Looking for a rustic and comfortable horse camping experience near Gardner? Camping with horses is a beautiful way to experience nature. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect equestrian sites that are scenic and easy to access.
The Ahtus Melder Equestrian Camp is set up very openly, leaving the campers to use their imagination on how best to camp. Melder Camp is very primitive, no water is available, no restroom facilities, please bring your trash out with you and enjoy your stay.
Visitors to Oak Camp can expect a primitive camp inside the National Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve. This camp is available for horse and general camping. No OHV camping allowed. This camp is also a designated hunter's camp. General camping, no water available, and vault toilets.
$5 / night
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 https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
The Hunter Camp is a very primitive camping area in the middle of the forest. There is a camping loop area and a vault restroom facility and is centrally located near the Ouiska Chitto Trail. The Longleaf Scenic Area is also nearby with the Big Branch Trail running right next to the camp.
The Enduro camp has vaulted restrooms. There are no trash receptacles so please bring out what you bring in. There is no water available at this site so be sure to bring plenty of your own.
Rustic Sky Horse Camp is the perfect getaway for camping, horseback riding, hiking, fellowship and family entertainment.
Amenities include: a genuine old west saloon, a cooking / eating pavilion, public rest rooms, showers, stalls, horse wash bays, round-pens, turn-outs, obstacles, cabins, rooms and pool, washer/dryers, muck forks, muck wagons & water hoses to stalls.
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 https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Traveler
This camp is a short distance from the highway, Solar There are some nice flat new sites that have been installed and it looks like more new ones are coming.
Traveler
Theres a hiking trail near by, stating no motorized vehicles, but you can mountain bike, hike and ride horses. Area Code No fishing near by unless you drive to the blue hole complex further down range road.
GuideThe Hunter Camp is situated just off range road. You're surrounded by wilderness. The only amenities are a vault toilet. Fort Polk is close enough for supplies, check your gate schedules. Marines were utilizing the ranges in the area, and a couple officers came though the hunter camp just exploring.
Theres a hiking trail near by, stating no motorized vehicles, but you can mountain bike, hike and ride horses. No fishing near by unless you drive to the blue hole complex further down range road.
Apparently they're allowing logging around the camp, so do a check before you go set up.
Scout
This sure is not far at all from Corral camp which cost $10 a night. This one is free though and is only about a 2 min drive. No hook ups and we got our 43 ft 5th wheel in just fine. There are atvs out here they didn’t bother us.
LegendStatus: open
Fee: $10.00 per night $ 5.00 Sandstone Trail Day Use
This camp is for the purpose of OTV riding but regular camping is allowed. Drinking water, flush toilet, picnic table, fire ring, trash. This camp is a short distance from the highway, There are some nice flat new sites that have been installed and it looks like more new ones are coming. This really is a great place for the family and all the family fun.
LNT
Travel safe
Legend
FREE
FCFS
Clairborne Trail $5.00 access fee
This campground is free and will accommodate RV's, tents, and trailers. No facilities, totally primitive. This is a really great spot and plenty of room for all. Great open green space for grazing. No reason to park next to your neighbor. Site is well maintained but if it has rained it could be very muddy. Very open and it has nice mature trees.
Pack it in, Pack it out
LNT
Travel safe
LegendPack it in, Pack it out
FCFS
Fees: $5.00 per night
Limit: 14 days
Horse and general camping with no OHV camping. NO WATER but there are pit toilets and there was one fire ring. Beautiful pine and hardwoods with a lot of fairly flat area. Beautiful shade and the area can handle small RV's and trailers. The area is VERY busy during hunting season. We will return one day.
GuideMe and a few fellas went here fir a weekend trip tent camping it has water and a restroom but no shower or electricity. This was a GREAT weekend guys trip
GuideMost of the campgrounds here are great. We passed by Coyote Camp and there were a few hunters. This campsite is more primitive, but does offer man-made fire rings and vault toilets. There was a small amount of litter present, but not as bad as other places we’ve been. The roads are very easy to traverse.
We hiked along a few trails that were open (many have been closed due to covid maybe) and it was really fun, mostly flat hikes. Night time will bring about the coyotes and all their lovely howls, so be prepared for some noises come dark. Overall, if you want a peaceful place to relax with serene surroundings, definitely come here.
TravelerMy wife and I camped here just before memorial day and had the entire campsite to ourselves. I imagine during hunting season this camp is quite busy, however we found it very peaceful in the off months. But hey, it’s free camping. Because of its location so deep in the woods mosquitoes, horseflies, and yellow flies were in abundance. Using a therma cell was perfect at keeping them at bay. There is a composting toilet in the middle of the campground that was very clean as it has had very little use.
LegendThere is not much to this campground. Located inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline District. As soon as you enter the area, there is a small loopped grassy area with lots of trees. Nothing else to indicate a campground (other than the sign). If you follow the road/concrete path, you may lose a tire or axil bc the road is in BAD condition. Staying here gives you access to the forrest and multiuse trails.
LegendIsnide the Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District Lotus campground offers water, flush toilets and easy access to the Sandstone Trail. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table and lots of tree roots. This campground is designated for off road vehicle campers as opposed to horse campers. A bit scary when it started raining and we were under those big beautiful trees, but we made it through. Again, the campgrounds in this area are so well marked and easy to find. There is a $3 per night fee to camp here and a $5 trail use fee.
LegendOak campground inside Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District is a secluded little spot to camp if you have been riding your horse on the trails. (Or not bc we stayed here with no horse). This was the first campground where there was actually other people here. There is no water, vault toilets and lots of trees and space to play. Just down the road, trees are being harvested but that did not interfere with our stay. This campground does not accommodate off road vehicles (they could spook the horses I guess) but there are many more campgrounds throughout the forest connected to the trails that do. The grounds are really well kept.
LegendInside the Kisatchie National Forest, Calcasieu District, Vernon Unit. 2 loops of dispersed camping, grounds not well kept, vault toilet. There is no water and signs say pack in and pack out but there was a trash bin. Very basic place to pitch a tent and explore the area around.
Legend
Campground: Inside the Kisatchie Natinal Forest, Calcasieu Ranger District, Vernon Unit. This is dispersed camping with a pavilion and vault toilets available. No water, must pack it in.
Trails: there are miles and miles of trails attached to this campground. OHV, horse or hiking. Beautiful area, just don't forget sunscreen, water, bug and tick repellant. The trails are very well marked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gardner, LA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gardner, LA is Ahtus Melder Camp with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gardner, LA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Gardner, LA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
