Marissa O.
Guide
GuideSilver Falls State Park Campground
Super clean bathrooms and showers, rangers patrol the campground constantly so it feels pretty safe.
Equestrian Camping near Philomath, OR
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Horse Creek Campground in the Siuslaw National Forest provides equestrian-focused camping with individual corrals at most sites. The campground features 11 well-separated sites designed primarily for horse owners, each equipped with a fire pit and picnic table. While primarily serving equestrians, the Forest Service officially allows tent camping without horses at this location. The campground lacks potable water for humans but provides a water trough for horses a short walk from the camping area. Vault toilets are available, but the campground has no other services, requiring visitors to pack out their trash. The narrow access road can be challenging for large trailers, with some significant pits to navigate around.
Trails from Horse Creek Campground wind through dense coastal forest, creating what many riders describe as a remote wilderness experience. The trails are notably hilly, requiring horses to be in good condition or riders willing to take a slower pace. Many of the original scenic overlooks are gradually becoming overgrown but still offer glimpses of spectacular forest views. The campground operates on a self-pay system with no reservations and no host on site. At $14.24 per night, it represents an affordable option for equestrians seeking a more primitive camping experience. Some horse owners have expressed frustration about non-equestrians occupying sites with corrals during peak periods, as horse campers cannot use standard campgrounds with their animals.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Philomath (14)
1. Beverly Beach State Park Campground
"Like most Oregon coast campgrounds, the summer months are very busy."
"4 1/2 stars for this sprawling, accessible campground, easy to find and close to so many things Shangra-La-ish about Newport and the Oregon Coast."
122 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $25 - $90 / night
2. Hult Pond
"There are only a few flat spots for RVs but quite a few decent spots for tent camping next to the pond. The west side of the pond has at least 2 spots that are a good distance away from the others."
"The sites are sling the right side of the of the road, the road that leads along the left (west side) of the lake. There are several sites, we stayed in H2, which is painted on the road."
3. Silver Falls State Park Campground
"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."
3 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $22 - $92 / night
4. Polk County Fairgrounds
"So much better than those CGs next to highways and RRs"
"Dump station nearby. We were visiting relatives in this area, so really only need a safe place to park the rig. This worked out fine."
6. Whispering Pine Horse Camp
"Lots of great trails to hike."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $30 / night
7. Horse Creek Campground — Siuslaw National Forest
"Horse Creek is a great site for horse camping. Only two sites are for non-stock campers."
"Just south of Yachats, highway 101 makes a sharp turn with a steep drop, down to the beach."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $44 / night
8. Baker Beach Campground
"Small (only a handful of sites) campground with a moderate walk to the beach. The campground host was very friendly!"
"Close to the neighbors it’s pretty flat if you back up close to the rocks. The grounds and trail smell like horse poop. Goes away if the wind blows in an another direction."
9. Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp — Willamette Mission State Park
"Only sites for camping with horses."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $74 / night
10. Howard Creek Horse Camp — Silver Falls State Park
"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?"
Check Availabilityfrom $22 - $61 / night
Drive Time
- 5 min from Corvallis, OR
- 22 min from Albany, OR
- 48 min from Eugene, OR
- 51 min from Salem, OR
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Philomath, OR
1 Photos of 14 Philomath Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Philomath, OR
257 Reviews of 14 Philomath Campgrounds
- lluke
ScoutBaker Beach Campground
Stopped in for a night. Nothing fancy but did the trick. Cheap wood nearby, up the road with the big mushroom. Used the fire pit to cook dinner. Generators are definitely allowed as some dude ran his all night… bathroom was clean considering what it is.
- DDeborah T.Scout
Silver Falls State Park Campground
Beautiful Forest
Beautiful camping sites. Very busy. Lots of families and people. Roads are very windy and curvy be extra cautious. Wish we had more time so much to explore. If you bring your dog, you will be very limited on where you can hike too. RV sites are pretty private. Bathrooms and showers look brand new. And Camp post are extremely kind and polite.
Ernie J.GuideHult Pond
Very Nice Quiet Campsite Near an Old Logging Pond
This dispersed campground allows a 14-day stay. Paved roads and a good variety of sized campsites. I found a cemented level slab to park my trailer on, however, this was the only site with a cemented structure. Lots of blackberries to pick, and very nice place to hike with your pets.
Jude C.
TravelerHorse Creek Campground — Siuslaw National Forest
Beautiful campground. Great camp host!
I am so grateful someone told me about this campground. It has old growth trees and 15 miles of trails. It is a campground for people with horses but two of the spots are for anyone. ( Also, you can camp in a site that has corrals.) No one will make you leave. I walked the trails every day through the gorgeous forest. Would definitely come here again. The only drawback is that the first three quarters of a mile off the highway are mostly a single Lane road. I drove slowly and honked at the two large curves. But there were plenty of people up there with horse trailers so evidently, it's not as much of a problem. Eric, the camp host, is a great guy.
- Christina F.
RangerBeverly Beach State Park Campground
It was ok.
Everybody raves about this campground, but we found it just ok. This is a HUGE campground situated along the Oregon coast and Hwy 101. Actually, you walk under Hwy 101 to get out to the beach. There are 8 loops (A-H), that are a mix of yurts, standard tents sites, FHU (full hook-ups) and PHU (partial hook-ups) sites. Loops A, B, and groups sites are the closest to the beach, but also closest to the road noise from Hwy 101. The campground is nice, but there is not much privacy or space as sites are packed in close together. We lucked out in that our site, F14, was around a bend in the road and surrounded by shrubs. This was not the norm though from what I saw during our daily walks. As other reviewers mentioned, this is a very family friendly campground. There were tons of kids on bikes and scooters going to and fro. This caused a little bit of an issue when we arrived and were prepping to back our 32ft 5th wheel into our spot. I had to give a yell at some kids who kept riding their bikes behind our trailer as my husband was trying to maneuver the trailer. Not cool and not very good campground etiquette. I will say this though, when quiet hours rolled around, I didn't hear a peep out of anyone near us. A couple more things...I had no Verizon connectivity what-so-ever until I got to the beach. If you are in loops C-H, the beach is definitely not "steps" away. It was quite a walk from F loop and even farther if you camp at the back of H and G loops. Lastly, the dump station (sigh). There is one lane in the dump station. For such a huge campground that has only 53 full hook-up sites out of 257 campsites, one lane is not enough. We waited in the dump station line for 45-50 minutes before we could dump our tanks. Another issue is the pilot program that Oregon state parks is doing at some of their parks. The fee for the dump station is $10 for everyone unless you had a FHU site. There is a qr code that you're supposed to be able to scan and pay. Well, I still didn't have service at the dump station and my husband doesn't have a smart phone. I had to walk over and pay at the ranger station. We had an issue at another park as well, but that will be in the review for that park.
Another little note: we saw some dead birds on the beach. I reported this to the ranger station and she told me that unfortunately this is a normal occurance in August. The name escapes me at the moment, but this type of bird nests in the rocks and when a predator comes, they fling themselves off the rocks. So it is a normal thing in August, but just beware for when you go out on the beach.
- mmitzi M.Guide
Beverly Beach State Park Campground
Good place but potential for crowding
4 stars because ppl are packed in like sardines. Off season this place would be best.
This is August and of course there are lots of families with kids and adults seem to think it’s ok for them to scream around on bikes and e-bikes w/o any limits on speed and awareness of other people.However there are a few nature trails thru some unbelievable old growth forest that is mind numbing beautiful!!!
It’s close to the ocean, so you can walk.
The campgrounds are long and spread out, the lower letters a-c have the best spots if you love the ocean. Also better WiFi signals.
There are a few people who think that they own the spots I guess and can be up doing their thing like this guy. It’s got a big ram truck. It seems to be moving his truck just to move it this morning and then later on and it loud. It’s 6:30 AM light is flashing right in my eye. I’m trying to enjoy my coffee.
Take away the people in this place would be stellar
Good access to the town. It’s only about 7 miles away to get supplies, but it’s quiet with the exception of the people and the forest is lovely.
- PPatti C.Guide
Silver Falls State Park Campground
Finally Made It to Silver Falls’
My husband and I have tried to reserve a spot at Silver Falls SP in Oregon the last few years. This year we were very proactive in making a reservation as soon as the window opened. This is a beautiful park. Wonderful access to several water falls in the area. Sites are large. We stayed in a non hookup site with our 22 foot trailer. Things to consider - only a few trails are open to dogs so if you want to go close to the falls, visit the park at a time of the year that is cool enough for your furry friend to stay in your car. We visited in July. Skunks and raccoons came out to visit when it got dark. Just be aware that we are all sharing their home. Finally, there’s a little spot in the campground that you can access wi-fi but we weren’t able to sign on to it. If heading towards Salem, there’s a Willamette Valley overlook that can get a phone signal.
- PPerry K.Traveler
Baker Beach Campground
Very quiet stay.
Stopped here for the night. Got the last open spot on a Tuesday. Got site 2. Close to the neighbors it’s pretty flat if you back up close to the rocks. The grounds and trail smell like horse poop. Goes away if the wind blows in an another direction. The trail to the beach has a lot of horse poop as there’s someone up the road that does horse back riding tours to the beach. Only a few sites we got luck and got the last available site on a Tuesday in July. Got site 2 it’s pretty level if you get up close to the rocks in the side. Campground host was very friendly. Cleanest pit toilet I have ever seen.
Guide to Philomath
Horse Creek Campground in the Siuslaw National Forest provides equestrian-focused camping on Oregon's central coast. Located about 55 miles west of Philomath, this campground sits at an elevation of approximately 500 feet within dense coastal forest. The campground features self-registration with no on-site host and operates on a first-come, first-served basis, making weekday arrivals recommended during peak season.
What to do
Ride coastal forest trails: At Howard Creek Horse Camp in Silver Falls State Park, riders can enjoy miles of dedicated equestrian paths. "Stunning camping in a temperate rainforest. Sites are big and private. Very quiet and tons of near empty trails even with a full campground on a weekend in the summer," notes Jennifer H.
Beach access with horses: Approximately 57 miles from Philomath, Baker Beach Campground provides equestrian access to coastal beaches. "The hike to the beach was fantastic. Eric, the camp host was a great source of information. Gave us some great hikes to do and where to have a shower in town," reports Val.
Fishing opportunities: Hult Pond Recreation Area offers fishing just 25 miles west of Philomath. A camper noted, "The pond was great for kayaking and there is plenty to explore if you aren't worried about a little elevation in your hike."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Silver Falls State Park Campground, campers appreciate the site 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," says Richard H.
Quiet forest settings: Whispering Pine Horse Camp offers secluded camping. "The scenery is amazing. The smell of the trees in the summer is my favorite part. Lots of great trails to hike," shares Eric M.
Budget-friendly options: Basic camping facilities at Polk County Fairgrounds offer affordability at $25 per night. David M. appreciates that it's "so much better than those CGs next to highways and RRs."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Many horse campgrounds near Philomath have minimal amenities. At Hult Pond Recreation Area, "There's no cell service at all so I'd plan accordingly," warns Grace A.
Road conditions: Access roads to remote horse camps can be challenging. One camper at Horse Creek noted the narrow access road with significant pits to navigate around, particularly with horse trailers.
Water limitations: Several equestrian campgrounds lack potable water for humans. At Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp, visitors should bring their own drinking water, while water for horses is typically provided.
Tips for camping with families
Educational activities: Silver Falls State Park offers learning opportunities for children. Kristen W. mentions, "Nice educational programs for kids. Firewood conveniently available."
Wildlife viewing: Beverly Beach State Park provides nature observation opportunities. "We seen stellar jays and a woodpecker. Bathrooms and showers were clean," reports Debbie I.
Beach exploration: For families with beach interests, Baker Beach Campground requires preparation. Annie C. advises, "Be prepared for a hike through deep shifting sand dunes to get to the beach. And watch out for horse poo as this is a busy horse path the local stable takes to the beach."
Tips from RVers
Site selection at equestrian campgrounds: When bringing an RV to horse campgrounds near Philomath, choose carefully. Horse Creek Campground in the Siuslaw National Forest has "11 sites, each nicely separated from the other. Some are pull throughs and some are back ins," notes Laura M.
Limited hookups: Most forest service horse campgrounds lack full RV amenities. At Howard Creek Horse Camp, water hookups are available, but RVers should arrive with tanks empty and prepared for limited services.
Turnaround space: Consider maneuverability at horse camps. J R. observes about Horse Creek Campground, "Good turnarounds for trailers. Cell service available (att). Not much view and close to other camp sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Philomath, OR?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Philomath, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Philomath, OR is Beverly Beach State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 117 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Philomath, OR?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Philomath, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Philomath, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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