11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Lily Glen Horse Camp near Howard Prairie Lake provides the primary equestrian camping facilities in the Murphy area, designed specifically for visitors with horses. The campground features drinking water, picnic tables, and basic toilets, with sites arranged to accommodate both tents and smaller RVs with horse trailers. Accessible via a drive-in route, the camp maintains a rustic atmosphere without electric hookups, showers, or sanitary dump facilities. The open season runs from mid-April through mid-October, making it unavailable during winter months. Campground users have noted the functional layout allows for keeping horses nearby while camping, though amenities remain basic and primitive compared to full-service facilities.
The surrounding trail network connects riders to the Howard Prairie Lake recreation area and nearby forest lands, offering varied terrain for day rides. Horses have access to natural water sources in designated areas, though campers should bring their own water containers for their animals during dry periods. No dedicated horse corrals are provided on-site, so equestrians must bring their own portable corral panels or highline equipment for containing horses overnight. Fire rings are available at each site, and fires are permitted when seasonal restrictions aren't in place. Pets are allowed in the campground, providing flexibility for those traveling with both horses and dogs. The campground's 3.5-star rating reflects its functional but no-frills approach to horse camping.
"We were down in Southern Oregon for the Caves. We stayed in the Heron loop which was the smallest and most primitive, It was wonderful and we had the whole south of the lake to ourselves."
"we love coming to lake selmac to use the yurts for winter camping. theyre heated and cozy. weve probably camped here a half dozen times or so over the past couple years, including standard tent sites."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"It is close to Hwy 5 so a lot of road noise. But most in this area are. Sites are tight like most KOAs. We chose an end spot and did alright. Plus it was quiet part of year."
"Some sites here are very private feeling because you park the car up top and walk down (not far at all) to the tent that sits close to the lake. Toilets but no showers."
"There are plenty of things to do from fishing, swimming, and even renting a "peddle" boat for a leg workout while taking your trip around the lake."
"The trails are amazing. Briggs creek runs all year. The horse camp is getting a little run down, but still nice. We go every year with our horses. Its primitive camping."
"Great bike trails. Plenty of showers and restrooms. Flat concrete for tent setup and bbq pit in each site with fresh water close to all sites."
"Incredible location in the Cascade Mountains,( northern corner of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument)."
"I picked a spot right on the lake where I chose a comfy log to sit and enjoy a book."
from $7 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The Wildcat Campground in Oregon is great, however it does get pretty busy during the summer months."
"Nice area located on a Resevoir. Potable water available. Outhouse. No hookups and no phone service."
"The Boundary Campground located in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon is a great place to go for a quite getaway. It is located on Bear Creek Road. "
"A small drive out of Wallowa and a gorgeous spot with well maintained facilities. Right next to the rolling wonderful Bear Creek Trail."
"Hiking in the area is nice with a 3.5 mile loop to the lake and back. There’s additional trails and tracks across the road from Lily Glen."
from $45 - $50 / night
GuideA fun little campground that is located right off Dead Indian memorial road. There are a few wooden stalls for horses and campgrounds are first come first served. Picture is from a nearby lookout we hiked to. Beautiful trails in the area.
ScoutPack it-pack it out. There is no trash service. The trails are amazing. Briggs creek runs all year. The horse camp is getting a little run down, but still nice. We go every year with our horses. Its primitive camping. No drinking water, showers, or cell service. There is a spot about 3 miles up the road where most can get service.
RangerThe Boundary Campground located in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon is a great place to go for a quite getaway. It is located on Bear Creek Road. This campground wasn't busy when my family and I went which was really nice. It almost felt like we had the whole campground to ourselves. There really isn't many campsites- I believe there are only 8. I'm assuming this campground isn't well known by people, which again is really nice because you can escape the craziness. The campground itself is pretty basic- each campsite has its own picnic table and fire ring. It is pretty cheap to stay here as well- only $5 per night. We had a Northwest Forest Pass and were able to use that instead of paying the $5 fee. There is a great hike that is nearby called Bear Creek Trail. This trail does run along the river, which makes it great for fishing. My family and I hiked this, and stopped on our way back to do some fishing. They also have trails that you can ride your horses. We actually saw a few people doing this when we were on our morning hike. Overall, I thought this was a great place to camp. We really enjoyed the peace and quite. I feel like during the summer months most campgrounds are super busy, so it was really nice to experience a camping trip that was not overly crowded.
ScoutIncredible location in the Cascade Mountains,( northern corner of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument). The campgrounds were well maintained and spaced so that they provided plenty of privacy from neighboring sites. Exception hiking, great wildlife sighting.
Another plus is that you are just 20 miles away from Ashland, easy drive allows one to take in a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival , return to your campsite and marvel at the star lit night sky.
RangerThe Wildcat Campground in Oregon is great, however it does get pretty busy during the summer months. My family and I visited this campground for a few days at the beginning of August and it was packed. Thankfully we went early on Friday morning and got a spot before the rush of people came. It is a "first come first serve" campground so you are not able to call ahead and reserve your spot. You just have to get their early! The campground is located in the Ochoco National Forest. It is definitely a beautiful place to camp. It is relatively close to town, which is why I think it gets busy during the summers. There were a lot of college aged students camping, which did make it pretty loud. My family has a camper, which is allowed in this campground. They have spots for campers, and spots for tents. Each campsite does have a picnic table which is nice. We always bring extra chairs because we are a family of 5 so the picnic table gets a little overcrowded. My family and I really enjoyed doing some hikes nearby (can't remember the names of the hikes), but we looked everything up beforehand. Gorgeous views, but lots of ticks on the hike. Thankfully we all wore tick repellent and smothered our dog in it as well. One thing I wish this campground had was a river/lake within walking distance from the campground.
TravelerSites are small and we were in a tent. We were going to be there for an extended period of time and they asked us to move our tent around to spot so we didn't kill the already dead grass... it was the middle of August in Oregon everything is dry and dead. Closed both bathrooms at the same time every day, why not close one and then the other? clean bathrooms though, nice pool. Small play area for kids.
GuideWe were down in Southern Oregon for the Caves.
We stayed in the Heron loop which was the smallest and most primitive, It was wonderful and we had the whole south of the lake to ourselves. Firewood here is not bundled and since it was off season we got a huge amount for$5. The hosts were terrific. This was a wonderful quiet stay.
Will always be back.
This year it was pretty spendy for a tent site $24
LegendNo it is not perfect. It is close to Hwy 5 so a lot of road noise. But most in this area are. Sites are tight like most KOAs. We chose an end spot and did alright. Plus it was quiet part of year. Many year around residents but was not cluttered. Also sort of kept the short term rentals separate. Nice country location. Good green space to walk dogs. Did not get harassed for walking dogs off leash. We r responsible pet owners. Great laundry room. A little expensive for laundry. Pool table and Pac-Man was used by families. Very clean facilities and flexible manager on when we chose to leave.
TravelerSome sites here are very private feeling because you park the car up top and walk down (not far at all) to the tent that sits close to the lake.
Toilets but no showers.
Lily Glen Horse Camp provides dedicated equestrian facilities near Murphy, Oregon at an elevation of approximately 4,600 feet. The camp sits within the Howard Prairie Lake recreation area in the Cascade foothills, creating a cooler summer retreat for riders compared to the nearby Rogue Valley. Camping options for horse owners range from primitive sites to more developed areas with varying amenities throughout the region.
Trail riding to Howard Prairie Lake: Follow the 3.5-mile loop trail from Lily Glen Horse Camp that takes riders to Howard Prairie Lake and back through forested terrain. Kassidy D. notes the area has "Beautiful trails in the area" making it ideal for day rides of varying lengths.
Fishing at Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac County Park offers excellent fishing opportunities about 30 miles west of Murphy. Kevin R. shares, "We were down in Southern Oregon for the Caves. We stayed in the Heron loop which was the smallest and most primitive, It was wonderful and we had the whole south of the lake to ourselves."
Wildlife watching at Boundary Campground: Boundary Campground provides quiet spaces for nature observation. Julie P. recommends, "There is a great hike that is nearby called Bear Creek Trail. This trail does run along the river, which makes it great for fishing. My family and I hiked this, and stopped on our way back to do some fishing."
Private lakeside camping sites: Lake Selmac Resort offers secluded tent sites with water access. Nicole O. explains, "Some sites here are very private feeling because you park the car up top and walk down (not far at all) to the tent that sits close to the lake."
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location of many horse camps near Murphy provides exceptional night sky viewing. At Hyatt Lake Recreation Area, campers enjoy minimal light pollution. Mark shares it's "Incredible location in the Cascade Mountains... Another plus is that you are just 20 miles away from Ashland, easy drive allows one to take in a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, return to your campsite and marvel at the star lit night sky."
Winter yurt options: Some campgrounds near Murphy offer heated structures for off-season equestrian camping. Paul H. from Lake Selmac County Park reports, "We love coming to lake selmac to use the yurts for winter camping. Theyre heated and cozy. Weve probably camped here a half dozen times or so over the past few years."
Logging truck noise at certain times: Be aware of potential road noise at some horse camps during active logging operations. A camper at Lily Glen notes, "The only drawback was the constant noise of logging trucks at night. They were coming from Keno Road so the noise included them gearing down to the stop sign and then getting back up to speed when passing the campground."
Road conditions to campgrounds: Some horse camping areas require careful driving on narrow mountain roads. Craig M. warns about access to Hyatt Lake Recreation Area: "The road up the mountain coming from I-5 was made of narrow switchbacks straight up along the side of a cliff. I white-knuckled it the whole way in my little car... not for the faint of heart."
Limited cell service: Many equestrian campsites have poor or no connectivity. Derreck B. reports about Wildcat Campground: "Nice area located on a Resevoir. Potable water available. Outhouse. No hookups and no phone service."
Kid-friendly water activities: Lake Selmac offers family-oriented water recreation beyond horseback riding. Susanna R. says, "We spent a weekend at Lake Selmac camping in our RV with our four kiddos. The hosts were incredibly kind and helpful... Boat rentals are cheap and very easy to access."
Look for campgrounds with hiking trails: Wildcat Campground offers both equestrian and hiking trails for families. Julie P. shares, "The Wildcat Campground in Oregon is great... My family and I really enjoyed doing some hikes nearby (can't remember the names of the hikes), but we looked everything up beforehand. Gorgeous views, but lots of ticks on the hike."
Consider reservation requirements: Some horse camps require advance booking even when they appear empty. Sony A. notes about Hyatt Lake: "The campground requires you to make a reservation online even though there are empty sites everywhere. Neither of us had cell reception so I find this to be a very odd requirement."
RV sites with horse trailer accommodations: Some campgrounds specifically design spaces for equestrian visitors with RVs and trailers. For larger rigs, Medford-Gold Hill KOA offers alternatives when horse camp sites are too small. P & L B. note they have "Large RV spaces. Nice staff."
Check site length for horse trailers: Measure your combined rig length before booking. Charles S. warns about Gold Hill KOA: "Pull thru sites are short my 35 footer and car just fit. Multiple sites car were sticking in to the road making it a little close pulling out in the morning."
Water access for horses: During dry periods, check water availability for animals. Some equestrian sites near Murphy have natural sources but may require supplemental water. If natural sources are limited, bring containers for your horses at primitive sites like Sam Brown Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Murphy, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Murphy, OR is Lake Selmac County Park with a 3.8-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Murphy, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Murphy, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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