18 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Riley Horse Campground serves riders seeking access to Mount Hood National Forest's extensive trail system. The campground features larger, more separated sites with direct access to equestrian trails including the Romano Falls Trail. Horse pens are spacious enough to serve as hammock supports when not occupied by animals. The campground provides potable water for horses and riders, with spigots located between campsites. Despite its name and horse-focused amenities, non-equestrians can utilize the campground except during holidays when it's reserved exclusively for horse owners. Sites remain partially available during popular summer weekends, making this a reliable option when nearby campgrounds are full.
Trails accessible from Riley Horse Campground offer occasional views of Mount Hood through the forest canopy. Most sites feature ample parking for horse trailers and enough deadwood nearby for campfires throughout a weekend stay. The campground operates seasonally from May 22 to September 13, with facilities including vault toilets and trash disposal. Nearby Oxbow Regional Park offers an alternative camping experience with river access, though equestrians should note that horses occasionally share park trails with hikers. Both locations provide camping opportunities within easy driving distance of Portland while maintaining a secluded forest setting. Sites should be reserved in advance, particularly for weekend visits during peak season.
"Close proximity to Multonomah Falls. Pros - bathrooms with electric outlets, free showers, deer come close and are fun to watch, quiet & fairly private stay."
"There is distance between you and other guests but if you want to meet your neighbors you can. They have ADA sites, a lake, play grounds and a welcome center."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"It has wonderful hiking trails. There is swimming available in the warmer months in the Clackamas River. Horse trails for equestrians and fishing!"
"A short hike will take you right to the river and there’s plenty of nice trail to explore. If stepping around occasional horse poop isn’t your thing, maybe skip the hike though."
from $8 - $126 / night
Check Availability"It is not too far from the Portland area, I would recommend getting last minute supplies before getting off the highway."
"Secluded, open prime real estate: horse facilities abound here, but it works for everyone."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"Not only is the campground itself a woodland wonderland with winding paths through tall old growth forest areas, but the surrounding area of the park itself is impressive with exciting things to do around"
"We didn’t have any issues at the site, but noticed that spots RV4 and RV5 were relatively distanced from each other, while spots RV1-RV3 were pretty close to each other."
"Clackamas Lake is a great campsite. Fairly easy to find and navigate. Great for when you don't want to deal with the more crowded campgrounds."
"Great campground when nearby Timothy Lake campgrounds are full. The spot I had was large and not too close to other spots."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"If you want to camp in Oregon this is the place to go. There are several waterfalls and hiking trails. You can see wildlife and you can't beat the beauty. You can tent camp and they also have yurts."
"THE most beautiful park in Oregon that we've seen! Hiked for 5 hours! BEWARE: It's WET, so bring your wet weather gear, and good, sturdy hiking shoes for slippery terrain."
from $28 - $92 / night
Check Availability"Driving up there the way we drive (from Vancouver) you go up through ranching/farming territory and it’s nice and green and pretty, so it’s nice getting there."
"Hiking around the lake is a great way to start and/or end you day while staying at Battle Ground Lake SP. Horses are welcome. There are cabins available also. Several sites overlook the lake."
"Across the road is a horse camp that the PCT goes through. There is a spur from the PCT directly into the campground for easy access. There is a beautiful view of Mt."
"Some camp sots are better situated then others, so do research before making reservation."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Arrived here late for a single night stay on the way to the Oregon Coast. This is a very convenient stopover for those needing a place to stay near Portland."
"Jantzen Beach RV Park feels like a real-world stop straight out of a Subway Surfers World Tour—a lively, convenient, and colorful place where travelers pause, recharge, and enjoy the surroundings before"
from $40 / night
Check Availability
TravelerIf you want to camp in Oregon this is the place to go. There are several waterfalls and hiking trails. You can see wildlife and you can't beat the beauty. You can tent camp and they also have yurts.
ScoutGreat place to camp. It has wonderful hiking trails. There is swimming available in the warmer months in the Clackamas River. Horse trails for equestrians and fishing!
TravelerClackamas Lake is a great campsite. Fairly easy to find and navigate. Great for when you don't want to deal with the more crowded campgrounds.
While the camping sites are fairly close together, the site is usually lightly occupied. While we where there we only had one neighbor but the rest of the loop was empty.
For horse riders they have some equestrian only campsites.
There was plenty of trails in which to hike or ride, and a dock to go see the lake. You can also go swimming if your into Oregon lake or pond swimming.
Clackamas Lake itself is fairly small and in many ways feels more like a large and deep marsh then a lake.
Phone and internet reception (AT&T) is spotty at best.
LegendGreat campground when nearby Timothy Lake campgrounds are full. The spot I had was large and not too close to other spots. The campground was full, so there was the early morning sounds of children playing. I was in spot 8 which looked onto Clackamas Lake. Which side note is not a "lake" but more of a marshy pond with reeds and grass around the edge. Still I was able to situate my tent to look onto the lake. This spot is in the horse section so there were corrals in each spot. Looked like a horse had camped in the spot a few days earlier cause there were large piles of fresh horse poop I had to keep my dog away from. The table/tent area was about 75 feet from my car so I had to make many trips to get all my stuff into the site. If you are extra adventurous and in shape you can walk from the campground, around Timothy Lake and back, be warned this is just over 18 miles. The trail around Timothy Lake is not strenuous, and offers amazing views of Mt Hood, and there is water about half way through, but again be ready for a long hike.
LegendThis is hands down one of my favorite campgrounds, because the spots are large, far apart from the other sites, and very quiet. It is not too far from the Portland area, I would recommend getting last minute supplies before getting off the highway. The campground is a horse campground, but I reserved on the Monday before arrival and it was still very empty so no fear about taking a spot from equestrians. The spot I had (Spot 4) was huge, plenty of room for a larger party, felt like a quarter of an acre. There were no neighbors on one side of the spot and only the water spigot on the other. All the spots in the campground had plenty of space between spots. There was lots of dead, dried out wood laying all around the site that after a couple hours of collecting I had plenty to keep a fire all weekend, and still left a pile of wood when I left. The campground is close to many trails in the area, mainly Romano Falls Trail. There are views of Mt. Hood, peeking out through the trees here and there.
Additional Stay, Different Year
-A few more trees have been knocked down due to winter storms, but this is still a great campground.
GuideTHE most beautiful park in Oregon that we've seen! Hiked for 5 hours! BEWARE: It's WET, so bring your wet weather gear, and good, sturdy hiking shoes for slippery terrain. Saw all but the northern most two falls while hiking the trails. So many more to hike! Kids' play area inside Loop B, showers, and nature trails around the campground. RV dump at the horse camp turnoff. I'd try to reserve spots 9 or 12 (next to the playground and sunny spots) or 72 (next to the creek in the shade) next time! We rate this one an 8.
TravelerSite was nice and private, staff was very friendly, and the grounds were pretty clean! A short hike will take you right to the river and there’s plenty of nice trail to explore. If stepping around occasional horse poop isn’t your thing, maybe skip the hike though. Plenty of horses and dogs around.
LegendA large state park located near Estacada on the banks of the Clackamas River, Milo McIver is a well-loved Oregon state park. Because it's close to Portland, it is very busy. The main campsite area is set for tents as well as RVs with electric and water hookups available. Campsites are kind of close together but well appointed with bathrooms/showers available. There is a small tent-only area also available but the sites are kind of cramped and they all spin off a common parking area with little privacy.
The park overall has lots of different open spaces for hiking, interpretive programs, disc golf, fishing, areas for horse riding, and a great overlook on the Clackamas River.
LegendSmaller, but we were able to switch sites away from an area with two families/lots of little kids (so the area is easy for people who don't camp a lot). Beautiful river, lots of horses and fisherpeople, great trails, tall trees, lots of shade, close to Portland. Plus you can reserve sites ahead of time.
Riley Horse Campground sits at approximately 3,300 feet elevation in Mount Hood National Forest, where summer temperatures average 70-85°F during peak camping season. The area receives moderate rainfall even in summer months, with occasional afternoon thunderstorms common from July through September. Campers will find the ground mostly level with scattered areas of volcanic soil that drains quickly after rain.
Hiking to waterfalls: The trail system accessible from Beacon Rock State Park Campground includes several impressive waterfalls within easy hiking distance. "Further up the road is a short hike to some beautiful falls. The road continues for a long way, eventually looping up to Cougar, making for a lot to do in the area," notes Lawrence F.
Swimming in volcanic lakes: Battle Ground Lake offers a refreshing swimming spot formed in an ancient volcanic crater. "Pristine campsites and beautiful cool lake that's not far from the city. Good trails and plenty of space," reports Matt W., who recommends swimming on hot summer days.
Horseback riding on forest trails: The equestrian-focused campgrounds near Brightwood, Oregon provide direct access to extensive trail networks. At Clackamas Lake Campground, "My family and my best friend and her family took her two horses for a week long camping trip! It was so much fun," shares Melissa N. The interconnected trail system allows for rides ranging from 1-hour loops to full-day excursions.
Spacious sites for trailers: Riley Horse Campground offers exceptionally large sites that accommodate both camping equipment and horse trailers. Gretch H. notes, "Overall I loved the campsite the horse pens were huge and we used them to help hang our hammocks. It was a quiet site and the neighbors were all very respectful."
Proximity to Timothy Lake: When looking for alternatives to crowded campgrounds, consider Clackamas Lake. "Great campground when nearby Timothy Lake campgrounds are full. The spot I had was large and not too close to other spots," explains Ashley B., adding "If you are extra adventurous and in shape you can walk from the campground, around Timothy Lake and back, be warned this is just over 18 miles."
Multi-use trails: Panther Creek Campground offers excellent access to both hiking and horseback riding trails. "This campground is where I love to camp for a day of gravel biking or hiking, as there are many forest roads to meander off from here," says Candace, who appreciates the variety of recreational options.
Trail access from camp: Many horse-friendly campgrounds provide direct trail access without needing to transport animals. At Milo McIver State Park Campground, there are "LOTS of nice, wide horse trails for horse riding enthusiasts," according to Melissa L., who visited with family.
Seasonal availability: Most horse campgrounds in the Brightwood area operate on a limited season. Riley Horse Campground is open from May 22 to September 13, while Clackamas Lake's season runs slightly longer from May 22 to October 4.
Potable water: Water availability varies between campgrounds. At Panther Creek, Jeff K. mentions, "Water, pit toilets(clean) and firewood are available." However, some smaller horse camps may require bringing your own water supply, especially late in the season.
Playground access: Silver Falls State Park Campground offers excellent facilities for families with children. Melissa L. notes, "Kids' play area inside Loop B, showers, and nature trails around the campground," making it ideal for multi-day family stays.
Fishing opportunities: For families who enjoy fishing, Government Island offers unique opportunities. Eva W. describes it as "a nice place to take a break from boating all day, maybe spending the night then getting back to the mainland." Though primitive, it provides a different experience from forest camping.
Trail difficulty levels: When camping with children at horse campgrounds near Brightwood, consider trail difficulty. At Clackamas Lake, Ashley B. notes, "The trail around Timothy Lake is not strenuous, and offers amazing views of Mt Hood," making it accessible even for younger hikers.
Limited hookups: Most horse campgrounds offer basic amenities without full hookups. At Oxbow Regional Park, RVers should note there are "toilets in each loop and one block of showers for the whole campground," according to Stephanie Z., but electricity is limited.
Site accessibility: RV access can be challenging at some horse campgrounds due to narrow roads and limited turning space. Wendy C. observes that Battle Ground Lake "has lots of tent sites, and some cabins," but large RVs may find access difficult.
Water and dump stations: For RVers staying at horse campgrounds near Brightwood, Jennifer H. cautions about water issues: "Water pressure is the lowest we've ever experienced. Not sure what's going on but all of the folks we've talked to are experiencing the same." Plan accordingly and arrive with full water tanks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Brightwood, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Brightwood, OR is Oxbow Regional Park with a 4.4-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Brightwood, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 equestrian camping locations near Brightwood, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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