Best Equestrian Camping near Portland, OR

Hares Canyon Horse Camp at L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park offers campsites specifically designed for equestrian use near Portland. The campground features designated spaces for riders traveling with horses, providing essential amenities for both horse and rider. Each site includes parking areas large enough for horse trailers, with easy access to the trail system throughout the park. Sites in the equestrian area can accommodate tents and RVs with electrical and water hookups available. The campsites remain accessible year-round, though seasonal conditions may affect trail usability. Alcohol is permitted in the camping areas, and reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer months when equestrian sites fill quickly.

The extensive trail network connecting to the horse camp provides riders with varied terrain and scenery throughout the 1,800-acre park. Trail riders can access miles of forest paths directly from their campsites without having to trailer horses to trailheads. The Banks-Vernonia State Trail, a 21-mile converted railway line, offers additional riding opportunities with a gentle grade suitable for horses of all experience levels. Most trails are well-maintained with packed surfaces that hold up well even after rain. Camp Wilkerson, located north of Portland near Rainier, provides another horse-friendly option with cabins and RV sites accessible to equestrians. Riders frequently mention the quality of trail signage and the convenience of returning directly to camp after long rides without encountering road crossings or traffic concerns.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Portland, Oregon (28)

    1. Jantzen Beach RV Park

    40 Reviews
    Vancouver, WA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 289-7626

    $40 / night

    "I recently stayed at Jantzen Beach RV Park while visiting Portland, and overall, the experience was quite good."

    "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."

    2. Oxbow Regional Park

    38 Reviews
    Corbett, OR
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 797-1850

    $25 / night

    "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."

    "Easy distance from Portland on the Sandy River. Down a steep hill (important if you're biking). Nothing that incredible, but nice enough for one night or a weekend away."

    3. Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Heisson, WA
    20 miles
    Website

    "Battleground is a nice and well loved state park not far from Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington."

    "BGLSP is a really lovely park not too far from Portland with camping and rustin cabins."

    4. Milo McIver State Park Campground

    43 Reviews
    Estacada, OR
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 630-7150

    $8 - $78 / night

    "A 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."

    "It has wonderful hiking trails. There is swimming available in the warmer months in the Clackamas River. Horse trails for equestrians and fishing!"

    6. Dairy Creek West — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park

    39 Reviews
    Buxton, OR
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 324-0606

    $24 - $39 / night

    "We are from Portland and this is a short drive from home. Sites here are spacious and have picnic tables and firepits."

    "Top reasons I love this campground:

    • So easy to get to from anywhere in northwestern Oregon; especially the Portland area 
    • Open year-round 
    • 18-hole disc golf course 
    • Great hiking and"

    7. Silver Falls State Park Campground

    77 Reviews
    Mehama, OR
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 873-8681

    $22 - $64 / night

    "The drive from Portland was gorgeous! It was nice to get a glimpse of rural Oregon."

    "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."

    8. Beacon Rock State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    North Bonneville, WA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 427-8265

    "The climb up the rock is through a well-built trail. It can get narrow at spots and not for those who fear heights. The view at the top, however, is amazing."

    "There are at least four different campgrounds within Beacon Rock state park including the main camping site, an equestrian area with two spaces large enough for horse trailers, a group camp site that can"

    9. Dairy Creek East — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park

    7 Reviews
    Buxton, OR
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 324-0606

    $33 - $39 / night

    "One of our favorite Oregon SPs. In the middle of a mountainous forest with lots of hiking, paved path & mtb biking, disc golf, horse trails and more."

    "Dairy Creek is clean and well maintained, and has great access to the trails and disc golf around the park. If you're in an RV this is a good set up."

    10. Hares Canyon Horse Camp — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park

    6 Reviews
    Buxton, OR
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 324-0606

    $39 / night

    "Hares Canyon Horse Camp is one of three campgrounds in Stub Stewart State Park and unlike other horse camps which often allow the overflow of tenters and rv'ers without horses, this horse camp is equestrian"

    "I don’t have a horse but I still stayed here! We were in the area, struggling to find a place to camp. After 7 pm, the campground let us set up camp in an empty equestrian campsite. Unique experience!"

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 28 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Portland, OR

351 Reviews of 28 Portland Campgrounds


  • Jade A.
    May. 27, 2024

    Oxbow Regional Park

    Heart of the forest

    This place was amazing! The camp ground is in the middle of the forest. They have hot showers, flushing toilets and every site has a fire pit. 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. Awesome location just 30 minutes away from Portland.

  • B
    May. 17, 2018

    Oxbow Regional Park

    Nice spot on the Sandy River, close to Portland - even easy to bike to!

    Easy distance from Portland on the Sandy River. Down a steep hill (important if you're biking). Nothing that incredible, but nice enough for one night or a weekend away.

  • Brian C.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground

    Well Loved State Park

    Battleground is a nice and well loved state park not far from Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. The part itself centers around a clear caldera lake with tent camping, RV camping, cabins, trails, group sites, and the like. The lake is also frequently stocked, and fishing is popular. Not motorized boats, but plenty of kayaks and rafts. There is a small camp store with snacks and fishing supplies on-site. Campground is well appointment with showers, water, etc.

    Hiking around the lake is fun. And well a crowded park, it is easy to sneak away to a quiet spot. Some cabins and campsites have nice views overlooking the lake. The town of battleground is nearby with restaurants, grocery stores, and any you might have forgotten.

  • Sarah H.
    Jul. 27, 2016

    Silver Falls State Park Campground

    Fun Inland Waterfalls

    We tent camped two nights at Silver Falls. Tree lined campgrounds were well maintained. Sites are close together and the grounds are very social (which we like). Ranger led evening program was educational and interactive. The highlight of the trip was the 8+ mile hike to explore 10 different waterfalls. The hike was easy enough for our seven year old to complete, but tough enough to wear us out. We very much enjoyed a swim with other families in one of the final falls. The drive from Portland was gorgeous! It was nice to get a glimpse of rural Oregon.

  • K
    Oct. 13, 2022

    Oxbow Regional Park

    Far enough yet close enough to Portland

    This is a great park to visit and camp at- it's far enough away from Portland to allow for peace and beautiful stars at night, yet close enough to be a quick trip back to civilization. I stayed here for 2 nights while visiting Portland. I found this to be the closest campground to Portland that wasn't specifically for RV's. I stayed on a Thurs& Fri night in September and it wasn't crowded at all- most sites were empty. The bathrooms here are really clean and warm, they have showers with hot water, and best of all- security at night! The park gate closes at 8pm and a security guard is on duty for the night. This level of security offers a real peace of mind. There is no service available here, allowing for true un-plugging. They also have life jackets hanging near entries to water which I found to be a nice amenity. The park itself is nice enough but my 5-star rating is really for the camping- I would certainly recommend this campground for anyone looking to camp close to Portland.

  • J
    Jun. 27, 2016

    Oxbow Regional Park

    Oxbow

    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. The bathrooms here are great - showers, running water, and flush toilets! The river is refreshing on warm days to swim in. We like this because it's an easy day trip from Portland. (Avoid camping next to the porta potties - we did that one time and a truck at 6:30am came to empty them. Granted it was a weekday but it was not the best way to wake up.) Next time we learned and got a site closer to the real bathrooms. Sites are pretty private though you will hear your neighbors!

  • Mike G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 27, 2019

    Oxbow Regional Park

    Close to the city with awesome playgrounds

    The park just added two nature playgrounds that are pretty fantastic. One of the new playgrounds, right before the boat launch, features a trail with a mud kitchen, two a-frame tents and a big area where you can use fallen logs and branches to build shelters.

    The other nature playground is right across from the old playground (still in use) and has a wooden water course with a hand pump and an elevated wooden plank course.

    Camping can be a little loud since it's a popular spot and there are no pets allowed, but it's barely 30 minutes away from Portland and right on the Sandy River.

  • Ashley Y.
    Aug. 9, 2016

    Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground

    Cute park close to Portland

    This makes a nice weekend or day trip from Portland. They have a cool volcanic lake with a swimming area and great fishing. Its like a mini crater lake. I mean mini like pond size. I only rated what I did because it has one loop trail that goes around the lake so there really isn't much to explore. But if you're looking for a quick place for a picnic a swim or an overnight. This might be it. The campground is nice spacious and they have a few cabins.

  • F
    Jul. 6, 2019

    Oxbow Regional Park

    Beautiful

    This park is just about a half hour drive from Portland so it’s an easy escape. The outer loop sites are quiet, spacious and wooded. They are also very close to a trailhead to nice hikes and the beach. The recent upgrades to playgrounds are awesome for the kids and the new welcome center makes check in a breeze. The one change that stinks is the firewood. The price went up from $5 to $7 for a smaller bundle that burns faster. In our most recent stay we burned through three bundles in one day/night.


Guide to Portland

Equestrian camping near Portland, Oregon offers access to diverse terrain with elevations ranging from 200 feet along the Columbia River to over 1,000 feet in the surrounding hills. The region experiences mild but wet winters and warm summers, with most horse-friendly trails remaining accessible from April through October. Seasonal considerations include muddy conditions in spring and occasional trail closures during high fire danger periods in late summer.

What to do

Trail riding around Stub Stewart: Connected to over 15 miles of multi-use trails, riders can access varying terrain directly from their campsites. "During the main season when the whole place is open you can usually find a spot last min. Lots to do with the Banks / Vernonia trail running through the camp that has over 15 miles of paved walking / biking trails," notes Shane from Hares Canyon Horse Camp.

Fishing access at Beacon Rock: The Columbia River offers year-round fishing opportunities within a 45-minute drive from Portland. "Beacon Rock is an incredible, tall hill in the Columbia River Gorge and a Washington State Park. The climb up the rock is through a well-built trail. Easy day-use area and there is also a popular campsite nearby with hiking trails," writes Brian C. from Beacon Rock State Park.

Mountain biking at Battle Ground Lake: The lake sits in a volcanic crater with surrounding trails open to both horses and mountain bikes. "This little camp ground was great for a two night stay. Lots of hiking near by," shares Laura B. from Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground.

What campers like

Riverside camping spots: Sites along the water provide natural cooling and recreation during summer months. "We 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," explains Richard B. about Battle Ground Lake State Park.

Secluded tent camping options: Walk-in sites offer more privacy than standard campgrounds. "The hike in is pretty easy--about a quarter mile down the up. They have carts to help you get all your stuff to your spot in one trip which is very helpful. When we visited, there were at most 2-3 other groups in the area so we were very spread out and had lots of privacy," shares Jenny R. about Dairy Creek East.

Well-maintained horse facilities: Horse campers appreciate the dedicated equestrian amenities. "The horse camp comes complete with full hookups, a full bathroom with showers, and corrals for the horses. Friendly rangers patrol the camp regularly to make sure there are horses occupying each site," reports Tanya B. from Hares Canyon Horse Camp.

What you should know

Limited availability during peak season: Horse camps fill quickly from June through September. "This year with covid it's been harder to find a spot last min and they would only let you reserve 30 days in advance so planning something in advance was impossible," notes Shane about Hares Canyon Horse Camp.

Wildlife encounters are possible: Be prepared for wildlife in equestrian areas. "When we came back from the shower my wife and I observed a dark shadow darting from the table around the back corner of the tent... it was a bobcat. I yelled at the cat for some time it wouldn't leave it sat there and stared me down," warns Patrick G. from Hares Canyon Horse Camp.

Clean-up requirements: Horse owners are responsible for manure management. "You must clean up after your own horse. Manure bin as well as shovels/brooms are provided onsite," explains a reviewer about Hares Canyon Horse Camp.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds offer kid-friendly play areas. "This campground is very nice, small, looped campground located across the freeway and about a mile or two away from the amazing hike up Beacon Rock. The first day use area on the right as you enter also has a playground," mentions Corinna B. from Beacon Rock State Park Campground.

Kid-friendly water access: Shallow swimming areas provide safe recreation. "One of the best State parks for camping. Well manicured sites. Plenty of privacy. Great fishing! Trout, bass, blue gill.. swimming area," writes Brian B. about Battle Ground Lake State Park.

Family-friendly cabin alternatives: For those not tent camping with horses. "We love this place. For a lot of reasons. One thing that always looked intriguing is they do have the cabins, so maybe one of these times we'll rent one," shares Richard B. about Battle Ground Lake State Park.

Tips from RVers

Full hookup availability: RV sites with equestrian access provide amenities for both horses and humans. "I bring my R-Pod trailer and every RV spot has full hook-ups," notes Shane about Hares Canyon Horse Camp.

Pull-through access: Some horse camps accommodate larger rigs with trailers. "One of our favorite Oregon SPs. In the middle of a mountainous forest with lots of hiking, paved path & mtb biking, disc golf, horse trails and more. Well maintained full hookup sites with 50amp, most 63' long," shares OregonSteve from Dairy Creek East — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park.

Horse-trailer parking considerations: Dedicated spaces accommodate horse trailers. "We stayed in 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 here some highway noise but overall we felt secluded and enjoyed," notes Joe C. from Silver Falls State Park Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Portland, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Portland, OR is Jantzen Beach RV Park with a 3.5-star rating from 40 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Portland, OR?

TheDyrt.com has all 28 equestrian camping locations near Portland, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.