2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cape Blanco State Park Campground features a dedicated horse camp with newer corrals, bathroom facilities, and miles of equestrian trails. Located on the southern Oregon coast outside Port Orford, approximately 60 miles north of Ophir, this campground provides horse owners with specialized amenities while offering spectacular coastal views. The horse camp remains separate from the main camping areas, giving riders privacy and convenient access to trail systems. The campground's wooded setting helps shield horses and riders from coastal winds that can be strong in this westernmost point of Oregon. The park maintains several miles of horse-friendly trails that wind through forests and along coastal bluffs.
Bullards Beach State Park Campground, situated about 3 miles north of Bandon and 45 miles from Ophir, offers another quality option for equestrian camping along the Oregon coast. The horse camp can be used by day visitors as well as overnight campers. Multiple hiking trails and bike paths connect to bridle trails throughout the park, allowing for varied riding experiences. The campground is protected from strong ocean breezes by shore pines, creating a more comfortable environment for horses and their owners. Beach access requires either a short drive or approximately a 1.5-mile walk from the campground, with trails connecting riders to the Coquille River and lighthouse areas. The park remains open year-round, making it accessible for equestrian camping regardless of season.
"I've camped at several state parks in Oregon and Cape Blanco is my favorite! It is situated above a beautiful beach with an access road straight from the campground. "
"The breach access is a one lane curvy road kind of scary to drive down. The camp host was very helpful. We visited the historic Hughes house that is on the park grounds."
Available this weekend
from $22 - $100 / night
"We love this park near Bandon. Great beach access and walking noir dog loved it. Horse camps and corrals. Hiking, biking and e equestrian trails. Boat launch."
"BIG and CLEAN by the sea. 3 miles to a lighthouse, about a mile 1/2 walk to beach, or drive car to parking to get closer access to the sea. Cost $31 a night plus $8 fee RSVP service."
Available this weekend
from $22 - $83 / night
"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."
"Lots of fish swimming around and a little flock of ducks lol. Campground was clean and quiet. We were in #78."
"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."
from $20 - $35 / night
"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."
"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."
TravelerLovely, clean, private sites. Quiet. Friendly caretakers who were always busy! Far enough away from big metro centers that, even as the weekend approached, it wasn’t very busy (this was October, though). Thanks for a lovely 3 nights.
RangerPaved streets and sites. Mostly level. Good restrooms with flush toilets, sinks and hot showers (included in price). Close to lighthouse... Can park close by and walk to it... even on Tuesday when giftshop is closed. Campground under tree canopy... sites very private and very dark and quiet at night. Would stay again...
TravelerWe stayed in site B31 which was right next to a trail that led to the beach that's a little more than a mile. Staff was friendly and it was the cleanest bathrooms I've seen in a state park
ScoutLovely campground. Walking distance to the beach, you can hear the roar of the surf all night. Spotless bathrooms and showers, friendly helpful staff. A multitude of trails. Raccoons, turkeys, foxes, and ground squirrels in abundance.
TravelerI camped at Bullards Beach State Park Campground in August 2026 with my daughter. We pitched our tent in site A25. I became familiar with A-Loop. I only drove through the other two loops. B-Loop looked similar with sites for tents and RVs. C-Loop looked like it is better suited for RVs.
PROS & CONS
First of all, the staff I interacted with were all wonderful. The weather was unseasonably cool, but we still enjoyed our week at the campground. The biggest draw in my opinion is that the Pacific Ocean is only a short trek away.
Camping on the outside curve of A-Loop was nice because it was relatively calm and quiet, even on the weekend. Everyone respected quiet hours at this campground, more so than at any other campground I’ve stayed at. The sites have electric hookups and a water spigot, as well as a picnic table and fire ring. Firewood is sold at the entrance to the campground for $7 per bundle. Payment is card-only. Firewood bundles can also be purchased at McKay's in Bandon. Another option is a place named Frontier Unlimited just south of Bandon on the west side of highway 101. The firewood at Frontier Unlimited is in a gravel parking lot right before the Ocean Spray Cranberries facility. Unfortunately, they were sold out when we were there in late August.
There aren’t many trees in the Bullards Beach campground, but most of the sites in A-Loop at least had bushes surrounding them. I brought a hammock, but I couldn’t use it because there was only one tree in our campsite. I couldn't even find a good s'mores stick. As I walked around A-Loop, I didn’t see any sites that had more than one sturdy tree. There may be some sites in B-Loop with more trees. C-Loop has sparse vegetation, which is why it looked better suited for RVs.
The A-Loop restroom was kept cleaner than most public restrooms I’ve ever used. Besides the outstanding cleanliness, the restrooms are typical of Oregon state park campgrounds. The main drawback of the restroom is that there are no paper towels, only inadequate hand dryers. And the faucets just had cold water, although I found one faucet that could produce lukewarm water if I was patient. Another shortcoming is that the two stalls in the men’s bathroom are cramped. The campground is huge so I expected the bathrooms to have more than two small stalls. Also, there are no hooks in the men’s bathroom. At least there is a bench and there are metal trays above the three sinks. There is however a private, spacious handicap bathroom with a large counter, sink, bench, toilet and shower. I took a shower in there and man the water was hot! It was actually a bit too hot to bear.
BEACHES
From the campground entrance, the walk to Bullards Beach is about 1.25 miles down a mostly paved path. Along the way there is a string of parking lots with picnic tables and barbeques for day use. There is even a horseshoe pit near the middle of the day use area. It costs $10 a day to park in the lots. At the end of the parking lots there is a small sand dune, and beyond that is Bullards Beach. When we crested the dune, we found that the beach was mostly deserted. That could have been due to the foggy, windy weather, but it seemed like most of the tourists congregate at Bandon Beach. Regardless of the weather, I recommend visiting the historic Coquille River Lighthouse at the south end of Bullards Beach. I saw that the B-Loop has its own path to Bullards Beach called Pearl’s Trail. I didn’t notice it until we were leaving, so I don't know what it's like.
Besides Bullards Beach and Bandon Beach, which is a short drive south, we explored Seven Devils State Recreation Site 7 miles to the north. Also, at the south end of Bandon we checked out Tish-A-Tang Beach, which is 5.5 miles from the campground. One day we drove 30 miles south to Port Orford to see the desolate Cape Blanco Lighthouse and the little beaches below it. The lighthouse is cool but the weather wasn't conducive to hanging out at the beach down below, so we skipped that. I had been out there before, but I forgot that there are no public restrooms at Cape Blanco Lighthouse. I suggest making a pitstop in Port Orford before heading out to the second-most westerly point in the contiguous United States.
SUMMARY
Bullards Beach Campground is a peaceful, clean and comfortable place to “glamp” on the rugged southern Oregon Coast. The campground is home to a few wild turkeys and an abundance of lively birds. As for mammalian wildlife, the chipmunks were ever-present, we caught glimpses of rabbits, one evening a small bat flitted by, and we encountered a family of thieving raccoons. (I learned to store our food very securely). The Pacific weather can be capricious, but on the other hand there are very few insects. There were no mosquitoes, but I saw an occasional butterfly, moth, and flying termite. I just wish there were more trees in the campground so I could relax in my hammock. What I remember about the Cape Blanco State Park Campground (31 miles to the south) is that it's in a forest of Sitka spruce trees. But I would rather camp at Bullards Beach because it’s more sheltered from the stormy weather coming off the Pacific and there are more wide-open stretches of beach close by. I look forward to staying there again.
RangerThere are some seriously awesome campsites at Blanco, many sites seem to have a little network of trails behind them, some have secret areas for tents and hammocks. Very very windy early August, the bigger issue was the plumbing, we had porta potties since the bathrooms were closed, and the porta potty had not been recently serviced the day we got there. Not ideal, not a dealbreaker though.
ScoutSite was clean and had nice ground coverage for privacy. Spaces were far enough apart as well. Bathrooms and showers were kept clean too. Would stay again
ScoutHad so much fun, my family and I did a full family camp, had 4 spots reserved and it was no issue whatsoever. The bathrooms and showers were down for one day and they had them running the very next morning. Love this place, wish I could live here.
GuideThis spot was peaceful, quiet with friendly camp hosts and clean bathrooms/showers. Despite being more expensive RV spots, I would return to tent camp.
The trails nearby were nice, we enjoyed a nearly empty beach and walking to the nearby pioneer cemetery, lighthouse, and Hughes House.
Equestrian camping near Ophir, Oregon offers varied terrain for trail riding through coastal forests and along scenic beaches. The southern Oregon coast receives approximately 70-90 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush vegetation but requiring weather preparedness during camping trips. Horse owners can find specialized camping facilities with corrals, water access, and dedicated trails connecting to beach areas throughout the region.
Beach riding excursions: At Lake Selmac County Park, riders can enjoy water activities between trail rides. "We love coming to lake selmac to use the yurts for winter camping. theyre heated and cozy... the kids enjoy the fishing and i love the view across the lake," notes Paul H., highlighting the year-round accessibility.
Lighthouse exploration: Visit the historic lighthouse near Cape Blanco State Park Campground after a morning ride. "You can walk to the lighthouse and the beach from the campground," shares Mea H., while another visitor mentioned, "I have been camping at Cape Blanco State Park for years... The campground has free showers, flush toilets, sinks, firewood for sale, and beach access."
Forest trail systems: Explore the dense Sitka spruce forests with your horse at Sam Brown Campground. "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," says Teresa F., noting the primitive but functional nature of this equestrian-friendly area.
Privacy between sites: Riders appreciate the secluded camping areas at many locations. "The campground is gorgeous! It's nestled among Sitka spruce trees. They provide a lot of privacy between you and your neighbors and are just so pretty," remarks Mea H. about Cape Blanco State Park Campground.
Off-season tranquility: Winter and spring offer quieter equestrian camping experiences. At Lake Selmac Resort, campers find "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," according to Nicole O., making it ideal for horses needing more space and quiet.
Natural buffers from wind: The forested setting at many campgrounds provides natural protection from coastal elements. Ryan W. notes about Cape Blanco, "Hiker/Biker was really off on it's own and very private... This is a very shaded campground," which similarly benefits equestrian campers needing shelter for their horses.
Water and utility availability: Many equestrian sites have limited facilities. At Boundary Campground, Julie P. observed it's "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." She also mentioned, "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."
Distance to beach access: Beach riding often requires planning. For Bullards Beach State Park Campground, Emma L. points out, "This campground is not on the beach. There is a beach nearby that would be a long walk or a short bike ride away." Robert O. adds specific measurements: "The walk to beach is about a mile but a fun walk with a great beach to walk on."
Seasonal variations: Weather impacts trail conditions significantly. "It was quiet and clean with access to the beach," shares Ashley D. about Bullards Beach, while another camper noted, "weather was cool in the 60's and nice cloudy with a touch of rain," highlighting the need for weather-appropriate gear when planning equestrian outings.
Kid-friendly riding paths: Look for designated beginner trails. Lake Selmac County Park offers family-oriented activities as Kassidy D. notes: "Lots of lake like activities to do, it's a popular place for locals in the summer and popular for birthday parties and events."
Educational opportunities: Combine riding with learning experiences. At Cape Blanco, one visitor shared, "We visited the historic Hughes house that is on the park grounds. It was built in 1898 and they have tours. The lighthouse is the oldest on the Oregon coast and you can get a tour of it."
Convenient amenities: Choose campgrounds with facilities that support family needs. Rachel G. explains that Bullards Beach has an "Excellent campground. Mix of full and partial hookups, tent sites, horse camp, and yurts. Very clean campground and well maintained... Town of Bandon is right over the bridge about 3 miles. Restaurants and stores."
Site selection for horse trailers: RVers with horse trailers need specific accommodations. Cape Blanco camper Haley C. advises, "The sites have full hookups, fire pits, tables, and very long paved drives," making it suitable for larger rigs with horse trailers.
Utility considerations: Check for essential hookups at equestrian sites. Robert O. from Bullards Beach reports, "Stayed 5 nights site A-40 a very nice spot for our 26ft Class C motor home we fit a-ok an had 30am and 15am at the post, the site and utilities are in great shape," information useful for those bringing horses and requiring electrical access.
Cell coverage for emergency access: Connectivity varies widely. "Verizon via iPhone 12: 1.18 mbps down and 0.18 mbps up with 55 ms ping. With the weBoost booster: 3.28 mbps down and 0.12 mbps up with 51 ms ping. T-Mobile: no signal at all," shares Mea H. about Cape Blanco, critical information for those needing to stay connected while camping with horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ophir, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ophir, OR is Cape Blanco State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 43 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ophir, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Ophir, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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