17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Silver Falls State Park offers horse-friendly camping options near Gates, Oregon with designated equestrian facilities. Howard Creek Horse Camp, located within Silver Falls State Park, features spacious sites for camping with horses, providing direct access to miles of dedicated horse trails that connect to the broader trail system. The campground offers drinking water, electric hookups (including 30 and 50-amp service), and allows fires at designated rings with firewood available for purchase. Sites are quite private for a state park, with sufficient spacing between camping areas. Multiple camp hosts maintain clean facilities throughout the season.
The trail system accessible from Howard Creek provides extensive riding opportunities through temperate rainforest settings. Horse trails remain relatively empty even during peak summer weekends when the campground is full. Riders can access the park's popular waterfall trails, though some restrictions may apply. The Santiam Horse Camp in Santiam State Forest was previously another option for equestrians but remains temporarily closed due to damage from the 2020 wildfires. Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp offers an alternative equestrian camping destination within reasonable driving distance, featuring electric and water hookups for camping from mid-May through September. Reservations are strongly recommended for all horse camps in the region, particularly during summer months when sites fill quickly.
"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"Very quite and tons of near empty trails even with a full campground on a weekend in the summer. Walking, bike, and horse trails. Close to the ten waterfall trail on the day use area."
"First and foremost, it's all about the waterfalls - all 10 of them - linked by paved hiking trails. Not a fan of sharing the trail with hikers when on your bike?"
from $29 - $87 / night
Check Availability"Shellburgh Falls is tall with a huge basalt cave that you can walk behind the waterfall and down below to actually stand under the waterfall. Very pretty. No one was camping when I was there."
"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 Availabilityfrom $20 / night
Check Availability"This hidden gem can’t be seen from the highway. But it’s a quick drive down a improved road to it,s clear refreshing waters with fishing and plenty places to swim."
"This was a great little lakeside campground with easy water access, and bathrooms (pit toilets) onsite. It is really dusty, which was expected."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"I lived in Oregon for a couple years as a kid and my family got big into backpacking. One of our family favorites was Pamelia Lake."
"We decided to hike to Pamelia lake as a labor day backpacking trip, and this trip did not disappoint! One of our friends was a beginner, so we decided to tailor the trip to his experience."
from $6 / night
Check Availability"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"Only sites for camping with horses."
from $20 - $74 / 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.
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.
GuideBeautiful trees, clean bathrooms, solid paddocks, and great trail network. Even had Miss Rodeo Oregon staying there on a rare weekend off before the RoundUp.
We were in site 3 which is the least flat and difficult to access, but close to the water and our friends that had booked 2. To is next to the water and has easy access even with their 4 horse LQ and dually crew cab. 4 is nice and shady but a bit of a hill. If we came back, we’d pick 5 or 6 for shade trees, easy access, but 8 and 9 have morning sun which would be nice on cool mornings. One site, 10 I think, has metal panels for the paddock. Others are pretty solid wood paddocks but bring a chain just in case the one there is broken (or you have a 5 y.o. Gelding that will break it :)
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.
TravelerStunning camping in a temperate rainforest. Sites are big and private. Very quite and tons of near empty trails even with a full campground on a weekend in the summer. Walking, bike, and horse trails. Close to the ten waterfall trail on the day use area.
Near Gates, Oregon, camping options extend beyond Silver Falls State Park into surrounding forests and recreation areas. The region sits at elevations between 800-2,000 feet in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F with cooler nights and occasional rainfall even during dry months.
Waterfall hiking trails: Silver Falls State Park Campground offers extensive hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels. "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," notes Melissa L.
Mountain biking: Milo McIver State Park Campground has dedicated mountain biking trails in addition to hiking paths. Nancy H. explains, "There are private feeling hiking trails around the large park. Fortunately the camping area is away from the high use river rafting area. It is also far from the extensive pair of disc golf courses."
Disc golf: For camping visitors who enjoy disc sports, Milo McIver State Park hosts competitive-level courses. "Milo McIver may be best known for it's twin 18 hole disc golf courses, or single 27 hole layout when tournaments aren't in progress," shares Steve C.
Kayaking and canoeing: Multiple lakes in the area provide paddling opportunities. According to Becky K. at Big Lake, "Lake is great for kayaking, big enough to give you lots to paddle, but small enough to not be overwhelming. Beautiful view of the mountain (Mt. Washington I believe), and lots of birds and deer in the area."
Private campsites: Campers appreciate the spacious, well-separated sites at many horse campgrounds near Gates, Oregon. Jennifer H. from Howard Creek Horse Camp notes, "Sites are big and private. Very quite and tons of near empty trails even with a full campground on a weekend in the summer."
Natural features: The views and landscapes draw consistent praise. At Big Lake, Johnny G. shares, "Gorgeous views and hiking trails galore! I don't think I've camped at a place that is as beautiful scenery as Big Lake Campground."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local animals. Becky K. mentions at Big Lake, "lots of birds and deer in the area," making it ideal for nature enthusiasts.
Multi-use trail systems: The extensive trail networks accommodate various activities. "Walking, bike, and horse trails. Close to the ten waterfall trail on the day use area," according to Jennifer H. at Howard Creek Horse Camp.
Campground closures: Some equestrian facilities remain affected by wildfire damage. Amit W. notes about Santiam State Forest Shellburg Falls Recreation Area, "I was planning to potentially camp here but it seems that facilities were damaged in the 2020 fires and they will not be re-established."
Trail restrictions: Not all trails allow dogs. Krystle K. from Silver Falls State Park Campground cautions, "The campgrounds are nice. The hike is amazing and beautiful though most of the trails are closed to dogs."
Weather preparedness: The climate can be unpredictable even in summer. Melissa L. advises about Silver Falls, "It's WET, so bring your wet weather gear, and good, sturdy hiking shoes for slippery terrain."
Reservations required: Most equestrian campgrounds fill quickly. Sherrie B. from Howard Creek Horse Camp emphasizes, "Sites are reservable," which is essential during peak seasons.
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. Melissa L. suggests at Silver Falls State Park, "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!"
Swimming options: Clackamas Lake Campground offers water recreation, though with limitations. Arianna R. clarifies, "I stayed here for only 2 days to go fishing but we found out there was no more lake there it's just marsh out there and you would have to walk/drive to Timothy lake to fish."
Bug protection: Insect repellent is essential at many sites. Colby M. warns about Clackamas Lake Campground, "Seriously, bring bug spray and put it on the minute you get there. Had a great time, the camp host were cool."
Day trip possibilities: Base camping with day excursions works well. Vera S. says about Clackamas Lake, "The hike to Timothy like is short and scenic. Timothy Lake itself is spectacular. Particularly since motorized boats are not allowed."
Hookup availability: Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp provides essential services for RVs. Jessica M. confirms it has "Only sites for camping with horses," with electric and water hookups available.
Site selection: Some RV sites offer better positioning and amenities. Richard H. notes about Silver Falls State Park, "Site spacing is good with lots of privacy between camps. Bathrooms and showers are super nice and clean. Roads and campsites are paved and level."
Water access: RV campers should plan for water availability. At several equestrian campgrounds, water hookups may be seasonal or limited to certain loops, so filling tanks before arrival is recommended.
Dump station locations: For extended stays, knowing sanitation facilities is crucial. Melissa L. observed at Silver Falls, "RV dump at the horse camp turnoff," providing a convenient option for equestrian campers with RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gates, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gates, OR is Silver Falls State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 78 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gates, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Gates, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
