TravelerThe road was smooth coming in. I parked right below the marked spot because the road got a little more rough to get up there. But there is plenty of dispersed camping before and after the marked spot.
TravelerBeautiful and secluded, good facilities, great views!
GuideEntrance is via 139 just before the 8 mile marker, you have to drive over a cattle grate and road is gravel. We were in a 28ft RV and the first 3 pullouts were very accessible, last one (furthest from the 139) was a little sketchy to reach at 10pm - would recommend for a smaller rv / 4x4 as there were a couple of large pot holes. We relied on Google maps satellite view to guide parking / finding pullouts at night.
No facilities I could see but there where 5rvs & caravans parked overnight. Pretty view over distance mountains & mesas at sunrise.
One pile of illegally dumped rubbish present else fairly clean/pristine.
Legend
This area is called Fluffle Campground, and the center is a large Group Are with Equestrian corral also. There are a total of 25 sites but 9 of them are in the so called group area complex. These sites are large and roomy and good for RVs and TTs. However they are close to I70 and some will have freeway noise depending on the site. One toilet is at the group areA. No dumpsters, no water, no RV dump. Cell signal is very strong. Sites all are reserved and paid for online. No FCFS but sort of a hybrid if FCFS and online pay for sites as most are open during the week. Likely alot of OHVs on weekends. Sites are $20/$10 senior with an $8 reservation online fee. 7 day camping limit
TravelerWe arrived in Arches and spent the day exploring. Devils Garden looked fully booked on the recreation.gov website, so we were planning on finding some BLM first come first serve spots nearby but decided to check with the campground host to see if they had any cancellations. The campground host found us an available spot that had opened up and it was perfect! He was so helpful, the campsite was spacious and clean, and they even had flush toilets nearby. Only thing to note is it does get cold at night, don’t let the warm temps during the day fool you! We stayed here late September and it got down to the low 50s/upper 40s. Overall, great campground and wonderful campground host. Would definitely stay at Devils Garden again. :)
TravelerTurn left right before mile marker 8 on 139. Plenty of big, open pull-offs with wide open views of the area including Highline Lake at certain spots. Came late on a weeknight and only saw one other vehicle. Minimal noise from highway. Awesome!
ScoutWe towed a 35 FT 5th wheel heading west on 105 until we discovered the perfect campsite by turning south at the intersection with 108. The road was very rough but doable by moving along very slowly.
Our site was hidden by trees off a short dirt drive which wasn’t too bad. There was plenty of space for us to turn around, and a fire pit had been constructed of large rocks (with a resident chipmunk hanging out among them).
We loved being surrounded by tall trees on one side and having a long distance view across the meadow on the other side, watching storm clouds approaching every day. We were far enough from the road that we barely heard any traffic passing. However, the sound of cattle lowing was frequent, and there was evidence of their presence all over the ground! One bull approached and stood there bellowing at the camper before finally moving along, and another morning we looked outside to see several cows munching on the remains of our campfire. Apparently they like to eat ashes and charcoal for the minerals because it happened twice!
We camped there 6 nights and hated to leave. Our only reservations were driving on the long bumpy roads and cattle manure being everywhere. Otherwise, it was the best boondocking place we’ve stayed because of the scenery and remoteness. It was very quiet except for the cattle lowing.
We rode our bikes down 108 one day and discovered that it was way too rough to drive with our dually pickup. Another day we rode all the way down 105 and then back on 100 which is Land’s End Road. There are lots more dispersed campsites further down 105, but many have huge potholes turning into them. Some are located next to reservoirs and have lovely views, but we were happy with our site because we didn’t have to drive that far to reach it. If you had a smaller rig, it would be worth trying those places.
ScoutTwo nights very last minute so on FF basis. Host was very helpful. Pitches were absolutely fine. Location was good as it’s in the park, only campground that is, so it’s highly sought after.
GuideThis is the Ravens home; we are just visitors. Seriously, don't sleep on the Ravens. They are always watching. This place is very hard to book for two nights in a row, so consider yourself lucky if you can live here for a couple days. It was quite nice. I think I saw only one or two other multi-night campers. This gives you the freedom to enjoy the park during less crowded time since it is right outside your door. Some sites are better suited for tents and some for RVs. I didn't have many expectations for this Park, but it is truly amazing and beautiful to explore. The La Sal mountains to the east are nice too.
GuideAbsolutely gorgeous place to live for a few days! We did daycamp on our site, but chose to leave our RV in town with services. It was fun to camp on the ground under the full moon though! Absolutely breathtaking skywatching experience. I hope the children always remember fondly - traveling in the heat of July gave the odds a 50/50 though... No electric, so bring solar or a generator.
GuideHere you're high up and amongst the beautiful sandstone formations of Arches National Park.
The campground: This is the only campground inside the National Park, and it is located at the very back of the Park. Be warned, traffic often backs up at the entrance to the National Park. Once inside the Park, the drive from the Visitor's Center to the campground can take between 30-60 minutes depending on traffic. Staying here is one of the best ways to explore the Park. There's a trailhead not far from the campground, and being able to wake up inside the park allows you to skip the entrance traffic and get a head start before the crowds flood in.
My campsite had a large concrete pad for parking, a picnic table, and a firepit. The area I set up my tent was dirt, but here that basically means sand. Be ready to have sand everywhere (totally worth it though). I had nightly deer visitors that enjoyed munching on the juniper nearby. The bathroom for my site was a 1-2 minute walk. The bathrooms consisted of flush toilets, sinks, a large outdoor sink for dishes, plus access to drinking water.
The area: If you're traveling from 70, there's not a ton between 70 and the entrance to Arches National Park, but Moab is only about ten minutes from the Park entrance. Arches National Park is vast. It has plenty of scenic spots to pull over on the drive between the entrance and the campground, and lots of different trails to hike with varying difficulty. Even if you're not a hiker you can still enjoy the beauty of this place.
Booking: I camped here in the offseason (November) when it's first-come first-served, and arrived on a day where there was no host. So, once I found my spot, I put my payment in an envelope found near the host entrance. It's worth noting that on days where there's no campground host or park ranger, you cannot buy firewood at the campground.
Cell service: Verizon was unreliable. Sometimes I would have enough service to stream a hockey game, and other times, in the exact same spot I'd have almost no service.
GuideWe got very lucky with a last minute spot but the park fills up quick and should book in advance. A great stay and easy access to all the beautiful spots in the park.
Guide
We love heading up Sego canyon to camp or even for day trips. The road is usually clear (however some times this year after big rainstorms it gets rough going through the washes). There is a lot more area to explore farther up the canyon, and more camping spots.
Plan to spend a couple of days exploring the area, and you will be glad you did! Up above there is an incredible overlook (but you need high clearance to get to it) and there is also a ghost town up the canyon a bit!
GuideWe spent two weeks near vela resevoir. No fish but lots of mushrooms. The first trees are inoxicating. We are disappointed in the virtual take over by atvs. There are only 4 hiking trails dedicated for hiking. The atvs are allowed everywhere and even sig s stating no motor vehicles are ignored. They ruin meadows, roads, boat ramps. Noisy and stinky. We had to Bushwack to get quiet. It rained alot but we love rain.
GuideThe First thing i can recommend is to visit here in an off month of weather even in October it can be hot and crowded though October is much milder when it comes to this place. There is nothing like the parks of Utah they are truly incredible and unmatched around the world. Arches is a land of extremes and its utterly stunning being the bottom of a ocean bed. I wish i could come back here every year. With it being a dark sky park the night time is just brilliant as the park is during the daytime.
TravelerThis was an awesome campground which is very close to the Devils Garden 8 mile hike. The sites are deep with clean facilities. Book well in advance because random open sites are very rare. Beautiful Arches red rock throughout and great for kids to climb on . Very hot in summer and limited shade.
LegendThis campground is first come first served in the winter season, and we were easily able to find a spot without a reservation during the winter. At this time, however, Arches has a timed entry program so be sure to look into that before heading to this park.
There are flush toilets, water bottle fills, garbage bins, and aluminum and plastic recycling (no glass).
There is firewood for sale, on certain days only, using a q code on your phone to pay for it, not sure how it works, seems complicated.
Cell service comes and goes as you go through the park and the campground. We had no service in spot #52 but our cell booster gave us full bars of LTE on Verizon and ATT. Site #52 is at the end of the loop and was pretty private. Also, the trail to the Broken Arch begins right at this spot.
Fee is $25/night, and there is a 7 day stay limit within 30 days, and 14 days total per year.
GuideFound an awesome spot with some decent privacy. A great base camp from which to explore all the arches. There is also a trail leading directly out of the campground for local adventure. I came in winter, so half the campground was closed down, but there was still plenty of spots. Clean bathrooms, garbage available. Fire pit and picnic table at most sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mack, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mack, CO is Devils Garden Campground — Arches National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 92 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Mack, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
