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Kalama Horse Camp Campground provides direct access to equestrian trails and horse camping in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Ariel, Washington. The campground features tent and RV sites designed for equestrians, with picnic tables, fire rings, toilets, and trash collection. The campground operates seasonally from May 1 to November 1, making it available throughout the prime riding season. While the campground does not have dedicated horse corrals, riders typically set up portable corrals or use highlines at their campsites. Trailer parking is available at each campsite, accommodating both camping equipment and horse trailers in the same location.
The trail system connecting to Kalama Horse Camp offers extensive riding opportunities through diverse forest terrain with views of Mount St. Helens. Riders access multiple interconnected trails directly from the campground, eliminating the need to trailer horses to trailheads. Water for horses must be packed in or collected from nearby natural sources, as the campground does not provide drinking water hookups. Most equestrians visiting the area bring their own feed storage containers and portable electric fencing for overnight horse containment. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis without reservations, so arriving early during peak summer weekends ensures securing a site. Forest Service roads leading to the campground accommodate large horse trailers with adequate clearance for safe travel.
"Driving up there the way we drive (from Vancouver) you go up through ranching/farming territory and it’s nice and green and pretty, so it’s nice getting there."
"Hiking around the lake is a great way to start and/or end you day while staying at Battle Ground Lake SP. Horses are welcome. There are cabins available also. Several sites overlook the lake."
"I love Seaquest for their beautiful campsites and the proximity to a wonderful forest to bathe in."
"I gave this park a high rating primarily because of its location."
"There are 8 walk in sites and one drive up site, all first come first serve discovery pass required. Some sites are larger than others, but in ours we were able to fit two 6ptents and one 2p tent."
"Discover pass required Merrill Lake, just outside of Cougar, WA feels very remote, despite its relatively close proximity to the Portland/Vancouver area."
"Kalama Horse Camp has always been one of my favorite places to take my horses for a camping adventure."
"This is primarily a spot where you go to park your horse trailer and go from there! However it’s “first come first served”. Has few amenities, pit toilets.... clean and composting."
from $23 / night
Check Availability"Clean and generally friendly, the Jantzen Beach RV Park is right inside of Portland (at the northern end, close to Vancouver, Washington)."
"Jantzen Beach RV Park feels like a real-world stop straight out of a Subway Surfers World Tour—a lively, convenient, and colorful place where travelers pause, recharge, and enjoy the surroundings before"
from $40 / night
Check Availability"The upper area encircles a large open are perfect for games and running around. There is a nice disk golf course and a lot of large paths for waking and biking."
"And a loop with corals for horses. Miles of horse trails, bike trails, hiking trails."
from $32 - $57 / night
Check Availability"Stayed the night in one of thier small cabins, very nice sat outside by the fire and just watched the stars, this is a primary horse camp and is surrounded by trails, seen a heard of elk on one of my hikes"
"Bring your horses and ride the trails and stay at the horse camp. Tent and two RV sites are on the first right turn and there is even a stream to play at."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"9 campsites available, but when we got there they were all taken so we took a spot right beside the lake. Fly fishing allowed. Has a bathroom and access to non-potable water."
"Close proximity to Multonomah Falls. Pros - bathrooms with electric outlets, free showers, deer come close and are fun to watch, quiet & fairly private stay."
"There is distance between you and other guests but if you want to meet your neighbors you can. They have ADA sites, a lake, play grounds and a welcome center."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Across the road is a horse camp that the PCT goes through. There is a spur from the PCT directly into the campground for easy access. There is a beautiful view of Mt."
"Some camp sots are better situated then others, so do research before making reservation."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability
ScoutGreat place to camp. It has wonderful hiking trails. There is swimming available in the warmer months in the Clackamas River. Horse trails for equestrians and fishing!
LegendHares Canyon Horse Camp is one of three campgrounds in Stub Stewart State Park and unlike other horse camps which often allow the overflow of tenters and rv'ers without horses, this horse camp is equestrian only.
The Campground is set up in one loop and offers both single and double sites, ADA facilities, showers, toilets, and trash. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a corral. There is a double corral on the double sites.
You must clean up after your own horse. Manure bin as well as shovels/brooms are provided onsite.
In mid May, the sites were very wide open.
GuideI don’t have a horse but I still stayed here! We were in the area, struggling to find a place to camp. After 7 pm, the campground let us set up camp in an empty equestrian campsite. Unique experience!
TravelerSite was nice and private, staff was very friendly, and the grounds were pretty clean! A short hike will take you right to the river and there’s plenty of nice trail to explore. If stepping around occasional horse poop isn’t your thing, maybe skip the hike though. Plenty of horses and dogs around.
LegendSmaller, but we were able to switch sites away from an area with two families/lots of little kids (so the area is easy for people who don't camp a lot). Beautiful river, lots of horses and fisherpeople, great trails, tall trees, lots of shade, close to Portland. Plus you can reserve sites ahead of time.
GuideI love Seaquest for their beautiful campsites and the proximity to a wonderful forest to bathe in. But don't go for the RV sites, which are laid out in a parking lot setting with no real distance from neighbors and not surrounded by trees. Unless that's your jam. It was definitely not ours, tent camping alongside some friends with a trailer who liked nothing more than to hang out at said trailer, and walk through the campground to look at other.. trailers. I don't think they even stepped foot in the 7+ miles of forest trails which is a few steps away. If you can step away from the hookups and get a real campsite off the RV pad, it is a stunning experience. Each site is surrounded by trees, creating privacy and serenity. Another great option is the yurts. We stayed in Yurt 2 (the only pet friendly yurt) and loved it.
For those with RV's, trailers, campers - look into the regular sites because I think some of them even have hookups and can accommodate most sizes. Just steer clear of RV sites T1-T16.
GuideWe love it! For a lot of reasons. Part of the reason is it’s close, so that’s part good. Driving up there the way we drive (from Vancouver) you go up through ranching/farming territory and it’s nice and green and pretty, so it’s nice getting there. You do have a lot of options, in that the first time we went up there was with our hiking club, and we went up there for a hike around the calderas so it’s easy to do a day trip in a car. Part of our discovery was while we were there is that the food place is really good and very nice. The kids playground was great for the grandkids.
As far as the camping, while it’s open, for the most part you do have a limited amount of privacy in the campground. The campsite we picked was a mix of things: just far enough away from the restrooms where we don’t get all the traffic there, but close enough so it’s not too far either. We were within easy walking distance to two restrooms/showers.
One thing that always looked intriguing is they do have the cabins, so maybe one of these times we’ll rent one. Another thing that some people might like is that they do have horses and some of the trails around the lake you can have horses on, plus a separate area/campground where you can have your horses, which are fun to see.
It’s a small lake but big lake, meaning they do not allow motors on the lake, even electric motors, so it’s all floats, kayakers, etc. A lot of people grab the big inter-tubes and go with that. And of course fishing up there is generally pretty good, especially when they stock it. The trails around the lake are kind of fun also because you have a high trail (very forested) and you also have a certain amount of low trails right on the water where you could have your own spots to fish and swim.
Like most campgrounds, it has its peak season and its off-season, but you can go there year-round if you choose to. The beach area isn’t big, but that’s okay. Wherever you’re heading (from the campsites down to the water, to the playground, to the food shack) you always have different trails and options for how to get from one place to another if you want to explore. If there’s anything you forgot (groceries, fishing gear etc.) you can be in the small town of Battle Ground within 5 miles.
LegendThis is a great spot for group camping! The upper area encircles a large open are perfect for games and running around. There is a nice disk golf course and a lot of large paths for waking and biking. Tons of hiking trails and close to Vernonia. The restrooms are clean. There are several ADA sites, cabins, tent soots and even horse sites.
ScoutStayed the night in one of thier small cabins, very nice sat outside by the fire and just watched the stars, this is a primary horse camp and is surrounded by trails, seen a heard of elk on one of my hikes
Equestrian camping opportunities near Ariel, Washington span across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest's diverse terrain. The area sits at elevations ranging from 1,200-3,000 feet with a temperate climate that receives approximately 70 inches of annual rainfall. Most horse-friendly campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October due to snowfall at higher elevations during winter months.
Trail riding to Mount St. Helens viewpoints: Access multiple interconnected trails directly from Merrill Lake Campground where riders can enjoy views of the volcanic landscape. "This is a great little campground, on the lake shore amidst a grove of Old Growth Cedar. Only 8 spaces for tents (9 if you count the camp-host site which was unoccupied when I was there)," notes camper Dan M.
Mountain biking on forest service roads: The network of gravel routes provides alternatives for days when horse trails are muddy. "This campground is where I love to camp for a day of gravel biking or hiking, as there are many forest roads to meander off from here," says Candace about Panther Creek Campground.
Mushroom foraging in autumn: The dense forest floor produces abundant mushrooms after fall rains. Panther Creek offers "taking off to the PCT for a hike, or foraging for mushrooms in the fall," according to Candace, making it a popular spot for foragers with proper identification skills.
Natural water features: Creeks and lakes provide refreshment for both horses and riders during summer months. "Multiple access points to the creek and the PCT is just outside the campground. Water, pit toilets(clean) and firewood are available," reports Jeff K. about Panther Creek Campground.
Secluded campsites: Many sites offer sufficient space between neighbors for privacy and noise control. At Seaquest State Park Campground, "the outer loop sites are quiet, spacious and wooded. They are also very close to a trailhead to nice hikes and the beach," according to Finn M.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The forests around Ariel provide habitat for various wildlife species. "Seen a heard of elk on one of my hikes," writes Guy S. about his experience at Camp Wilkerson, which sits just across the state line but remains accessible to those seeking horseback riding near Ariel.
Limited water availability: Many horse camps require campers to bring their own water supply for animals. "You can't use motorized boats and can only fly fish in the lake, but a very nice 1 mile hike is adjacent to the day use area. Also very close to Cougar for gas and supplies for emergencies," advises Brooke S. about Merrill Lake.
Weather considerations: The area can experience rapid temperature changes and frequent precipitation. Lawrence F. notes about Panther Creek: "This campsite was well appointed with well water, pit toilets, a short walk to the creek, firewood for sale, great hosts. However, during the peak summer months, being in a wind break makes for a hot, stuffy, buggy experience."
Reservation requirements: Some horse camps operate on first-come, first-served basis requiring early arrival. "If you do not reserve your spots you can only stay one night and there is an additional $5 transaction fee to pay on site," explains Schona K. about Camp Wilkerson.
Select camps with playground access: Some campgrounds offer recreational structures for children. At Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground, "my kids loved the addition of a playground. Many parks dont have this and it kept them entertained for hours," says Mary C., making it a good option for families seeking horse camping facilities with additional amenities.
Look for junior ranger programs: Educational activities keep children engaged. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained," shares Ashley B. about Seaquest State Park.
Choose sites with easy water access: Streams and lakes provide natural entertainment. At Panther Creek, "there are several places to access the creek and play in the cold, shallow water. The stones in the stream are a rainbow of metamorphic rock," says Lawrence F.
Check length restrictions before arriving: Many horse camps have limited space for larger rigs. "We stayed on site 15. The sites was a little hard to get into because of all the cars, trucks parked on the roadway, the owners were happy to move vehicles to get us in (5er,34ft)," reports Malinda C. about their Panther Creek experience.
Consider overnight options without horses: When traveling with RVs but without horses, Jantzen Beach RV Park offers "spacious pull-thru sites made parking my RV hassle-free, and the electric hookups worked perfectly," according to Faiz A., providing a convenient base for day trips to equestrian trails.
Verify hookup availability: Most equestrian campgrounds near Ariel have minimal RV services. "Office hours 9-5p. Simple straight forward after hours process. Clean bathrooms and great pools. Make sure you read and understand the pool rules very well," advises Jennifer H. about Jantzen Beach RV Park, which can serve as a base camp for horse trailer day trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ariel, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ariel, WA is Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 40 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ariel, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 equestrian camping locations near Ariel, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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