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Best Equestrian Camping near California, MD

55 Reviews

Cedarville State Forest provides equestrian camping opportunities near California, Maryland with several dedicated trails for horseback riding. While the campground does not feature horse corrals or dedicated equestrian campsites, visitors often bring horses to utilize the extensive trail system. The forest maintains a network of equestrian trails that wind through mature woodland, with some trails specifically marked for horse use. Camping accommodations include 27 sites suitable for tents and RVs, with electric hookups available at sites on the inner loop. Hikers and riders often encounter each other on the shared trails, as the equestrian paths integrate with the forest's broader trail system. The campground remains open from April through October, with sites featuring picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms with showers.

The horse trails at Cedarville State Forest connect to a broader network of paths, allowing for extended riding opportunities. Visitors report seeing wildlife including deer, rabbits, and turtles along the equestrian routes. While camping with horses, riders should be aware of potential tick exposure, as multiple visitors note significant tick presence throughout the forest area. The trails offer varied terrain suitable for different riding abilities, though seasonal conditions may affect accessibility after rainfall. Pohick Bay Regional Park, located approximately 30 miles away in Virginia, offers additional camping options but does not specifically cater to equestrian use. Both locations provide reasonable proximity to Washington DC, making them convenient options for horse owners seeking weekend trail riding opportunities while remaining close to urban amenities. Trail maps are available at the ranger station, though the office may have limited hours during certain seasons.

Best Equestrian Sites Near California, Maryland (3)

    1. Cedarville State Forest

    17 Reviews
    Brandywine, MD
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 888-1410

    $30 / night

    "We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."

    "There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk."

    2. Pohick Bay Campground

    37 Reviews
    Lorton, VA
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 339-6104

    $37 - $170 / night

    "We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."

    "We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."

    3. Andrews AFB Military FamCamp

    1 Review
    Clinton, MD
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 981-4109

    $18 - $30 / night

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near California, MD

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near California, MD

55 Reviews of 3 California Campgrounds

  • R
    Oct. 4, 2021

    Cedarville State Forest

    Peaceful

    We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop. We could hear and smell horses when we got to our campsite, but it didn't last forever. 

    The site was mostly clean, had a few pieces of small trash scattered around when we arrived. The sites were decently spaced out from one another, it didn't feel like we were right on top of the people across and next to us. Our site was close to the restroom, it had a little path leading to the restroom, and it looked like there was little trail paths all around leading to the restrooms from the different parts of the loop. The path leading to the restroom from our site was gravel and easy to walk on. The restrooms were clean, but the floor was wet almost the entire time we were there (likely due to the showers).

    If you need to buy wood it is $5 for 8 pieces and you call a number given to you in your registration packet. The ranger will then drive by and drop off the wood at your campsite. The inner ring of this loop has electricity, and the electric box was just on the far side of the picnic table in the corner.

  • Ben J.
    Aug. 31, 2019

    Cedarville State Forest

    Pretty cool for so close to DC

    Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates. Moderate privacy and space, especially considering how close it is to DC. There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk. Equestrian trails go deep into the woods if you want a longer trail. Bathrooms don’t look like much from the outside, but the inside is very nice. Clean, hot water, and good water pressure. The have a new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower. It was hot, so it was OK. Hahaha. They sell firewood, but they were huge pieces and getting them to start burning was tough. LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers. Each site had picnic table, fire ring, and pretty level parking spot.

  • Kasey M.
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Cedarville State Forest

    Mosquitos, Overgrown & Quiet

    We chose this campground based on proximity to work. This campground was priced fairly, however, it does come with its downfalls.

    PROS

    Let me start with the positive, we were 1 of 3 campers in this loop during our week-long stay. This made it peaceful and quiet. 

    CONS

    It's close to a Naval base, and therefore you constantly hear airplanes, and helicopters at all times. 

    Other than the daily bathroom cleaning, this campground lacks maintenance on sites and walkways. They are both overgrown. 

    Playground, fishing, archery all seem blocked off at this time. 

    Trails seem open but are across and through hunting areas. They are also muddy from the rain. There is even standing water around our site which brings us to...the MOSQUITOS! We tried fans, tiki torches, and many deet free or light deet products before having to buy 100% deet so we could be outside. These things are awful!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 29, 2024

    Pohick Bay Campground

    Good trip

    We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids. The waterpark is new and loud so we avoid but nice if you have young kids. Careful low bridge on Route 1 exit ramp little warning when taking ramp off I95. Go around to next exit. The check in at the cap store is crowded and narrow even with renovations but our 34 ft makes it okay. Bring bikes. Long bike trail along road. Farmers markets in Lorton and things to do in DC. Park at Huntington or Springfield metro. Short boat ride straight across from Ft Belvoir new family campground. Ice cream shop in season by water docks. Bathrooms clean always hot water three stalls each. Sink outside for dishes. Playground buts up against inner circle which are the only sewer sites. Others are electric water. Careful some near steep drop off. Stick to main road or inner circle or first circle if in big unit. Must go round circle to get to those spots which can be annoying. Two speed bumps. Camp store sells smores ingredients, limited candy, no eggs or bacon get those off Rte 1. Past entrance on Rte 1 is a Food Lion, McDonalds. Gas stations along Rte one are tight so fill up before exiting to campground. If you are desperate there is gas 7/11 at corner of Pohick and Rte 1 but its sketchy. Up the road off Rte 1 is Fort Belvoir Access w a drivers license however cant shop without military sponsored ID. Great bbq at Telegraph Rd and greek at Olympians family restaurant. Movie theater on Telegraph is nice. Springfield Mall close. Take Onville Rd which is a backroad by Pohick Church to shortcut to Rte 1. Pohick Rd past camping turn deadends into private neighborhood. Do not pass camp entrance. Hard to turn around if you do. Near End of Pohick is a small walk with overlook. See birds at point. Drive a car not RV. Park at lot on right before road split deadend. Gunston Hall on left can see from campground and water. Tours are nice.

  • Kelsey K.
    Jul. 4, 2021

    Pohick Bay Campground

    Family oriented, but super close and not private

    Initially disappointed by the tiny spot we got, but we were able to move. Majority of the spots are extremely close to the next and doesn't allow much privacy. Very few trees in between. We chose another spot that was available, however, we found out the first night that there is a boat area and bright light all night right behind us and the light came through the tent. Another dissapointment. We camped in a tent and did 3 nights, 4 days. (4th of July weekend) We loved the family friendliness that allowed us to walk right down the street/trail to take our kids to the water park. They give you a discounted price if you are camping. They also have mini golf and disc golf near by as well. If we come again, we will definitely be more particular about our spot. They also had bathrooms and showers not to far from our spot that were actually clean.

  • Jenifer K.
    May. 11, 2019

    Pohick Bay Campground

    Woods and City

    We stayed here for 3 nights at a back in with w/e. We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area. We were working in Arlington/DC only a 25 min drive away and it was nice to come home to some nature.

  • moonbeans
    Oct. 15, 2022

    Cedarville State Forest

    Great beginner’s campground

    Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC.

    If you’ve forgotten anything you can pop on by the Target or Costco right outside the forest.

    Also, you can purchase wood while checking in and the Rangers don’t mind if you take a bit extra. Just bring your own starters and kindling (or a small hatchet/saw).

    Planes do occasionally fly over the area so consider bringing earplugs if you are a sensitive sleeper. The noise wasn’t really noticeable when I went on a Saturday (the neighboring campsite’s dogs were louder).

  • Chris F.
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Cedarville State Forest

    A Crime of Opportunity

    If this campground is convenient - and given that it's open through October and <60 minutes from DC it might well be - this campground is good to go. But without that convenience factor I would not rate this site as worth visiting.

    The loop is very small, with all the sites pretty close together. The forest behind the site was sparse, enough so that it was hard to find fuel for the fire and we were basically part of the youth group activities happening. From 8am to 4pm I learned A LOT about what number to dial in case of emergency.

    The site itself was very small - difficult to get 2 cars and two tents in - and the fire ring was smaller as well. Though it was cleaner than the average state park site.

    We stayed in site 21, which was fine enough except for its proximity to the nearest pavilion and all the small children screaming "stop drop and roll" at the top of their lungs.

    But at the end of the day it was $20 (with a $6 booking fee) and for better or worse we never interacted with a single park ranger or camp host. The upside is we could do what we wanted, the downside is there wasn't a sense of community, or regulation.

    I'll say I have never been to a site where the firewood is padlocked, and you have to call someone to come unlock it so you can buy firewood. In fact I'm downgrading the review from 3 stars to 2 as I write this - there really weren't many positives about this campground other than that camping is a terrific hobby.

  • Jason S.
    Apr. 5, 2022

    Cedarville State Forest

    Awesome Trails

    This was a great place to stay. Very quiet and with some amazing trails within walking distance. Very well laid out and excellent signage.

Guide to California

Campgrounds near California, Maryland offer diverse outdoor experiences in Maryland's southern region. Located in St. Mary's County, camping options range from forested sites to waterfront locations along the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide milder camping conditions between 60-75°F.

What to do

Hiking trails: Cedarville State Forest maintains several well-marked hiking paths through Maryland woodlands. "We hiked the brown trail and it was a nice walk," notes a visitor to Cedarville State Forest. The forest also features "equestrian trails that go deep into the woods if you want a longer trail."

Water activities: Pohick Bay provides water-based recreation on the Potomac River. "Boat rental is a short walk down the trail from the campgrounds," explains one camper at Pohick Bay Campground. During summer months, many visitors enjoy the water park, with one reviewer noting, "We loved, loved, loved the water park feature."

Disc golf: Several parks in the area maintain disc golf courses. "I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," suggests a regular visitor to Pohick Bay. The course is "a short trail walk away" from the main camping areas.

What campers like

Wildlife viewing: The region provides opportunities to spot native wildlife. At Pohick Bay Campground, you'll find "eagles everywhere" according to one enthusiastic reviewer. Other campers report seeing snakes, alligator snapping turtles, and rabbits near Cedarville State Forest.

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities. "Restrooms were clean, closed daily for cleaning between 1 pm - 3 pm," reports a visitor to Cedarville State Forest. Another notes that "shower room was very nicely kept, nice paths from each campsite to restrooms."

Family programming: Organized activities enhance the camping experience for families with children. At Pohick Bay Campground, "they had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend, they had an outdoor movie scheduled for Friday night, a campfire story time scheduled for Saturday night and crafts scheduled for Sunday morning."

What you should know

Ticks and insects: Bug protection is essential in this region. Multiple reviewers at Cedarville State Forest warn about ticks: "I've never left this park without at least one tick" and "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers." Mosquitoes can also be problematic, with one camper reporting they "tried fans, tiki torches, and many deet free or light deet products before having to buy 100% deet."

Noise considerations: Proximity to military and urban areas affects some camping experiences. Cedarville is "close to a Naval base, and therefore you constantly hear airplanes, and helicopters at all times." Light pollution from DC also impacts stargazing, as "it's quiet, but not too dark, as the lights from DC interfere with the night sky here."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near California, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near California, MD is Cedarville State Forest with a 3.8-star rating from 17 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near California, MD?

TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near California, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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