Best Equestrian Camping near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, CO has a lot to offer. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland campgrounds just for you. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland (17)

    1. Big Creek Lakes Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cowdrey, CO
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 723-2700

    $20 / night

    "Great spot for car camping in Colorado except its distance from Denver. It’s a trek! Takes at least 4 hours (that’s if you’re lucky). Lots to do."

    "Big Creek Lakes Campground, Colorado (close to Wyoming border): camping here is only open for 3 months out of the year: June, July & August."

    2. Walden Reservoir Dispersed Camping

    5 Reviews
    Walden, CO
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 826-5000

    "Sites aren’t really marked/but are right next to the reservoir. No fires/water pumps."

    3. Seedhouse Group Site - Medicine-bow Routt Nf (CO)

    1 Review
    Clark, CO
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 870-2299

    $150 / night

    4. Buffalo Pass Dispersed

    19 Reviews
    Steamboat Springs, CO
    32 miles

    "This was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles."

    "I had just done Rock Creek's drive up to dispersed near Dillon and thought that was bad, but this was worse. "

    5. Medicine Bow

    3 Reviews
    Encampment, WY
    22 miles

    "There is a sign at the beginning of the dirt road for high clearance and 4 wheel drive. This is not a suggestion. This spot was beautiful, peaceful and primitive."

    6. Teal Lake Group Campsite

    2 Reviews
    Coalmont, CO
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 723-2700

    $20 - $80 / night

    "The lake is incredible and the panoramic view is out of this world. I was fortunate to drive in right around sunset and the whole valley was lit with a glorious red light."

    "I have spent many years coming to Teal lake, its always been a family favorite!"

    7. Dry Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Steamboat Springs, CO
    32 miles
    Website

    $26 / night

    "This is a nicely placed campground up buff pass round outside of steamboat springs. It's the first camping you will come to on buff pass."

    "The site was much bigger then the one next to us, from what I saw each site is very different in size and set up. If you go during mid summer it will be green and lush."

    8. North Michigan Campground — State Forest State Park

    17 Reviews
    Rand, CO
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 723-8366

    $28 - $120 / night

    "Getting to the campground and visitors center is easy as they are both right off the highways 41 and 14, but it is quite a drive to get to, in general."

    "Fishing, hiking, off-roading, kayaking or canoeing, or simply sightseeing - there are big mountain vistas to enjoy."

    9. Laramie River Road Dispersed

    8 Reviews
    Red Feather Lakes, CO
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Options for camping in campgrounds, close to others, or more alone. Options to camp near the lake, river, or on dry land.options for large or small camping areas. Peaceful and beautiful."

    "There is a camp ground near by with a porta-potty and there is a small market about 10-20 miles away."

    10. Ranger Lakes Campground — State Forest State Park

    8 Reviews
    Rand, CO
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 723-8366

    $36 / night

    "I tent camped at Ranger Lakes. I was the only one tent camping among all the RV’s. I didn’t mind that the spaces were visible from each other since I was camping alone."

    "Small campground next to three lakes. One lake has dried up. Beautiful Gould, CO. We also boondock camp in this area as well. Don't miss Lake Agnes. It's at the top of a mountain."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland

9 Photos of 17 Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland

103 Reviews of 17 Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Campgrounds


  • Liz B.
    Jul. 17, 2019

    Big Creek Lakes Campground

    Great spot for a long weekend

    Great spot for car camping in Colorado except its distance from Denver. It’s a trek! Takes at least 4 hours (that’s if you’re lucky). Lots to do. Great fishing, beautiful hiking trails to a water fall, and trails for the RZR near by.

  • Kelsey U.
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Freeman Reservoir Campground

    A Secret Gem!!

    We hit this place coming from the northern Colorado border with Wyoming on a Sunday night. I've grown up and camped in Colorado my whole life, this place was 10/10, and one of my favorite spots ever! With hiking, biking, and fishing, you could spend some time here!

  • Rosina A.
    Aug. 8, 2019

    Big Creek Lakes Campground

    9,000 feet elevation camping

    Big Creek Lakes Campground, Colorado (close to Wyoming border): camping here is only open for 3 months out of the year: June, July & August. It's camping at over 9,000ft elevation and requires for you to be extra prepared for snow even in the summer months, bears, mountain lions, mosquitos, aggressive horse flies, leeches, strong winds, thunder storms and altitude sickness. They do provide water which tastes fresh like newly melted snow. You can boat, fish, even hunt at some spots with a permit, hike, and swim at your own risk (can be cold, leeches, snakes). It is truly beautiful up here and the drive up the Poudre river makes it worth it. You can also spend the day rafting down the river or fishing.

  • Michelle G.
    Aug. 17, 2021

    Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch

    A variety of camping options

    We camped here in a trailer for almost a week. We were shocked at the availability of spaces given that Colorado is notoriously booked up by February.

    Our space was The Overlook and it had an amazing view. The stable horses came up next to the site every morning. It is a massive site that accommodated our trailer, a 2-person tent, 2 vehicles and still had room to spare. The only downsides were no picnic table, little shade, and lots of wind up there.

    We drove around to view the other sites. Many options including walk-in sites, riverside camping, and campsites with corrals for horse camping. If you have a larger trailer, avoid the lower sites. Keep to 1-5 or the Overlook for access.

    There are stocked trout ponds. You have to pay an additional fee to fish in them. We bought fish food and never saw a fish. The ponds really needed to be maintained as there was a lot of weed growth.

    The office is on the first floor of the condo building. Usually open until 4 pm. There is a restaurant (closed while we were there).

    Showers are available for $5.

    A gift shop/store is available with various small items and treats.

    WiFi is available at the office and restaurant. Campsites are too far away. Couldn’t reach it with our WiFi extender either. (Normally wouldn’t want to but working sucks.)

    Water for trailers is available bit a tad challenging to access simply because of sharp turns. I can’t speak to water availability for lower campsites.

    Trash containers at both the lodge area and at the lower campground.

    There is no dump on-site. However, there is a fee-based dump about 1.5 miles away in the Crystal Lakes Community. $10 per use with free water.

    The stables are managed separately but are directly across the road. Super friendly and reasonable rates for trail rides. Our 5 & 7 year old granddaughters were able to ride their own horses and had trail riders lead them. Super nice folks!

    This is open year-round (condos/cabins in winter) with tubing, skating, and X-country skiing in winter.

  • IThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2021

    Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch

    Great for people with horses

    Overall, I had a good time here. Staff was friendly except for at the horse back riding. They don't let you ride if you look like you weigh more than 200lbs. RV parking is a little tight for bigger rigs but great tent spots. There is a horse coral for you at nearly every RV site. No hookups but was able to fill water tank. Queit, peaceful area.. Good firepits. The restaurant food wasn't that great. There are condos if you don't own an RV or tent. We went to Crystal Lake up the road and had a good day.

  • Dan T.
    May. 10, 2019

    Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch

    This really is Heaven on Earth!

    To say we love Beaver Meadows would be a huge understatement. We spend just about every other weekend there all year long - winter and summer. We got married there in 2014 (as our photos show) and it was beautiful. The outdoor wedding area is amazing and right by a river. The reception hall for after is so cool with giant windows so you can look out in every direction on nature and you celebrate your big day. Ever since we've been hooked. They had cabins, condos, lodges, and camp spots so every guest had a place to stay the night.

    When you pull around the corner and into the valley it takes your breath away every single time. Lush green fields, ponds, stunning mountain backdrops, wildlife, horses running free, people fishing and riding horses. It's a playground for adults and kids and it's only an hour from our house in Fort Collins - we can't stay away. They have a yummy restaurant too so we never even bring food - we just eat there.

    In the winter we go snow tubing (12 + runs with a lift) and stay in one of their little heated cabins which is so cozy but also provides all the amenities of home (kitchen, bedrooms, entertainment, etc). We love to go up before a storm and watch the snow start to fall. In the spring and summer we are up there camping along the river all the time. Each site is unique so we like to change it up each time - we go hiking, horseback riding, and fish in the stocked ponds! There are some unique fish in there - really neat. In the fall we like to go up and do the "river walk" - a series of paths and bridges through tall foilage that feels like your in a different world. Watching the leaves change is awesome in the fall - compares to any drive you can do in the state - soooo many aspens.

    If your looking for a romantic weekend with the significant other or a family vacation with the kiddos - I would highly suggest making the drive up - I bet you will fall in love with it just like we did and won't be able to stay away.

  • Amanda M.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    North Michigan Campground — State Forest State Park

    Gorgeous Rocky Mountain Camping - North Michigan Campground

    We found State Forest State Park on a whim this past July 2018. We were on a road trip from California to Colorado for a wedding in Granby, CO. We were camping in Utah at Dinosaur National Monument, but due to the smoke from a nearby wildfire and the high heat of the summer, we decided to cut our stay one day short, and head over to the Rockies a day early. We wanted to be fairly close to our final destinations, Granby then RMNP, but wanted to go somewhere we hadn’t been before. My boyfriend and I are both animal lovers, and our dream was to finally see a moose on this trip out to Colorado. In researching moosey areas on the internet, we found the Moose Visitor Center at State Forest State Park. We figured that a place with a Moose Visitors Center was as moosey as it comes, so we reserved a site online and headed out to Colorado.

    It was late afternoon when we arrived, but since we had already eaten, we didn’t have much to do besides set up our tent and sleeping pads for the night. Getting to the campground and visitors center is easy as they are both right off the highways 41 and 14, but it is quite a drive to get to, in general. The scenery is so pretty, that we did not mind the drive to or from SFSP. North Michigan Campground is right by a lake, it is pretty.

    The sites are primitive - each site had picnic benches and a firepit, but at the time we visited there was a Stage 2 fire ban in place, so we couldn’t have a campfire. The fire ban included the burning of wood and charcoal - using a propane stove was OK.

    There were pit toilets, and they were well maintained. The sites appeared to have once had more in the way of trees and shade, but it looks as though SFSP was hit by the pine beetles, like so much of Colorado. It’s sad to see the destruction the beetles left in their wake, and fewer trees mean less privacy and less shade for tent campers. We would have had a hard time setting up extra tarps in case it had rained that evening. Bringing an easy-up or canopy would be smart in the summer to protect against sun and heat, or a passing thunderstorm.

    WARNING: You ARE in bear country and there were no bear bins in the campground - be bear safe and bear smart, lock all of your food and toiletries inside your car at night. I was once told by a ranger in Yosemite NP that bears can recognize coolers when peering into car windows, so we always put a towel and gear over our coolers when keeping them in the car overnight.

    We packed up early and arrived at the Moose Visitors Center when they opened. The visitors center was educational and interesting, and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. After studying some maps of the area with the rangers, we decided to try our luck driving along Highway 14 towards Fort Collins.

    We stopped at various spots along the highway, and ended up walking around the Joe Wright Reservoir for a while. Thunderheads were rolling in, and some rain and thunder started, so we decided to start making our way back towards SFSP then head down to Granby, our next stop. We were around Cameron Pass and had given up on seeing any moose when we saw traffic slowing and cars stopped alongside the road - there were two young bull moose snacking by a small river on the side of the road! We pulled over, turned our hazard lights on, grabbed the camera, and jumped out to see our first moose. The moose seemed unconcerned by their growing audience, and continued to chomp away on their lunch - there was a small ravine between the moose and their human audience, so neither moose nor humans felt threatened.

    According to the staff at the Moose Visitor Center, there are only about 1,000 moose in the entire state of Colorado - and here we stumbled across two moose at once! We were ecstatic, and so happy we made the impromptu, unplanned trip out to State Forest State Park! We returned to the Moose Visitors Center to share the experience with the rangers (they record the specifics of moose sightings in the area on a board), and the ranger gave us a high five for spotting our first ever moose.

    I would like to return to the area someday to hike, I imagine the nearby trails must be goregous!

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $18/night

    Plumbed Toilets: NO - pit

    Drinking Water: Yes

    Showers: NO

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grates: Yes

    Shade: Limited!

    Cell Service: NO

    Animal Bins/Food Lockers: NO

  • Tyler W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2023

    Bockman Campground — State Forest State Park

    Clean, well maintained, spacious but buggy!

    Stayed here for a night while hitting up some local hikes. It's reservation only and was fairly full on a Saturday night so made sure to book a spot in advance.

    The campsite has two entrances - one from the west passing North Michigan Reservoir and one from the South East which is basically from Lake Agnes Trailhead. We took the latter and luckily have a truck with a lift and skid plate otherwise would have been a really tough drive. So just a warning for those who don't - really rough!

    For the campsite - really nice and spacious! Amenities like restrooms were really spacious, each spot had a table and nice fire ring, and lastly the gravel patch for tents, etc were in excellent shape. A nice mix of shade and open areas which we liked. The one downside - tons of mosquitoes. Likely hard to get away from considering the amount of rain received but was pretty brutal and had to stave them off towards sundown.

    Overall a really nice campsite and the North Michigan Reservoir is a blast if you have a SUP. If you want a really low key, not terribly crowded, well maintained campground in a beautiful spot of Colorado check this out. State Forest State Park is amazing!

  • ZThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2024

    Long Draw Road Campsites

    Beware campsite crashers

    I had an awesome site but I guess it was too good to be true. Not one but two other cars came, one pulling a horse trailer crashed on my site. It’s a campsite not a campground. Then, the day I was leaving, someone else came and dumped a trailer on the site. I packed up and left. That would never happen in Montana or Idaho where people actually have manners!


Guide to Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland

Horse camping near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland in Colorado offers a unique opportunity to explore stunning landscapes while enjoying the companionship of your equine friends.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • At Big Creek Lakes Campground, you can enjoy hiking and fishing, with trails that lead directly from your campsite to the water.
  • Medicine Bow provides access to rugged terrain perfect for horseback riding, along with opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing.
  • The Seedhouse Group Site is conveniently located near the Continental Divide trail, making it ideal for equestrian adventures.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

Tips for equestrian camping near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland in Colorado

  • Be prepared for the remote nature of Medicine Bow, where limited cell service and amenities mean you should stock up on supplies before heading out.
  • When visiting Big Creek Lakes Campground, ensure your horse is acclimated to the high elevation, as the campground sits at over 9,000 feet.
  • Always check for local regulations regarding horse camping at Teal Lake Group Campsite to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both you and your horse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at horse camps in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests?

Horse camps in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests vary in amenities. Big Creek Lakes Campground offers larger sites suitable for horse trailers, access to water, and proximity to equestrian-friendly trails at over 9,000 feet elevation. The campground is typically open only during summer months (June-August). Freeman Reservoir Campground provides access to excellent trails for riding, along with fishing opportunities when you're not in the saddle. Most dedicated horse camps feature hitching posts, corrals or paddocks, manure disposal areas, and access to water sources. Many sites require reservations, especially during peak season. Basic amenities typically include vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though hookups are generally not available. Always check current conditions before your trip, as mountain weather can be unpredictable even in summer.

Where can I find horse camping in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests?

The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests offer several excellent options for horse camping. Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch provides dedicated horse camping with corrals at nearly every RV site, making it ideal for equestrians. The ranch's extensive property allows for convenient horse access to trails. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Long Draw Road Campsites offer dispersed camping opportunities with enough space for horse trailers. When planning your trip, consider making reservations in advance, especially during peak summer months (June-August), as horse-friendly sites can fill quickly. Look for campsites with adequate space for trailers and proximity to equestrian trails throughout the national forests.

What are the horse trail regulations in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests?

Horse trail regulations in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests require staying on designated equestrian trails to prevent erosion and protect natural resources. Pack animals must be kept under control at all times. When camping in areas like State Forest State Park, horses must be properly secured at designated hitching posts or corrals. Buffalo Pass Dispersed and other dispersed camping areas require practicing Leave No Trace principles, including proper manure management. Feed must be certified weed-free hay or processed feed to prevent introducing invasive species. Group size limits typically restrict the number of horses per party, and some trails may have seasonal closures due to wildlife protection or trail conditions, particularly during spring thaw or extreme weather.