2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Horse Creek Campground and Wild Mare Horse Campground offer primitive facilities for equestrian camping in the Siuslaw National Forest region. Horse Creek Campground provides toilets and water hookups in a forested setting with access for both tent and RV campers. Wild Mare features spacious sites with room for both horses and camping equipment, though recent visitors note increasing conflicts between horse campers and non-equestrian visitors. The campground has big-rig friendly access, drinking water, toilets, trash collection, and picnic tables, creating adequate accommodations for overnight stays with horses.
Trail access varies between these equestrian-focused campgrounds, with connecting paths to forest service roads and designated horse trails. Both locations serve as gateways to the surrounding forest terrain, allowing riders to explore the dense coastal forests and rolling hills characteristic of the Siuslaw region. Car campers without horses have increasingly utilized the Wild Mare campground, creating safety concerns for equestrians as some visitors report fireworks and gunshots disturbing horses. Sites are specifically designed with sufficient space for horse trailers alongside camping equipment. The primitive nature of these facilities appeals to self-sufficient riders looking for basic amenities while maintaining direct access to riding opportunities.
"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
"This a more peaceful spot, without immediate engine noise but with plenty of room for human and horse at each site. It's a nice size to get to know a few neighbors - but not too many. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 / night
"Parks that are walking distance to shops and restaurants are such a treat. "
"The main draw of this campground is its proximity to the cute town of Florence. We don't tow a car, so being able to camp within walking distance of shops and restaurants is always a treat."
from $35 - $55 / night
"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."
"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."
from $10 - $44 / night
"When all other nearby campgrounds were full, we came here. Great spot in between Florence and yachats."
"Highway noise, otherwise quiet. Convenient for exploring the area and visiting friends."
ScoutStopped 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.
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 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.
GuideDecent county fairgrounds campground...kiosk check in..first come first served....some full hook up ..others water/electric with dump station......decent price....great for an overnight road warrior. I like municipal and county campgrounds....most are ideal for economical overnight hookups
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.
GuideI loved it here. The spots are a little close where I was but at least there was a picnic table. I love the location most of all. You can hear the birds and watch the seals close up. Well kept park and good facilities.
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
TravelerStopped 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.
Horse Creek Campground and Wild Mare Horse Campground serve as primary destinations for horseback riders in the Siuslaw National Forest region. Located in Oregon's coastal range, these areas feature moderate year-round temperatures ranging from 40-70°F with frequent coastal fog and rain. The campgrounds connect to a network of forested trails with elevation changes between 200-1,000 feet throughout the riding areas.
Trail riding from Baker Beach Campground: A short walk through dunes leads to beach access. "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. Could hear the waves crashing all night," notes camper Val at Baker Beach Campground.
Beach riding from Bullards Beach: Located near Bandon, this park offers multiple trail options. "Great camping location with lots of private spots with lots of trees and greenery. They have bathrooms and showers if needed. Close to beach and nice to walk around campgrounds with 3 camping areas," writes Jennifer C. at Bullards Beach State Park Campground.
Forest exploration from Dry Lake: Smaller-scale horse camping with forest access. "Great spot in between Florence and yachats. Close to heceta light house, right before sea lion caves, and close to hikes and away from crowds," reports Ash C. at Dry Lake Horse Camp.
Forest privacy: Some equestrian sites offer separation from others. "This a more peaceful spot, without immediate engine noise but with plenty of room for human and horse at each site. It's a nice size to get to know a few neighbors - but not too many," explains Bjorn S. about Wild Mare.
Site improvements: Horse Creek has received volunteer upgrades. "The horse water trough is a short walk away from camp but does not have potable water. If users are not careful it can drain or not be usable so bring horse water," notes Dodie K. at Horse Creek Campground.
Beach accessibility: Some campgrounds offer beach access within walking distance. "There is a beach nearby that would be a long walk or a short bike ride away. The lighthouse is also a nice attraction," writes Emma L. about Bullards Beach.
Increasing use conflicts: Non-equestrian campers sometimes create challenges at horse camps. "This is a horse camp, for people who have horses, NOT a car camp. It's not fair that car campers are taking reservation spots away from horse campers. We can not just take our horses into car camps," explains Shannon C. about Wild Mare Horse Campground.
Primitive facilities: Most equestrian campgrounds have basic amenities. "There is no water or any hook ups but the corrals are pretty good except they can get muddy if manure is not carefully picked out," reports Dodie K. about Horse Creek Campground.
Access challenges: Some horse camps have difficult entrances. "The turn into this road from Highway is a sharp one and immediately uphill. Probably not for anyone towing large trailers but if your skilled you can try it out," warns Ash C. about Dry Lake Horse Camp.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids can spot local animals. "The campground itself was quiet and populated with wild turkeys. We were there off season, so we had no problem finding a site day of," shares The School for Y. about Bullards Beach.
Bring water supplies: Most horse camps lack potable water. "There is water for horses, but it's not potable for humans," advises Laura M. from Horse Creek.
Consider alternative campgrounds: Some family-friendly options exist nearby. "Small (only a handful of sites) campground with a moderate walk to the beach. The campground host was very friendly! Most of the sites open up into a shared circular area but it still felt very private and nice!" reports North Idaho N. about Baker Beach.
Site access considerations: Larger rigs face challenges at some horse camps. "Each site has a horse corral, fire pit, and picnic table. There are 11 sites, each nicely separated from the other. Some are pull throughs and some are back ins," notes Laura M. about Horse Creek.
Alternative options for hookups: RVers seeking more amenities can consider nearby alternatives. "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," shares Robert O. at Bullards Beach State Park.
Weather preparedness: Coastal conditions affect RV camping. "We came in between rain showers and it was just us and the other tent. It's a maybe 1/4 mile walk to the beach over dunes. Very lovely place," notes MeLinda W. about Baker Beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Siuslaw National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Siuslaw National Forest is Bullards Beach State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 64 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Siuslaw National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Siuslaw National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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