17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Milo McIver State Park Campground offers extensive horseback riding opportunities on well-maintained trails throughout its 950-acre property near Estacada, Oregon. Horse enthusiasts can access miles of bridle paths that wind through forested areas and along the Clackamas River. While standard campsites accommodate horses, the park also provides equine-specific facilities with ample parking for horse trailers. Large, open fields allow riders to exercise their horses before hitting the trails. The campground remains popular with both day riders and overnight campers due to its proximity to Portland, just 45 minutes away. Trails are particularly well-maintained during the May to September season, with numerous wide paths suitable for horses of all experience levels.
The extensive trail system connects directly to multiple riding loops ranging from beginner-friendly flat terrain to more challenging routes with river views and wildlife viewing opportunities. Located approximately 20 miles northeast of Molalla, Milo McIver serves as a regional hub for horse enthusiasts seeking accessible trails without traveling deep into mountain wilderness. Horse-friendly campsites require advance reservations, especially during summer months when the park experiences peak visitation. Many trails feature hitching posts at scenic overlooks and rest areas. The campground's layout separates equestrian users from other recreation areas, including the disc golf course and fishing spots, creating a more peaceful experience for riders and their horses. The park's horse trails connect to additional riding opportunities in the surrounding Cascade foothills.
"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"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"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 $29 - $87 / night
Check Availability"Only sites for camping with horses."
from $20 - $74 / 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."
"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"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."
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.
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.
TravelerSite was nice and private, staff was very friendly, and the grounds were pretty clean! 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. Plenty of horses and dogs around.
LegendA large state park located near Estacada on the banks of the Clackamas River, Milo McIver is a well-loved Oregon state park. Because it's close to Portland, it is very busy. The main campsite area is set for tents as well as RVs with electric and water hookups available. Campsites are kind of close together but well appointed with bathrooms/showers available. There is a small tent-only area also available but the sites are kind of cramped and they all spin off a common parking area with little privacy.
The park overall has lots of different open spaces for hiking, interpretive programs, disc golf, fishing, areas for horse riding, and a great overlook on the Clackamas River.
TravelerStunning 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. Walking, bike, and horse trails. Close to the ten waterfall trail on the day use area.
Equestrian camping near Molalla, Oregon centers around a network of trail systems within the Cascade foothills. The terrain features varied elevations from 400 to 3,000 feet, creating diverse riding conditions through Douglas fir forests and open meadows. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, while spring and fall bring cooler weather and occasional rain that can affect trail conditions.
Trail riding at Willamette Mission State Park: Located approximately 25 miles west of Molalla, this park offers extensive horse trails through riverside habitat. "There are LOTS of nice, wide horse trails for horse riding enthusiasts. We all made s'mores and sang campfire songs together in the evening after our day of hiking to the horse camp and up to the bat haven," notes Melissa L. from Milo McIver State Park Campground.
Disc golf between rides: Many equestrian campgrounds offer additional activities for when you're not in the saddle. "What other campground has a bat trail? The camping area is away from the high use river rafting area. It is also far from the extensive pair of disc golf courses. That's right, two competition quality disc golf courses," explains Nancy H.
Swimming with horses: During summer months, designated water access points allow horses to cool off. "This park would have been even better later in the year (we went in May), as it sits along the Clackamas river, and the river is easily accessible for rafting, tubing, swimming, or fishing," reports Melissa L.
Private campsites: At Silver Falls State Park Campground, riders appreciate the campsite layout. "Site spacing is good with lots of privacy between camps. Bathrooms and showers are super nice and clean. Roads and campsites are paved and level. Short drive or hike to the falls," shares Richard H.
Scenic rivers: Water features add to the equestrian experience around Molalla. "Milo McIver has large sites with great river access. Close to Portland so it gets real busy," notes Gryphon D. The Clackamas River offers not just scenic value but practical benefits for cooling horses after long rides.
Seasonal variations: Each season offers a different experience for horse campers. "We only stayed for a place to sleep overnight, but I'm eager to return and stay longer. I was super impressed with the size and location of the tent sites. The tent sites were also secluded and flat," explains Lindsey T. from Oxbow Regional Park.
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian sites require advance booking. "The hiker/biker sites are first come first serve, which was a little nerve-wracking. We went late April though, to better our chances of finding a spot," explains Ashley L.
Trail conditions: Trail maintenance varies seasonally and by location. "The trails are particularly well-maintained during the May to September season, with numerous wide paths suitable for horses of all experience levels," shares a camper.
Noise considerations: At Beacon Rock State Park Campground, "Sites are a little less private and occasionally I heard train passing by from the nearby railway (bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper)," advises Wood M. This applies to several equestrian campgrounds in the region where highways or railways may be present.
Playground access: Certain campgrounds offer child-friendly amenities between trail rides. "We love hiking the trails and our kids love the playground and river swimming!" says April F. about Silver Falls State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Family-oriented activities complement horse camping. "After a day of adventure, guests often unwind by the riverbank, watching local wildlife—herons and kingfishers are frequent visitors—and spotting rafters drifting downstream," notes a visitor to Milo McIver.
Educational features: Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground offers unique geology lessons. "This makes a nice weekend or day trip from Portland. They have a cool volcanic lake with a swimming area and great fishing. It's like a mini crater lake. I mean mini like pond size," describes Ashley Y.
RV site limitations: Not all equestrian campgrounds accommodate large rigs. "We stayed at the Woodward full hook up sites. Only a small number of them so felt spacious and secluded. Close to a busy train track and you can hear some highway noise but overall we felt secluded," reports Joe C.
Water and electrical hookups: "Office hours 9-5p. Simple straight forward after hours process. Clean bathrooms and great pools. Make sure you read and understand the pool rules very well," advises Jennifer H. about Jantzen Beach RV Park, which offers facilities for RVers who may trailer their horses to day-use equestrian areas.
Parking configurations: "The sites were large enough to comfortably park my small car and have plenty of room to spread out. While I don't see this camp being great for excessively large rigs, I did see a few smaller and mid sized units on the loop," explains Crystal C. about Beacon Rock State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Molalla, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Molalla, OR is Silver Falls State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 78 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Molalla, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Molalla, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
