2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cedarock Park provides primitive equestrian camping opportunities on a spacious 500-acre property with 6 miles of dedicated horse trails. Campsites for equestrians are separate from regular camping areas and require a short quarter-mile hike to access. The park accommodates groups of various sizes, with a fee structure of $10 per night for groups under 10 people and an additional $1 per person for larger groups. Horse owners must bring their own portable corrals or high-line equipment as permanent facilities are not available. The park features two separate trail systems - 6 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of equestrian trails - allowing riders to explore without conflicting with hikers. Trail noise from nearby roads can be heard at night, particularly in certain camping areas.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area offers additional options for riders seeking equestrian-friendly camping within the region. The bridle trails connect to multiple camping areas throughout the 7 different access points of this natural preserve. Crosswinds Campground at Jordan Lake provides water access alongside its trail systems, making it convenient for horses needing hydration after rides. Reservations are required for all equestrian sites and can be made online or by calling the park office directly. A three-night maximum stay limit applies at Cedarock Park. The extensive trail network accommodates various skill levels, from beginner to experienced riders. Park gates close according to seasonal hours (ranging from 6pm in winter months to 9pm in summer), so riders should plan trail excursions accordingly to avoid being locked in overnight. Camping with horses requires advance planning as facilities are limited in the Graham area.
"Our site (17) was on the opposite side of the real lake access and right across from the annual spots so we never really had too much privacy but most of the neighbors were very curteous and friendly."
"Located close to nothing else, this campground was so peaceful at night. During the day, it’s beautiful. It’s got showers with hot water and accessible facilities. Great camping!"
"Cedarock Park, located in Burlington, North Carolina, is a hidden gem for all sorts of outdoor activities. The park offers hike-in camping with a handful of sites scattered along Rock Creek."
"The park is almost 500 acres in size and offers:
- 6 miles of hiking trails
- 6 miles of equestrian trails
- 2 disc golf courses with a total of 36 holes for play
- A historical farm restored"
from $10 / night
"This area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department. "
"Located just 30 miles west of Raleigh, Jordan Lake provides 7 different access points throughout this amazing natural preserve. "
Available this weekend
from $27 - $77 / night
"We've hiked umstead and other local trails almost every week for the past 5 months."
"Umstead is conveniently located in the heart of Raleigh, NC. It seems to be an outdoor oasis as you can get lost in the woods with the hustle and bustle of the city all around you."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $75 / night
"This campground is adjacent to the NC State Fairgrounds. Sites are spacious and full hook ups. Gravel roadways and grass/gravel sites."
"Restaurants and downtown Raleigh are within short driving distance. Public bathrooms and showers (cold water) are a 2 minute walk to Horse Complex H6, Barn B Very little tree cover."
from $45 / night
"There are tons of hiking trails all around and plenty of bike trails too! Conveniently located north of Raleigh, NC and close to many major highways."
"None of the sites are located right on the lake. You either walk the trails or drive down."
Available this weekend
from $72 / night
GuideThe sites are very large, long and wider at the back, plenty of room for a big group or family. The bathrooms look new and they are clean. Here during the week so it's very empty and quiet.
TravelerWe visited Crosswinds campground at Jordan Lake State Park on the worst heatwave of the year. The great thing about this area is that the sites a well shaded. We were about 50 yards from the lake, with the wind blowing we still were comfortable all day. We stayed on Loop A, which is my favorite loop at the park. There’s no electricity or water at the sites. There are water spickets throughout the loop with potable water. The site is awesome! There’s a small pond beside it. The neighboring sites are close, but regular conversations can not be heard.this loop is always quiet even when there are a lot of people, but it’s never been full when I’m there. I didn’t do good with photos except for the food.
ScoutDecent campground in a beautiful location along Lake Jordan. Crosswinds Campground is one of several sites on the lake. We chose this location since the gates stay open all the time, while other sites have a curfew that can lock you out for the night.
The staff are super friendly and helpful. There’s apparently a camp host whom we never met and they’re on the site next to ours (not sure if they’re supposed to greet us or help us get acquainted with the site, but the staff member at check in was great and did all that when we arrived).
Loop C is quiet, very few children, and less road noise compared to the other loops, but doesn’t have the same access to the lake.
Site C50 is conveniently located close to the bath house, has a large fire pit with adjustable grill, picnic table, and hookups for water and electricity. We’re in a tent, so really just use the electricity. The picnic table here should be replaced, as the wood seems to be rotting, but still does the job. There are a few sites in loop C that do have direct access to the lake, but those tend to be booked all of the time. We explored one last night and couldn’t believe it was vacant and how much nicer it seemed.
Bathrooms are not as clean as I would like, but I bring disinfectant wipes to wipe the toilet before use. Showers are fine, but use an annoying motion sensor to turn the water on/off. Showering at night is annoying with the bugs because the bathhouse is lit like a beacon (probably for safety). Waiting for the daytime is a better experience. Also, there isn’t a washing station for dishes, and we do that at our site.
Firewood can be purchased by the staff at the campground entrance; however, the exact same firewood is almost $4 fewer at a Refuel station down the street. Definitely stop into that gas station store for things you might need.
Overall, really good experience staying here, some annoying things, but won’t ruin your stay.
ScoutReally fantastic spot to camp! Great sites and hook ups (no sewer, but EASY dump station)! Go for Loop B - it has the beach.
LegendB.W. Wells Campground at Falls Lake felt like stepping into a quiet forest hideaway, where the kids could explore trails, spot eagles over the water, and watch butterflies while we enjoyed campfires under the trees. It’s strictly hike-in and tent-only, so we had to pack light and plan carefully, but the trade-off was true peace and space to connect without the noise of RVs or busy roads. With shaded group sites, fire pits, picnic tables, nearby restrooms, and lake access perfect for paddling or fishing, it offered a rustic yet rewarding experience that was still close enough to Wake Forest for a quick meal or supply run when we needed it.
ScoutThe staff are all very friendly and helpful
GuideThis is an excellent place to stay. It’s very clean, lots to do, beautiful view of lake. Great hiking trails.
GuideThis is a very large campground that can accommodate any size RV. They do not allow tents. All sites are gravel, but are quite level. I pulled in, and didn't have to adjust anything. Pets are welcome, but as everywhere, dogs must be on a leash (not more than 6' long). If you put the address into your GPS, it will take you to the main fairgrounds. You need to put NC state fairgrounds CAMPGROUND. It is about a quarter mile from the main fairgrounds.
ScoutNo amenities, but the price reflects that. Conveniently located to everything this area offers. Fun to check out whatever is happening at the fairgrounds and the horse complex is across the street. Big rig friendly but you might need to park your your truck/road a ver short walk away if you have a very large rig. The issue here is lack of oversight. There are security folks, but only if you call and request them. There is trash pickup, but no other staff anywhere. So people break the various rules often. Mainly they stay longer than 14 days. There were squatters when we were here one time - about 5 rigs and they wouldn’t leave and had no reservations. They were gone two weeks later when we came back (state troopers and Raleigh PD had to get involved).
Equestrian camping near Graham, North Carolina offers riders access to dedicated trail systems spanning various terrain types across Alamance County's 500+ acre parks. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and winter lows reaching 30°F, affecting trail conditions throughout the year. Water levels in local creeks and ponds fluctuate seasonally, impacting crossings on equestrian routes.
Trail riding at Cane Creek: Explore nearly 6 miles of dedicated trails at Cane Creek Campground and RV Park where riders appreciate the mix of wooded paths and lakeside routes. "Beautiful little park nestled into the woods! Our site (17) was on the opposite side of the real lake access and right across from the annual spots," notes Mandy L.
Visit historical farms: The restored 19th-century farm at William B. Umstead State Park Campground provides educational opportunities about agricultural history. "There are historic cabins with cots to sleep on. There is electricity in the cabins," reports Erica F., making this an interesting day trip from Graham.
Disc golf between rides: Take a break from horseback riding and try one of the two disc golf courses with 36 total holes available near equestrian camping areas. "There are two fantastic disc golf courses (I personally enjoy the Wellspring course)," mentions one visitor to the Graham area parks.
Private campsites: B.W. Wells — Falls Lake State Recreation Area offers wooded sites that provide shade and privacy for equestrians. "Located on a semi rural area, the sites are very wooded and quiet. There was a lake nearby with an open sky where you could see hundreds of stars at night," writes Kristen W.
Lake access for horses: Water access points make Crosswinds Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area popular among horse owners. "Great Campsites, nice wooded sites and close to lake access. Great hiking trails and very family friendly. Deer walked right behind our site. Boat ramp in campground," notes Wendy M., highlighting the natural setting.
Level camping terrain: The flat terrain at most sites makes setup easier after a day of riding. "The sites are all super flat, which makes finding some place comfortable to set up a tent that much easier," one camper observed about camping facilities near Graham.
Seasonal closures: Many horse camping areas around Graham follow restricted schedules with varying closure dates. William B. Umstead is open "March 15 to December 1" while B.W. Wells operates "March 15 to November 30," requiring winter trip planning.
Site reservation requirements: All equestrian camping near Graham requires advance booking. "Reservations are required (though they do accept walk-ins at the park office). You can reserve a site either by calling the park office or by going online," explains a regular visitor.
Gate locking policies: Several campgrounds lock entrance gates at night. "The campsites are alright minus the hike but the downside is they lock the gate at night and no one else is there so if you have an emergency or just need to leave you can't, you're literally stuck," cautions Summer C. at Cedarock Park.
Playground access: Choose sites near recreational facilities for children. "Plenty of places to tent camp or RV camp! Places to fish things for kids to play on and of course places to shower after! One of my family's favorite places to camp!" recommends Krista H. about Cane Creek.
Creek exploration: Shallow water areas provide safe play spaces between rides. "We hiked down with our stuff and set up at campsite 4. We were the only ones there for the weekend and there was ample space for setting up. We used the fire pit and the kids played in the creek," shares Tara T.
Noise considerations: Road noise affects some camping areas, especially those closest to main roads. "The only downside is the road noise at night - it was very loud. Next time we will bring something to help quiet the noise," advises one family camping near Graham with children.
Full hookup limitations: Most equestrian-specific campsites lack full RV hookups, so plan accordingly. "This campground is pretty great except for two things. there is no septic on your site, and they lock the gate after a certain hour. if you need something or arrive after hours you are out of luck," notes Debbie F. about Crosswinds Campground.
Hickory tree caution: Park RVs away from hickory trees which drop nuts that can damage roofs and AC units. "Roughly 7 weeks into my 13 week stay a large storm rolled through and a hickory nut busted the top of my ac unit on my roof and the nut broke the blades of my fan off," reports a camper at Cane Creek.
Alternative non-equestrian options: For RVers without horses but wanting proximity to equestrian areas, North Carolina State Fairgrounds offers basic full-hookup sites. "We stayed for 12 days in the section with full hookups and found the campground pretty quiet. The lots were close, but you didn't feel crowded. Some shade from oak trees. All spaces are back-in. Our site was level," reports S G.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Graham, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Graham, NC is Cane Creek Campground and RV Park with a 4.2-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Graham, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Graham, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
