1 campground with availability this weekend
Big Hill Lake Horse Trail provides 17 miles of diverse terrain around Coffeyville, Kansas, winding along scenic hardwood ridges with numerous viewpoints. The trail includes three dedicated parking areas for horse trailers equipped with limited facilities suitable for overnight camping by trail riders. These equestrian sites feature hitching racks and tethering areas specifically designed for horses. Timber Hill campground at Big Hill Lake serves as the primary access point for riders, offering 20 non-electric sites with amenities including a dump station, drinking water (seasonal), and pit toilets. The campground area considers itself Kansas' "Little Ozarks" with rolling terrain suitable for riders of all experience levels.
Located approximately 20 minutes from Coffeyville, the equestrian trails encircle three-quarters of Big Hill Lake, providing riders with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and varied terrain. The parking areas strategically positioned around the trail system allow for flexible riding options and convenient trailer access. Horse camping reservations can be made through Recreation.gov or by phone at 877-444-6777, with sites priced at $10 per night. The campground operates seasonally from April 1 to October 31. Wildflowers bloom abundantly in spring and fall, complementing the natural scenery that includes persimmon, osage orange, redbud and dogwood trees. The trail system connects to multiple day-use areas, allowing riders to easily access additional facilities when needed.
"I love camping here close to everything but yet secluded. Great Lake for water sports, plenty of privacy and always clean and well taken care of."
"Has very clean bathhouse and hot showers a short walk away. We love this place."
from $40 / night
Available this weekend
from $10 / night
"Great location with lots of shade. Also, very close to the playground. Easy spot to back-in and is very level. Only downside is that you must be back in the park by 10:00 PM."
"Lake side spots are not advisable if you have little ones, the bluffs are very close to the fire pits and have about a 30ft drop."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $50 / night
"We camped in a spot near the water. The lake was beautiful at sunset. The bathroom was clean, our spot had a covered picnic table, grill and fire ring."
"General: Blue Creek is one of four campgrounds operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Oologah Lake (the others are Spencer Creek, Red Bud, and Hawthorn Bluff)."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $75 / night
"You can tour the birthplace for free, there’s an old barn to explore, you can go hiking, there’s horse trails as well."
GuideFor $16 we got a quiet, shaded spot by the lake with clean showers. Since we only carry a camp shower and privacy is a bit hard to come by in this part of the country, it was a worthwhile investment.
GuideWe loved our stay here. Everyone was so kind and respectful. The campground host and his dog were excellent and so helpful! We enjoyed swimming and taking a breather from our roadtrip. Quite peaceful and room to explore!
TravelerWe had a great time camping here! It was beautiful and clean. The bathrooms and showers were always clean and fresh. The only downside is that they don’t have water hookups at the sites. You can connect your hose to the nearest spigot but you better hope it’s long enough. The water was really high so fishing was so so. The dam is right across the road pretty much and the recreation area is nice. A couple trails with a few options.
ScoutOnce arriving at the camp site, I discovered that the sites near the lake were very sloped making it a little difficult to find a flat spot to set up a tent. I talking to one passer-by, who was unfortunately house-less at the time, who explained that Hawthorn Bluff does not charge for camping until April 1st. I paid for my campsite as the website did not state this. I'm not upset by this because I know the fees will help maintain the park. However, this makes for some very interesting campers. The couple next to our site were having a domestic dispute where the lady sped off in her car after cussing her partner out for some time. She returned later with an 18 pack, one in her hand, and thankfully they seemed to have made up. This was hard to explain to my young kids who witnessed the whole exchange. Since they were not charging for campsites during my stay, the showers were locked and not opened as well as another restroom. There was only one opened restroom on the opposite side of the park and it had beer cans and other trash in it.
Nice views of the lake, but I think I'll cross this one off my list for next time.
LegendGeneral: Blue Creek is one of four campgrounds operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Oologah Lake (the others are Spencer Creek, Red Bud, and Hawthorn Bluff). It is divided into three sections: one with electric hookups (Sites 14-35) and two without (Sites 1-11 and 36-61, with Sites 54-61 that can be used as a group area). On a weekday in early May, the section with electric was full but we had the section with sites 36-61 entirely to ourselves. Sites 1-11 are good for boaters as they are near the boat ramp, however, the sites are not as well delineated (the picnic tables have the site numbers on them and cars park wherever). Since COVID, reservations are required but as with all other CoE campgrounds, the fees are extremely reasonable ($20 for electric,$16 for non-electric and half-price for seniors).
Site Quality/Facilities: It is often impossible to determine the best site when reserving but after arriving, we discovered that Site 55 was not going to work for us. It had a very short sloping half-circle drive and after 10 minutes of maneuvering, it was obvious there was no way we were going to be level. It was also rocky so it would be challenging for tents. This site is the furthest away but near the spot where many fish so it will not be as quiet as you might expect. Fortunately, we were able to switch sites (no one else was there!) and Site 42 was much better and like many others, had a large semi-circular drive. Many sites had a covered concrete pad with a large concrete picnic table, utility table, and lantern hook. There was a dump station, but it was coned off when we were there; we did not need it so I did not ask when/if it would be available.
Bathhouse: The sections without electricity have vault toilets, which were clean, but the flush toilets/showers are within a reasonable walking distance. These were very clean. Soap but bring your towel.
Activities/Amenities: Aside from fishing and boating, there are many activities you can enjoy here including volleyball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, and basketball. When the gate attendant is there, you can check out supplies for these activities. There is also a hiking trail. We saw a few people kayaking. Horses are allowed in the group camping section (Sites 54-61).
Perhaps it is because we had an entire section to ourselves, but we had a relaxing and peaceful stay here and would definitely return.
GuideGreat location with lots of shade. Also, very close to the playground. Easy spot to back-in and is very level. Only downside is that you must be back in the park by 10:00 PM. They park managers will lock the gate and you either have to walk to your campsite or if you leave a car at the gate you can drive your secondary car while leaving your primary car outside the main gate. We were in town for a baseball tournament. Otherwise we would’ve been back in plenty of time.
TravelerWe had a great site on the bluff overlooking the lake. It was close to the restroom that was very clean and convenient.
GuideNice sites, beautiful views sites are mostly level, & friendly hosts.
Site was muddy due to rain the whole weekend.
TravelerStayed here in mid October-- RV side of campground was full but I was the only person on the tent side. Spot was nice, altho folks before me had left some trash around-- fire pit was still hot so not sure if the park caretakers had gotten a chance to run by before I got there to clean. Bathrooms were well kept and stocked, view of the lake was gorgeous. Will definitely be back! Had good signal with verizon.
The Big Hill Lake area offers several equestrian camping options within 20 minutes of Coffeyville, Kansas. Situated in the southeastern corner of Kansas at approximately 800 feet elevation, this region experiences humid continental climate with hot summers and mild winters. Horse enthusiasts can access specially designated trailer parking areas and corrals connected to an extensive trail network that wraps around the lake's perimeter.
Trophy fishing spots: Big Hill Lake has earned a reputation as one of the clearest lakes in Kansas. At Overlook, anglers target multiple species. "Big Hill Lake is known as a trophy lake for fishing. Principal species of sport fish include largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill, walleye and sunfish," notes reviewer N I.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The mixed terrain surrounding equestrian campgrounds near Coffeyville provides habitat for diverse wildlife. According to Mike W. at Overlook, the area offers "plenty of privacy and always clean and well taken care of. Spot 33 is my favorite."
Hiking trails: Beyond horseback riding, the area features hiking opportunities. At Blue Creek, Elizabeth L. reports: "Hiking/equestrian trails can be accessed from the group camp or park entrance." The Ruth Nixon Memorial Trail includes bluebird houses and connects multiple recreation areas.
Secluded campsites: Many horse camping areas near Coffeyville feature private sites with lake access. At Hawthorn Bluff, Stephen R. explains: "The site that we had was more than enough room for 4 adults, 3 kids and a dog. We had 2 cars, two tents, a canopy and the dog on a tie out leash and still had plenty of room for the kids to play."
Varied terrain: The equestrian trails provide diverse riding experiences. "The park is nestled in the rolling, wooded countryside with thick oak-hickory forests surrounded by prairie and farmland, the lake shore supplies a variety of habitats for birds and mammals," notes N I. about Timber Hill.
Off-season opportunities: Some campgrounds allow early-season access. Blake B. at Hawthorn Bluff points out: "Talking to one passer-by, who explained that Hawthorn Bluff does not charge for camping until April 1st." However, this brings tradeoffs as "the showers were locked and not opened as well as another restroom."
Site selection matters: At horse campgrounds near Coffeyville, Kansas, topography can create challenges. Chris L. from Timber Hill notes: "Almost every site had a lot of debris (just leaves and rotted wood) which I think led to there being a lot of ticks."
Lakeside sites have terrain considerations: When selecting spots for horses, be aware of elevation changes. At Blue Creek, Lee D. found: "It is often impossible to determine the best site when reserving but after arriving, we discovered that Site 55 was not going to work for us. It had a very short sloping half-circle drive and after 10 minutes of maneuvering, it was obvious there was no way we were going to be level."
Water access limitations: Not all equestrian sites have direct hookups. Sherly C. from Hawthorn Bluff mentions: "The only downside is that they don't have water hookups at the sites. You can connect your hose to the nearest spigot but you better hope it's long enough."
Swimming access: Several campgrounds near horse trails include swimming areas. At Hawthorn Bluff, Stephen R. reports: "The swim beach was well kept and easily accessible with free life jacket loaners."
Playground options: Families with children have access to play areas near equestrian camps. Jennifer D. from Dog Iron Ranch & Will Rogers Birthplace shares: "There's lots of animals to pet and lots of history to learn. You can tour the birthplace for free, there's an old barn to explore, you can go hiking."
Safety considerations: Some equestrian campsites require extra vigilance with children. Douglas from Hawthorn Bluff warns: "Lake side spots are not advisable if you have little ones, the bluffs are very close to the fire pits and have about a 30ft drop."
Leveling challenges: Some horse camping areas have uneven terrain. Ron K. from Hawthorn Bluff explains: "The site was slanted so much that we could not get level front to back. We moved a couple of times and tried all combination of stacking lumber under the tongue jack but still had to sleep with our heads at the foot end of our bed."
Reservation timing: Equestrian camping near Coffeyville can fill quickly. Douglas from Hawthorn Bluff advises: "Reserve early though this one fills up fast. We camped here in the middle of the week and they where already at 75%."
Seasonal considerations: Most equestrian facilities operate within specific dates. Neil T. notes Hawthorn Bluff was "Quiet. It was a mid-week stay during the school year." Most campgrounds in the area operate from April 1 to October 31.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Coffeyville, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Coffeyville, KS is Overlook with a 4-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Coffeyville, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Coffeyville, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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