20 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Kalama Horse Camp Campground provides essential equine facilities while accommodating both tent and RV campers near Multnomah Falls. The campground features several sites suitable for horse trailers, a sanitary dump, and typical amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. The sites remain open from May through November, allowing equestrians to take advantage of seasonal trail access. Most campers report the sites offer adequate space for multiple horses with secure tie areas. No reservation system is in place for the horse camp, operating solely on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the camping season.
Located in Cougar, Washington, Kalama Horse Camp connects directly to several miles of regional bridle trails through surrounding forests. Riders access moderate to challenging terrain with elevation changes suitable for intermediate to experienced equestrians. Trail conditions remain dependable through summer months, with some seasonal limitations in early spring and late fall due to weather and trail maintenance. Trash collection is available on-site, but campers must bring their own water for both human and equine needs. The absence of dedicated horse corrals means riders should plan to bring portable corral panels or use high-line systems for overnight horse containment. Riley Horse Campground in Oregon offers an alternative equestrian camping location with similar trail access but fewer amenities, making it suitable for more self-sufficient horse campers.
"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"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."
"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"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."
"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"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"Clackamas 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."
"Great campground when nearby Timothy Lake campgrounds are full. The spot I had was large and not too close to other spots."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"There are 8 walk in sites and one drive up site, all first come first serve discovery pass required. Some sites are larger than others, but in ours we were able to fit two 6ptents and one 2p tent."
"Discover pass required Merrill Lake, just outside of Cougar, WA feels very remote, despite its relatively close proximity to the Portland/Vancouver area."
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.
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.
LegendSmaller, but we were able to switch sites away from an area with two families/lots of little kids (so the area is easy for people who don't camp a lot). Beautiful river, lots of horses and fisherpeople, great trails, tall trees, lots of shade, close to Portland. Plus you can reserve sites ahead of time.
GuideWe love it! For a lot of reasons. Part of the reason is it’s close, so that’s part good. 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. You do have a lot of options, in that the first time we went up there was with our hiking club, and we went up there for a hike around the calderas so it’s easy to do a day trip in a car. Part of our discovery was while we were there is that the food place is really good and very nice. The kids playground was great for the grandkids.
As far as the camping, while it’s open, for the most part you do have a limited amount of privacy in the campground. The campsite we picked was a mix of things: just far enough away from the restrooms where we don’t get all the traffic there, but close enough so it’s not too far either. We were within easy walking distance to two restrooms/showers.
One thing that always looked intriguing is they do have the cabins, so maybe one of these times we’ll rent one. Another thing that some people might like is that they do have horses and some of the trails around the lake you can have horses on, plus a separate area/campground where you can have your horses, which are fun to see.
It’s a small lake but big lake, meaning they do not allow motors on the lake, even electric motors, so it’s all floats, kayakers, etc. A lot of people grab the big inter-tubes and go with that. And of course fishing up there is generally pretty good, especially when they stock it. The trails around the lake are kind of fun also because you have a high trail (very forested) and you also have a certain amount of low trails right on the water where you could have your own spots to fish and swim.
Like most campgrounds, it has its peak season and its off-season, but you can go there year-round if you choose to. The beach area isn’t big, but that’s okay. Wherever you’re heading (from the campsites down to the water, to the playground, to the food shack) you always have different trails and options for how to get from one place to another if you want to explore. If there’s anything you forgot (groceries, fishing gear etc.) you can be in the small town of Battle Ground within 5 miles.
GuideTwo parties (all family) stayed the night Friday night. Additional family visited Saturday night (and were able to easily get into the campgrounds to park in our sites). 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 (a nice long nature walk for the kids). This park would have been even better later in the year (we went in May), as it sits along the Clackamas river, and is the river is easily accessible for rafting, tubing, swimming, or fishing. We rate this one an 8.2.
Equestrian camping near Multnomah Falls offers riders access to forest trails within the Mount Hood National Forest region at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 feet. The area receives approximately 70 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush vegetation but sometimes challenging trail conditions. Horse camps typically remain open from May through October with limited winter access due to seasonal closures and snowpack.
Trail riding at Panther Creek: The Pacific Crest Trail runs directly through this area, providing excellent access for day rides. "Located just off the PCT trail... frequented mainly by families, and some PCT hikers," notes a camper at Panther Creek Campground. Trails offer views of Mt. Hood on clear days.
Horseback exploration at Beacon Rock: State park trails accommodate equestrians with varied terrain options. A visitor mentioned, "Across the road is a horse camp that the PCT goes through... Further up the road is a short hike to some beautiful falls." Beacon Rock connects to multiple trail systems suitable for different experience levels.
Swimming access with horses: During summer months, horses can cool off at designated water entry points. At Panther Creek, "There are several places to access the creek and play in the cold, shallow water. The stones in the stream are a rainbow of metamorphic rock," making it ideal for a mid-ride break.
Spacious corrals at Riley Horse Camp: The camp offers larger-than-average containment options. One camper at Riley Horse Campground noted, "The horse pens were huge and we used them to help hang our hammocks." This multi-functional space works for both equine needs and human comfort.
Privacy between campsites: Most equestrian camps maintain good separation between sites. At Clackamas Lake Campground, a camper observed, "The spot I had was large and not too close to other spots... This spot is in the horse section so there were corrals in each spot."
Proximity to diverse riding terrain: Riders appreciate the varied landscapes accessible from base camps. A rider at Oxbow Regional Park commented, "Smaller, but we were able to switch sites... Beautiful river, lots of horses and fisherpeople, great trails, tall trees, lots of shade, close to Portland." This variety provides multiple riding experiences without relocating camp.
Limited water availability: Many horse camps require bringing water for both humans and animals. At Panther Creek, facilities include "potable water pumps, as well as garbage and recycling," but quantity may be limited during dry periods.
First-come reservation systems: Several camps operate without advance booking options. At Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground, "They do have the cabins, so maybe one of these times we'll rent one. Another thing that some people might like is that they do have horses and some of the trails around the lake you can have horses on."
Weather-dependent trail access: Spring and fall can present muddy conditions that limit riding options. Oxbow Regional Park visitors note that "Road noise can be loud here. Try to get a site as close to the river as you can so you can avoid the highway noise at night." These environmental factors affect both camping comfort and trail usability.
Combined activities for riders and non-riders: Parks often offer alternatives for family members who don't ride. At Beacon Rock State Park Campground, "From the main road, head north directly across from Beacon rock until you come to a parking lot on the right that's the trailhead for Hamilton Mountain, Whispering Pool and others."
Kid-friendly equestrian opportunities: Some parks provide beginner-appropriate trails. At Milo McIver State Park, "The campground is well maintained with lots of picnic/day use areas, a beach and lots of nature trails (more for walking than hiking)," making it suitable for younger riders and families.
Safety considerations: Camps with mixed-use trails require awareness. One Oxbow camper advised, "Watch out for the Horses," indicating the need for caution where equestrian and pedestrian trails intersect, especially with children present.
Trailer parking limitations: Most horse camps accommodate standard horse trailers but have restrictions on size. At Merrill Lake Campground, a visitor noted, "This campground is best suited for tent camping, as there is only one RV site and sometimes it's occupied by a camp host." Plan for limited large rig options.
Hook-up availability: Most equestrian sites offer basic amenities without electrical or water connections. A Panther Creek camper mentioned, "Nice campground that doesn't feel crowded at all. Some camp spots are better situated than others, so do research before making reservation," suggesting advance research is essential for RV needs.
Seasonal accessibility: Forest roads to horse camps may have seasonal restrictions. At Clackamas Lake, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Multnomah Falls, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Multnomah Falls, OR is Oxbow Regional Park with a 4.4-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Multnomah Falls, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 equestrian camping locations near Multnomah Falls, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
