23 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Sheep Springs Horse Camp accommodates both riders and their equine companions in a serene forest setting near Sisters, Oregon. Solid wooden paddocks at each site provide secure containment for horses, with metal panel corrals available at one site. The clean bathrooms and trailhead proximity make this a practical base for exploring the surrounding trail network. Located approximately 45 miles southwest of Madras, the camp features several sites with varying terrain - some offer morning sun exposure while others provide ample shade from the surrounding trees. Sites vary in accessibility, with some allowing easy entrance even with large living quarter trailers and dually trucks, while others present more challenging approaches.
Direct access to forest trails begins right from the campground, creating convenient riding opportunities without trailer transportation. Horse camping near Madras ranges from sites with dedicated paddocks and corrals to open dispersed areas suited for larger rigs and trailers. The Sisters Rodeo grounds offer free dispersed camping options, particularly suitable for horse owners with larger rigs. These areas provide ample space for horse trailers, though without formal corrals or stalls. Several camp hosts in the region are familiar with equestrian needs and can provide guidance on trail conditions and riding routes. Water availability varies by location, with some campgrounds offering drinking water for horses while others require campers to bring their own supply. Trails connect to extensive networks throughout the Deschutes National Forest, providing varied terrain and scenery for day rides. While formal reservations are recommended for established horse camps, especially during peak season from May through October, some dispersed camping areas operate on a first-come basis.
"Camp host was nice, easy access to sites. Showers/bathrooms clean but dated."
"Rght next to Fair-when it is in town!"
"There is an on site pool and outdoor gathering place, a general store, propane vending, a dog walking path and large property behind the park to take pets with a reminder to clean up and pack it out."
"From the put-put golf course near the check-in, to the store and the lovely lake, this is a great place for kids as well as adults."
from $43 - $78 / night
Check Availability"Located a short walk from Steelhead Falls. Very quiet at night. Many trail and lots of signs of wildlife."
"This is another Oregon state park gem... best to visit offseason if you are not a boater, jet skier or love motor noise. I go every spring and get a spot overlooking the lake/reservoir. "
"It's a very popular Oregon State Park and I'm sure summer requires advance planning. The weekend we were there was pretty full and our site was at the top of the B loop. "
from $24 - $152 / 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"Beautiful trees, clean bathrooms, solid paddocks, and great trail network. Even had Miss Rodeo Oregon staying there on a rare weekend off before the RoundUp."
from $25 - $27 / night
Check Availability"I’m learning the ropes of truck life while working full time, so the proximity to Bend is a big plus."
"Easily accessible, close to town, spread out, and has cell service (Verizon)."
"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"A lot of horse trailers come into the dispersed camping area to park and ride their horses, and I've seen a lot of larger bog rig horse trailers parked at the camp sites near the front."
Traveler14 days per stay, 28 days per year, I picked up maps for Deschutes National Forest at the office in Bend. This location is within a few miles of Sisters which is very touristy. Coniferous forest road, dry, high elevation. Near bike trails, horse trails and hiking.
ScoutLots of sites to park. There are long term campers. Spoke to a few who worked in Sisters & could walk/ride bikes to work. As it got later, rain started & ground worried me. At about same time, people were driving by honking horns, yelling. It’s across from businesses/ homes & appears campers are unwanted. I get it but rents are freaking crazy & as I said, people WORKED for a living. Their areas weren’t nasty. There’s stores, laundry, gas nearby. I gave it a low score because I’m a single F in a SUV & felt uncomfortable. I also didn’t want to get stuck in wet sand. I’m sure males would be fine. I continued on to Bend.
LegendSpent two nights here in space B5. Even though the campground said there was a slight slope to the space I found it almost unnoticeable. The reservoir was very very low. Nice walking along the shore. Showers were very clean. Kind of the only downside was about the last three or 4 miles into the park was very winding and narrow with a 25 mile an hour speed limit because of the sharp turns.
GuideWhen we got there the place was nice. Unfortunatley, there was some major fires going around the area and we got some smoke the next 3 days. But, of course, that was not the campgrounds fault. It was too bad so we did do some biking, swimming and bar B Qing. The campground was full and clean. They say you can get 2 bars of signal on your phone, but no one there seemed to be getting any signal. I had a Star Link so that wasn't a problem for me.
All the sites seemed to have electricity, but not all had a dump. The camp host was friendly and helped me find where to dump the Motorhome. It was about 1.5 mi away at the upper level of the campground called Jasper Point. Steep and winding paved road that was fine for my 30' MH.
GuideGreat campground. Good hiking and swimming. Some of the RV spots have sewer, but in case you are not at one the Jasper point campground has two RV dumps 2 miles down the road. No cell service but check in has WiFi or if you just drive back up main road you will get cell service.
RangerGreat place to rest up and resupply. This RV Park offers full hookups, restrooms, showers, dumpsters and a dog park. It's centrally located close to everything. The spots are gravel and level. Each with a picnic table and small grill. The Host is very friendly and helpful. I would stay here again. I'm a Full time RV'er pulling a 20' travel trailer
GuideI came here for an event and it was quite nice having full hookups for the long weekend
GuideBeautiful setting, lots of mature trees, clean bathrooms. However, the shower isn’t individual private stalls but rather like stalls in a public toilet.
If you are here to do activities (disc golf, fishing) the high price tag might be justified. But for just stopping through - $60, for small sites didn’t feel worth it.
TravelerLocated a short walk from Steelhead Falls. Very quiet at night. Many trail and lots of signs of wildlife.
Horse campgrounds near Madras, Oregon provide designated spots for equestrians to camp with their horses in the high desert at around 2,300 feet elevation. Located in Jefferson County, this region has hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and cold winters that can drop below freezing. Most equestrian facilities operate seasonally from May through October due to weather conditions.
Trail riding from camp: At Sheep Springs Horse Camp near Sisters, riders can access forest trails directly from the campground. "Beautiful trees, clean bathrooms, solid paddocks, and great trail network," reports one visitor who encountered "Miss Rodeo Oregon staying there on a rare weekend off before the RoundUp."
Fish from shorelines: Prineville Reservoir offers accessible fishing opportunities for campers. "Nice place to launch a boat and fish or tube. Has an amazingly helpful fish cleaning space! Can even catch fish off the bay," mentions a camper at Prineville Reservoir State Park.
Winter recreation: While most horse camps close seasonally, some camping areas transform for winter sports. Big Lake Campground becomes a winter destination requiring "snowshoes, skis, or a snowmobile to get there in the Winter," according to one camper.
Diverse camping terrain: Big Lake offers varied camping environments within a single area. "We headed out from Portland late Friday, not really knowing what to expect. The campground was clean and easy to find, obviously a hit for OHV. We went on a hike just a few yards from the campsite, and put our kayaks in the lake after."
Mountain views: Many campsites provide scenic mountain backdrops. "The views of Mt. Washington over the lake are truly stunning," reports a Big Lake visitor, though they note "most of the forest in view is burnt" and "mosquitoes can be vicious in the summer."
Fairground convenience: Jefferson County Fairgrounds RV Park provides overnight options during events. "Bike touring thru and they have some shade for your tent, grass, nice showers, about all u need passing thru. It's at the fairgrounds. Tent spot $15 and just set up wherever in the grass, nice grass."
Water availability: Many dispersed sites lack water access. At Reynolds Pond Recreation Site, one camper notes: "No amenities - You carry it in, You carry it out" while another mentions being able to "jump in the irrigation stream to cool off because the pond, even though good sized, looked a bit pondish."
Fire restrictions: Fire rules vary seasonally and by location. A camper at Sisters Rodeo Dispersed Camping reports: "When it became 'no fires allowed' a ranger went to every camp site with people and asked if he could leave the information papers about what would be allowed vs not allowed during the 'no burn' time."
Permit requirements: Some backcountry areas require advance permits. For Pamelia Lake, a camper explains: "permits are awarded via lottery. We were lucky enough to snag a permit the week before and we were very glad we did since we were asked to show proof of our permit twice during the 4 days we were staying there."
Pond fishing for kids: Reynolds Pond offers easy fishing access for families. "An oasis. We stopped to check this place out and ended up staying. A steady stream of locals came and went, running the dogs, fishing, playing guitar, even flying model pontoon planes, but it was quiet after dark."
Educational programs: Some parks offer structured learning activities. At Prineville Reservoir State Park, a camper mentions "The educational programs are outstanding! The amenities are well cared for and the surroundings are incredible!"
Family-friendly amenities: Bend / Sisters Garden RV Resort offers additional recreational options. "Nice spaces with pavement and full hookups. Catch and release fishing at the on-site pond for trout the size of steelhead. Each space has a nice green lawn and fire ring. Facilities also include a store, pool, and hot tub."
Site access considerations: At Sheep Springs Horse Camp, site selection matters for large rigs. "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."
Hookup availability: Jefferson County Fairgrounds offers essential RV amenities. "Nice clean place to park RV or camper. Has all the amenities," notes one RVer, while another mentions "Camp host was nice, easy access to sites. Showers/bathrooms clean but dated."
Level sites: Finding flat parking is important for RVs. At Bend / Sisters Garden RV Resort, a camper reports "Very happy with this RV spot. Nice staff, clean, flat pull through spacious spots. Great amenities, with wonderful bathroom/shower facilities."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Madras, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Madras, OR is Jefferson County Fairgrounds RV Park - DURING EVENTS ONLY with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Madras, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 equestrian camping locations near Madras, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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