15 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.
"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 $36 / 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"Just moved back to Oregon and came back to find it the same as its always been. Great camping great hosts and the grounds are always very well maintained. 10/10 would recommend"
"Love going to cultus lake with friends. It gets pretty busy at times so if you want a good camping spot then you need to go before the weekend starts."
from $21 - $25 / night
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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.
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.
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.
LegendMy 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. There are three campgrounds at Waldo Lake and North Waldo is the largest. I didn't have a reservation and attempted to find a site in the smaller two campgrounds first but neither of them had space available. Of the almost 100 sites at North Waldo I'd estimate that about a dozen were unclaimed the second weekend of September.
The campground was definitely crowded. There were many large groups with people of all ages. There was noise until about 11pm. Be warned that it gets VERY chilly at night. There are pit toilets but when I was there the majority were closed for maintenance and had been replaced by portable toilets. There are also water spigots and each site has a sump for dish water. The majority of the sites are removed from the water and only a select few are near the lake. They all have trees between the site and the water. The campgrounds also all have boat ramps and swimming areas. In addition to the trails throughout the national forest, there is also a trail that runs around the lake and through the campgrounds.
The sunsets are not to be missed! I spent all of my phone battery taking pictures of the sunset and didn't get any of the campground...
TravelerCame here every weekend 6 years ago. Just moved back to Oregon and came back to find it the same as its always been. Great camping great hosts and the grounds are always very well maintained. 10/10 would recommend
LegendThis is a great campground, very beautiful, but very busy. Off highway 62 take the Natural Bridge turn off and follow the road to the campground. The sites are 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. There are also multiple outhouses throughout the campground.
Keep in mind that though the sites near the water are awesome, there is a heavily used trail that runs right along the river so you will have multiple hikers walking near or through your amazing campsite. We had site 6 and though it appears to be the best site (large and nearly fully enclosed) it's not because the trail runs at the edge of the spot and you will have loud hikers strolling right through your space.
The hiking nearby is great. There is 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. On top of the busy trail along the campsites there is also areas where people hang out to swim or fish so you can hear people nearly all day long. It was nice the first day and night during the week but over the weekend it got a bit ridiculous and we left. There are large garbage cans for trash service but no water and no recycling. There is also no cell service from ATT, Verizon and TMobile.
Off season this place would be great but we strongly suggest not going on a weekend or busy season unless you like people noise constantly all day.
GuideVisited Collier in August. Temperature was nice. A little dry and dusty this time of year. Great rivers close by, nice hiking trails. Restrooms open and clean. Quiet during weekdays.
GuideWe stayed here at the recommendation of a friend—2 nights. Very clean bathrooms and unlimited showers. We stayed in a tenting site, with our mini Meerkat trailer, off the grid. Lots of bold chipmunks. Near the junction to go to Crater Lake, which we did as a day trip, about 45 minutes each way. Small grocery store in nearby Chiloquin. The campground is near the highway, and you can hear traffic occasionally, but there are a number of hiking trails (easy) and you can get down to the cold, clear river.
TravelerWaldo is a beautiful lake, and as long as you go later in the summer - like August and September - the less likely the mosquitoes will drive you back home. It can get quite cold at night, but the cold keeps the mosquitoes down. Tent camping is delightful, especially because generator and motorboat use is quite limited at Waldo. It's a very popular campground, but there's always someplace close by where you can find a secluded spot. When it's really hot, the swimming is lovely - unless the mosquitoes are out. It's a nice place for kids, dogs, and families.
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 NF 2612 Dispersed Camping with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Chemult, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Chemult, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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