The Dyrt can help you find the perfect horse camping site near Smithville. Camping with horses is a beautiful way to experience nature. With our help, you'll find the best Texas equestrian campsites from scenic to easily accessible.
This recreation area is part of Somerville Lake
$20 - $25 / night
This recreation area is part of Somerville Lake
Brand new RV Resort conveniently located off Highway 10, halfway between San Antonio and Houston, we offer the perfect base camp to explore Texas. Amenities as big as Texas, the Iron Horse RV Resort is born out of the vision of the native Texas owners. We offer guests unique amenities, beautiful weather and a friendly atmosphere. Among the Amenities we have a Lazy River, Event Pavilion, an Adult Pool and Hot Tub, Children's play area, Dog Park, Buddy Sites, Drive thru Sites, Horseshoes, Corn Hole, Darts, Entertainment on High Holidays, Fire Pits, BarBQ Pits, a really Nice Boutique, and Fishing Ponds.
$59 / night
RiverBend RV Park & Campground is a scenic 20 acre gated park located on the banks of the San Marcos River. With pool and river access, plenty of space to walk the pets and enjoy the beauty of nature, RiverBend RV park offers a relaxing get-away. Exploring the area within an hour of the park creates interesting possibilities for historic, nature, museum or amusement activities as well as early Texas history, nature trails, ornate painted churches, caves and scenic drives around the area. Luling is home to world famous barbecue, and is the first stop on the Texas Barbecue Trail. There are also a good variety of other restaurants, grocery, gift and antique stores, hospitals, pharmacies, library with genealogical wing, oil museum, bowling alley, golf course, skydiving, airport, hang gliding, and parks. Zedler Mill park offers a slice of life from the early 20th century, and provides canoe rentals and shuttle service for the first inland river paddling trail established by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
A private campground serving youth groups and church groups. Not open to the general public.
Willis Creek is the ideal place for campers looking for a variety of accommodations. A group campground and five equestrian sites are available, in addition to a row of standard camping sites. Granger Lake is a popular recreational destination, especially for boating and fishing. In fact, it's one of the best lakes in the region for crappie and white bass fishing.
Boating and fishing are the most popular activities for campers. Horseback riders have six trails to explore in the Willis Creek Equestrian Area, ranging from 1 to 5.5 miles in length.
Boating and fishing are the most popular activities for campers. Horseback riders have six trails to explore in the Willis Creek Equestrian Area, ranging from 1 to 5.5 miles in length.
Granger Lake, formed by a dam completed in 1980, is fed by the San Gabriel River and Willis Creek. The campground sits on the Willis Creek arm of the lake. The maximum surface area of the lake is 11,000 acres and the shoreline is surrounded by the gently rolling hills of the Texas Blackland Prairie.
The Pecan Grove Wildlife Area, San Gabriel Wildlife Area, Sore Finger Wildlife Area, and Willis Creek Wildlife Area border the lake. Bring binoculars for birding opportunities.
$10 / night
Guide
Great spot, all the txpw amenities, friendly as can be staff, clean restrooms, well maintained campsites and nature. 14+ miles of equestrian trails! GREAT birdwatching, several different species this time of year. Leaf cutter ants all over the trails! Active wildlife at night with coyote hunts making a good bit of commotion. I would have given 5 stars but the fishing pier is still out of commission from flood damage.
Ranger
A nice, quiet fall camping weekend on Lake Somerville. It was a solo trip and since the weather was warm, I brought my kayak on this trip.
Check In: 2p Check Out: 12p
⛺ Site#26- Back-In
💲20 per night+$4/person/day Parks Pass Discount saved$18.00
• Water
• 20/30 amp
• Fire Ring with grate
• Picnic Table: wood with metal legs, concrete base
• Site Pad: Asphalt, level, long enough for my camper and truck with room to spare
• Corrals for horses
👍🏻 Pros:
• Extra parking places across the street
• Can see the lake from this spot
👎🏻 Cons:
• There's not a direct trail to the lake shore other than animal trails through some of the tall grass
• The table and fire ring are on the non-camping side so it was a little strange. Very dark at night on that side.
📝 Park Notes:
• Dump Station
• Restrooms/ Showers- clean. The Bent Tree area has a portable trailer for the restrooms and showers. The main building is closed.
• There are Munzees and Geocaches here
• Lots of trails in the park and between this and the Birch Creek Unit
• Great trails for equestrians
• Enclosed Group shelter for events (no kitchen)
• Family Fishing Pond (small)
• The open style pavilion doesn't appear to be open. Looks like it's is structurally unsound
🐦 Wildlife:
• Birds: Great Blue Heron, Cardinals, Chickadees
• Deer
• Squirrels
💜 Highlights of this trip:
•🔥 Campfires and breakfast over the fire
•🐕 My brother came for a short visit to walk the dog
•🛶 Kayaking and there was only ONE other boat on the lake
•🍂 Nice fall colors
•🚫 Some of the trails and areas of the park were closed this weekend due to public hunts
•🌟 Warm temperatures and clear nights. Lots of stars.
•💚 Found a couple geocaches and put out a few Munzees
More info at https://www.denisevajdak.com/2021/12/fall-camping-at-lake-somerville.html
GuideI’m reviewing the hike in site on the Lake Somerville trail way, entering at the Birch Creek Unit (northern side of the lake). It’s around a three mile hike to the campground area. The hike has a few nice views of the lake and a few nice fields here and there. Once you make it to the camping area, you’ll find an outhouse, some benches, a fire pit and even a little well. Footsteps and a few coyotes can be heard in the evening. The campsite is close to a little meandering river if you’re willing to do a little bit of bushwhacking , just be careful as it’s easy to get turned around. Plus there are probably some crocodiles around, who knows. Anyway, I’d recommend this trail/campground, I didn’t see anyone once I got a few miles in and really enjoyed being close to a little river, plus the wildlife.
Traveler
This campground is beautiful. There’s a river right next to it for fishing, I stayed during the week and I was the only one camping. I car camp and all of the camping spots have water and electrical outlets. The bathroom is old, but it is clean. Enjoyed it! And it was only $10!
Ranger• Water
• 20/30 amp(had 50 amp outlet, but only 20& 30 breakers)
• Grill
• Fire Ring with adjustable height grate
• Picnic Table
• Site Pad: asphalt. Site was just long enough for my 24' camper and my truck and not much room between.
👍🏻 Pros:
• Near the water with a trail to get there
• Green space between the site and neighbors
• Good kayaking area
👎🏻 Cons:
• The spot is tight getting in. My 10' high camper had low hanging branches on it(but they were soft, not stiff). Lots of vines/shrubs across from the site, so no extra room there.
📝 Park Notes:
• Park does not have a gate, so it doesn't close
• Dump Station for each camping loop
• Restrooms/ Bath House
• Boat ramp
• Fishing jetty (pier is closed)
• This campground is better for winter camping. Great buffer from wind and neighbors. Only a handful of sites have direct access to the water.
• Lots of trails
• There are Munzees and Geocaches here
• Group pavilion/kitchen available
• 2 group shelters available
🐦 Wildlife:• Birds: Shore birds, egrets, herons, cardinals, mockingbirds
• Deer
• Raccoons(I saw their tracks, but not the critters)
More info an video at https://www.denisevajdak.com/2021/08/my-birthday-weekend-2021.html
Site 23 was better (stayed in this one twice). Wider, nice view of lake. Not very long, but easier to get into.
TravelerStopped in here for a place to stay while on a hunting trip. Service was phenomenal and they answered any questions on the spot. Good space between locations. Far enough from town to feel out in nature but close enough to make a run if needed.
Scout
First time at Iron Horse RV resort, won't be our last! The grounds are clean and the spaces are wide. They have a beautiful pavilion and a lazy river. Saturday night (for the Labor Day weekend) they brought in a band - they were wonderful. There is a cute boutique on site with adorable clothes, boots and accessories. Don't miss that! We had a medical emergency that forced us to leave the RV an additional night and they worked with us and checked in with us just like FAMILY.
ScoutWell maintained and plenty of trails around the lake. Enjoyed two night here. Site 108
GuideThis was our first time here at lake Somerville birch creek. It was a great one. We stayed in old hickory loop. Lots of trees and plenty of shade. Short trip from Houston so we will definitely be going back!
Traveler
We arrived late Friday evening after hours. The gates are still open but overwhelming with skeeters everywhere. All sites were overgrown with tall grass/weeds. Walmart/ HEB grocery just under 9 miles away. Bathrooms had toilet paper and free hot showers. The lake ramp is perfect for paddle boat or any large boat( platoons, etc) Spacious pavilion at every spot Water and electric connectors working perfectly. Fire ring and grill at all sites The stars are awesome for stargazing We stayed at site 16, but site 17 offers shade and ADA accessible. All back in sites have plenty of grass and are in level pavement
LegendStopped into here on the way from Austin down to the coast.
Snagged site #4 and I was the only one in the primitive camp area.
Bathrooms at entrance station stayed unlocked overnight for my use.
AT&T cell service was good enough for me to do some work on my hotspot.
Went for a nice paddle on the lake until the winds came up.
Only bummer was losing my kayak straps off the top of my truck on my way out!
RangerThe sites have nice paved spots, many have views of the lake, and are spacious. We stayed in the equestrian area since the other area for non equestrian sites is currently closed. There are trails you can access in the park, with many more miles a short drive away. Two bridges are out on the Trailway which limits options a bit. The hiking and biking is all well defined double track with little elevation change. We saw many birds this spring.
ScoutWe stayed equestrian site 4 which is a fairly private site. Moon was nearly full and the coyotes were howling all night long. All in all it was a nice small state park with great views of Lake Somerville.
ScoutThis is the second time we have stayed here. This time was from Christmas Eve until the Sunday after. This place doesn’t disappoint. There are nice hiking trails. The lake views are beautiful. All the campsites appear to be very well kept. My husband went fishing for a bit. He didn’t catch anything, but he witnessed another gentleman catch a 20” fish, so we know there are fish in the lake. We stayed in campsite 28, which is a great space...unless it’s windy. Had great internet service, which is unusual for us in a state park.
GuideWell spaced spots. Fairly level pads with table, fire ring, 30/50 amp electrical, water. We didn't see any covered tables, but all usable spots had concrete pads for tables. Like a lot of east-Texas camping areas, LSSP was also devastated by Hurricane Harvey and is still recovering, but don't let that stop you, but instead level-set your expectations. Sites are well dispersed, but some appear to be no longer in use. In July 2020, there were very few folks in the park, partly, I'm sure due to Covid-19 and well, its July in Texas! Typically, and as expected, gnats were really bad at night, but mosquitos were tolerable. Just be prepared and you'll be fine. Great kayaking and very little motorized boat traffic, but likely due to current situation. Trails are numerous, but not well marked. We didn't see a lot of hog damage on the trails, so maybe the staff has been working on that. Good amount of wildlife Equestrian area looked like it was restored and back-in-business. Will be returning. While the Birch Creek and Nails Creek sections are visible across the lake from each other, there is a long drive (15 minutes in a vehicle around the lake) to get between them, so plan your time accordingly.
RangerWe stayed in the Old Hickory loop. Each site had trees surrounding it and they are decently spaced out. The park has trails within it, as well as the Trailway for long hikes and mountain biking. The day use area is nice for swimming in the lake.
ScoutVery peaceful, clean, spots are pretty spread out with covered picnic tables, fire pit and grill. Site 4 looked the best but 13 was beautiful. Can’t get to the water from sites, but the views were amazing and the walk short!
ScoutLots of shaded coverage, amazing trails, amazing views.
Guide
We arrived around 11:30 pm to the park and was stopped by a very helpful officer that explained to us the park was closed, but helped us get a spot anyways and directions. Got to the spot and it was more than I expected for a camp site (electricity, fire ring pit, table, Barbque pit, and trash cans with bags). We set up tent quickly, made a fire, and had a great time with the kids!
TravelerWe camped at the horse spot. These camping spots are mostly spacious and private - plenty of shade trees. We walked some trails, but they were mostly flattened/destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. Hopefully by now they have been rebuilt and are just as beautiful as I imagined them. If I were still local to the area, I would definitely go back, and definitely recommend others to go as well.
ScoutWe loved our campsite. We were lucky to get one that already had a shelter over the table. There was plenty of room between campsites, we couldn’t even see our neighbors. We had a small trail right behind our site that went down to the water. I was so pleased that they stayed open during the “Shelter in Place”, so we could actually get some fresh air.
Trails were great! We went on several long hikes. Lake was great...but pretty chilly most of the time we were there.
Bathrooms were nicely maintained
TravelerWe stayed at site 77 and I really liked the privacy of most campsites. This spot had easy access to the bathrooms and to the trail to the lake. My husband and friend attempted to fish on the lakeshore but were unsuccessful. The trail system is apparently expansive, but had been closed while were there due to some flooding. We did explore the Wilderness Run and Sunset trails, both of which we enjoyed. The greenery is very odd here - stark contrast between bald (dead?) trees and bright green grasses and shrubs. Either way, we had a great time camping here over a weekend.
ScoutSommerville has been wrought with flooding and hogs...both running a 'could be' beautiful landscape. Many of the rails were unusable and those available were ruined with hog wallers. Hope the State can get it up and beautiful again soon.
GuideThis is a private campground managed by a super sweet family that really cares about the river and the community. You must call to ask permission to use this site for camping and river access, as there are some pretty clear rules. It is a family oriented campground that is alcohol free. Loud music is discouraged, and recylying is emphasized. This place thrives because the people that use it respect the owners, and the owners respect the users. You will often see Tom (the owner) riding around on his cart cleaning up the place and greeting all the visitors. It's a beautiful gem and everyone that knows about it fights to keep it this way.
TravelerNice quite little camp,ground with easy lake swimming area. Good time.
TravelerThe lake is fairly warm, large amount of bass, huge gar, croppy, And catfish. when the water is right you can take a flat bottom boat up to any of the creeks. Overall a great campground with decent facilities. They do have horse stalls at many of the campsites so definitely bring your horse and trot around the lake !! They do have rv and tent sites with a lot of trails that are mowed down and well taken care of. Lots of picnic areas and covered areas S well!
LegendI came across this campground while searching on thedyrt. I had not previously heard about this park, so I decided to check it out. The park is operated by the City of Smithville. There is not a park office on the grounds to accept reservations or fees for camping. To reserve a campsite, call the City Recreation Center at 512-237-3282x7 Mon-Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
There are a number or recreational facilities at the park such as a playground, baseball field and frisbee golf course. The Colorado River runs along one side of the park and offers opportunities for paddling and fishing. One of the most unique features is that there are rodeo facilities on the grounds. The rodeo events only occur during certain times of the year, so check the park's website and calendar.
The campground area is at the very back of the grounds down a gravel road. The park is primarily designed to host RVs, but they do allow tent camping. Each site has a parking pad, water and electric hookup, picnic table and grill. There are bathroom facilities in the center of the campground.
Compared to some of the other parks in the area such as Bastrop State Park, Buescher State Park and Lake Bastop South Shore Park, this city park is a little bit rough around the edges. The reservation system, or lack of an onsite office, is a bit baffling. But if you're looking to witness a rodeo, this might just be your only option.
Horse camping in Texas offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian enjoyment, with various campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Smithville, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Smithville, TX is Birch Creek Unit — Lake Somerville State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Smithville, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Smithville, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
