27 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several horse-friendly campgrounds surround Happy Valley, Oregon, offering equestrian-specific amenities for riders and their mounts. L.L. Stub Stewart State Park features Hares Canyon Horse Camp with individual corrals at each site, full hookups, and clean shower facilities. The equestrian-only policy is strictly enforced by rangers who regularly patrol to ensure horses occupy each site. Milo McIver State Park provides horse-friendly camping with access to numerous wide trails throughout the park. Riley Horse Campground in Mt. Hood National Forest offers exceptionally spacious sites with ample room between campsites, making it ideal for those traveling with horses and larger parties. Silver Falls State Park's Howard Creek Horse Camp provides large, private sites within a temperate rainforest setting. Many campers report finding abundant deadwood for campfires at Riley Horse Camp.
The trail systems connecting these equestrian campgrounds offer varied terrain and scenic views. Silver Falls State Park features the Trail of Ten Falls, though dogs are prohibited on this particular route. Riders at L.L. Stub Stewart can access miles of dedicated horse trails that connect throughout the park. Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp provides trails that create the feeling of being out in the wild, with gorgeous riding opportunities. Battle Ground Lake State Park in Washington, just north of Portland, welcomes horses with dedicated trails circling the lake. Most equestrian campgrounds require campers to clean up after their horses, with facilities like Hares Canyon providing manure bins, shovels, and brooms for this purpose. Horse camps typically offer more spacious sites than standard campgrounds to accommodate trailers and provide adequate room for horses to move comfortably.
"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 Availability"Close proximity to Multonomah Falls. Pros - bathrooms with electric outlets, free showers, deer come close and are fun to watch, quiet & fairly private stay."
"There is distance between you and other guests but if you want to meet your neighbors you can. They have ADA sites, a lake, play grounds and a welcome center."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Arrived here late for a single night stay on the way to the Oregon Coast. This is a very convenient stopover for those needing a place to stay near Portland."
"Jantzen Beach RV Park feels like a real-world stop straight out of a Subway Surfers World Tour—a lively, convenient, and colorful place where travelers pause, recharge, and enjoy the surroundings before"
from $40 / night
Check Availability"Driving up there the way we drive (from Vancouver) you go up through ranching/farming territory and it’s nice and green and pretty, so it’s nice getting there."
"Hiking around the lake is a great way to start and/or end you day while staying at Battle Ground Lake SP. Horses are welcome. There are cabins available also. Several sites overlook the lake."
"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"The upper area encircles a large open are perfect for games and running around. There is a nice disk golf course and a lot of large paths for waking and biking."
"And a loop with corals for horses. Miles of horse trails, bike trails, hiking trails."
from $32 - $57 / night
Check Availability"Not only is the campground itself a woodland wonderland with winding paths through tall old growth forest areas, but the surrounding area of the park itself is impressive with exciting things to do around"
"We didn’t have any issues at the site, but noticed that spots RV4 and RV5 were relatively distanced from each other, while spots RV1-RV3 were pretty close to each other."
"Across the road is a horse camp that the PCT goes through. There is a spur from the PCT directly into the campground for easy access. There is a beautiful view of Mt."
"Some camp sots are better situated then others, so do research before making reservation."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"It is not too far from the Portland area, I would recommend getting last minute supplies before getting off the highway."
"Secluded, open prime real estate: horse facilities abound here, but it works for everyone."
from $26 / 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.
LegendHares Canyon Horse Camp is one of three campgrounds in Stub Stewart State Park and unlike other horse camps which often allow the overflow of tenters and rv'ers without horses, this horse camp is equestrian only.
The Campground is set up in one loop and offers both single and double sites, ADA facilities, showers, toilets, and trash. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a corral. There is a double corral on the double sites.
You must clean up after your own horse. Manure bin as well as shovels/brooms are provided onsite.
In mid May, the sites were very wide open.
GuideI don’t have a horse but I still stayed here! We were in the area, struggling to find a place to camp. After 7 pm, the campground let us set up camp in an empty equestrian campsite. Unique experience!
TravelerOne of our favorite Oregon SPs. In the middle of a mountainous forest with lots of hiking, paved path & mtb biking, disc golf, horse trails and more. Well maintained full hookup sites with 50amp, most 63' long. The park has recently renewed trail signage.
LegendThis is hands down one of my favorite campgrounds, because the spots are large, far apart from the other sites, and very quiet. It is not too far from the Portland area, I would recommend getting last minute supplies before getting off the highway. The campground is a horse campground, but I reserved on the Monday before arrival and it was still very empty so no fear about taking a spot from equestrians. The spot I had (Spot 4) was huge, plenty of room for a larger party, felt like a quarter of an acre. There were no neighbors on one side of the spot and only the water spigot on the other. All the spots in the campground had plenty of space between spots. There was lots of dead, dried out wood laying all around the site that after a couple hours of collecting I had plenty to keep a fire all weekend, and still left a pile of wood when I left. The campground is close to many trails in the area, mainly Romano Falls Trail. There are views of Mt. Hood, peeking out through the trees here and there.
Additional Stay, Different Year
-A few more trees have been knocked down due to winter storms, but this is still a great campground.
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.
Silver Falls State Park and L.L. Stub Stewart State Park anchor equestrian camping near Happy Valley, Oregon, positioned at the base of the Cascade foothills approximately 20 miles southeast of Portland. The region features a temperate climate with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F, making it ideal for horse camping from May through October. Winter conditions often limit trail access at higher elevations, with many horse camps closing seasonally during wet months.
Trail riding circuits: At Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp, riders discover extensive loops through riverside terrain. "The trails are absolutely gorgeous- it felt like being out in the wild," notes camper Sprunki R., highlighting the park's natural setting just 40 miles south of Happy Valley.
Swimming with horses: Battle Ground Lake State Park offers access to a small volcanic lake where horses can cool off after trail rides. The park features "a swim area roped off, and a small sand area for the kids to play," according to Wendy C., making it ideal for families with both children and horses during summer months.
Fall foraging adventures: Mushroom hunting becomes popular in autumn around equestrian camps. At Panther Creek Campground, riders can "take off to the PCT for a hike, or foraging for mushrooms in the fall," as Candace mentions. The campground connects directly to the Pacific Crest Trail with multiple access points.
Extra-wide riding paths: The area's trail systems accommodate horse-and-rider combinations safely. At Willamette Mission, reviewers note "LOTS of nice, wide horse trails for horse riding enthusiasts" according to Melissa L., allowing riders to navigate comfortably without tight squeezes.
Natural water features: Milo McIver State Park provides river access that benefits both riders and horses. "Great river access" mentions WE B., with the Clackamas River offering natural watering points along several trail sections.
Proximity to emergency services: Most equestrian campgrounds maintain 20-35 minute driving distances to veterinary services. "The small town of Battle Ground within 5 miles" for supplies, notes Lawrence F. about Panther Creek Campground, providing peace of mind for horse owners concerned about emergency access.
Manure management regulations: Different campgrounds enforce varying manure cleanup protocols. At Riley Horse Campground, "the horse pens were huge" according to Gretch H., but campers must remove all manure from corrals before departure.
Seasonal limitations: Many equestrian camps operate only during warmer months. Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp operates "May 15 to September 30" according to their official season, with limited exceptions for special events.
Space between campsites: Most equestrian campgrounds provide significantly larger sites than standard camping. At Riley Horse Campground, "the spots are large, far apart from the other sites, and very quiet," reports Ashley B., with some sites measuring "like a quarter of an acre" to accommodate horses, trailers, and camping gear.
Playground access: Several equestrian campgrounds include family-friendly amenities. "Kids playground was great for the grandkids" mentions Richard B. about Battle Ground Lake, which maintains a dedicated children's area separate from horse areas.
Mixed-use activities: Campgrounds with both equestrian and family facilities offer diverse recreation. At L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, families find "a lot of hiking trails" plus "an on-site disc golf course," according to multiple reviewers, creating activities for non-riders.
Safety boundaries: Establish clear rules about approaching horses. At Riley Horse Campground, the natural layout creates safer separation as "The campground is close to many trails in the area," according to Ashley B., allowing families to maintain distance between children and unfamiliar horses.
Hookup logistics: Some equestrian camps require longer-than-standard utility connections. Milo McIver State Park has "large sites with great river access" that accommodate RVs, reports Gryphon D., though RVers should bring extension cords for power connections.
Trailer turning radius: Plan for wider turning paths when hauling horse trailers. At L.L. Stub Stewart, "We were able to get in/out" easily according to Debra L., as the park features "easy onsite reservation/payment" and more generous space for maneuvering large rigs.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at forest campgrounds. "The pad starts with asphalt and then goes to gravel, where you actually park the rig" reports MickandKarla W. about L.L. Stub Stewart, highlighting the need for proper leveling equipment when traveling with horses and RVs together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Happy Valley, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Happy Valley, OR is Milo McIver State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Happy Valley, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 equestrian camping locations near Happy Valley, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
