Milo McIver State Park Campground features extensive horse trails throughout its 900-acre property near Estacada, approximately 30 miles east of Portland and accessible from West Linn. Riders find numerous wide trails designated for horseback riding with separate areas for equine activities. The park offers trailer parking and adequate space for horse owners traveling with their animals. While there are no dedicated horse corrals on site, the camping area includes sites that can accommodate both horses and camping equipment. Visitors have access to clean restrooms with hot showers, drinking water, and picnic areas. The park allows pets and offers full hookup sites for those camping with RVs alongside their horses. The extensive trail system loops through forested areas with some trails offering views of Mt. Hood to the east. The campground maintains year-round access with the main camping season running from March 15 to October 31. Lots of campsites but books up early in the season.
The horseback riding trails at Milo McIver connect to various sections of the park, allowing riders to explore diverse terrain within a single day's ride. The trail network provides access to scenic overlooks of the Clackamas River, which flows through the property and creates natural boundaries for some riding routes. Riders should note that the park requires standard Oregon State Park fees, and reservations are recommended, especially during summer months when the campground frequently reaches capacity. Water access points along the river provide natural watering opportunities for horses during rides, though riders should carry their own water supplies for horses at campsites. For horse owners wanting multi-day excursions, the park's location makes it convenient as a base camp for exploring nearby equestrian-friendly areas. The relatively flat, well-maintained trails accommodate riders of various experience levels, and the park offers enough variety to keep horses engaged across multiple days of riding. The showers and bathroom facilities remain consistently clean despite heavy use during peak season.
$8 - $78 / night
"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."
$25 / night
"Great access to the river to keep cool in summer. Nice sandy beaches. Park also has a lot of sheltered picnic areas and playground.
Multi-use trail great for short runs and apparently 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."
$40 / night
"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."
"The park's location is very convenient, with easy access to downtown Portland and nearby attractions."
$22 - $64 / night
"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."
"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."
$24 - $39 / night
"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"
"The upper area encircles a large open are perfect for games and running around. There is a nice disk golf course and a lot of large paths for waking and biking."
"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"
"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."
$20 / night
"I had a great weekend at Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp! The campsites are horse friendly and the trails are absolutely gorgeous- it felt like being out in the wild."
"Only sites for camping with horses."
$25 - $45 / night
"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."
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.
LegendHares 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 only.
The Campground is set up in one loop and offers both single and double sites, ADA facilities, showers, toilets, and trash. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a corral. There is a double corral on the double sites.
You must clean up after your own horse. Manure bin as well as shovels/brooms are provided onsite.
In mid May, the sites were very wide open.
GuideI 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!
TravelerOne 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. The park has recently renewed trail signage.
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.
Equestrian camping near West Linn, Oregon offers access to diverse terrain across multiple state parks within a 45-mile radius. The area sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers, with elevations ranging from 100 to 1,000 feet across available campgrounds. Winter camping often brings 45-55°F temperatures with frequent rain, while summer months typically stay below 85°F with minimal humidity.
Trail riding beyond the campground: Silver Falls State Park Campground offers extensive riding opportunities beyond the immediate camping area. "The large Black Cottonwood tree resides at this park and is worth seeing!" notes Kelly N. about nearby Willamette Mission State Park, which connects to regional trail systems.
Swimming access: Many equestrian-friendly sites provide water access for both horses and riders. "Great access to the river to keep cool in summer. Nice sandy beaches," writes marcus K. about Oxbow Regional Park, which maintains several beach areas suitable for cooling off after rides.
Evening entertainment options: After trail riding, campgrounds often provide space for group activities. "After riding all day, my friends and I played games that added spice to the evening around the campfire," shares Sprunki R. at Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp, showing how riders create their own entertainment.
Privacy between sites: Unlike some crowded campgrounds, several horse-friendly locations offer good separation between campsites. "The sites were large enough to comfortably park my small car and have plenty of room to spread out," notes Crystal C. about Beacon Rock State Park Campground, which maintains wooded separation between camping areas.
Trail variety: "Lots of hiking, swimming, and fishing through the park. It's truly a great oasis just outside of Portland," writes Blaine B. about Oxbow Regional Park, highlighting the multi-use trails available for both horses and hikers.
Water sources on trails: "Water access points along the river provide natural watering opportunities," with many campgrounds maintaining dedicated areas where horses can safely drink. "The stones in the stream are a rainbow of metamorphic rock," observes Lawrence F. about Panther Creek Campground, describing the accessible water features.
Reservations essential: Most equestrian sites require advance booking, especially during peak season. "You can book sites online up to 24 hours in advance, or you can show up to camp one night at one of the few non-reservable first come sites," explains Corinna B. about camping in the region.
Seasonal closures: "This park floods every winter. I advise planning your trip for the spring or summer," warns Kelly N. about Willamette Mission State Park, illustrating why checking seasonal access is critical before traveling with horses.
Limited corral availability: While some parks advertise horse-friendly camping, many lack built-in corrals. "There is also a campground for horseback riders specifically for those who want to ride their horses in the park," notes Jefferson S. about Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp, one of the few facilities with dedicated equestrian infrastructure.
Playground access: Some horse-friendly campgrounds also offer family amenities. "The kids playground was great for the grandkids," shares Richard B. about Battle Ground Lake, making it suitable for multi-generational equestrian trips.
Swimming options for children: When choosing a horse camping location with kids, prioritize sites with designated swimming areas. "They have a cool volcanic lake with a swimming area and great fishing," writes Ashley Y. about Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground, describing its kid-friendly water access.
Educational opportunities: "We take elementary students to this site every spring to have a field science day," mentions Kelly N. about Willamette Mission State Park, highlighting the educational potential when combining horse camping with nature exploration.
Site lengths vary significantly: When bringing both horses and an RV, check site dimensions carefully. "Our spot was very spacious as the length was 45 feet deep on asphalt," reports Robert D. about Dairy Creek East at L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park.
Hookup limitations: "No hookups though," warns marcus K. about Oxbow Regional Park, reminding RV owners to verify utility availability when planning horse camping trips, as many equestrian sites offer limited services.
Level parking critical: Horse trailers require stable parking surfaces. "The pad starts with asphalt and then goes to gravel, where you actually park the rig," notes MickandKarla W. about L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park, describing the type of reliable parking surface needed for safe loading and unloading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near West Linn, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near West Linn, OR is Milo McIver State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 39 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near West Linn, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 equestrian camping locations near West Linn, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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