Equestrian camping in central Utah offers access to high-elevation woodland trails and alpine lakes. Horse campgrounds near Capitol Reef National Park range in elevation from 7,000 to 9,500 feet, providing relief from summer heat with temperatures typically 15-20°F cooler than the national park itself. The combination of sandstone formations, pine forests, and mountain reservoirs creates diverse terrain for trail riders throughout the May-September season.
What to do
Fishing at alpine lakes: Posy Lake Campground offers excellent trout fishing in an eight-acre alpine setting. "Excellent uncrowded trout lake. Eight acres among the pines. Good sized rainbows and brooks. Occasional arctic greylings," notes Shannon C. The lake sits at approximately 9,500 feet elevation and allows non-motorized boats.
Hiking to viewpoints: Several horse-friendly campgrounds connect to mountain trails with panoramic vistas. At Pine Lake Campground, trails lead around the lake and into surrounding wilderness. One camper mentions, "There are dumpsters at the very end of the road on the way out which is super nice and convenient. A walking trail leads around the lake. Lots of ATV trails nearby."
Wildlife viewing: The forest campgrounds around Capitol Reef provide opportunities for wildlife observation. At Koosharem Reservoir, campers enjoy mountain views at sunrise. According to Lucas F., "The sunrise was beautiful here with a great view of the mountains and the reservoir. Hope you don't mind the sound of cows though."
What campers like
High-elevation summer cooling: Campers appreciate the cooler temperatures at mountain horse camps. Colette K. notes about Pine Lake Campground, "At 8100' elevation it's a great place to beat the heat. Sites can be all sun or all shade."
Secluded, spacious sites: Many horse-friendly campgrounds offer ample space between sites. At Posy Lake Campground, campers enjoy privacy among the pines. As DL M. explains, "The campsites are generous and just regravelled. There are bear boxes. There seems to be water spigots near each site. Each site has a fire rain, a barbecue box, and a camp table."
Night sky viewing: The remote location of many campgrounds provides exceptional stargazing. Shannon C. describes Posy Lake: "Docile deer are common in the early mornings and the Milky Way makes its appearance after sunset. In the summer, look for the Big Dipper to descend over the north end of the lake."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many equestrian campgrounds require travel on unpaved roads. Access to Dixie National Forest Barker Recreation Area requires preparation. Brian P. warns, "It's about 12 miles down a washboard road. Very quiet spot and well covered with trees."
Bear awareness: Several campgrounds report bear activity, requiring proper food storage. Matthew D. simply states about Barker Reservoir Area: "Be ware of bears. Use the food boxes."
Weather considerations: High-elevation camping means cooler nights even in summer. One visitor to Koosharem Reservoir observed, "No shade but it got chilly at night & in the early morning."
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have spotty or no coverage. For Burr Road dispersed camping, one reviewer notes, "Little bit of cell service. Little shelter of trees."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible fishing spots: Families appreciate lakeside camping with easy fishing access. Kristi W. shares about Posy Lake Campground: "The lake is awesome for fishing. The campground is well taken care of and the water taps are strategically spaced out between campsites."
Campsite selection: Choose sites based on lake access and privacy needs. For Pine Lake, Marcie R. advises, "There are two loops in the campground. The upper loop is for reservations only. The bottom loop is first come first serve."
Pack for temperature swings: High elevation means significant day-to-night temperature differences. Jen R. notes about Pine Lake: "The sites are relatively well-spaced, there's good tree cover at most sites (some are more exposed than others)."
Bathroom facilities: Most campgrounds offer vault toilets but limited other facilities. As Tom S. reports about Koosharem Reservoir, "The vault toilets are clean. There was a steady stream of people stopping to use the toilet. But other than that it was pretty quiet."
Tips from RVers
Dispersed options: RVers seeking boondocking can find free sites near established campgrounds. Cat F. shares about Koosharem: "Been here for a couple days now, parked in a nice flat spot above the reservoir. Great Verizon service here, mountains are beautiful."
Site leveling: Many mountain campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Escalante Cabins & R.V. Park, Marianne G. notes, "Sites are gravel, fairly level and very large. Plenty of room for trailer and truck in site."
Road preparation: Access to many sites requires careful driving. When visiting Pine Lake Campground, Jen R. cautions, "That 5 mile drive on the gravel road to get to the campsite is no joke — tie down everything that can be tied down."
Winter considerations: Most mountain campgrounds close seasonally. According to Colette K., Pine Lake "closes for the winter by mid-Sept. You can camp there when it's closed (bathrooms open, water locked), but it's really spooky to be the only ones there."
