Fort Valley Ranch serves horse enthusiasts with specialized camping near the George Washington National Forest. This area sits at approximately 1,000 feet elevation in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley region. Campsites near Clear Brook, Virginia typically remain accessible from April through November, with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F during daytime hours.
What to do
Trail riding with guides: Fort Valley Ranch offers guided trail rides for visitors without their own horses. "Spent a weekend here in mid May. Bugs weren't a problem at all. Several rustic campsites with a large lake for the kids, and miles of off road trails for atvs, jeeps, and dirtbikes," notes Jacob I. about The Cove Campground.
Fishing at stocked ponds: Many equestrian campgrounds maintain fishing areas for alternative recreation. "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill," shares Jason G. from Fort Valley Ranch.
Hiking scenic overlooks: The region offers trails beyond horseback riding. "There is Rockcliff lake and small beach area, an overlook (Lina Constable Overlook) to hike to right off the camp loop but it's 1 mile steep incline at times but worth every step. Gorgeous!" writes Laure D. about Trout Pond Recreation Area.
What campers like
Level camping areas: The terrain at equestrian sites tends to be flat for horse trailer convenience. "Our site (site 3) was an easy level pull-through site, making the setup/breakdown very quick and painless. All the RV sites were impressively level, with only minimal leveling needed," explains Jason G. about Fort Valley Ranch.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds that cater to riders maintain their facilities well. "Bull Run Regional Campground on our visit to Washington DC. It was fall and the colors were gorgeous. The sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground. So your camper faces the woods and you feel like you're all alone. Bath houses are clean and well maintained," reports Roberta K. from Bull Run Regional Park.
Crystal clear water: Natural water features enhance the camping experience. "We stayed here December 10, 2020. The campground was closed for the winter, but we called ahead and they were fine with us staying in the parking area. The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1. The site was super clean and well maintained," notes John B. at Trout Pond Recreation Area.
What you should know
Access road considerations: Some equestrian camping destinations have challenging roads. "I was initially concerned about the road leading into the campground, as my rig is over 50 feet in total length. However, we were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us," explains Jason G. about Fort Valley Ranch.
Noise factors: Not all campgrounds provide quiet experiences. "Camp ground is nice. Check in was a breeze. The only drawback is that it is not quite. There is a shooting range in the park. It is on a flight path for DCA. And, I66 is not that far away," warns Drew M. about Bull Run Regional Park.
Cell service limitations: Many rural horse camps have limited connectivity. "In case of an emergency, you are a 20 minute drive to call for help. There are some pretty steep inclines to even get to the campgrounds," cautions Chris J. about Trout Pond Recreation Area.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access for swimming: After trail riding, cooling off is important. "We hiked around Rock Cliff Lake and observed petrified wood. Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with a freshwater jellyfish," shares Fred F. about Trout Pond Recreation Area.
Playground proximity: Some campgrounds offer limited play areas. "We tent camped there with 2 other families memorial day weekend. It rained the entire time but we still had a blast. Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located," notes Yvonne B. about Bull Run Regional Park.
Unique campground features: Children enjoy unexpected elements at horse camps. "One unique (and awesome) touch: there are goats casually roaming around the campground. It adds a fun, unexpected charm to the place," writes Karl S. about The Cove Campground.
Tips from RVers
Water and electrical hookups: Equestrian camping near Clear Brook offers varying levels of services. "We Camped here over Memorial Day weekend with our pop-up camper. We stayed in camp one which offered electrical hook ups. There are 4 water spigots in camp 1. However all the travel trailers hooked up, which means you either had to make friends or disconnect their water in order to have access," advises Christopher K. from The Cove Campground.
Campsite positioning: Some campgrounds design sites with RV orientation in mind. "The sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground. So your camper faces the woods and you feel like you're all alone," shares Roberta K. about Bull Run Regional Park.
Weather considerations: The region can experience significant temperature variations. "Mid-August was a gamble as to weather. It was gorgeous weather! In the valley and surrounded by beautiful mountain views it was 80 daytime and ~60 at night," reports Laure D. about Trout Pond Recreation Area.
