2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp offers a seasonal camping experience for equestrians, operating from May 15 to September 30. The dedicated horse camping area includes sites specifically designed for campers traveling with horses, though no permanent corrals are provided. Campers must bring their own containment systems. Electric hookups, water, and sewer connections are available at each site. The campsites accommodate both tent camping and small RVs with ample space for horse trailers. The park remains calm and uncrowded even during peak season, providing a peaceful environment for riders and their horses.
Located along the Willamette River, the park features an extensive network of riding trails that wind through diverse landscapes including woodlands, open meadows, and riverside terrain. Riders can explore miles of maintained bridle paths suitable for various skill levels. The trails occasionally experience seasonal flooding, particularly during winter months, making spring and summer the optimal times for horse camping. Riders should be aware that mosquitoes can be prevalent near water areas during dusk hours. The park features Oregon's largest Black Cottonwood tree, which serves as a notable landmark for trail riders. Most camping areas remain a comfortable distance from main highways, offering a quiet setting where traffic noise is minimal. The park's spacious layout accommodates group equestrian camping, with multiple sites able to be reserved together for riding clubs or family gatherings.
"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."
Available next weekend
from $22 - $92 / night
"So much better than those CGs next to highways and RRs"
"Dump station nearby. We were visiting relatives in this area, so really only need a safe place to park the rig. This worked out fine."
"Like most Oregon coast campgrounds, the summer months are very busy."
"4 1/2 stars for this sprawling, accessible campground, easy to find and close to so many things Shangra-La-ish about Newport and the Oregon Coast."
Available next weekend
from $32 - $130 / night
"Only sites for camping with horses."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $74 / night
"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 $22 - $61 / night
"There are only a few flat spots for RVs but quite a few decent spots for tent camping next to the pond. The west side of the pond has at least 2 spots that are a good distance away from the others."
"The sites are sling the right side of the of the road, the road that leads along the left (west side) of the lake. There are several sites, we stayed in H2, which is painted on the road."
"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."
"Sites are drive in and walk in depending on your preference. Showed up late and had to leave early, didn’t get a chance to explore much but it looked prety nice."
"Bathrooms were close to sites and decent. The site was pretty quiet. There are ATV trails nearby so lots of dirt bikers in the camp."
from $15 - $20 / night
ScoutBeautiful camping sites. Very busy. Lots of families and people. Roads are very windy and curvy be extra cautious. Wish we had more time so much to explore. If you bring your dog, you will be very limited on where you can hike too. RV sites are pretty private. Bathrooms and showers look brand new. And Camp post are extremely kind and polite.
RangerThe road wasn't to bad getting there. There were a few spots in the campsite. River feet away, berry patches close. No cell coverage.
GuideThis dispersed campground allows a 14-day stay. Paved roads and a good variety of sized campsites. I found a cemented level slab to park my trailer on, however, this was the only site with a cemented structure. Lots of blackberries to pick, and very nice place to hike with your pets.
TravelerThe road is easily traveled, though there are only a few sites. Some by the river were already taken when I got there but omg gorgeous. I’ll definitely be back.
TravelerThere are 3 camp sites in this area. I was in #1 for 9 days, site 3 seems to be the best of them as it's on a pond, unlike 2 was more like stream . Each has a fire ring with plenty of space for 2 or more rigs. I arrived on a Saturday thinking there will never be a spot, but as luck would have it site 1 was clear. There was plenty of blackberries for the pickin, and wild life to observe, Site3 was occupied the first weekend, but it seems that they left the tent up and left for the week, only to return the following weekend with a group.
RangerEverybody raves about this campground, but we found it just ok. This is a HUGE campground situated along the Oregon coast and Hwy 101. Actually, you walk under Hwy 101 to get out to the beach. There are 8 loops (A-H), that are a mix of yurts, standard tents sites, FHU (full hook-ups) and PHU (partial hook-ups) sites. Loops A, B, and groups sites are the closest to the beach, but also closest to the road noise from Hwy 101. The campground is nice, but there is not much privacy or space as sites are packed in close together. We lucked out in that our site, F14, was around a bend in the road and surrounded by shrubs. This was not the norm though from what I saw during our daily walks. As other reviewers mentioned, this is a very family friendly campground. There were tons of kids on bikes and scooters going to and fro. This caused a little bit of an issue when we arrived and were prepping to back our 32ft 5th wheel into our spot. I had to give a yell at some kids who kept riding their bikes behind our trailer as my husband was trying to maneuver the trailer. Not cool and not very good campground etiquette. I will say this though, when quiet hours rolled around, I didn't hear a peep out of anyone near us. A couple more things...I had no Verizon connectivity what-so-ever until I got to the beach. If you are in loops C-H, the beach is definitely not "steps" away. It was quite a walk from F loop and even farther if you camp at the back of H and G loops. Lastly, the dump station (sigh). There is one lane in the dump station. For such a huge campground that has only 53 full hook-up sites out of 257 campsites, one lane is not enough. We waited in the dump station line for 45-50 minutes before we could dump our tanks. Another issue is the pilot program that Oregon state parks is doing at some of their parks. The fee for the dump station is $10 for everyone unless you had a FHU site. There is a qr code that you're supposed to be able to scan and pay. Well, I still didn't have service at the dump station and my husband doesn't have a smart phone. I had to walk over and pay at the ranger station. We had an issue at another park as well, but that will be in the review for that park.
Another little note: we saw some dead birds on the beach. I reported this to the ranger station and she told me that unfortunately this is a normal occurance in August. The name escapes me at the moment, but this type of bird nests in the rocks and when a predator comes, they fling themselves off the rocks. So it is a normal thing in August, but just beware for when you go out on the beach.
Guide4 stars because ppl are packed in like sardines. Off season this place would be best.
This is August and of course there are lots of families with kids and adults seem to think it’s ok for them to scream around on bikes and e-bikes w/o any limits on speed and awareness of other people.
However there are a few nature trails thru some unbelievable old growth forest that is mind numbing beautiful!!!
It’s close to the ocean, so you can walk.
The campgrounds are long and spread out, the lower letters a-c have the best spots if you love the ocean. Also better WiFi signals.
There are a few people who think that they own the spots I guess and can be up doing their thing like this guy. It’s got a big ram truck. It seems to be moving his truck just to move it this morning and then later on and it loud. It’s 6:30 AM light is flashing right in my eye. I’m trying to enjoy my coffee.
Take away the people in this place would be stellar
Good access to the town. It’s only about 7 miles away to get supplies, but it’s quiet with the exception of the people and the forest is lovely.
GuideMy husband and I have tried to reserve a spot at Silver Falls SP in Oregon the last few years. This year we were very proactive in making a reservation as soon as the window opened. This is a beautiful park. Wonderful access to several water falls in the area. Sites are large. We stayed in a non hookup site with our 22 foot trailer. Things to consider - only a few trails are open to dogs so if you want to go close to the falls, visit the park at a time of the year that is cool enough for your furry friend to stay in your car. We visited in July. Skunks and raccoons came out to visit when it got dark. Just be aware that we are all sharing their home. Finally, there’s a little spot in the campground that you can access wi-fi but we weren’t able to sign on to it. If heading towards Salem, there’s a Willamette Valley overlook that can get a phone signal.
ScoutWe had a nice camp spot. Showers and restrooms not far away from any campsite. Will definitely return to this one.
Equestrian camping options near Independence, Oregon include several state parks within a 45-minute drive. The Willamette Valley region sits at approximately 200 feet above sea level with mild winters and warm, dry summers. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F, creating comfortable conditions for both riders and horses during the main camping season.
Trail riding at Silver Falls State Park: This park offers extensive hiking and riding trails. "What can I say? Silver Falls is a magical place and everyone should experience it. You can just get lost in the beauty of it all," says Jeff K. of Silver Falls State Park Campground.
Waterfall viewing: Most parks offer waterfall access with varying difficulty levels. "The hike was amazing and beautiful though most of the trails are closed to dogs," notes Krystle K. about Silver Falls.
River swimming: Several campgrounds offer water access for cooling off. "We love hiking the trails and our kids love the playground and river swimming!" mentions April F. about Silver Falls.
Fishing opportunities: Stock up on gear before arriving. "This site is soooo beautiful! stayed here a couple times and always enjoyed it. Has an area to go fishing but I never caught anything," shares Brandi L. about Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp.
Mountain biking: Some parks have dedicated trails for cyclists. "There is everything from disc golf, mountain biking, fishing, shooting range, hiking, and large enough to host an event," explains Fidel S. about Willamette Mission.
Spacious campsites: Many horse camps offer extra room for trailers. "Huge gravel lot with RV hookups, no sewer connection but there is an on-site dump station so that's covered," reports Casey P. about Polk County Fairgrounds.
Proximity to Salem: Easy access to supplies when needed. "We stayed here for seven nights and we do it again! We were visiting relatives in this area, so really only need a safe place to park the rig," explains Theresa R. about Polk County Fairgrounds.
Natural surroundings: Wooded sites provide shade and privacy. "This campground reminded me of a fairy tale. Once you drive inside it is very plush and green. Perfect little getaway to the Oregon coast," describes Leigh-Anne H. about Beverly Beach State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Many campers report bird sightings. "We seen stellar jays and a woodpecker. Bathrooms and showers were clean," notes Debbie I. about Beverly Beach.
Seasonal access: Some trails close during wet months. "This park floods every winter. I advise planning your trip for the spring or summer knowing that there is a lot of shaded trails to keep you cool," advises Kelly N. about Willamette Mission.
Mosquito preparation: Bring repellent during summer months. "Mosquitoes can be a problem at dusk because of the water," warns Kelly N.
Limited cell service: Some areas have no coverage. "We lost cell service about an hour before we even got there, and didn't have any the whole time there," notes Grace A. about Hult Pond.
Reservation requirements: Many popular sites book quickly. "The staff is very friendly. Nothing fancy here but the price is very affordable," says Lynette W. about Polk County Fairgrounds.
Water safety: Monitor conditions before swimming. "So many more to hike! BEWARE: It's WET, so bring your wet weather gear, and good, sturdy hiking shoes for slippery terrain," cautions Melissa L. about Silver Falls.
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas. "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!" recommends Melissa L.
Educational programs: Look for parks with nature activities. "Nice educational programs for kids. Firewood conveniently available," reports Kristen W. about Beverly Beach.
Beach accessibility: Coastal options provide sand play. "A nice place to camp sites are good size semi private. Easy access to the nature trails and to the beach," says Debbie I.
Fossil hunting: Certain beaches offer geological discoveries. "FOSSILS! Literally everywhere on this beach. Nearly every rock and cliff face is littered with marine fossils of varying types and sizes and you can often find individual fossilized shells that can be collected," explains Erik C. about Beverly Beach.
Fairground convenience: Consider county fairgrounds for basic amenities. "Stayed 3 nights. Worked out great for our purpose of just visiting family in Dallas. $25 per night a good nightly rate," shares David M. about Polk County Fairgrounds.
Site selection for privacy: Some parks offer more secluded options. "This campground is very well maintained, and thought out! Great showers, close to the beach and such a cute little store!!" notes Hana M. about Howard Creek Horse Camp.
Weather considerations: Be prepared for rain, especially in spring. "Stunning 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," shares Jennifer H. about Howard Creek Horse Camp.
Dump station locations: Not all sites have full hookups. "Electricity 30 amp and water at the post. Dump station nearby," notes Theresa R. about Polk County Fairgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Independence, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Independence, OR is Silver Falls State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 80 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Independence, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Independence, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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