We're here to help you find where to go horse camping in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Equestrian camping is the best way to experience nature. These scenic and easy-to-reach Oregon campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
The West Eagle Meadows Trailhead is one of the__'late season' trailheads__to open in the early summer due to the area's heavy snow accumulation and high elevation. Located near West Eagle Creek and meadow, this site is__frequented by hikers and equestrians alike who want to enjoy a day or extended trip into the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. The combination trailhead and equestrian camp__offers parking facilities for both stock and non-stock users, and has hitching rails, a loading ramp and feed bunks.The West Eagle trail provides access to Echo, Traverse, Diamond and Tombstone lakes as well as a beautiful trip along the Minam River. You can also access many other destinations in the wilderness from this trail. Fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities abound as you travel through diverse landscapes of meadows, lakes, and mountains.Adjacent to the trailhead is the West Eagle Meadows Campground__with tent and walk-in campsites and a picnic area.A printable map and additional information about the area.
The Irondyke Forest Camp is a small rustic facility along the Wild and Scenic Lostine River. Situated near the river in the cool pine and fir trees, the site is popular for summer and fall campers enjoying Hells Canyon or adjacent Eagle Cap Wilderness.
$10 / night
The Walla Walla Forest Camp is one of several small campgrounds located along the Wild and Scenic Lostine River. Tucked alongside the river in a cool fir and pine tree forest, the campground is popular during the summer for local and regional campers visiting the Lostine Canyon and Eagle Cap Wilderness.
The Civilian Conservation Corps originally constructed the Two Color Guard Station in the 1930s for use as crew quarters and bunkhouse. The original building was removed in 1976. The current guard station was built in 1959. Two Color Guard Station is open June through October. Guests can drive to it except after significant snowfall, when it's only accessible by snowmobile. Guests staying in the later part of the season are encouraged to bring extra supplies to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
The cabin is near the Main Eagle Trailhead, which is southern portal into the Eagle Cap Wilderness (2 miles away). This trail is open to hikers and horseback riders. Forest Road 7755 is one of the designated roads on the snowmobile route south of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, and it can be used for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Two Color Guard Station is the end of the groomed trail. Other open and closed forest roads are available for winter time exploring, but snowmobiles are prohibited within the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Anglers can fish for rainbow trout in Eagle Creek, just 150 feet from the cabin's front door.
Outside the cabin, the crystal clear waters of the Wild and Scenic Eagle Creek work their way through the mountains to the valley floor in a series of small waterfalls and whitewater rapids. The landscape features subalpine firs and white bark pine as well as meadows that burst with colorful wildflowers. Guests will find blue-green pools and dramatic rock formations scattered along the creek's path. Two Color Guard Station is just a short distance away from the Eagle Cap Wilderness. This wilderness is characterized by high alpine lakes and meadows, bare granite peaks and ridges, and U-shaped glaciated valleys.
Within 10 miles there are opportunities for berry picking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and hunting.
For facility specific information, please call (541) 523-6391.
$100 / night
Shady Campground is a small rustic campground located along the Wild and Scenic Lostine River. Nestled in a 'shady' cool fir and pine tree forest, the campground is popular during the summer for local and regional campers visiting the Lostine Canyon and Eagle Cap Wilderness. This campground is adjacent to the Maxwell Trailhead which climbs into the wilderness.
Dispersed camping is a popular camping method for many visitors to the Forest. Choosing to camp along a stream or adjacent to a meadow where there are no picnic tables, toilets or firerings allows campers to enjoy a more primitive experience.
It is recommend that dispersed campers keep to traditional campsites off of established 'two-track' vehicles routes which have been used in the past. Most of these routes are less than 300 feet from a designated open road.
There are some areas on the Forest that are closed to dispersed camping. These include administrative site, special use permit area, or sensitive areas for archeology or wildlife.
Please remove all temporary structures before you leave such as meat poles, toilets, furniture, and ditches around your tents. To find out more about minimum impact camping please visit our outdoor ethics section. Some general rules of use and restrictions also apply to visitor using dispersed camping sites. These include regulations like forest-wide camping stay limits; use of camp fires, firearms, and fireworks; and controlling pets.
Spring Creek Campground is located in an open pine forest near a small meadow. Just a short drive from Interstate 84, this small campground offers 4 campsites which are occassionally used for family reunions or group camping.
The Lostine River is located in northeast Oregon on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Originating from Minam Lake in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, the river flows through a glaciated, U-shaped valley and is surrounded by mountain meadows and high mountain peaks. The upper five miles of the designated segment, within the wilderness, are classified as wild, and the lower 11 miles are classified as recreational. The river's outstandingly remarkable values include recreation, scenery, fisheries, wildlife and vegetation/botany. Visitors can access the river in a variety of ways. The Two Pan Trailhead and provides the best hike along the upper section in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Forest Service roads provide access to most segments below the wilderness boundary. Camping along the river is available at seven developed campgrounds and several dispersed campsites. Most of the day-use trailheads and campgrounds in the corridor are fee sites with on-site payment facilities. The river corridor supports a diversity of wildlife habitats and species, including Rocky Mountain elk, deer, black bear, wolf, mountain lion, beaver, otter, mink and other small mammals. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, indigenous to the Eagle Cap Wilderness, have been reintroduced in the Hurricane Creek-Lostine River drainage. Peregrine falcons, bald eagles and a large variety of other birds inhabit the area. The river supports spring and fall Snake River Chinook salmon (listed as threatened under ESA), steelhead and bull trout. The unique area is home to numerous proposed, endangered, threatened and sensitive species of plants. These include 11 species of moonwart and the Northern twayblade. The rarity of finding so many moonwarts in one locality provides the opportunity for scientific research and a delight for botanists.
$10 / night
This campground sits along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River at the junction of the Blue Mountain and Elkhorn Scenic Byways. It features 20 campsites, 3 accessible toilet facilities, and stock handling facilities. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. This campground serves as the eastern access point to the North Fork John Day Wilderness via North Fork John Day River Trail #3022. The area offers hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, berry and mushroom picking, sight-seeing, and photography opportunities. In spring and fall you can see the salmon spawning. Special state fishing regulations apply. If you like to drive, you can pick up the Ukiah-Granite Roadside Geology auto tour brochure from the camp host or the Ranger District.
This campground serves as the eastern portal into the North Fork John Day Wilderness and offers hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, sight-seeing, and photography. Berries and mushrooms can be found in season. If you like to drive, you can pick up the Ukiah-Granite Roadside Geology auto tour brochure from the camp host or the Ranger District office. if you are interested in history, there are numerous remnants of mining left from the turn of the century, Remember, historic objects, even if they look like trash, are protected by law and may not be removed.
The campground is set amidst a lodgepole pine forest, with over half of the sites in the shade. The perennial North Fork John Day River runs adjacent to the campground where you can see spawning steelhead and chinook salmon in spring and fall. In the surrounding forests live coyotes, deer, elk, wolves, bear, and cougar, plus a myriad of small animal species.
The historic mining town of Granite is 9 miles south. State of Oregon Parks has a restored dredge that can be toured in the town of Sumpter, 22 miles south. Olive Lake is 21 miles south and west of the campground, and offers fishing , crawfishing, swimming, motorized boating (no wake allowed) and nearby trails for hiking/horseback riding (horses are not allowed in the campground). The lake-turned-reservior was constructed as part of a hydroelectric system to support gold mining activities in the northern Blue Mountain Region in the early 1900's. Historically, water from the lake flowed through a wooden pipeline for 9 miles to the Fremont Powerhouse, where it was used to produce electricity for mines and towns.__The Powerhouse is approximately 14 miles south and west of the NFJD Campground on the same road that accesses Olive Lake.
$25 / night
Ranger
This is one of about 6 or so campgrounds up the Lostine River Road. Been at this campground twice in the last three years—August 2021 and August 2024. Densely wooded, next to a great running river. I think there are 6 sites. Fire rings. One vault toilet that was pretty darn full this year, so that’s why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
Guide
Sites are far apart but some lack privacy. I saw Lots of elk and turkeys(?) and a rattlesnake. Outside of the lack of privacy there are some people who it appears that they live there(I a have no issues with that) my issue is the drive up and down the road multiple multiple time a day at high rates of speed leaving dust flying. When I was out walking I walked past one of their campsites on accident I didn’t get close and they started firing a gun in the air. I slept in my car that night and left the next morning. Also trash is an issue as well as people using the bathroom right on the ground and leaving used baby wipes everywhere. So watch out for human waste if you use a tent.
GuideMany options for private pull-offs once you drive past established NF campgrounds—likely tough to do without high clearance and/or 4WD when wet. Only “traffic” was the occasional ATV/OHV. Tons of great hiking around.
ScoutWe just needed a quick tent soot on a monday night on the way to moab. better than expected. bit muddy. some shells. but lots of space. drove in to about 45.35967, -118.30846
ScoutStayed one night on my way to Seattle. I drove up the road some and found it pretty passable in my van, although most of the sites were too muddy and I was worried about getting stuck. Camped in the first spots behind the Spring Creek Info sign and had good phone service (verizon) and a uneventful night. But area had a ton of broken glass, nails and shotgun shells and a decent amount of litter. Don't know how rowdy it gets in the warmer months but it might be wise to skip this place or camp further up the road at the campground then, especially if you're a solo female.
Guide
Nice little pond off 77 Rd an hour or so East of Highway 203 in Eastern Oregon.
TravelerThere are 100s of spots to camp
Scout
Needed a nice place between destinations and this was perfect. Clean and quiet on the last weekend of July 23
GuideEasy and vacant find for a last minute change to our route. Primitive dispersed campsites with rock fire rings right off the highway. Down side is it's a little too noisy for my taste. Would have driven further down into the woods if I had more time to set up as we got here late. All in all its an easy find just off the highway.
Legend
After a long day of driving we came up on this campground and got lucky finding two spaces available during hunting season!
Level pull through site, clean pit toilet.
Enjoyed a walk down to the river. Peaceful overnight!
GuideWallowa-Whitman NF
NF 21
aka Spring Creek Campground
La Grande, OR
45.2125.6N, 118.1843.3W (Campground)
45.3679N, 118.2972W (signboard)
45.36944, -118.29997 (2nd spot)
14 Day limit
V 4g/2-3b, ATT 4g/1-2b (no booster)
Dirt & grass
Campground:
Not for bigger rigs. 4 spots fairly close together, picnic tables, pit toilets. Loop in is tight, and while we are only 34' long, we're 13.8 on truck and had to do some creative maneuvering to get ourselves back out. Cell signal here was almost non existent, and fairly dense tree cover if using solar.
There was one spot on the left before getting to the Campground we could have fit into, but again, dense tree cover. Didn't check cell signal here.
There is supposed to be more spots past the campground, but we haven't taken the bikes out yet to explore.
Signboard:
Easily found a spot, even on Labor Day weekend (Friday). This area could handle 4 or 5 rigs. Cell signal better, but still bounced in/out a bit. We stayed here 2nts to get past the holiday weekend. Picked up a lot of micro trash, spent shells, and broken bottles. This is also the area where a lot of a sxs park for Day Use. VERY dusty area.
2nd Spot:
WOW what a difference. After we decided to hang out in the area for a bit longer, we knew we had to move off the main road as the dust was making our solar pout. As you come in, just before the signboard there is a road going up a hill to the right. It looks intimidating, but can be done going slow in 4wd. We found 3 great spots up there without going back very far.
There are spots further back, as we saw people pulling trailers out, but we haven't explored them yet. We chose the 1st spot on the left for the full solar and gorgeous view of the meadow, tree line, and mountains in the distance. Cell signal comes in stronger on this ridge, but still a little fickle without a booster... note to self, get booster. Picked up medium sized and micro trash here, as well as bullet casings and broken bottles... and a special thanks to whomever left a bag of rotting frozen chicken wings...that was fun, but the view is worth it, and SO MUCH LESS dust.
There is a spot across (right side of road) where we've had over nights pull in late, but they left by 9am and both were very quiet setting up. Other than them, and the people from further back pulling out after the weekend, we've been alone up here.
There is a GORGEOUS spot further up on the right, but I couldn't get any signal.
From all but the campground, you will hear road noise. I84 is just beyond the trees. I pretend it's waves (don't judge), my husband uses ear plugs. We've both had no issues sleeping.
If we had only had the 1st 2nts experience I would say we would only be back as a last minute overnight, having discovered this other area, yep we'd be back no problem.
As with all boondocking, scouting out is the key.
Traveler
There are several campsites along the Lostine corridor, we decided just to drive until we found a spot we liked. We landed at Walla Walla Forest Camp and claimed site 4. Our spot was tucked back a little way, which we liked. But was furthest from the water and swampy, which we didn’t like. The other two spots are closer to the water, so you don’t have to contend so much with misquitos.
There are places to dip your feet, but the water at this location is too fast and cold to swim in. Otherwise, this site had all we needed: solitude, water, vaulted toilet and some beautiful forest walk-abouts.
Just bring bug spray and check for ticks!
Guide
This is a quiet little campground. It would make a good base camp for visiting Echo and Traverse Lakes. Camps are spaced around one paved loop up the hill in the trees above the meadow. There is one vault toilet and no water, electricity, or sewer connections. There is plenty of deadwood nearby for gather for your campfire.
TravelerCame here for an overnight stop while traveling through the area. Solid spot - 4 large sites with level spots, fire ring, picnic tables, vault toilet. Arrived around 5pm on a Saturday in October and 3 spots were available - the others filled up after me. Quiet and beautiful while being close to the highway. Perfect and pleasant for my overnight stop
ScoutGreat little campground far enough from the interstate to be peaceful. 4 spots available so it fills up fast. About a mile of decent dirt road, a few washboards and potholes, just go slow. Vault toilet was very clean. Verizon was 2 bars, 4g but slow. Wifiranger with AT&T was very fast. Overall a great campground if you can get a spot. There is other dispersed camping areas near by if it's full.
TravelerWe were able to find an available spot on Labor Day weekend 2021. Most campsites between the town of Lostine and Irondyke campground were taken by 7pm on Friday. The access road was narrow and in pretty rough shape, lots of horse trailers hauling livestock up and down the road. The road remained busy until late at night and during the weekend with other campers and day hikers… we stayed in a tent camp site that allowed horses, so it was ample with a clearing that provided sunny areas. Picnic table and rock fire pit were available at the site. A toilet is Located on the opposite side of road and shares with other 4 or 5 sites. If you want a quiet, peaceful camping spot, this is not for you!
Traveler
These coordinates are one of the first sites on the right, when arriving from Two Pan Trailhead, but there are dozens around the lake if you follow the trail.
This was my second time backpacking in the Wallowas, and my first time at Mirror Lake. The lake is big with lots of dispersed sites, but when we arrived on Friday evening we felt lucky to find a place. (Some folks resorted to camping on vegetation areas—please don't do this!) The lake was so full and the sound carried over the water so much that you could hear conversations. Luckily it seemed to clear out by Saturday morning, for whatever reason.
We clocked the hike in from Two Pan Trailhead at 7.3 miles. The incline is mostly gradual with a nice break of mostly flat trail in a beautiful valley meadow area. Lots of horse traffic on this trail, so watch your step! The lake is super clear, and worth a swim. The trail to summit Eagle Cap is close by and a great day-hike for amazing views.
If you're looking for a secluded place in the Wallowas, I would head elsewhere. If you want an easy backpack in, and don't mind being around lots of other people, Mirror Lake is a great choice.
Traveler
As stated in description it's rustic. Not much to it but it did offer a sheltered place to build a fire/get warm and weather a bad storm. In the summer, the long rough road into it is not for everyone. Scenery is good and very quiet. If you want remote with the bare basics, this is the place.
GuideLate spring was a perfect time to spend a couple days in the mountain wilderness. Wildflowers we’re in bloom and temperatures were moderate during the day and a little cold at night. There is one clean vault toilet for the area, close enough to the campsites. Campsites are essentially a driveway with a picnic table, and suitable for small trailers or tents. Great hiking to the lush, broad meadows, which are fed by a creek cascading from the higher elevations. We let our dogs have the run of the place off leash. Getting there is a bit of a chore: about 20 miles of dirt track, but we’ll worth the effort.
TravelerThere is a small campground with 6 sites mostly good for campers or tent in a grove of trees with a vaulted outhouse. in the surrounding aria there are plenty of dispersed campsites that can hold any size RV Around the form almost completely shaded to full sun. It is a designated ATV aria with tons of trails used by hikers and horses in the fall it is a favorite spot for hunters
cell service is serves is sporty from 3 bars to none
TravelerThis is a FCFS, primitive campground with nice spacious sites and some with river views. There are 4 equestrian sites. There was a camp host during our stay but he was only there one of the 3 nights we stayed. The North Fork John Day trail departs from the campground and it is possible to make a loop using the Crane Creek trail if the river crossing is possible.
Guide
This place is quiet, comfortable, and secluded. It’s near the end of 18 miles of unpaved mountain road and some of the most spectacular mountain scenery along the way. The bunkhouse is beginning to show its age but it accommodates a large group and the enclosed porch on the back of the building is a treat. The grounds are enormous and close to Eagle Creek. Plenty of room and flat ground for several tent. Vault toilet only, but it’s clean. Bring your own water.
GuideFour campsites, plenty of space between sites for more privacy
TravelerThis area offers incredible dispersed camping opportunities alongside West Eagle Creek south of the West Eagle Meadows trailhead on NF-77 (aka Eagle Creek Rd). Just drive down the road and explore the many turnoffs to find one that suits your needs. Don’t forget to leave time for a day hike up to Echo Lake!
TravelerJust 4 sites, 2 with great river access. We loved the view and how big and private our site was.
GuideLocated where desert meets the forest. This lovely area provides thrills for all. Bring your ATV'S, hiking boots, and fishing polls because this area has it all!
GuideUp off the river, up the Lostine Canyon. Quite a hike to the river was the downside. Quiet- only 2 campsites. Primitive. Pic Nic table.
Horse camping near Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Oregon offers a unique opportunity to explore stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse campers, you can find the perfect spot to set up your base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Wallowa-Whitman National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is West Eagle Meadow Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Wallowa-Whitman National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
