Best Equestrian Camping near El Dorado, KS

El Dorado State Park offers equestrian camping in the Boulder Bluff Area's dedicated equestrian loop. The campground features back-in sites with fire rings, grills, and picnic tables, though campers note these amenities are inconsistently placed and often on the wrong side for trailer parking. Parking pads are not level, requiring preparation before setup. The equestrian sites provide easy access to water, with some spots positioned directly near the shoreline where waves can be heard throughout the night. Primitive pit toilets serve the equestrian loop, while the main bath house facilities may have maintenance issues including non-functional showers, lukewarm water, and lack of privacy doors. The park's location provides convenient access to both El Dorado city amenities and Wichita.

The extensive trail system throughout El Dorado State Park accommodates riders of various experience levels. Horse owners camping in the equestrian loop benefit from the peaceful lakeside setting with mature trees providing ample shade. The park encompasses multiple camping areas across its massive footprint, including the Boulder Bluff and Walnut River sections. Riders appreciate the combination of wooded areas and lake views, with some campsites positioned for direct water access. Beyond horseback riding, the park offers additional recreational opportunities including an archery range, swimming beaches, fishing spots, and paved trails suitable for biking. Bathroom and shower facilities vary in quality throughout the different camping areas. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer months when the park experiences higher visitor traffic. Local campgrounds are searchable through The Dyrt's listings.

Best Equestrian Sites Near El Dorado, Kansas (4)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near El Dorado, KS

34 Reviews of 4 El Dorado Campgrounds


  • T
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Beautiful and peaceful

    We stayed in the equestrian loop. All but a couple primitive sites are back-in. The layout of the fire rings, grills and picnic tables are all weird... Not consistent and usually on the wrong side of your trailer. The parking pad was nowhere near level, so you'll want to plan for that. The trees are lovely. You're very near the water and the breeze was beautiful. The toilet at the loop are pit. The bath house was not clean and many of the showers didn't work.. Water is lukewarm but water pressure was great. No stall doors on toilets or showers. We used the city of El Dorado dump station. The park is massive. Lots of amenities in El Dorado. And a quick jump to Wichita. We will be back.

  • Angie S.
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Walnut River Area — El Dorado State Park

    Big Oak Campground

    You'd think the Big Oak Campground in El Dorado State Park would be amazing. It's shaded with huge trees, nice sized sites some of which are very spread out, a quick walk to the swim beach and a quick drive to put your boat in the water. Unfortunately these pluses are far outweighed by the negatives. First the bathrooms were horrible. I realize they are older restrooms but they smelled awful, they were never obviously cleaned, the showers were not even a tiny bit private, the door to the restroom was broken and had to be propped open with a tree branch. Just over the bridge at the swim beach they were worse and some of the doors in the women’s room were missing. Yuck! Secondly basic campground rules were not enforced at all. The site across from us easily had 30 people camping and were up until 4am with loud music and a bright light on. I’m not kidding, my daughter was up around 3 to use the restroom and we walked by twice. The family in the site next to us had at least 4 cars and 2 tents set up outside the site on the walking path in addition to their two tents in their own site. The dog free swim beach had dogs on it. We camp with our dogs, one of which loves to swim and even I don’t want dogs on a public beach. Our camping weekend was negatively affected by poor camping etiquette and a sever lack of basic rule enforcement. We won’t be back to El Dorado State Park Big Oak campsite any time soon, at least not during the busy summer camping season. Cross Timbers and Fall River are much better!

  • Angie S.
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Walnut River Area, Big Oak Campground

    You'd think the Big Oak Campground in El Dorado State Park would be amazing. It's shaded with huge trees, nice sized sites some of which are very spread out, a quick walk to the swim beach and a quick drive to put your boat in the water. Unfortunately these pluses are far outweighed by the negatives. First the bathrooms were horrible. I realize they are older restrooms but they smelled awful, they were never obviously cleaned, the showers were not even a tiny bit private, the door to the restroom was broken and had to be propped open with a tree branch. Just over the bridge at the swim beach they were worse and some of the doors in the women’s room were missing. Yuck! Secondly basic campground rules were not enforced at all. The site across from us easily had 30 people camping and were up until 4am with loud music and a bright light on. I’m not kidding, my daughter was up around 3 to use the restroom and we walked by twice. The family in the site next to us had at least 4 cars and 2 tents set up outside the site on the walking path in addition to their two tents in their own site. The dog free swim beach had dogs on it. We camp with our dogs, one of which loves to swim and even I don’t want dogs on a public beach. Our camping weekend was negatively affected by poor camping etiquette and a sever lack of basic rule enforcement. We won’t be back to El Dorado State Park Big Oak campsite any time soon. Cross Timbers and Fall River are much better!

  • Brittany G.
    Oct. 4, 2020

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Peaceful stay

    My husband, our 2 dogs, and I stayed at the Equestrian Loop. We pulled in our PUP for a night sleep. The spot we chose to pop up was right near the water, and you could hear the waves hitting the shore all night long. A beautiful and peaceful sound.

  • Jason S.
    Apr. 14, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Fun Area

    This Park is closer to home so just took my son on a quick fishing/camping overnigh for his birthday. Stayed at the Walnut River Area, the Blue stem area was still closed down for winter in April. Lots of good places to fish on this reservoir, fish weren't biting so we spent quite a bit of time riding our bikes around the area. There is a large playground for kids, a nice swim beach away from the main lake, an archery range, and they are building a pistol/ rifle range next to the ranger station for public use.

  • Z
    May. 27, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    El Dorado State Park Bluestem for an easy, laid-back weekend!

    Restrooms with showers and dumpsters (for you campsite garbage) are widely available during camping season. The designated swim areas are great for the whole family because there is a wide and far out area that doesn't get too deep while being roped off. NO STICKERS IN THE GRASS AT THE DESIGNATED CAMP SITES!!!!! At some sites, you can fish just feet from your tent. Beware at the box turtle camp site though, a channel runs 3-4 feet out from the shore and drops about 12 feet QUICK so don't swim there! The general store and bait shop at Bluestem is wonderful. If you visit Kansas State Parks frequently, it pays to purchase an annual vehicle permit early in the year when they are discounted rather than pay per day every time you visit.

  • Patrick B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2023

    Cowely county fishing lake

    Great spot for free camping

    Nice spot right next to the lake, very pretty and peaceful.

  • Kara S.
    May. 3, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Great Spot for a Short Trip

    We will stay here for overnight trips since it's only about 40 minutes from home. We usually stay on the Walnut River side as there is a large playground with tent sites close enough to keep an eye on the kiddos. They also have a swim area on this side. Bathroom and shower are next to the playground which is also convenient for us. There are some cool little hiking spots to explore. We just kicked off camping season last weekend here.


Guide to El Dorado

Horse camping in Kansas offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With several campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.

Equestrian campgrounds include essential amenities

Activities for horse campers

Tips for equestrian camping near El Dorado, Kansas

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near El Dorado, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near El Dorado, KS is Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park with a 3.5-star rating from 12 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near El Dorado, KS?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near El Dorado, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.