6 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
566 Piney Creek Horse Camp and White Rock Horse Camp provide primitive equestrian camping in the Davy Crockett National Forest near Rusk, Texas. Both campgrounds feature vault toilets but no drinking water, electricity, or showers. Campsites accommodate tents and smaller RVs with room for horse trailers. The campsites maintain adequate spacing for privacy while keeping horses near camp. Trails extend for miles through the forest, connecting to dispersed camping areas and lookout points. Campfires are permitted at Piney Creek, which provides firewood and trash collection, while White Rock prohibits fires but offers similar toilet facilities.
The forest trail system accommodates both riders and hikers with routes suitable for varying experience levels. The 4C trail connects to multiple camping areas and provides opportunities for extended rides through pine forests. One section offers accessibility for riders with disabilities. While the campgrounds lack dedicated horse corrals, the surrounding areas provide ample space for portable corrals or highlines. Visitors should bring their own water for horses, as natural water sources may be seasonal. Camping remains peaceful during weekdays with most visitors arriving for weekend trips. Both locations require trailers to navigate forest roads, which can become challenging after heavy rainfall.
"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
Check Availability"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."
"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
Check Availability"Great, well marked Trail system. Be careful during hunting season!"
"There is a loafing barn for horses. No bathrooms or water. Would be a 5 with just water. You need a Texas parks Limited use permit. It costs as little as $12 a year."
from $12 - $42 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability
GuideAt least 14 sites with picnic tables on concrete slabs. Fire rings and Lantern poles. Very well kept and mowed. There is a loafing barn for horses. No bathrooms or water. Would be a 5 with just water. You need a Texas parks Limited use permit. It costs as little as $12 a year. If you want to fish or hunt the price goes up a little. Can be used to stay at any National Forest or Wild Management area.
GuideThis is a small primitive camping area in the Davy Crockett National Forest. There’s a small covered pavilion and shady sites. Sites are first come and fees are paid at the campground. The camp is a great place to camp and ride the adjacent horse trails. The trails are nice but not well marked.
GuideI believe this is the same campground reviewed under 566 Piney Creek. This is a small primitive camping area in the Davy Crockett National Forest. There’s a small covered pavilion and shady sites. Sites are first come and fees are paid at the campground. The camp is a great place to camp and ride the adjacent horse trails. The trails are nice but not well marked.
TravelerWhat the campsites lacks in remoteness it makes up for with everything else.
Very well-maintained National Forest site just off Texas Highway 7 in the middle of the Davey Crockett National Forest.
Highlights for the site include:
very well-spaced apart offering more privacy than usually afforded
restrooms and showers were clean.
Access to hacking trails in the national forest
Easy access to food/fuel/firewood
A large variety of species for birdwatching
Small lake with deck for launching kayaks or SUPs
There was not water at every site, so bring a longer hose and be ready to fill your tanks or containers.
Road noise from highway was audible, but not too distracting.
TravelerNice 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.
GuideHas great camping. 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.
TravelerEast 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! We laughed our way back to camp and waited out the rest of the storm in our cars. It cleared up quickly and we were back out in the wild. We took an inflatable kayak out on the lake. Decent little lake. People were in the swimming area. Would camp here again.
TravelerGreat campground in the Pineywoods of east Texas. Stayed 14 days in site 20 on Dogwood loop. Nice size sites with plenty of room between. Restrooms and showers clean, though showers do need some repair. Plenty of walking/hiking trails and wood for fires. Swim area looks nice, though we visited in November so we didn't swim. Can see the foundation for the old mill in back of the park.
TravelerWe 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.
Equestrian camping options near Rusk, Texas include designated horse camps in the Davy Crockett National Forest. The forest offers a network of established trails winding through pine forests and hardwood bottomlands at elevations of 200-400 feet. Summer temperatures average 85-95°F with high humidity, while winter camping provides cooler temperatures in the 40-60°F range.
Trail riding access: The 4C horse trail system at 566 Piney Creek Horse Camp connects multiple forest sections with routes of varying difficulty. "Great, well marked trail system. Be careful during hunting season!" notes Tartan C. Some sections maintain accessibility standards for riders with mobility limitations.
Fishing spots: Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area provides stocked fishing areas and boat access with restrictions. "Good fishing, and swim area is very refreshing as well!" reports Jim P. Small catch-and-release operations work well for families with children.
Historical exploration: Visit remnants of old logging operations throughout the forest. According to Yasmin S., "You will find remnants of the old sawmill here." These historical artifacts date to early 20th century logging operations that shaped the region.
Water activities: Ratcliff Lake allows non-motorized boats and swimming in designated areas. Sydney L. explains, "We took an inflatable kayak out on the lake. Decent little lake. People were in the swimming area." Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with summer offering the most reliable conditions.
Privacy spacing: White Rock Horse Camp provides dispersed camping with adequate separation between sites. "Nice area for dispersed camping. Several level areas," reports Seeking Narnia. Sites offer enough distance to maintain privacy while keeping horses nearby.
Natural setting: The dense pine forest creates a cooler microclimate even during summer months. "Beautiful little gem. The upkeep is outstanding, you can tell it's really looked after," shares Alana B. about the surrounding forest environment.
Night sky viewing: Limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing opportunities. "It gets pretty dark at night because there are no lights except what you pack with you," mentions Alana B. The forest canopy opens in certain areas allowing clear views of constellations.
Trail connectivity: Campers appreciate how the horse trails connect to multiple camping areas. Yasmin S. notes, "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." This connectivity allows for multi-day exploration without covering the same ground.
Limited facilities: Both horse campgrounds offer minimal amenities. Charlie C. notes about Piney Creek: "Small shelter I set up my tent under as there was rain in the area." Vault toilets provide basic sanitation but require campers to pack out trash.
Water planning: No potable water exists at horse camps. According to Charlie C., "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." Bringing containers for water transport proves essential.
Road conditions: Forest roads can become difficult after rain. "Accessible via car, good roads, smaller trailers. If RVing, will need levelers," advises Seeking Narnia about accessing Alazan Bayou. High clearance vehicles handle conditions best during wet seasons.
Permit requirements: National Forest camping requires appropriate permits. David T. explains, "You need a Texas parks Limited use permit. It costs as little as $12 a year. If you want to fish or hunt the price goes up a little."
Swimming options: Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area provides supervised swimming in designated areas. "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," warns Alana B. This safety consideration makes the designated swim area essential for families.
Bathroom facilities: Some campgrounds offer improved restroom facilities beneficial for families. "The bathrooms are nice. And the bait shop has everything you forgot at home," shares Wesley D. Family sites with shorter walks to facilities work best for those with small children.
Wildlife awareness: Teach children about potential wildlife encounters including alligators in water bodies. "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!" recounts Sydney L., highlighting the need for weather preparedness.
Level camping spots: Look for established sites with level ground. "The tent pad was nice and level and the site was very roomy with tons more room to stretch out," notes Heather S. Sites numbered 10-15 at Ratcliff tend to offer better family camping conditions.
Hookup limitations: Most horse campgrounds near Rusk lack electrical or water hookups. "Quiet national forest hunting camp with vault toilet and water, but no amenities at the individual campsites. Bring your own generator and dry camp," advises Tartan C.
Site leveling: Prepare for uneven terrain at forest campgrounds. As Seeking Narnia notes about White Rock Horse Camp, "If RVing, will need levelers." Many sites require substantial blocking to achieve level position.
Access limitations: Davy Crockett National Forest roads restrict larger RV access. Rivers M. observes, "This park is so well maintained and the people who run it couldn't be more fit for the job." Smaller trailers under 25 feet navigate forest roads most successfully.
Water access distance: RVers should bring extra-long hoses when using communal water sources. "Do bring an extra long hose for the water connection as other reviews have stated," recommends Heather B., referring to the distance between RV sites and water sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Rusk, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rusk, 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 Rusk, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Rusk, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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