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Kelsay Valley Horse Camp stands as the primary equestrian camping option near Crater Lake, Oregon, providing campsites specifically designed for horse owners. Located in the Umpqua National Forest, the campground features tent and RV sites where riders can keep their horses nearby. Facilities are primitive with no water hookups or electric connections available. The campground offers picnic tables at each site and allows campfires when seasonal restrictions aren't in place. No horse corrals are available on-site, so equestrians must bring their own portable corrals or highlines. The reservation system allows horse owners to secure spots in advance, preventing arrival to find the campground full during peak summer months. Sites accommodate both horse trailers and camping equipment, though space limitations exist for larger rigs.
The campground connects directly to forest service roads and trails, offering multiple riding routes through the Cascades. Located approximately 30 miles from Crater Lake National Park's north entrance, riders can access both forest trails and nearby recreation areas. Another equestrian option in the region, Lily Glen Horse Camp at Howard Prairie Lake, provides drinking water and toilet facilities not found at Kelsay Valley. Primitive trail camping is also permitted in designated areas of the surrounding Fremont-Winema and Umpqua National Forests, giving riders backcountry options with appropriate permits. When visiting during summer months, water availability becomes a key consideration as some natural water sources may dry up. Trail access varies seasonally, with optimal riding conditions typically from late June through September when most snow has melted from higher elevation routes.
"Gorgeous place to camp near Crater lake. Bathrooms were pretty clean. We stayed over 4th of July, and it definitely got cool at night. The whole area was loud insanity for the holiday."
"Nice campground near Diamond Lake. There is a resort, swimming, bike path, fishing. It’s not too far from Crater Lake, and awesome waterfalls down highway 138."
from $16 - $27 / night
Check Availability"Nice river spot near crater lake! Lots of hiking trails and river access in this area"
"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 Availability"Collier State Park is a typically nice Oregon State park, with the benefit that there's often spaces open only a few days out that you can book online and just 30 miles from Crater Lake."
"Nice classic Oregon state park with all the requisite facilities of electric hook-ups, RV dump station, ranger programs. Amphitheater and showers."
from $36 / night
Check Availability"There are only 3 campsites, which are all next to a gorgeous creek made of runoff from the spring. There is also a cabin, and an old barn the kids loved playing in."
"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."
"The lake is clear and pristine, views for days. Not really a bad campsite. Pit toilets, no showers, no WiFi but Star Link works of course. Trails to hike, kayak, fish, boat."
"Great campground with spectacular views of Fourmile Lake and Mt. Mcgloughlin. Most of the campsites are quite roomy, some are private, and some are open. The camp host is very helpful and friendly."
from $26 - $50 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $250 / night
Check Availability"Hiking in the area is nice with a 3.5 mile loop to the lake and back. There’s additional trails and tracks across the road from Lily Glen."
LegendGorgeous place to camp near Crater lake. Bathrooms were pretty clean. We stayed over 4th of July, and it definitely got cool at night. The whole area was loud insanity for the holiday. Especially near the lodge further down the lake, it was covered with people partying in trucks.
LegendNice campground near Diamond Lake. There is a resort, swimming, bike path, fishing. It’s not too far from Crater Lake, and awesome waterfalls down highway 138.
TravelerThe campsite was great, the views of the lake were stunning, minutes from crater lake NP. Be prepared to fend off mosquitoes if you're going in the summer! The showers and bathrooms were clean and well maintained.
LegendThis is a highly recommended campground. Great spots right on the lake and it's a huge campground with tons of spots in general. Cellphone service is hit or miss depending on where you are. We found a level spot, not all spots are level. They have trash and a dump/water station.
Showers are available via a donation..campsite rates are very reasonable for amenities and location.
10 miles from Crater Lake, 1 mile from the lodge with a little store and restaurant. Restaurant was pretty darn good for the middle of nowhere. 100 years old.
LegendCollier State Park is a typically nice Oregon State park, with the benefit that there's often spaces open only a few days out that you can book online and just 30 miles from Crater Lake. There's enough to keep kids busy for a day or so, including the free logging museum across the road. Clean bathrooms and showers and tons of rangers/employees getting sites ready, picking up litter etc. Prices were great, just $19 for tent sites and $29 for a full RV hook-up, including a few pull-through spots, plus flush toilets and showers. On our recent road trip in a 32-foot RV, this was probably the best deal of anywhere we went. For a state park, though, spots were right on top of each other, with very little in terms of privacy.
Pros:
Cons:
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.
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.
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.
RangerNice river spot near crater lake! Lots of hiking trails and river access in this area
Kelsay Valley Horse Camp provides primitive equestrian camping options for riders exploring the Crater Lake region. The campground sits within the Umpqua National Forest at 4,300 feet elevation, accessible via Forest Road 2614. Sites accommodate horse trailers with space for portable corrals and highlines, as campers must supply their own containment systems for horses.
Ride forest trails year-round: The trails near Diamond Lake Campground connect to forest service roads with multiple riding options. "What more can you ask for? Clear waters, spectacular Mountain Views. Swimming, hiking, camping, fishing, the possibilities are endless," reports Austin G.
Visit natural geological features: From Natural Bridge Campground, riders can access trails to unique formations. "The Natural Bridge is a short walk away and is really cool. Lots of informative signs along the path to describe what you are seeing," notes Joe V. The natural bridge features a lava tube where water flows underground.
Explore lake systems: Several lakes throughout the region provide water access during hot summer rides. The spring-fed systems maintain cooler temperatures even in peak summer. "Neat clear creek is just down the road and has trails to explore. There were people kayaking on the creek," shares Brittney G. about water features near Collier Memorial.
Spacious sites for equestrian needs: Fourmile Lake Campground offers room for horse trailers and camping equipment. "Camping spots are pretty spread out which was really nice!" remarks Tylere Y. The campground provides space for highlines and portable corrals.
Mountain views from camp: Many campsites offer direct sightlines to mountain peaks. "Great campground with spectacular views of Fourmile Lake and Mt. Mcgloughlin. Most of the campsites are quite roomy, some are private, and some are open," shares Ross S. about Fourmile Lake Campground.
Private riverside sites: Several horse camps feature secluded spots along water. "Located right next to a natural bridge, where the water goes under the floor in a lava tube," explains Dani F. about Natural Bridge Campground's unique riverside locations.
Wildlife interactions: The forests around horse camps harbor various wildlife that may interact with horses. "We had a packrat in the truck bed overnight," warns Hattie R. at Natural Bridge Campground. Secure feed and equipment each night.
Limited water availability: Many horse camps lack water hookups, requiring campers to bring supplies. At Jackson Creek, "Beautiful, remote and quiet. Large camp sites," notes Kim K., but the remoteness means no potable water on site.
Reservations recommended: Peak season fills quickly at established horse camps. "This is one of our favorite go-to places, but be prepared there are no reservations! It's a small area with 17 sites," warns Bri C. about Natural Bridge Campground.
Fire safety awareness: Summer fire restrictions impact horse camping plans. "Be mindful of the no fire season," cautions Reid about NF 2612 dispersed camping areas, where established fire rings exist but seasonal restrictions apply.
Insect protection essential: Mosquitoes can affect both horses and humans during summer months. "The only complaint I have is there's a lot of mosquitoes. So just remember your bug spray and long clothes!" advises Macy G. at Diamond Lake.
Educational opportunities: Several camping areas feature historical displays. "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," shares Brian C. about attractions near Collier Memorial State Park Campground.
Trailer size limitations: Many horse camp access roads restrict larger rigs. "The sites are well maintained, and there are toilets. The sites by the lake appeared to be much larger than the ones further up the hill," notes Kyahn D. about Diamond Lake, highlighting the importance of site selection for horse trailers.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some camps. "It is set into the woods a bit off of the Hwy, but unfortunately you can still hear the Hwy noise (Jake brakes), even at night," reports Tj B. about Collier Memorial State Park, relevant for those with noise-sensitive horses.
Self-sufficiency required: Most equestrian camping requires bringing all supplies. "Perfect for self-contained campers and trailers. Beautiful location near several Lakes and large fields with plenty of level camping and fire pits although fires are not currently allowed," explains Steve M. about dispersed camping options at NF 2612.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Crater Lake, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Crater Lake, OR is Diamond Lake with a 4.4-star rating from 63 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Crater Lake, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Crater Lake, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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