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Equestrian Camping near Palestine, TX

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    Horse camping near Palestine, TX includes several dedicated equestrian campgrounds approximately 30 miles away in Kennard, within the Davy Crockett National Forest. White Rock Horse Camp and Piney Creek Horse Camp provide primitive camping areas specifically designed for visitors bringing horses. Both campgrounds feature vault toilets and camping areas that accommodate tents and smaller RVs. The camps connect directly to the forest's extensive trail system, with some trails specifically designated for horseback riding. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with certain routes becoming muddy after rainfall. Horse owners need to bring their own portable corrals or highline equipment as permanent corrals are not provided at these locations.

    Located approximately 30 miles from Palestine in Kennard, these horse camps serve as primary access points to the forest's equestrian trail network. Most trails are multi-use paths shared with hikers, requiring proper trail etiquette. Water for horses is available at natural stream crossings along certain trails, though availability varies seasonally. Each campsite offers space for both camping equipment and horse trailers, with clearings for portable corrals. Visitors must pack in feed and water for their animals, as on-site sources are limited. Campfires are permitted at Piney Creek Horse Camp when no burn bans are in effect, while restrictions may apply at White Rock. The forest terrain features a mix of pine and hardwood sections with moderate elevation changes suitable for most riding skill levels.

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Palestine (6)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

      4.6(20)38mi from Palestine62 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Very well-maintained National Forest site just off Texas Highway 7 in the middle of the Davey Crockett National Forest. "

      "East Texas weather is so unpredictable. When we arrived at camp it was nice and sunny, so my friend and I decided to walk our dogs. On our walk we got caught in the middle of a down pour!"

      from $15 - $35 / night

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      2. Davy Crockett National Forest Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

      4.8(4)38mi from PalestineRVs, Tents

      "Entertains many hike trails. One even for handicap person to follow thru. Good for horses or bikes. You can go for miles even to a dispersed camping lookout point."

      "Such a peaceful and beautiful area in the Piney Woods of East Texas. I wish we'd had more than 2 days here to explore."

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      3. Oak Cove Marina

      3.5(4)38mi from PalestineRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Huge.huge lake...lots of boats.people friendly.children happy..camping.lodging..fishing..realestate open..wonderful parks..resturaunts.hotels.motels..very nice.."

      "Friendly staff, and incredible lake."

      4. The Boulders at Lake Tyler

      4.0(6)44mi from Palestine9 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Great view of Lake Tyler. Also very clean. There is a store, great boat dock, and a vendor selling very good bbq. We will definitely come back if in the area."

      from $55 - $195 / night

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      5. 566 Piney Creek Horse Camp

      3.5(4)40mi from PalestineRVs, Tents

      "Great, well marked Trail system. Be careful during hunting season!"

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      6. White Rock Horse Camp

      4.0(1)42mi from PalestineRVs, Tents

      "Great hiking / horse riding trails around.  Would not recommend this area during hunting season.  Accessible via car, good roads, smaller trailers.  If RVing, will need levelers."

      from $10 / night

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Palestine, TX

    60 Reviews of 6 Palestine Campgrounds

    • Alana B.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 8, 2025

      Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

      Magical

      Beautiful little gem. The upkeep is outstanding, you can tell it’s really looked after. The camp sites are close to each other but since it wasn’t busy it felt like we had our own private area. There is a small swim area that you should utilize because there are alligators in the lake so it’s not safe to swim by the campground. The rangers drive around a few times a day. We didn’t do the trail this time around but will try it out next time. It’s great for big groups because of all the space. They have bathrooms with a shower and plenty of toilet paper in case you forget to bring your own. It gets pretty dark at night because there are no lights except what you pack with you. There is also a water spigot and a fire pit.

    • Heather S.The Dyrt Pro User
      Apr. 27, 2025

      Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

      Convenient. Clean enough. But underwhelmed.

      We came to tent camp and wanted to be on a lake shoreline. We stayed at #11 on Lakeside Loop.

      The positive:

      • The tent pad was nice and level and the site was very roomy (we had a tent & canopy) with tons more room to stretch out.

      • We were about 200 yards from the bathroom facilities and about 30 feet from potable water for washing up.

      • The traffic was minimal because it’s off the main road, and would have been peaceful if the group of campers at #9 had been courteous and acknowledged quiet hours.

      • We had incredible weather with a wonderful steady breeze.

      Negatives:

      • We did have a lake view, but the shoreline is so incredibly overgrown making it difficult to fish. Lots of rotted wood and brush blocks a great deal of the view and access.

      • The burn circle had a grate welded at an angle to the top, so it couldn’t really be used for building up a big fire or cooking.

      • No one drove around/checked to make sure visitors are keeping to the quiet hours, which meant we were kept awake until about 12:30 am from yelling and loud music.

      • The restrooms, while near, had not been cleaned before we arrived—toilet paper on the floors and in the shower area with lots of dead june bugs and spiders on the floor the whole weekend.

    • Jim P.The Dyrt Pro User
      Apr. 17, 2025

      Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

      Very peaceful park

      Great camping area, sites are a little unlevel, but not too bad. Water is a little bit of a stretch, may need to make sure you have plenty of hose.

      Remnants of old sawmill is really cool, lots of wildlife and well maintained and marked trails to explore.

      Good fishing, and swim area is very refreshing as well!

    • Yasmin S.The Dyrt Pro User
      Nov. 1, 2024

      Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

      Ratcliff

      This is another Great in deep e. Texas. They have really clean it up over the years. Even thin out more by the swimming area and boat ramps. Has a boat ramp but no electric motors. Also a dump station. They upgraded a RV spot that also has a playground too. You will find remants of the old sawmill here.

    • Gloria W.
      Oct. 20, 2024

      The Boulders at Lake Tyler

      Food Truck and Park host!

      The food truck food is not good. I got sick from eating food from there. Ted stores food in freezer without covering it up with lids. One of the park host was showing pictures. I saw the pictures and he also showed other park host. He is not a good park host. Do not ever let him borrow any money because you will never see it back. Do not put a bad review on Facebook because you will get blocked off there page. It's sad that's how they run a business.

    • SThe Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 15, 2023

      White Rock Horse Camp

      Nice dispersed camping

      Nice area for dispersed camping.  Several level areas.  Great hiking / horse riding trails around.  Would not recommend this area during hunting season.  Accessible via car, good roads, smaller trailers.  If RVing, will need levelers.

    • RThe Dyrt Pro User
      Jun. 2, 2023

      Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

      Pretty Solid

      If you're someone who camps to get away from everyone, this is not the spot for you. It should come to no surprise that it isn't secluded as it does have several sites available. There's bathrooms and showers, a swim area, fishing, and a selection of trails to do while staying here. At the primitive sites you get a fire pit and a picnic table. Great place overall.

    Guide to Palestine

    The Davy Crockett National Forest encompasses over 160,000 acres of East Texas piney woods with elevations ranging from 100 to 300 feet above sea level. Several equestrian camping areas near Palestine, Texas offer direct access to forest trail systems that extend for miles through mixed pine and hardwood terrain. Trail conditions vary widely with seasonal weather patterns, with sandy sections that can become challenging after rainfall events.

    What to do

    Trail riding experiences: The Davy Crockett National Forest trail system includes over 20 miles of marked paths accessible from White Rock Horse Camp. One reviewer notes it's "Nice area for dispersed camping. Several level areas. Great hiking/horse riding trails around."

    Fishing opportunities: Multiple creek access points within 5 miles of horse camps provide fishing spots. At Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area, "Good fishing, and swim area is very refreshing as well!" according to one camper.

    Swimming access: Most horse camps lack swimming facilities, but nearby recreation areas offer water activities. A visitor to Ratcliff Lake mentioned, "Nice, quiet, area to get away and enjoy alone or with family. Great trails and a small lake to enjoy kayaking, fishing, and swimming."

    What campers like

    Relative seclusion: Horse camping areas typically offer more isolation than standard campgrounds. At Piney Creek Horse Camp, campers appreciate the "Remote and laid back" atmosphere with a "Quiet national forest hunting camp with vault toilet and water."

    Multi-use trail network: The forest trail system accommodates various activities beyond horseback riding. One camper at Piney Creek noted, "Great, well marked Trail system. Be careful during hunting season!"

    Natural water sources: Streams and creeks throughout the area provide natural water access. According to a cyclist who stopped at Piney Creek, "About a mile west of this camping area there is a pipe coming out of the ground on the north side of the road. Spewing cold potable water. Great place to fill water bottles if you can find it."

    What you should know

    Primitive facilities only: Equestrian camping near Palestine offers basic amenities. A visitor to Davy Crockett National Forest Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area observed, "Has great camping. Entertains many hike trails. One even for handicap person to follow thru. Good for horses or bikes."

    Seasonal hunting impacts: Forest usage changes dramatically during hunting seasons, affecting trail safety. One camper warns, "Would not recommend this area during hunting season."

    Cell coverage limitations: Most forest areas have limited or no cellular service. "Cell signal poor," notes one visitor, making offline navigation tools essential.

    Water considerations: Natural water sources fluctuate seasonally. Horse owners should plan to bring sufficient water supplies as facilities at camping areas are minimal.

    Tips for camping with families

    Choose campsites strategically: For families with children, select sites with easier trail access. A visitor to The Boulders at Lake Tyler shared, "They have a nice playground. The picnic tables at the sites looked new and all sites had a fire pit with a grill top."

    Bring supplemental activities: Some horse camps lack dedicated children's facilities. One camper noted, "We had a blast fishing there with his buddies and we had a good boat ride but there wasn't a whole lot for our kid to do. We managed though and we do plan on going back, but we will definitely be bringing more activities for our children."

    Consider mixed-use recreation areas: Some locations combine horse trails with family amenities. A camper at Ratcliff Lake described it as having "Beautiful little gem. The upkeep is outstanding, you can tell it's really looked after."

    Tips from RVers

    Length restrictions: Most horse camps near Palestine accommodate smaller trailers and RVs only. A visitor to Oak Cove Marina advised, "We had number #17 and it was a little tricky to get into the site deep enough that your slides don't stick out into the road."

    Surface conditions: Horse campgrounds typically have natural surfaces requiring leveling equipment. "If RVing, will need levelers," notes one camper about White Rock Horse Camp.

    Limited hookups: Most dedicated horse camps lack electrical or water hookups. For those requiring connections, consider nearby recreation areas instead of dedicated equestrian sites.

    Extended hose needs: At developed campgrounds near horse trails, water connections may require extra equipment. One RVer recommends, "Do bring an extra long hose for the water connection as other reviews have stated."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Palestine, TX?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Palestine, TX is Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 20 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Palestine, TX?

    TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Palestine, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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