13 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Lily Glen Horse Camp near Howard Prairie Lake accommodates equestrians with drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets in a scenic location 32 miles from Gold Hill. The primitive campground connects directly to trail systems throughout the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest region. Sites accommodate both tents and smaller RVs with adequate space for horse trailers. Campground roads are navigable for horse trailers though larger rigs may face challenges. The campground operates seasonally from mid-April through mid-October and offers non-reservable sites that fill quickly during peak summer weekends. Trail riders note the convenient access to mountain riding trails and appreciate the peaceful setting.
Direct access to Howard Prairie Lake and surrounding forest trails makes Lily Glen a practical base camp for extended riding excursions. The unpaved access road presents no significant challenges for standard horse trailers but requires careful navigation during wet conditions. The campground features ample parking for trailers at individual sites, though without dedicated corrals. Riders bring portable corrals or use highlines for containing horses overnight. Multiple trail options suitable for day rides branch out from the campground, with routes varying from gentle lakeside paths to more challenging forest terrain. Water for horses is available at the campground, though experienced riders carry sufficient water on longer trail rides. The combination of moderate elevation and forested surroundings provides comfortable summer camping conditions without excessive heat.
"It is close to Hwy 5 so a lot of road noise. But most in this area are. Sites are tight like most KOAs. We chose an end spot and did alright. Plus it was quiet part of year."
"We were down in Southern Oregon for the Caves. We stayed in the Heron loop which was the smallest and most primitive, It was wonderful and we had the whole south of the lake to ourselves."
"we love coming to lake selmac to use the yurts for winter camping. theyre heated and cozy. weve probably camped here a half dozen times or so over the past couple years, including standard tent sites."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Some sites here are very private feeling because you park the car up top and walk down (not far at all) to the tent that sits close to the lake. Toilets but no showers."
"There are plenty of things to do from fishing, swimming, and even renting a "peddle" boat for a leg workout while taking your trip around the lake."
"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 Availability"Incredible location in the Cascade Mountains,( northern corner of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument)."
"I picked a spot right on the lake where I chose a comfy log to sit and enjoy a book."
from $7 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The trails are amazing. Briggs creek runs all year. The horse camp is getting a little run down, but still nice. We go every year with our horses. Its primitive camping."
"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."
"The Wildcat Campground in Oregon is great, however it does get pretty busy during the summer months."
"Nice area located on a Resevoir. Potable water available. Outhouse. No hookups and no phone 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 Availability"Great bike trails. Plenty of showers and restrooms. Flat concrete for tent setup and bbq pit in each site with fresh water close to all sites."
GuideA fun little campground that is located right off Dead Indian memorial road. There are a few wooden stalls for horses and campgrounds are first come first served. Picture is from a nearby lookout we hiked to. Beautiful trails in the area.
ScoutPack it-pack it out. There is no trash service. The trails are amazing. Briggs creek runs all year. The horse camp is getting a little run down, but still nice. We go every year with our horses. Its primitive camping. No drinking water, showers, or cell service. There is a spot about 3 miles up the road where most can get service.
ScoutIncredible location in the Cascade Mountains,( northern corner of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument). The campgrounds were well maintained and spaced so that they provided plenty of privacy from neighboring sites. Exception hiking, great wildlife sighting.
Another plus is that you are just 20 miles away from Ashland, easy drive allows one to take in a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival , return to your campsite and marvel at the star lit night sky.
RangerThe Wildcat Campground in Oregon is great, however it does get pretty busy during the summer months. My family and I visited this campground for a few days at the beginning of August and it was packed. Thankfully we went early on Friday morning and got a spot before the rush of people came. It is a "first come first serve" campground so you are not able to call ahead and reserve your spot. You just have to get their early! The campground is located in the Ochoco National Forest. It is definitely a beautiful place to camp. It is relatively close to town, which is why I think it gets busy during the summers. There were a lot of college aged students camping, which did make it pretty loud. My family has a camper, which is allowed in this campground. They have spots for campers, and spots for tents. Each campsite does have a picnic table which is nice. We always bring extra chairs because we are a family of 5 so the picnic table gets a little overcrowded. My family and I really enjoyed doing some hikes nearby (can't remember the names of the hikes), but we looked everything up beforehand. Gorgeous views, but lots of ticks on the hike. Thankfully we all wore tick repellent and smothered our dog in it as well. One thing I wish this campground had was a river/lake within walking distance from the campground.
TravelerSites are small and we were in a tent. We were going to be there for an extended period of time and they asked us to move our tent around to spot so we didn't kill the already dead grass... it was the middle of August in Oregon everything is dry and dead. Closed both bathrooms at the same time every day, why not close one and then the other? clean bathrooms though, nice pool. Small play area for kids.
GuideWe were down in Southern Oregon for the Caves.
We stayed in the Heron loop which was the smallest and most primitive, It was wonderful and we had the whole south of the lake to ourselves. Firewood here is not bundled and since it was off season we got a huge amount for$5. The hosts were terrific. This was a wonderful quiet stay.
Will always be back.
This year it was pretty spendy for a tent site $24
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.
LegendNo it is not perfect. It is close to Hwy 5 so a lot of road noise. But most in this area are. Sites are tight like most KOAs. We chose an end spot and did alright. Plus it was quiet part of year. Many year around residents but was not cluttered. Also sort of kept the short term rentals separate. Nice country location. Good green space to walk dogs. Did not get harassed for walking dogs off leash. We r responsible pet owners. Great laundry room. A little expensive for laundry. Pool table and Pac-Man was used by families. Very clean facilities and flexible manager on when we chose to leave.
TravelerSome sites here are very private feeling because you park the car up top and walk down (not far at all) to the tent that sits close to the lake.
Toilets but no showers.
Lily Glen Horse Camp sits at the northern end of Howard Prairie Lake, 32 miles east of Gold Hill. The campground stands at an elevation of 4,500 feet, providing cooler summer temperatures than the valley floor. Primitive horse camping facilities in this section of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest connect to multiple trail systems extending through Bureau of Land Management lands.
Mountain trail riding: Pack appropriate gear for day rides on forest trails extending from Lily Glen Horse Camp. One visitor notes, "Beautiful trails in the area" with options to "hike to a nearby lookout." The terrain offers varied difficulty levels suitable for different riding abilities.
Fishing at nearby lakes: Visit Lake Selmac County Park for productive fishing. According to Kevin R., "We were down in Southern Oregon for the Caves. We stayed in the Heron loop which was the smallest and most primitive, It was wonderful and we had the whole south of the lake to ourselves." The lake supports bass, trout, and panfish populations.
Natural bridges exploration: Explore volcanic formations at Natural Bridge Campground along the Rogue River. As Joe V. reports, "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."
Quieter shoulder seasons: Visit equestrian campgrounds near Gold Hill during spring and fall for reduced crowds. At Lily Glen, campers appreciate the "nice camping although road noise during logging season." D.D. mentions, "We had the place to ourselves for a week at end September/beginning of October which was great."
Lake access for swimming: Several campgrounds provide direct water access for cooling off. At Lake Selmac Resort, one camper explains it's a "Great spot for families. There are plenty of things to do from fishing, swimming, and even renting a 'peddle' boat for a leg workout while taking your trip around the lake."
Night sky viewing: The elevation and minimal light pollution create excellent stargazing opportunities. A camper at Hyatt Lake Recreation Area appreciates how you can "return to your campsite and marvel at the star lit night sky," while another at Natural Bridge notes the campground is perfect for watching meteor showers in open areas.
Reservation requirements vary: Check reservation policies before traveling as they differ between horse camping areas. Hyatt Lake requires advance booking while Lily Glen operates first-come, first-served. Mark mentions Hyatt Lake offers "campgrounds well maintained and spaced so that they provided plenty of privacy from neighboring sites."
Limited cell service: Prepare for communication limitations at most horse-friendly campgrounds. Teresa F. notes about Sam Brown Campground, "No drinking water, showers, or cell service. There is a spot about 3 miles up the road where most can get service."
Road conditions to horse camps: Access roads require careful driving with trailers. Craig M. cautions about Hyatt Lake: "the road up the mountain coming from I-5 was made of narrow switchbacks straight up along the side of a cliff. I white-knuckled it the whole way in my little car... not for the faint of heart."
Cabin alternatives: Consider cabin options for families new to equestrian camping. Susanna R. at Lake Selmac Resort shares, "We spent a weekend at Lake Selmac camping in our RV with our four kiddos. The hosts were incredibly kind and helpful... The campsites were all so beautiful with all the amenities one may want."
Swimming safety: Check water conditions before swimming at lake destinations. Lake Selmac Resort campers note family-friendly swimming areas, while Craig at Hyatt mentions "warnings of leaches and skin parasites made the water itself uninviting."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Plan early morning or dusk outings for wildlife sightings. Craig at Hyatt Lake shares, "There is lots of wildlife around the lake; dusk coaxed several deer out to the water, lots of birds throughout the day, and the sound of frogs at night."
Site selection for horse trailers: Choose end sites at campgrounds when possible for easier maneuvering. At Medford-Gold Hill KOA, mary F. explains, "We chose an end spot and did alright... Many year around residents but was not cluttered. Also sort of kept the short term rentals separate."
Water and dump station access: Plan water usage carefully as services vary between horse campgrounds. The Wildcat Campground offers "Potable water available. Outhouse. No hookups and no phone service," which is typical of more primitive equestrian sites in the region.
Length limitations: Verify site dimensions before booking with larger rigs and trailers. Charles S. at Medford-Gold Hill KOA cautions, "Pull thru sites are short my 35 footer and car just fit. Multiple sites car were sticking in to the road making it a little close pulling out in the morning."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gold Hill, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gold Hill, OR is Medford-Gold Hill KOA with a 3.6-star rating from 11 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Gold Hill, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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