19 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Riley Horse Campground provides equestrian accommodations with large individual campsites spaced well apart, creating a quiet camping experience near Mount Hood. The campground features horse pens large enough to double as hammock supports when not occupied by horses. Located within Mount Hood National Forest, this horse-friendly campground offers access to drinking water, fire rings, and vault toilets. Sites feel spacious—some campers describe their spots as nearly a quarter-acre in size with ample room for larger parties. The campground maintains a peaceful atmosphere even when partially occupied, with sites having considerable distance between them.
The Romano Falls Trail connects directly to the campground, offering riders access to scenic areas with occasional views of Mount Hood through the trees. Numerous hiking and riding trails are accessible from the campground, making it an excellent base for day rides. The campground operates seasonally from May 22 to September 13, with spots often available even for last-minute reservations except during holidays when priority may be given to horse owners. Though sites are relatively close together, they provide enough space for horses and camping equipment. Dead wood collection for campfires is often possible in the surrounding area. Spots without immediate neighbors offer additional privacy for campers traveling with horses.
"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"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"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"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."
"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"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."
from $28 - $92 / night
Check Availability"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"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."
"Campground Review An open, relatively unused campground next to a sleep-calling stream right in between the last forested part of Mt."
"Bonney Crossing campground is located in the Eastern most side of the Mt Hood National Forest. Our campsite provided us a quiet relaxing two nights of camping."
from $16 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $39 / night
Check Availability
TravelerIf 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.
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.
GuideTHE 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. Saw all but the northern most two falls while hiking the trails. So many more to hike! Kids' play area inside Loop B, showers, and nature trails around the campground. RV dump at the horse camp turnoff. I'd try to reserve spots 9 or 12 (next to the playground and sunny spots) or 72 (next to the creek in the shade) next time! We rate this one an 8.
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.
Riley Horse Campground provides direct access to several hiking and riding trails, making it a prime destination for equestrian camping near Rhododendron, Oregon. The campground sits at approximately 2,100 feet elevation in Mount Hood National Forest, where summer daytime temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with cooler evenings. Horse owners find the spacious corrals practical for camping trips, while non-horse campers can use them as makeshift amenity structures.
Trail exploration: Romano Falls Trail connects directly to Riley Horse Campground, offering both hikers and riders a scenic journey. Visitor Gretch H. notes "there is a bunch hiking trails nearby including Ramona falls up the road," giving campers multiple route options within walking distance.
Fishing access: Timothy Lake is approximately 18 miles from the Rhododendron area, accessible from Clackamas Lake Campground. According to visitor Alan L., "We stayed here after we couldn't find any open spots at the Timothy Lake campgrounds. It was a nice and quiet spot. Good access to Clackamas Lake."
Waterfall viewing: 10 waterfalls in one hike at Silver Falls State Park makes for an exceptional day trip from the Rhododendron area. Melissa L. explains that her group "hiked for 5 hours! BEWARE: It's WET, so bring your wet weather gear, and good, sturdy hiking shoes for slippery terrain. Saw all but the northern most two falls while hiking the trails."
Spacious sites: Many equestrian campsites near Rhododendron provide ample room for horses and camping equipment. At Riley Horse Campground, Ashley B. describes her site as "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."
Horse amenities: Clackamas Lake offers dedicated equestrian sites with horse-friendly facilities. Guinevere H. notes "for horse riders they have some equestrian only campsites" with "plenty of trails in which to hike or ride."
Firewood availability: At Riley Horse Campground, campers often find natural resources for campfires. Ashley B. reports "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."
Insect preparation: Bug protection is essential at certain campgrounds during summer months. At Clackamas Lake Campground, Colby M. warns "seriously, bring bug spray and put it on the minute you get there" due to the high mosquito population.
Water sources: Some campgrounds have limited water access points. At Clackamas Lake Campground, Alan L. notes that "water spigots are a little overgrown, look for the spray paint on the campground drive to find them."
Site availability: Most equestrian campgrounds near Rhododendron operate seasonally. Ashley B. shares that at Riley Horse Campground, she "reserved on the Monday before arrival and it was still very empty so no fear about taking a spot from equestrians."
Playground access: For families with children, Milo McIver State Park Campground offers dedicated play areas. Richard B. mentions "the kids playground was great for the grandkids" with "different trails and options for how to get from one place to another if you want to explore."
Swimming options: Natural water features provide summer cooling opportunities. At Battle Ground Lake State Park, Tiffany M. says the park has a "lake" that's perfect for swimming, though she notes "you hear people playing on the lake but that is to be expected."
Family-friendly hiking: Short, manageable trails suit younger hikers. At Beacon Rock State Park, Corinna B. describes "several very nice hikes of various lengths that leave right from the campground," making it easy for families to enjoy outdoor activities without long drives.
Limited hookup locations: RVers should research equestrian campgrounds near Rhododendron for hookup availability. At Panther Creek Campground, Jeff K. notes "nice big sites with a level tent pad" but mentions that while some RVs can be accommodated, the campground may not be "great for excessively large rigs."
Parking considerations: Some sites require careful vehicle positioning. At Beacon Rock State Park, Corinna B. explains that "some are split-level, in that you park up top and walk a few steps down to your camp site," which may present challenges for some RVers with mobility concerns.
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds require careful driving. At Bonney Crossing Campground, Cheryl P. notes "the road down is a little sketchy but as long as you go slow it's well worth it," advising RVers to proceed with caution on forest service roads leading to horse camps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Rhododendron, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rhododendron, OR is Oxbow Regional Park with a 4.4-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Rhododendron, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 equestrian camping locations near Rhododendron, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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