Mt Hebo Horse Trail Dispersed CampSite offers free camping in a rustic setting near Gleneden Beach, Oregon. This tent and RV-friendly site allows pets and provides drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access for campers with horses. The camping area lacks developed amenities—no drinking water, electric hookups, toilets, or designated horse corrals are available. The site maintains a 2-star rating and operates as a true dispersed camping area with no reservation system. Campground data shows the site is positioned at 45.22513222274307 latitude and -123.79105059161331 longitude, making it accessible for equestrians seeking a primitive camping experience.
Trail access provides the primary attraction for horse enthusiasts at this location. The site connects to local horse trails in the Tillamook State Forest region, where riders can access multiple routes through coastal forest terrain. Visitors must practice proper dispersed camping protocols, including packing out all waste and supplying their own water for horses. North Fork Trask, another free dispersed camping area in Tillamook State Forest, offers an alternative option for horse campers seeking primitive accommodations. Both locations require self-sufficient camping preparation as neither provides amenities like water hookups, toilets, or designated horse facilities. Trailer access exists but may be limited by road conditions, particularly during wet weather when forest roads can become difficult to navigate.
$25 - $81 / night
"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."
$15 - $20 / night
"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."
"However, we continued up the road which wound its way around a mountain and found a lovely spot away from the busy campground below. So peaceful and relaxing. Dirt bike paths around too."
"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."
GuideI stayed a night because I needed a last minute getaway and they had site. Like most Oregon coast campgrounds, the summer months are very busy. The nature walk around the campground was nice and the trees in the park are beautiful and add to the totally "Oregon" experience of this campground. The access to the beach is easy to get to. Great park!
Legend4 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. There's a bit of a family vibe, a noisier community thing sometimes…. Keep in mind that there are over 250 campsites, sites for hikers, 3 count 'em 3 group sites, a yurt shire near the water, a playground and amphitheater…something for everyone within and without. The beach here is large, so you can join the crowd or get away from it all. Just south you've got incredible Newport with the aquarium, Yaquina Bay, the Sylvia Beach Hotel with each room themed after an author and always open for tours, the Cooper Ridge Nature Trail (pictured) and so much more. It's right off Hwy 101, but the ocean waves and large campground size make up for the highway noise. This will definitely stay in our open-all-year bank of goodies.
TravelerThis is a beautiful campground between two popular towns on the Oregon Coast - Depoe Bay and Newport. The geology here is amazing - you can have a load of fun looking for fossilized shells and agates at the beach. The campsites are set among old trees - and are pretty private. The prime spots along the creek are hard to get so plan ahead. I always camp in the F circle so I have not had issues with highway noise - but some sites are a little close to the road. Only 10 miles north of Yaquina Head natural reserve - and the city of Newport. Great people - happy to help you with firewood and ice and any info about the area. Oregon State Parks do it right!
GuideThis campground reminded me of a fairy tale. Once you drive inside it is very plush and green. Perfect little getaway to the Oregon coast. Campground was clean and well kept. Was not very many people around during this time so it made it nice and peaceful. Just a quick walk to the beach from the camp site.
TravelerWe stayed in an ADA site during the week in mid July. It was nice flat ground and easy access to the beach through the campground. The surroundings were aesthetically beautiful and a quant little store near the entrance. Also it is just a couple of miles outside of Newport. Some of the trees looked alien because of the winter floods and above ground root growth.
The only I would be prepared for considering on the other hand is that when full, it can get loud.
We had a blast.
GuideMuch smaller than South Beach State Park a few miles south, but in my opinion a more relaxed campground.
Campground is less open and more wooded than some of the other coast parks. Beach is very close via a short trail under the highway bridge and can be seen from A loop. The proximity to the water makes the sunsets better here than at some of the other campgrounds.
This campground isn’t within walking distance of any other attractions, but a nice nature trail around the camp and the beach is really all that’s needed here. The visitor center provides a nice history of the beach and how it got its name.
And speaking of the beach... 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.
Beverly Beach is also popular for agate hunting along the gravel bars, particularly after big storms that uncover new stones.
GuideI’ve camped here (yurt) once a decade ago and loved it. Then I stayed here in Sept 2019 at the Hiker-Biker area while bicycling down the Oregon coast. The biker camp area is fairly nice with lots of room to choose a good site. However it’s pretty isolated away from much of the rest of the campground and the only toilet facilities were 2 port-a-potties, they weren’t terribly gross but definitely not the cleanest I’ve seen. If you want a shower it’s somewhere in the area of the other campground loops. There are 3 small hard plastic lockers for bike campers to lock up their food and other items - however they are fairly old and it’s difficult to get the door to fully close on 2 of them. Each locker does have an electrical outlet so you can charge your phone or other electronic items. The walk out on the beach is beautiful and when I was there (middle of September) there were a few whales just offshore- incredible to just watch as the sun was setting! Overall, recommend this campground but wish that a few improvements could be made to the biker site.
LegendPretty standard campground in the Tilamook Forest. Sites have pretty good privacy and a number of them had a decent number of trees for hammocking. Camp hosts sell firewood for 5$. 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.
We stayed at this campground after attending an event at the Smith Homestead which is on the adjacent property. It is very convenient, and right off of Highway 6 about half way between Portland and the coast. If you get a late start to the coast, it's a great site to stopever on your way.
The lower loop near the river is currently under construction and much of it was closed. There is a trailhead for the Willson River trail within the campground which makes for a great early morning hike.
RangerAbout the campground: huge campground-8 loops of campsites. The whole campground was full-on a Wednesday night! My site (D5) was right on the main road of the campground on the second loop, but it was larger than some of the other campsites and was next to the creek. I loved all of the huge old growth trees and that I had a flat spot to park and set up camp. I realized that super popular and packed campgrounds are not for me. Constant cars, trucks, golf carts, motorcycles, and campers (not to mention kids on bikes and lots of groups of people on foot) kept going by my site so it was pretty noisy and I had no semblance of privacy. The bathhouse path wasn’t as close as I thought it would be. The bathhouse itself needs some TLC. The toilet stall doors were unable to lock, the showers were in need of a scrubbing and there was no hand soap to wash your hands (the soap dispenser had been empty for 2 days according to a woman I talked to). Beach access was nice from the campground and they had a decent size day use parking lot steps from the beach. The beach was kinda dirty and there were about 50 people on the beach even though it was super foggy out. Good cell service at campground and beach. They sell ice and firewood at the campground and had a nice garbage disposal and recycling area for campers to utilize. People respected late hours and were very quiet at night when I was trying to sleep. The campground is close to highway 101 so you hear a bit of traffic noise but the ocean is loud too so you tend to ignore it. Overall, this campground was close to some tourist attractions (Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Devil’s Punchbowl, and Otter Crest Loop) and had a large beach but I don’t think I would camp there again.
Mt Hebo Horse Trail Dispersed CampSite provides primitive equestrian camping near Gleneden Beach, Oregon, approximately 25 miles northeast of the coastal community. This forested site sits at 3,150 feet elevation in the Coast Range, creating variable weather conditions year-round. The dispersed camping area connects to local horse trails through the Tillamook State Forest with seasonal access that becomes challenging during winter months due to potential snow at higher elevations.
Trail riding opportunities: The Mt Hebo area features multiple trail systems designed for equestrians. Riders can access routes through coastal forest terrain with varying difficulty levels and distances. "Large spots, lots of room and flat ground," notes Jonathan U. about the camping areas at Mt Hebo Horse Trail Dispersed CampSite.
Fossil hunting: Beverly Beach State Park, located 25 miles southwest of Mt Hebo, offers unique geological exploration. "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 State Park Campground.
OHV recreation: For those seeking motorized recreation alternatives, Edward Creek Learner's Loop provides dedicated OHV trails. "Plenty of space for trailers, motorhomes, and tents! Big parties and small. No hookups- pack in & pack out," says Shelbi D. about the Edward Creek Learner's Loop area.
Riverside camping: The North Fork Trask area offers streamside camping spots with natural soundscapes. "Super big spots off side of forest roads. Nice and quiet back there other than locals and loggers through the night," reports Braxton C. about North Fork Trask dispersed camping.
Privacy between sites: Jones Creek Campground provides more established camping with natural buffers. "Campsites are spaced well apart with lots of room in each site. Bathrooms are nothing special," notes Autumn R. at Jones Creek, adding practical advice: "Make sure to bring water shoes down to the river - it's super rocky."
Water access: Multiple camping areas feature river or stream access points for cooling off during summer months. "The river is where it's at, folks are swimming, tubing and fishing dawn to dusk. Folks jumping off the bridge and having picnics," describes Aria R., highlighting summer recreation options.
Self-sufficiency required: Dispersed equestrian camping requires complete self-reliance. Jonathan U. observed at Mt Hebo: "Lots of trash around the site, and bags of trash hanging from a tree towards the front. Looks like remains from a party." Pack-in/pack-out principles apply strictly with no services available.
Road conditions: Forest roads accessing equestrian camping areas can deteriorate seasonally. "The road is in great condition and is passable with a 2WD without any issue," notes SpentBrassOffroad B. about Jones Creek, but conditions vary by location and season.
Availability concerns: First-come, first-served camping areas fill quickly during summer weekends. "I showed up around 3pm on a Friday and was barely able to find a walk-in tent site. All the car-accessible sites were taken," warns Christi L. about Jones Creek Campground.
Educational opportunities: The Tillamook Forest Center provides learning activities near Jones Creek Campground. "Definitely check out the Tillamook Forest Center, you can even hike over from the campground," recommends Aria R., noting its accessibility from nearby camping areas.
Beach-adjacent options: For families seeking both forest and beach experiences, Beverly Beach offers combination camping. "This campground is very well maintained, and thought out! Great showers, close to the beach and such a cute little store!!" shares Hana M.
River recreation: Jones Creek provides family-friendly water activities. "The creek isn't that deep so it was family-friendly," notes Christi L., making this a safer option for younger children compared to open beach environments.
Fairground alternative: RVers seeking more amenities can consider Polk County Fairgrounds. "Electricity 30 amp and water at the post. Dump station nearby. 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, adding "A pretty good deal at $25 a night."
Size limitations: Horse trailers and larger RVs face access challenges on forest roads. "While we attempted to stay in Jones Creek, all sites were full. However, we continued up the road which wound its way around a mountain and found a lovely spot away from the busy campground below," shares Amanda B., describing the need for flexibility when traveling with larger vehicles.
Hookup availability: Most equestrian camping near Gleneden Beach lacks RV hookups. Beverly Beach State Park offers an established alternative with "ADA site during the week in mid July. It was nice flat ground and easy access to the beach through the campground," according to Tiffany E.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gleneden Beach, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gleneden Beach, OR is Beverly Beach State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 110 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gleneden Beach, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Gleneden Beach, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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