Blue Creek Campground offers equestrian camping approximately 30 miles from Collinsville, Oklahoma, near Oologah Lake. The campground sits at an elevation of 638 feet and receives about 43 inches of rainfall annually. Fort Gibson Lake and Keystone Lake provide additional options for horse enthusiasts seeking camping spots within a 45-minute drive of Collinsville.
What to do
Fishing access: Blue Creek Campground has convenient fishing spots directly from the campsite. "The lake was beautiful at sunset. The bathroom was clean, our spot had a covered picnic table, grill and fire ring," notes a visitor at Blue Creek.
Horseback riding trails: Explore the equestrian trails around Oologah Lake. At Dog Iron Ranch & Will Rogers Birthplace, visitors mention "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, there's horse trails as well."
Swimming options: Cool off during hot summer months at the designated swim areas. A camper at Sheppard Point reports, "The lake has a great swimming beach area - this seems to be a fishing lake, only a few jet skis were out besides fishing boats. Sandy bottom lake near swim beach."
What campers like
Peaceful settings: Many campers appreciate the quiet atmosphere at horse campgrounds near Collinsville. "We love this place. It's close to our home. It's quiet. It doesn't have the best amenities but the views are good. It's super quiet and sometimes you have a lot of the camp ground to yourself," reports a visitor to Blue Creek.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathrooms and campgrounds. At Taylor Ferry, campers note it is "clean and peaceful and quite and nice."
Lakeside views: The proximity to water adds to the camping experience. At Hawthorn Bluff, a camper shares, "We had a great site on the bluff overlooking the lake. It was close to the restroom that was very clean and convenient."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds in the area require advance bookings. At Hawthorn Bluff, a camper advises, "Very nice and clean campground. 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: Many campgrounds near Collinsville operate seasonally. Blue Creek is open from April 1 to September 30, while Hawthorn Bluff operates from April 1 to October 31.
Terrain challenges: Some sites may present leveling difficulties. A camper at Sheppard Point warns, "My RV spot is so unlevel it's almost unusable. Front to back there is 2 feet in elevation difference and a foot from side to side."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Take advantage of swimming areas and water recreation. A visitor to Jellystone Park at Keystone Lake shares, "We stayed the weekend and had a great time, there was plenty of things for the kids to do and enough space at our campsite that we didn't feel crowded in."
Kid-friendly trails: Look for shorter hiking paths suitable for children. At Hawthorn Bluff, families note "there is a nice sandy beach for swimming, a long rocky shoreline that is fun to explore and hunt shells, you can go fishing, boating, kayaking, visit goat island, the hiking trails are nice."
Safety considerations: Keep children away from steep dropoffs at some lakeside sites. A camper cautions about Hawthorn Bluff: "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."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose your site carefully based on access and levelness. At Blue Creek, an RVer notes, "Sites are level and have full hook ups. We didn't try the bathrooms or laundry rooms and stayed only 3 nights."
Hookup availability: Confirm what utilities are available before booking. An RVer at Taylor Ferry mentions, "The campground is great except no sewer connections. The boat ramp is fantastic, great views of the lake and plenty of trees most sites are shaded."
Pad conditions: Ask about pad materials and sizes. At Claremore Expo RV Park, an RVer reports, "The parking lots are level and the WiFi worked well. However only one shower was working and the two toilets are not enclosed."
