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Riley Horse Campground provides primitive horse camping sites for equestrians in the Mt. Hood area, located 25 miles east of Sandy along forest roads. The campground offers drinking water and toilets but lacks electric hookups, showers, and sewer connections. The campground serves as a base for accessing nearby horse trails, and many sites accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space for vehicles and equipment. The area allows alcohol, permits fires, and welcomes both tent and RV campers. The campground operates seasonally from May 22 to September 13.
Trail access remains the primary draw for equestrians visiting Riley Horse Campground. The surrounding Mt. Hood National Forest contains miles of horse-friendly trails winding through dense forest and mountain terrain. Riders must bring their own water troughs or containers as the campground does not provide dedicated horse watering facilities. The campground maintains a trash collection system, though campers should pack out any horse-related waste. Forest Service roads leading to the campground accommodate larger vehicles and trailers but can be rough in spots. Proper preparation includes bringing adequate feed supplies, as no on-site vendors exist. Reservations are recommended during peak summer weekends when the campground often reaches capacity with horse enthusiasts.
"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"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."
"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."
from $25 / 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."
"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."
"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"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."
"Jantzen Beach RV Park feels like a real-world stop straight out of a Subway Surfers World Tour—a lively, convenient, and colorful place where travelers pause, recharge, and enjoy the surroundings before"
from $40 / 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"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"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
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 sits 25 miles east of Sandy, Oregon at an elevation of approximately 3,000 feet in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The campground offers primitive equestrian camping with designated sites able to accommodate trailers and corrals for horses. The terrain includes dense forest and mountain trails within a seasonal camping period from May to September.
Trail riding: Access to the Pacific Crest Trail and other horse-friendly paths from Panther Creek Campground provides excellent options for riders. "The PCT was a great for day hikes. Definitely on our list to return to!" reports Heather P., who visited in 2020.
Fishing opportunities: Anglers can find multiple spots within a short drive of the Sandy area. At Milo McIver State Park Campground, "There is salmon fishing within driving distance inside of the park," mentions Hahns R., who notes the park is "well maintained and the hosts have been great each time."
Disc golf: For campers looking for recreational activities beyond trails, Milo McIver offers competition-quality courses. "Milo McIver may be best known for its twin 18 hole disc golf courses, or single 27 hole layout when tournaments aren't in progress," explains Steve C., highlighting its reputation as home to the annual Beaver State Fling tournament.
Private campsites: Clackamas Lake offers spacious sites for both equestrians and regular campers. Ashley B. notes, "The spot I had was large and not too close to other spots," and mentions that the horse section includes "corrals in each spot."
River access: The ability to cool off during summer months is highly valued by campers. At Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground, Brian B. describes it as a "pinnacle" camping experience with "great fishing! Trout, bass, blue gill... swimming area. Store on sites. Nice hike around lake with plenty of spots to rest and fish."
Hiking networks: For those seeking foot trails rather than horse paths, options abound. At Battle Ground Lake, Richard B. explains, "Wherever you're heading (from the campsites down to the water, to the playground, to the food shack) you always have different trails and options for how to get from one place to another if you want to explore."
Accessibility considerations: Many horse campgrounds near Sandy, Oregon require preparation for varying terrain. At Beacon Rock State Park Campground, Corinna B. notes that "some sites are definitely better than others" and the campground is "best for tents only or a smaller trailer."
Seasonal closures: Most equestrian camping areas operate on limited schedules. Clackamas Lake is typically open "May 22 to October 4," according to official information, making it important to plan trips during the proper season.
Insect populations: Be prepared for bugs at certain times of year. Colby M. warns about Clackamas Lake: "Seriously, bring bug spray and put it on the minute you get there," while still noting they "had a great time, the camp host were cool."
Playground access: Silver Falls State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities. April F. shares, "We love hiking the trails and our kids love the playground and river swimming!" making it suitable for families seeking both recreation and water activities.
Swimming options: Find locations with designated swimming areas for safer family experiences. At Battle Ground Lake, Matt W. describes "a beautiful cool lake that's not far from the city" with "good trails and plenty of space," though notes that "you have to park down below and walk to the site."
Camp store convenience: Several locations offer on-site stores for forgotten essentials. Brian B. mentions Battle Ground Lake has a "store on sites," eliminating long trips for basic supplies, while Wendy C. adds there's "a seasonal store with a window you can order bait, snacks, etc."
Site access limitations: Many equestrian campgrounds have restricted RV access. For Beacon Rock, Crystal C. observed, "While I don't see this camp being great for excessively large rigs, I did see a few smaller and mid sized units on the loop."
Hook-up availability: Most horse campgrounds offer limited or no hookups. If utilities are essential, consider alternatives like Jantzen Beach RV Park, where Jennifer H. reports, "We're in an end to end site. Site 837," though notes "water pressure is the lowest we've ever experienced."
Dump station locations: Plan for waste management needs. At Silver Falls, one camper mentions "there's also a dump station and water for free," providing necessary services for self-contained units before or after your equestrian camping experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sandy, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sandy, OR is Milo McIver State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sandy, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 equestrian camping locations near Sandy, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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