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Best Equestrian Camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park

93 Reviews

Dog Canyon Campground in Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers horse-friendly facilities with trailer parking available across from the RV camping area. The campground features four RV sites suitable for visitors traveling with horses, though the sites are arranged in a parking lot style with limited privacy between spaces. Flush toilets, drinking water, and a heated bathroom at the nearby visitor center provide basic amenities for equestrians. The sites can accommodate smaller rigs, with RV sites best suited for vehicles under 25 feet in length. Horse owners should note there are no hookups available, though generators are permitted. The campground's remote location provides exceptional stargazing opportunities, with minimal light pollution allowing for vivid night sky viewing.

Located approximately 60 miles from the main Pine Springs area of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Dog Canyon requires careful trip planning as the nearest gas station is about 1.5 hours away. The campground connects to several hiking trails, including access to the Guadalupe Peak trail system. While horses are accommodated in the parking area, the campground does not feature dedicated corrals or specialized equestrian facilities. Water sources for horses are limited to the available drinking fountains and hand pump near the trailhead. The campground operates on mountain time, which may differ from nearby time zones. During winter, temperatures remain relatively mild compared to other areas of the park, though high winds can occasionally reach 50+ mph, requiring secure containment for horses and proper shelter considerations.

Map showing campgrounds near Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TexasExplore the Map

Best Equestrian Sites Near Guadalupe Mountains National Park (4)

    1. Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    16 Reviews
    Dell City, TX
    22 miles
    Website

    $20 - $60 / night

    "Be aware that the park is on mountain time but close enough to the central time zone border that your smartphone/watch may not display the correct time!"

    "Site Privacy: No Site Spacing: Close Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: This campground is the end of the road."

    2. Carlsbad RV Park & Campground

    35 Reviews
    Carlsbad, NM
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 885-6333

    "Great location to launch to Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountain National Parks. Indoor heated pool. Very nice staff throughout the park. Definitely recommend"

    "So many positive things to say about this site. First of all- Excellent and helpful staff."

    3. Pine Top Wilderness Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    3 Reviews
    Salt Flat, TX
    22 miles
    Website

    "As you make your way to Pine Top, keep an eye out for wildlife and take in the natural beauty surrounding you."

    4. Carlsbad KOA

    39 Reviews
    Carlsbad, NM
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 562-9109

    "Only con is that sites were very close to one another. We stopped here to go to Carlsbad caverns."

    "Site is close to highway, so lots of road noise throughout the day and night. Contained tent hexagon shelter structure was nice, allowed for contained and divided campsites."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Guadalupe Mountains National Park

93 Reviews of 4 Guadalupe Mountains National Park Campgrounds

  • E
    Feb. 19, 2023

    Carlsbad RV Park & Campground

    Great Homebase RV Park!

    Decided to stay here while on our way to Tucson. Great location to launch to Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountain National Parks. Indoor heated pool. Very nice staff throughout the park. Definitely recommend

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2019

    Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    Great place to beat the Texas heat!

    Dog Canyon is located on the north end of Guadalupe Mountains National Park aka the highest point in Texas. Though secluded, Dog Canyon fills up fast so arrive early or plan in advance to claim your spot.

    Due to the elevation, this campground is cooler and has more shelter than the Pine Springs campground.  Dog Canyon has excellent trail access with options of one-day or shorter day hikes.

    Ranger recommendations:

    • Have a full tank of gas
    • Bring your propane stove - fires are not allowed in any of the campgrounds.
  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 16, 2022

    Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    Remote campground

    General: small campground (four “RV” sites and nine tent sites (plus one group tent site). Access is remote (only one 60-mile paved option and one 30-mile dirt road alternative) so you need to make sure you have filled up with gas in Carlsbad as there are no services within many miles of the campground. No cell reception at all (not unexpected). Be aware that the park is on mountain time but close enough to the central time zone border that your smartphone/watch may not display the correct time!

    Site Quality: The “RV” sites are just a gravel parking lot. Each site has a picnic table and while the sites are spaced a decent amount of distance apart, there is no physical separation between the sites. No hookups. The tent sites are walk-in. 

    Bathhouse: We were expecting a pit toilet in such a remote location but there is one men’s and one women’s bathroom with a flush toilet and sink. They were very clean. Soap dispensers but no paper towels. Although there was no hot water, the restrooms were heated, which was a nice bonus. 

    Activities: There is a .6-mile nature trail and several more challenging hiking trails. There was a horse corral behind the RV sites, but we did not see any horses while there. About 25 miles away is Sitting Bull Falls, a spring-fed waterfall that is a nice side trip. 

    We camped here because we were not able to get reservations in the other more popular campground in Guadalupe Mountains NP. Access between the two sides of the park is long (about 60 miles) so while this was a nice, comfortable campground, it is not easy to get to.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2024

    Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    RV Area - Nice Virw

    Dog Canyon RV area: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 3.5 Price 2024: $ 10 winteragency pass Security: No Usage during visit: 50 to 100%, however there are more no shows than usually experienced elsewhere. Site Privacy: No Site Spacing: Close Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: This campground is the end of the road. Through Traffic in campground: Hiker parking area across from the RV sites Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes. I didn’t notice the hand pump to the left of the trailhead the first couple days here. Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Flush toilets are a short walk, located in the tent camping area. There is also a heated bathroom at the visitor center which is a short distance further.
    Showers: No Pull Throughs: All 4 sites are back in Cell Service (AT&T): No bars. There is WiFi at the visitor center. We were able to periodically pick up WiFi at our campsite, RV- D. Setting: Surrounded by ridges. Recent Weather: Very windy and cold nights.
    Solar: Excellent.
    Insects: None Host: Not filled.
    Rig Size: i cannot imagine that these sites will accommodate rigs over 25’. Sites: RV-A, and RV-D are on the ends. These are the best sites. RV-A door faces horse trailer parking area. No horse there trailers during our stay. RV- D is the best site if you can park your RV nose first. This makes sitting area more private . In RV- D and RV-A sites the occupant can spread out more.

  • B
    Aug. 18, 2020

    Carlsbad KOA

    Clean

    This place was clean and easy to reach. Large place with plenty of sites for hookup. Only con is that sites were very close to one another. We stopped here to go to Carlsbad caverns. It’s about an hour away from this KOA, so be sure to wake up early and arrive early to reserve first come first serve tickets for the caverns!

  • Jacob D.
    Feb. 16, 2018

    Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    Great hidden gem

    Visiting Guadalupe national park was very surprising, after finding out that no reservations are required to camp I was a little worried that the location was going to packed but going in the middle of February it was just right. The tent camping side has a total of 19 tent sites which have benches as well as a prepared area for your tent which was nice the site had a bathroom nearby and trash cans very close to every site. The rv side had multiple spots for rvs (didn't count the spaces) but outside of the parking lot were flush toilets and a dish washing station, the trail heads were right by the parking lot so very convenient.

    The trail the main trail guadalupe peak was breath taking (literally) the climb up takes about a 2 and half hours but the view up top is amazing! My only complaint of this place is that the amount of trails is lacking (only about 5) and after a day or two your pretty much done but if your in the are the hike up top is unbeatable.

    To see more follow us on Instagram Acouplemoremiles

  • A
    Jun. 8, 2021

    Carlsbad KOA

    Solid Pick but Nothing Special

    This was our first time staying at a KOA and in general, we liked it. It’s about an hour from the Caverns which is doable, the staff is friendly and the amenities (shower, laundry, flush toilets) are very nice to have. It’s a great site for those who prefer glamping. However, it’s not very scenic and you are very close to your fellow campers (we listened to a couple fight the whole two nights we were there). There is a lake nearby and the dessert surrounding provides its own type of scenery but it was not my favorite campground.

  • Kurtis S.
    May. 22, 2023

    Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    If you want remote... You've found it (hopefully)

    This place is REMOTE! Like 1.5 hours away from any gas station remote. First and foremost make sure you fill up before you get off that highway. Whites City by Carlsbad is not to far. If youre coming that direction fill up before you go out there.

    This campground does not have a lot of amenities. It has trash cans, a toilet, and some drinking fountains.. and the rest is nature. I really liked this place.

    Dog Canyon is one of those places where the pictures just wont do it justice. Its big, youre little.

    We spent 5 days @25$ a day

    BATHROOOM SCORE: 3/5 # LEAKING TOILETS, LOW ON TOILET PAPER

    STARLINK SCORE: 5/5

    SOLAR SCORE:5/5

    REMOTE WORKERS SCORE: 4/5

    PS: the guys with the big trailers were not happy with the site... they are a little tight

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2018

    Carlsbad RV Park & Campground

    Close to Carlsbad we found a unique place to spend a May eveningi

    When looking for a campground close to Carlsbad Caverns, the most recommended for proximity happens to be that of White's City RV and Campground also known as Carlsbad Campground. Only a short 7 miles from the visitors center and only a few hundred yards from the main entrance, the campsite offers over 200 camping zones for those coming to the area.

    We arrived late afternoon to the site and noticed a large quantity of rv campers but very few tents on premise. In fact only a single tent camper was on site at the time of arrival. 

    We searched for the check in and were a bit baffled as to where to stop as no clear registration was marked. Instead we stopped and asked someone on site in the RV area and they were very welcoming and informative.

    For those camping, arrival check ins are at the local gift shop about a block away, the sleepy town closes by 6 p.m. however so if you arrive past this time you are forwarded to a local hotel for check in. 

    After overcoming the confusion we were finally able to start unpacking. Due to it being early in season, we were able to pick our campsite and settle in without any issues.

    Campsites are all equipped with a picnic table and fire ring area and a light shade cover. Water hook ups are on hand and the camp keeps a camping hose accessible to all for extinguishing camp fires at night.

    We noticed upon our arrival and throughout the evening a plethora of native Bunnies grazing which made for a pleasant atmosphere of bringing nature to our camp.

    The camping facilities were grassy and softer than many other sites we had visited along our journey. A nice shade tree made for a great block to the early morning rays. 

    Our only areas which we noticed could be improved were in the bathrooms as we noted a lack of recent maintenance and lights needing to be changed to improve brightness in the mirror and sink area. Also the showers were a bit of a question mark for us as they closely resembled indoor beach showers and had no doors. 

    During our stay we were the only ones using the facilities so we had plenty of privacy, however during busy season this shower could pose an issue for campers. We recommend the buddy system during busy season here so someone can either hold a towel for a make shift door or be a look out for additional guests coming in.

    🐰🐰🐰⚪️⚪️

    Overall this campground gets 3 of 5 Bunnies, in major part because of the bathroom facilities. However we do also have to consider the confusion with check in. We suggest doing a call reservation with payment to avoid having to check multiple facilities just to check in!

Guide to Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Horse camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas offers a unique opportunity to explore stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • At Dog Canyon Campground, you'll find a horse corral available for your convenience, making it easier to manage your horses during your stay.

Tips for equestrian camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas

  • Be prepared for a remote experience at Pine Top Wilderness Campground, where you'll need to carry your own water and obtain a permit for camping, ensuring a true back-to-nature adventure.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails

  • The area surrounding Dog Canyon Campground features several challenging hiking trails, perfect for those looking to explore the rugged terrain on horseback.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Guadalupe Mountains National Park is Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Guadalupe Mountains National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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