Best Equestrian Camping near Oakley, ID

Ricketts BLM RV Camp just north of Twin Falls. This fee-free primitive BLM camp offers 2 vault toilets (in case you did not bring own) and 13 level RV parking pads, each with a picnic table and fire ring, but no electric or water hook-ups. There is also equestrian and overflow parking if needed.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/51EUdaokGV8zyEdB9

We stayed here midway through a two-week adventure visiting national parks out West. This just so happened to be on our route after leaving Glacier, and it ended up being our favorite campground we visited during this journey.

We had a little trouble finding the campground, but that was because of human error when selecting the route via Google Maps. After stopping and scratching our heads a bit, we figured out our error and easily found our way. We didn’t realize that we had booked an “equestrian site” complete with a horse pen but had some fun with our friends later (good place for corralling the husbands). Our friends were in Site 34, and there was a small trail connecting our two sites.

We easily set up camp and made a quick meal before touring the campground. It was so quiet that we didn’t think there were any others camping there, so we were surprised during our walk to see so many fellow campers. The sites are HUGE and really offer a great deal of privacy and seclusion. The only issue we had was that there were so many bugs (gnats and flies)! This forced us inside sooner than we would have liked, but we were tired from the long journey that day anyway. We went to bed early and opened the blinds on the front stargazing window of our Lance. The view was breathtaking!!! It was such a clear night (and so dark in the campground) that we could see hundreds of stars and fell asleep looking at them. We awoke to a beautiful sunrise over the distant mountains. It was the most beautiful view from our trailer to date!

We begrudgingly left Castle Rocks after only one night wishing that we could have stayed much longer. If we are ever fortunate enough to be in the area again, we will definitely revisit this campground . . . hopefully for a longer stay next time!

Nice campground with 13 campsites with fire rings and picnic tables. There is also 2 pit toilets. Only stayed one night on our way to Oregon. There is a 5 night limit. Would stay here again if in the area. About 5 empty spots when we pulled in on a Sunday evening. There is also 3 horse corrals if looking for a place to ride.

Caution: Save yourself some time, dust and frustration and enter Smoky Mountain Campground into your GPS and not Castle Rock State Park like we did. Haha.

We were so surprised when we got to this campground. Private sites. Clean. Paved, not gravel. Not the most level we've been in but totally workable. Bathrooms were clean. Men and women's toliets are on one side of the building and individual shower rooms on the other. All handicapped accessible and plenty of places to put you stuff so it stays dry. There is also an equestrian loop with individual corrals.

Also, DARK skies!!! A star gazer's dream.

Be sure you have gas before Sunday rolls around because the one place to get gas, Tracy's General Store, is not open on Sundays. Tracy's also has a nice Cafe. They even offered a VEGAN burger. Progressive in this outof the way spoy. The pizza at City of Rocks Pizza is supposed to be really good, but only offered outdoor seating. It was 95 degrees, so we passed. But, they do serve beer and have a small grocery.

The relationship between City of Rocks National Preserve and Castle Rocks State Park is still not clear to me as this campground appears on the National Park Service website, although it is an Idaho State Park. That said, the park rangers seem to work cooperatively. This campground is delightful. Located about a 7-mile drive/walk to the entrance of City of Rocks, Smoky Mountain Campground is situated above the valley providing a wonderful view from many sites including space #19 where I parked my campervan.  I believe the walking distance to the reserve could be shorter by taking any of the hiking trails from the campgrounds rather than going along the paved roads which first go away from the City of Rocks then back up again, making a big "U". 

During my one-night stay in February, water, showers and bathrooms in the campground were closed for the winter season. A very clean, pit toilet is located in the equestrian parking lot across from the campground entrance. The distance from the campsites to the bathroom will vary from quite close to about 1/4 mile max. And during the winter season, there won't be much competition for the spaces close to the bathroom, as I was the sole user during my time there. 

In addition to the breathtaking views, the sites offer privacy from 3 sides though all face the loop access road. There are picnic tables, fire rings and electrical power. I did not note if water was available as it would have been shut off in February in any event.  There is a dump station about 1 mile down the road toward the exit. I do not know if it is open in the winter.

Check-in during the off-season is accomplished by envelope collected at the entrance or directly to the ranger who came by in the morning to check-in. The rate was $27 per night. Definitely worth the money to stay in this tranquil campground so close to the magnificent City of Rocks.

Snake River Canyons Park- Rickett's RV Camp offers a peaceful and convenient location for an overnight stay. The campsites are mostly clean and equipped with fire rings and picnic tables. While the area is quite dry, it provides a safe and hassle-free experience. Nothing fancy. The Sherrif did a drive through at dusk(a feature I like) and the camp filled up before the sun had set. The availability of basic amenities such as pit toilets and horse corrals adds to the convenience of the site. If you're looking for a quick overnight stay this is a great spot that is pretty much a free campsite complete with a site host.

Smoky Mountain campground is very close to the entrance of City of Rocks NR and just slightly further is Castle Rocks SP, however, the grounds are managed by the state park. There are some RV/equestrian sites that have 30/50 amp power and water hookups. There is a dump station on the road to the grounds but it was closed for repairs when we visited. There are plenty of pit toilets around the area and the ones we used were quite clean. Spots are mostly back-in but pretty easy access. The camp hosts were very friendly and the camp reservation includes a parking pass for the State Park ($10 value). The RV sites are very private and nicely spread out with pine trees in between. Great views of City of Rocks. Plenty of biking and hiking trails around and TONS of climbing. The visitor center is about 2 miles away and a general store another half mile beyond that. There’s opportunity for gas and food on the way to the grounds (both Albion and Almo have options) but best to get what you need before you leave the major highway. Having hookups at a State Park with such awesome views was sweet and the grounds are very well maintained. Reservations seem hard to come by during the high season.

Because we'd usually rather be boondocking, we're all about cheap when we actually have to pay for a campsite. And if we're actually going to have to pay, we want the whole shebang -- 50A electric, water and sewer hookups -- because why pay for what we otherwise get for free? The Twin Falls County Fairgrounds delivers on both counts.

The RV Park is located on the east side of the fairgrounds and has 80 spaces with full hook-ups (water, sewer & 50 amp power); and 100 hook-up with (water & 30 amp power). Spaces with amenities cost $21.20, tax included per night, or $106 for a week (buy 5 nights/get 2 free). Dry camping with no amenities is available for $10.60, tax included per night. Maximum stay is 2 weeks. No reservations, everything is first-come, first-served.

Sites are located on grass, with dirt roads throughout the campground. Hookups for water, electric and sewer are located behind your RV. While the site itself is level, that makes it uphill for the sewer run so we wish that they had chosen a more traditional layout. Still, for this price I'm not complaining. Also, if the place actually filled up these sites would be crazy tight; however, during our visit July 2021 they're not even close to 50% capacity, so folks are leaving at least one site between themselves and their neighbors. 

Cell signal strength and data speeds are solid on both Verizon and AT&T. We've been both working and streaming with no issues whatsoever.

There's a separate dump station on site with potable water. The bathrooms are individual units with showers, and are immaculate. If you arrive after hours you have to call the after-hours number on the sign, and James will come out and determine your site and collect your money (cash or check only). The campground occasionally closes for events held at the Fairgrounds, and in 2021 that's for two events. Check their website for details. There was a lot of activity during our stay including equestrian events and even a monster truck rally, so there's lots to keep you entertained while you're in the campground and not out exploring the Twin Falls area.

Filer is a tiny ranching community just west of Twin Falls. Campers will find the surprisingly complete M&W Market just down the street, along with a True Value Hardware. And all of the chains and big box stores are nearby in Twin Falls, only 7 miles away.

No livestock are allowed in RV area, but boarding is available in stables adjacent to the campground for $10 inside/$5 outside. Dogs are not allowed to roam freely and must be under supervision of their owner, either on a leash or kennel. 

So when everything else was booked solid in July 2021, we found dirt cheap FHU sites aplenty at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds!

TTo start off this is an Idaho state park and requires a fee to enter (was $10)  This is a great place to go if theres swarms of climbers at the City of Rocks because of the fee which tends to drive away most dirtbag (endearing term for us) climbers haha.  There are a multitude of fantastic routes there and some good bouldering to be had as well.  Another one of the great things about this park is they have yurt, small house, RV, and tent sites, so no matter how you like to camp theyll be sure to get you into something comfy!

City Of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho

Fascinating, desolate, historical State Park. The visitors center is out on the main road and has a short informational trail with some authentic pioneer wagons. The signage is good, if you need water go to the dump site on the way in, there are no spigots at the campsites. When we visited the water was turned off so I was glad I always carry water with me. The sites are well spaced out, intermixed with the rock formations. Our site was huge, with a picnic table, tent pad and fire ring. There was a rock formation on the back side that you can walk up on and see the surrounding area. There were several rock climbers on Practice Rock across from our site. The dogs were permitted , on leash, on the trails however I was concerned about the numerous cactus so we stayed to the dirt roads mostly.

We literally stumbled upon this gem of a camping area while driving through Idaho. About an hour south of the Snake River, and Interstate 84, it rewards the modern traveler with a truly unique landscape of unsurpassed beauty, just as it greeted the wagon trains following the easily recognized formations over 150 years ago. 

Rocks, rocks, rocks, everywhere are amazingly interesting granite towers and domes, though the mountains feel far away. The camping options are as unique as the formations, here. Rather than cluster the camping in a formal campground the park loop road links the small sites to the greater park and each other. Even on a busy day, this means that you can get enough solitude and quiet.  Pit toilets, and water spigots are as fancy as the services get, but we found them clean and conveniently placed. 

A hiker and rock climber’s dream the area offers bouldering, sport, and traditional climbing routes. If you’re not crazy about going vertical, you can easily link miles and miles of climber access trails for an hour or an all day adventure. The park also offers a few mountain biking trails, from easy to intermediate. 

The small town of Almo, ID is the closest place to get gas, and pick up a few groceries, as well as grab a bite to eat. But come prepared to feed yourself, unless desperate, because Tracy’s General Store doesn’t offer much more than convenience or non-perishable food. 

One hilarious and endearing quirk about this park is the pay envelopes at the iron ranger. They wanted cash, rather then check, which I can understand I mean, who doesn’t; but they had a very specific price, $12.72 and they wanted exact change!

Road is a little rough to get here. We set up camp in the early evening. Hot and the flies were pretty thick. Evening came and it was perfect! Only two other tents that we could barely even see from our campsite. Felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Loved hearing the creek as we tucked in for the night. The hike the next morning to the lake was a great challenge! There is an unmarked fork at about a mile and half in... go right! We hiked to the second lake. My son fished with hopes of catching a grayling. He took the winning photo of the lake!

 We stopped at this campground hoping it was Trailer Friendly. We were able to get up to the parking lot but I wouldn't recommend it. If my trailer was not lifted we would have had issues. It was dark by the time we reached the parking lot to the campground so we decided to stay there for the night and find a new site in the morning. The campground was busy and the parking lot was full. You have to park and its a short walk to the campsites. The hike to the lakes is a beautiful hike and remains one of my favorites. We ended up finding a great spot to set up camp the next morning. This was our first trip with our trailer and it taught us to do more research before planning our trip. This campground is great overall just didn't work for our set up.

This is another great campsite on the road that heads up to Lake Cleveland and Mt Harrison.  It lies just before the turnoff to descend down to Lake Cleveland and is a great option just in case all the sites at Lake Cleveland are taken.  This should only happen on holidays and weekends though.  The campground itself is pretty primitive with the only amenity being a vault toilet and some scattered corrals.  A large open area is where most of the RV's camp and if you drive along the outskirts of the trees you'll be able to find excellent tent campsites nestled within the trees.  Definitely one of the best sites for lounging around in a hammock all day!

Beautiful sites with many areas to rock climb. Pit houses don’t stink too bad. Good tent sites.

It was interesting to see the emigrants' names on the rocks and imagining them arrive in this small valley of strange formations. I always wonder how we might better tell the stories of these migrations along with the competing stories of Indigenous First World People who had lived among them for so long and who lost their lives and land in these areas.

All this is to say, it's a wonderful park with gorgeous views. Check the weather, of course, because we were told it was hot, hot, hot just the week before but for some reason it was a reasonable 80 and below for our one night there.

I spent one night in the City of Rocks National Reserve Campground. Nabbed spot 15 - the best one I saw - which had fantastic views from the front and back of my campervan. Sweeping view of valley and mountains beyond from the front, massive rocks through the window over my bed. There is a picnic table and fire ring on the nearly level site which is also very private, tucked away as it was between large rocks.  I camped in February so I could have been the only camper in the park that night, though there are campsites extending up the main road for what must be half a mile, so there is room for many campers both RV and tents. I saw no one other than the ranger during my stay. The bathroom is a pit toilet, very clean and supplied with paper. There are no amenities like power or water at the site. I left my campervan parked and hiked all around the reserve. Million dollar views for dollars a night.

Be careful which site you book. Many are walk in tent sites or don’t have room for even a sprinter van. We had site number 29 which was beautiful. Definitely recommend staying in the 1-30 sites. Many back up to rocks but all are very different.

Very good camp area. Great views.

Stayed: 5/13/2021

Cost: $14/night plus $10 reservation fee 

Site: 61

Vehicle: Volkswagen Atlas

Equipment: Tent

AT&T and T-Mobile: No Service

This is a very unique campground. Sites are dispersed throughout the entire park, as opposed to being condensed into one central location. It makes for some very unique and private sites - no two alike.

We went for site 61 for two reasons. 1) It was the most private that was remaining, even though 2) it was very close to a bathroom. Most of the sites near bathrooms, were more grouped together. The bathroom itself is less than a 1 min walk from the site. We had one neighbor on the other side of us, but you could only see them if you walked by to go to the bathroom. I think that site 61 could be the most private of all, with site 63 having some of the most beautiful sunset views (pictured).

This site was also nice, because it is tucked-in next to a large rock wall, blocking the wind coming from the north. Do be aware, that Area 7 of the campground (sites 61-64), are at a much higher elevation. Driving to the site from the main part of the park, we climbed over 1,000 feet (up a winding, dirt road), ending at 7,000+ feet. So, the temperature is going to be a little different than it is when you’re checking the weather in Almo. It was about a 10º difference when we were there.

Overall, this is a very nice campground with a fire ring and picnic table. All pictures are from Site 61, with the exception of the sunset from Site 63.

#DareToEverywhere

This is my favorite place on the planet. The camp facilities are fairly primitive but there are pit/vault toilets available. I can not express how gorgeous the landscape is or how bright the stars are at night. Our campspot was #22. Not a ton of shade, but excellent views. You have to have cash to put in an envelope at Bath rock to pay for camping. I believe you can also reserve in advance if you are at least 4-5 days out. We slept with van doors open. No noise. No bugs. Just peace and quiet.

I visited City of Rocks last year for a day trip and knew I had to go back to camp this year! It’s an awesome overnight stop if you’re on a road trip or a great little weekend trip if you’re nearby. We didn’t do any long hikes and the hiking opportunities leave a little bit to be desired but the campsites completely make up for it. If you’re a climber you MUST visit - the visitors center sells climbing maps with all the route options and great breakdowns of difficulties, etc. Highly recommend site 043 - it’s about a 200 ft walk from the parking lot but it’s shaded and right next to a perfect rock to climb on to have dinner or watch a sunset overlooking the gorgeous valley and rock faces.