16 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Kelsay Valley Horse Camp provides access to bridle trails within the Deschutes National Forest, accommodating tent and RV camping for equestrians. The horse camp features several sites suitable for horse trailers and vehicles, though no dedicated horse corrals are present at the sites. Campground amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to nearby trails. Located at an elevation of 43.31 degrees north latitude and approximately 122.09 degrees west longitude, this horse-specific camping area operates seasonally. Sites can be reserved in advance to secure space during peak riding seasons. The campground lacks water hookups, showers, and flush toilets, requiring visitors to bring sufficient water for themselves and their horses.
Whitefish Horse Camp, situated at 43.46 degrees north latitude and 122.03 degrees west longitude, connects to several trail systems throughout the Deschutes National Forest. The campground accommodates larger rigs and horse trailers with designated parking areas at each site. Reservations are recommended as the limited number of equestrian-specific sites fill quickly during summer months. Unlike standard campgrounds, these equestrian sites are designed with horse owners in mind, providing adequate space between campsites for animal comfort and safety. Riders should plan to pack in water for themselves and their horses, as no drinking water is available on site. The surrounding forest offers varied terrain suitable for riders of different skill levels, from casual trail riders to more experienced equestrians seeking challenging routes through the Cascade mountain landscape.
"This campground was in a great location to go see crater lake (15 min drive or less) as well as nearby Hot Springs (30ish min drive) and waterfalls. The campground itself was wooded and very close to"
"Access to the campground was right off hwy 138, which is a few miles from the north entrance to Crater Lake. Our 28 ft travel trailer easily fit with room to spare in our site."
from $16 - $27 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful location near several Lakes and large fields with plenty of level camping and fire pits although fires are not currently allowed."
"We picked this dispersed camping near Lemolo Lake since it was an open area that we could run our Starlink. There was also some cell service."
from $40 - $250 / night
Check Availability"Nice classic Oregon state park with all the requisite facilities of electric hook-ups, RV dump station, ranger programs. Amphitheater and showers."
"Great rivers close by, nice hiking trails. Restrooms open and clean. Quiet during weekdays."
from $34 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availability"We were in a walk in Tent site right on the lake which was quiet for the most part. Right next to hiking path that went around the lake."
"My car and I climbed over 5,000 ft from the Oregon coast to get to Waldo Lake in the Willamette National Forest. The drive along was well worth it."
from $28 - $56 / night
Check Availability"Off highway 62 take the Natural Bridge turn off and follow the road to the campground."
"My wife and I stopped here after visiting Crater Lake. This campground is right on the Rogue river and is absolutely gorgeous. The sites are well maintained, and there are toilets."
from $15 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability
GuideThis was a great campsite. We were in a walk in Tent site right on the lake which was quiet for the most part. Right next to hiking path that went around the lake. There didn't appear to be a boat put in around the area, but there is one down the street. We stayed in Campsite 28, which helped get away from the chaos of the big group sites which I would strongly Recommend! Beautiful place.
LegendThis campground was in a great location to go see crater lake (15 min drive or less) as well as nearby Hot Springs (30ish min drive) and waterfalls. The campground itself was wooded and very close to diamond lake, it was a very beautiful location. There were lots of close by walking trails which was wonderful.
The amenities were nice enough, sometimes the showers are hot and others times was not. Most of the laundry machines were working with several out of service, and worked well enough.
The staff was helpful and gave suggestions for nearby hiking and Hot Springs. Sites included fire ring, a picnic table, and full hook ups. The stars at night were incredible.
GuideWe stayed one night on August 17 through August 18, 2019, in campsite A5, the overnight cost was$24, there was no electrical or water service). The site was level, only needed 2 inch lift to level left side. The campground is at an elevation of 5180 ft.
Access to the campground was right off hwy 138, which is a few miles from the north entrance to Crater Lake. Our 28 ft travel trailer easily fit with room to spare in our site. Once we enter the campground, the asphalt pavement surrounds the campsites as we drove directly to our campsite, each campsite pad also asphalt. Weather was sunny upper 80's, the nights low 40's.
This is a very quite campground, there was no noise from main road entering the campground. Activities we enjoyed at the campground to keep busy was hiking and moutain biking. The restroom was a couple spaced down from our campsite. The free showers were also easy to find and had great water pressure. The lake is very nice, smooth water and a few mosquitos, but not that bad.
My wife and I enjoyed the campground, we will stay again next time we travel to Crater Lake, Oregon.
LegendNice classic Oregon state park with all the requisite facilities of electric hook-ups, RV dump station, ranger programs. Amphitheater and showers. Camp sites a little on top of each other, especially in comparison to the nearby Williamson River Campground, but still a very nice and popular camp site near Crater Lake and Klamath Falls.
Across the highway there's the "Collier State Park Logging Museum" which we didn't get a chance to get to but looked like a lot of fun.
RangerThis is a very large campground with over 200 sites. I stayed overnight, July 3, 2023. I was a walk in . The ranger office was closed when I arrived and they did not have a list of available sites posted. I found a site, K11, without any reserved tag and spent a wonderful night. There was a very strong onshore breeze from the lake that kept the mosquitoes grounded and I didn't really need repellant.
The campground is two halves. In the upper half, the campsites are higher, above the lake. To the south or east, the sites are closer to the lake. Water was only available (non threaded faucets) outside the flush latrines, which were not very well kept (mostly due to the dead bugs). There is not electricity and I was only able to get 2 bars on Verizon. I could get a text through, but rarely a photo.
I have camped throughout Oregon and what impressed me as different were the large number of tent campers. More than half were tent camping, though the site would fit small to medium size rigs. I only saw one Class A and few trailers. Noisy neighbors can be a problem, as the sites though not exactly next to each other, are still close. The roads and parking for sites are paved, but some have very steep driveways. Be careful in your site selection if you have a long trailer or RV.
There are some nearby stores and gas station if you need, but very little else. A very beautiful spot with lots to do and see nearby.
ScoutWe loved this spot. The sites are clean as are the bathrooms and showered. We liked how spread out the sites were from each other. Most of the sites are pretty close to the lake but you have to book early to get a site right on the water. There is a general store close by where you can get most anything you might forget and you can rent bikes, boats,canoes, kayaks or paddle boards. It was great having access to so many trails close to the campground and we went on several of them. The only draw back for us was the mosquitos. I highly recommend camping here just be prepared for the mosquitoes.
LegendWe were headed to Thompson Creek reservoir, but opted for this lovely little FS campground. We had the place to ourselves the first night and another camper came in for the 2nd. Easy pull-through site, pretty level and fit both rigs. Otherwise plenty of room between sites.
It was a bit of a trek down gravel roads to get here. Took it easy, though, and no problems.
Lovely walks and hikes to be had. Beautiful stargazing. Clean pit toilets and clean overall campground. There were corrals at one end for horse camping. No cell service. (in 2020)
4 stars only because of the sometimes-washboard road to get here.
From here we visited Crack in the ground, Cowboy Dinner Tree, The Sand Dunes, Fort Rock and Christmas Valley.
GuideThere are so many sites here, that you could almost get lost. We almost gave up finding the camp host it was so big. We found a site along the lake, looking at the mountain. You could tell the people prior to us were slobs. There was garbage all over and they had their own bathroom spot in the woods adjacent to the site even though the bathroom was a short walk. There were a lot of black flying bugs around which swarmed our site and made doing anything nearly impossible.
GuideOur first dry camping trip! We got water and sewer dump a couple of miles south of the turnoff from I-5 @ the Fairgrounds for $5. Space #9 was a bit short for the 27' trailer and FJ Cruiser, so we'd do a longer spot next time, but definitely on the river side...LOVED being right next to the river, and able to walk right to it from our campsite, plus hear it all night/day. Chloe (our yellow lab) was in doggie heaven! Disc golf kinda stunk because the course was being revised, and signs weren't updated yet. RV sites were in the process of being put in (this was in summer of 2015), but they were away from the river. We rate it an 8.
The Chemult area serves as a strategic gateway to equestrian trail systems in the Deschutes National Forest. Located at approximately 4,760 feet elevation in central Oregon, this region experiences significant seasonal temperature variations with summer highs near 80°F and winter lows frequently below freezing. Horse camping opportunities near Chemult can be found between May and October, when snow typically doesn't block forest access roads.
Trail riding from specialized sites: Access extensive bridle paths directly from Whitefish Horse Camp, where sites accommodate larger rigs and horse trailers with dedicated parking areas. The surrounding forest terrain varies in difficulty, making it suitable for different riding experience levels.
Hiking near water features: Follow the trail to Natural Bridge where "the water goes under the floor in a lava tube." The Natural Bridge Campground offers a "loop hike which takes you to the Natural Bridge area which is really cool. There is also a hike to the Rogue Gorge that takes you through another campground further up."
Non-motorized boating: Visit Waldo Lake where motors are banned, creating ideal conditions for paddling. "Waldo Lake is a fantastic choice for any non-motorized boaters, as motors are banned. We took our kayaks out onto the large crystal clear lake where you can see straight to the bottom," notes a visitor to North Waldo Lake.
Secluded waterfront sites: Natural Bridge Campground offers riverside camping with "sites for the most part secluded from each other and most are along the Rogue River with a mix of sun and shade. All sites have picnic tables and fire pits."
Clear mountain lakes: Diamond Lake provides exceptional water clarity and mountain vistas. A camper at Diamond Lake Campground noted it has "beautiful lake views, access to bathrooms and showers, and ice cream and firewood just a walk or bike ride away! The only complaint I have is there's a lot of mosquitoes."
Free dispersed options: NF 2612 offers no-cost camping with basic amenities. "We picked this dispersed camping near Lemolo Lake since it was an open area that we could run our Starlink. There was also some cell service. Where we camped there was a picnic table and rock fire ring," reports a camper at NF 2612 Dispersed Camping.
Weather preparedness: High elevation means cold nights even in summer. At North Waldo Lake, "it gets VERY chilly at night," with temperatures dropping significantly after sunset regardless of daytime warmth.
Insect protection: Mosquitoes can be prevalent, particularly near lakes and in early summer. One visitor warned that at Diamond Lake, "be prepared to fend off mosquitoes if you're going in the summer!"
Wildlife awareness: Small animals may become problematic around campsites. At Collier Memorial State Park Campground, "the chipmunks are everywhere and will steal food. Our dog was quite annoyed."
Water planning: Most horse camps lack water sources. For equestrian camping near Chemult, riders should bring sufficient water for themselves and their animals, as drinking water isn't available at most specialized horse camping areas.
Interactive historical sites: Collier Memorial offers educational opportunities beyond camping. "Down the easy 1mi. trail along the spring creek, they have a super cool old pioneer village and lumber museum. It's full of olde tyme cabins and era timber industry tools and equipment."
Star viewing locations: Clear mountain skies provide excellent astronomy opportunities. At Natural Bridge Campground, the trail "leads to an open area where we watched the Perseid meteor shower."
Swimming access: Several campgrounds offer water recreation for children. Diamond Lake has "clear waters, spectacular Mountain Views. Swimming, hiking, camping, fishing, the possibilities are endless."
Site selection strategy: At equestrian campgrounds near Chemult, Oregon, arrive early to secure appropriate spaces. "Some spaces can be tricky for large RVs," notes a visitor to Collier Memorial State Park.
Seasonal timing: Consider September for less crowded conditions. "Of the almost 100 sites at North Waldo I'd estimate that about a dozen were unclaimed the second weekend of September."
Utility limitations: Most forest service campgrounds offer minimal hookups. Diamond Lake provides "dry camping but there is water to fill up a tank and a dump station and showers."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Chemult, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Chemult, OR is Diamond Lake with a 4.4-star rating from 63 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Chemult, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 equestrian camping locations near Chemult, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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