Are you looking for a place to stay in Payette National Forest with your horse? Whether you own a horse or are joining a tour group, equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. With our help, you'll find the best Idaho equestrian campsites from scenic to easily accessible.
This campground is a 5 unit campground open for recreational users with stock. Hitchrails at all the units are available to tether stock. Campsites are adjacent to the Secesh River. Trail access to #080 trail. No hook-ups.
$10 / night
Kennally Creek Campground is situated in a serene setting among mature forest along the banks of Kennally Creek. This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app ht tps://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
The North Fork Kennally Creek Trail #102, East Fork Kennally Creek Trail #099, and the Needles Summit Trail #101 depart immediately from the campground with additional trail access just a few miles down the road.
$15 / night
Ruby Meadows is a popular trailhead for ATVs, motorcycles and mountain bikes, located southeast of Warren Wagon Road in the Burgdorf area. There is a dispersed camping area with a toilet. The camping area is shaded by tall timber. The trail system connects users with Loon Lake area via the Willow Basket Creek Trail #141 . Directions: Travel north from McCall 30 miles and turn right on Forest Road 364 into the Ruby Meadows dispersed camping area.
Silver Creek Campground is located 25 miles north of Garden Valley, Idaho, in beautiful Peace Valley at an elevation of 4,490 feet. Peace Valley offers a variety of great trails. Fishing and hunting are popular activities as well.
Peace Valley contains many trails for hiking, mountain biking, as well as horseback and OHV riding. Peace Creek Trail, Silver Creek Summit Trail, and Bull Creek Trail all begin nearby. Silver Creek, Peace Creek, and the nearby Middle Fork Payette River offer good-to-excellent fishing most of the year. Anglers in the area cast for whitefish and rainbow trout. In-season big game hunting for deer, elk and bear is a popular activity in the surrounding mountains.
The campground is situated among a mixed-growth lodgepole pine forest, which provides partial shade. Silver Creek runs alongside the campground. A variety of wildlife makes its home in and around Peace Valley, including deer, elk, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks.
Silver Creek Plunge, a privately developed hot springs campground, is within a quarter-mile from the campground. It offers a hot springs pool, general store, a playground, horseshoe pits, as well as sand volleyball court and basketball hoop.
$150 / night
The Windy Saddle Trailhead is the main access point into the Hells Canyon Wilderness from Idaho. Located on the saddle going to Seven Devils basin or up to Heaven's Gate Lookout the area offers a great view of the Seven Devil mountain range and Hells Canyon area. This site provides access to Seven Devils Trail #124 and Sheep Creek Trail #53 which enter Hells Canyon Wilderness. Windy Saddle Horse Camp
Buck Park Cabin is located on Cuddy Mountain, in the Payette National Forest of central Idaho. Guests enjoy the remote area for its hunting opportunities and abundance of hiking, biking, horseback riding and off-road vehicle trails. The cabin sits at an elevation of 7,280 feet within Buck Park, a scenic meadow surrounded by a dense conifer forest. Rush Lake, Hornet and Lower Hornet reservoirs are nearby. This very rustic cabin can accommodate a maximum of three people. Metal cots are provided, but guests must bring their own sleeping bags. A wood stove is provided for heat and cooking. No plumbing or electricity is available. A vault toilet is located outside. Guests must bring water, food, bedding and firewood. High clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing Buck Park Cabin. Further, access to Buck Park Cabin will be challenging if snow has fallen (more likely after mid-October).
The cabin sits near small Rush Lake, which offers fishing opportunities. Hornet and Lower Hornet lakes are a short distance away. Hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and off-road enthusiasts will find several motorized and non-motorized trails in the surrounding area. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message.
The cabin sits at an elevation of 7,280 feet within Buck Park, a scenic meadow surrounded by a dense conifer forest. Rush Lake, Hornet and Lower Hornet reservoirs are nearby. The Payette National Forest encompasses some of Idaho's most beautiful and diverse country. Located in west-central Idaho, north of Boise, the 2.3-million-acre forest extends 100 miles west to east, from Hells Canyon to the Middle Fork Salmon River, and 70 miles north to south, from the Salmon River to the Weiser River.
$50 / night
This area has four campsites with fire rings, hitching rails, and no feed bunks provided.
TravelerGreat little campground, until the fire went through. Most of it survived, but fire damage is present adjacent to the road and along the trails.
It can sometimes be crowded with ATV and motorbikes, but most the time they are courteous and polite.
I enjoyed panning in the creeks around the area because there are neat dark red and purple garnet to be had. Only found a speck or two of gold, so I am glad I was looking for garnet and not gold.
Traveled from N. Idaho and Montana to here multiple times over the year - definitely worth the trip, especially since they paved the road.
Guide
After an hour of driving over a very bumpy and gravely road, you arrive at a serene camp ground. Its right next to a creek and is connected to some hiking loops. Very calm and quiet area.
GuideGreat campgrounds. Beautiful views. Clean grounds, clean toilets, and within walking distance to the hot spring pool. Highly recommend. Fishing wasn't too bad.
Traveler
As stated in description it's rustic. Not much to it but it did offer a sheltered place to build a fire/get warm and weather a bad storm. In the summer, the long rough road into it is not for everyone. Scenery is good and very quiet. If you want remote with the bare basics, this is the place.
ScoutDidn’t think we would find a spot for the weekend since we left so late. Drove up to silver creek expecting that if we couldn’t get in we would boondock on the other side of which boasts acres and acres of opportunity all around to boondock. However we were able to secure a spot. It can get a little busy (kids riding bikes, playing) and the campsites can be close together depending on what side you’re on, but it’s absolutely beautiful and very accommodating. We brought our side by side and drove the trails every day for hours all day! Had Picnics on the river rapids and soaked in the hot springs (you will drive by on your way to the grounds. Unfortunately the one at the campsite is closed and for sale. Be bear and wolf aware!
Guide
Dope off grid, dusty, pretty, dusty, epic drive and views along salmon river to hidden gem Secesh river. Flat sites. Good spot for riding base.
LegendI really liked this campsite. It would be a great spot if you are planning on camping with horses as it has hitching rails. It is a historical site that has been used off and on for the past century. Wether come from McCall via Lick Creek Road, or fr the east down the Salmon River, it is beautiful! Be sure to hike the Secesh river trail which starts across the Secesh River from the campground. I found huckleberries and wild strawberries along the trail at the beginning of July. It cost $10 to park here.
TravelerCamp is decent with a few spots for smaller RV or campers - pit toilet - trees surround - high clearance vehicle recommended - steep in places
You can explore a few miles on the roads by UTV or by pickup while exploring the Salmon River drainage or the Snake River drainage. Traveling to Pittsburgh Landing and Kirkwood from here is considered a short day ride.
Steep terrain surrounds the area
Unit 18
A lot of cattle ranching in the summer and mostly hunters In the fall.
Forest service maps are recommended for travel since a lot just circle back to start, mostly on road, little access for off road travel.
Guide
Arrived late on a Saturday night originally intending to camp at the 7 devils campground but there were no available sites so decided to go back to windy saddle. We were the only campers at windy saddle and were able to get a perfect site at the head of the trail over looking hell’s canyon and Heaven’s gate. Had an absolutely gorgeous view of the devils peaks easy access to trails, devils lake, Heaven’s gate trail. One of the best camping trips I have ever had. There is a vault toilet but no other amenities which was ok for our stay. I am definitely going to be coming back to camp at windy saddle again.
Travelercampsites with picnic tables and fire pits. Bathroom with no running water. Bears are known to visit but we didn’t see any signs. The creek is gorgeous , not deep . The trail head is close to camp. The trails are fairly easy and maintained. Lovely place .
GuideNice area to camp. Sparse trees. Swimming in the creek as well as pool. If you’re needing cell reception it’s spotty at best. Camping spaces are clean.
GuideI stayed one night, I took a cabin instead of a campsite because of the nearby fires. The area was very clean and well maintained. The pool was wonderful to soak in. I arrived there on a Sunday afternoon, there was A LOT of traffic going down the mountain as I was going up, obviously it had been quite crowded on the weekend! However, it was nice and quiet for the rest of my stay.
LegendStayed here for a night completely alone. Once again some really great trout fishing here. Absolutely no shade for the sun. We were here in October so shade was not too important. But if we were here in the dead of summer probably would have been a deal breaker. Right on the river though so could easily use that as a nice pool.
There was one pit toilet and nothing more. Perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Payette National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Payette National Forest is Secesh Horse Camp with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Payette National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Payette National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
