S
Susan L.
Guide
GuideSeaquest State Park Campground
Stayed Oct 1 to 4, 2026 Loved our stay. The park is beautiful, clean bathrooms, hot showers. The camp hosts Ted and Kathy friendly and informative. Perfect location to explore Mt. St Helen
Equestrian Camping near Ashford, WA
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp offers free camping with a Washington Discover Pass to equestrians and non-horse campers alike, 15 minutes from Mt. Rainier National Park. Equestrians appreciate the dedicated horse camping areas with room for trailers while general campers have separate designated sites. No reservations are required at this primitive campground, which features vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. The shaded campsites accommodate tents and some RVs, though several sites are reserved exclusively for horse campers. While there are no water hookups or showers, the campground provides access to multiple trails suitable for horseback riding. The area can be noisy at times due to a nearby shooting range. Free camping is limited to a 7-day stay within a 30-day period.
The equestrian trail system directly connects to the campground, offering level paths for horse riding and hiking. A dedicated ADA-accessible trail provides additional riding opportunities for equestrians of all abilities. Horse owners appreciate the spacious layout that accommodates larger horse trailers and camping setups. The campground's location provides convenient access to Mount Rainier National Park's trail systems for day trips. Deep shade throughout the campground creates a cool environment for horses during summer months but limits solar charging capabilities for campers relying on solar power. The picnic shelter with closable sides offers protection during inclement weather, making this a viable destination for spring and fall camping. Visitors should be prepared for primitive conditions with no running water or electricity, bringing all necessary supplies for themselves and their horses.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Ashford (30)
1. Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp
"And there’s a gas station 5 minutes down the road in Ashford where you can buy one. Very shady and quiet, not crowded at all."
"Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers."
Check Availabilityfrom $30 / night
2. Taidnapam Park
"We scored a walk-in tent site ($22.) on Monday in the middle of August without a reservation."
"We came here for the 4th of July to get away from the fireworks in the city (our dog is terrified of them!). We had an amazing experience!"
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $915 / night
3. Kosmos Recreation Area (Tacoma Public Utilities)
"Great place to spend some time next to a lake. 14 day limit in 30 days."
"There are sites right next to the road and sites a few hundred yards away. There are"homeless" camps here. They didn't bother us, but you can tell that not everyone here is a recreational camper. "
4. Riffe Lake Campground
"It was a 5-minute walk downhill to reach the lake, which had a very long and nice boat ramp deep enough to accommodate just about any boat."
"We were lucky to nearly have the entire camp site to ourselves. Quiet and serene place to stay. Set up was easy and quick. Highly recommend."
5. Majestic Mobile Manor & RV Park
Check Availabilityfrom $65 - $71 / night
6. Soda Springs
"23 May 2020 - you can drive to the "Y" intersection for the camp grounds and horse camp, but the snow was so deep that walking is the only option."
"Cowlitz Trail is here. Horse camping and trail in separate area. There are two sites before the main area that are more secluded but require a 4WD vehicle to get to."
7. Seaquest State Park Campground
"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."
31 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $12 - $70 / night
8. Bumping Lake Campground
"Lake access. Trail access. Pristine wilderness. Horse trails. Hunting. Fishing. Scenery. I would rather not tell you about it and keep it to myself."
"There was a woodsy area behind the site where kids could play. The bathrooms are fancy out houses no place to wash hands. Lots of bugs in the evening."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $48 / night
9. Packwood Lake
"This place is the best because the only way to get to the camping spots at Packwood Lake is to hike in or the use of ATV’s."
10. End of High Valley
Drive Time
- 1 hr 14 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 27 min from Bremerton, WA
- 1 hr 30 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 31 min from Seattle, WA
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Ashford, WA
6 Photos of 30 Ashford Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Ashford, WA
228 Reviews of 30 Ashford Campgrounds
- KKurt M.
ScoutSeaquest State Park Campground
Great spot
Clean bathrooms, free showers, beautiful sites, and very friendly hosts. I had spotty signal but internet was available for free. Well worth the cost.
- Betsy W.
RangerSahara Creek DNR Horse Camp
Very nice!! All you need for great campiing
Very nice! Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers. Sites are wooded between and large with table, firepits/grill combo, and level wooded spaces. 2 clean, well stocked pit toilets are available. Water faucets available at several locations. WA discover pass but free otherwise. It is patrolled regularly.
- DDonna B.Guide
Millersylvania State Park Campground
Quiet.
Quiet, but we were here mid week in late August….
Lainey P.RangerSahara Creek DNR Horse Camp
HORSE WAS SHOT & SHERIFF WOULD NOT COME
This went from a four star stay to one star in the blink of an eye. There is a shooting range directly behind this campground, and the horse trails lead right past it. On August 8th 2026 around 2PM, someone’s horse was shot while they were riding less than a half a mile away from camp and when they called 911, animal control came but police would NOT come even to investigate. This was reckless use of a firearm, animal endangerment, and honestly should be a felony. There is no way to accidentally be shooting at the trails from the shooting range, you have to DECIDE to do that. Police are absolutely useless, and now I know especially in this area the cops don’t give a damn about anyone’s safety.
You can hear shooting nearby all day and all night despite the posted hours at the range. Although it’s a free stay with a discover pass, I will NOT EVER stay here again and would not recommend this place to anyone with horses.
Jacquie B.GuideSeaquest State Park Campground
Nice state park
This is a very nice state park. Loved the Mt. St. Helens visitor center, drawback is they do charge to go in. Our campsite was full hook up pull through. The best sites to get are T15 and T16 if I remember correctly. I was at site T6 was fine. We were there during the week so it was quiet.
- CColleen B.
TravelerKosmos Recreation Area (Tacoma Public Utilities)
Worth every penny
Perfectly fine, especially considering the low low price of $0. Sites no closer together (honestly, more spacious than) the average KoA I’ve paid $60-$90 to pop up a tent in.
I chose a spot closer to the road than the lake, but if I’d arrived before 7:45 other spots would have been available, I’d imagine.
- RRob M.Traveler
Steamboat Rock Campground
Not what you think
The description and reviews do match this site. This is a large swap lake with dispersed camping. It was a fun adventure getting to site but be warned this is not a RV or car site, you will need a 4x4 to access the site.
- Christina F.Ranger
Taidnapam Park
Sassy gnomes
However you camp, tent or RV, there is a site for you here. Taidnapam is the second Tacoma Power park where I have camped. There are two sides to this campground--the older side which are sites 1-52 are a mix of full hook-ups and partial hook-ups. The newer, larger loop is almost all full hook-ups with a few exceptions that are partial. There are tent spots in-between the two sides. They also have 2 group sites--one with 22 spots of full and partial hook-ups and one primitive group site. We stayed in site 9 with full hook-ups on the older loop. This loop is one big circle with a dividing road so it's kind of like two loops. The rest rooms and playground was in the middle of the first loop. My site had a short trail right to the restrooms/playground area. The playground was pretty awesome! On the far end of the second loop, there is a trail that takes you to the day-use area where there is a second fantastic playground. There was also a sprinkler system there, but we didn't know how to make it work. This area is right next to the river/east end of Riffe Lake. There are no swimming areas however because the lake has lowered over the years. We did ask if there were any swimming areas nearby or a way to get down to the water and they did have a list in the office. We checked out a few of the closer places, but since I have a 4 years old, I did not feel that any of the places were safe enough for her to get down to the water and I did not want to drive miles to get to the next park. One of the fun things about this park are the gnomes up in the trees! I didn't find out until the night before we left, but I guess you can do like a scavenger hunt type of thing to find all the gnomes.
Guide to Ashford
Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp provides camping opportunities with a Washington Discover Pass 15 minutes from Mount Rainier National Park. Located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains at approximately 1,700 feet elevation, the area experiences warm summer days that cool significantly at night. The campground's deep forest cover creates challenges for solar-powered equipment while offering natural shade during hot weather.
What to do
Trail exploration on horseback: The equestrian trail system offers level terrain and dedicated riding options. "There is also a nice picnic shelter with closable sides for in climate weather and lovely trails. It's also near Mount Rainier," notes Amy K. about Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
Lake activities nearby: Within driving distance, campers can access Riffe Lake for water recreation. "It was a 5-minute walk downhill to reach the lake, which had a very long and nice boat ramp deep enough to accommodate just about any boat," reports Kevin W. about Riffe Lake Campground.
Hiking at Packwood Lake: For those seeking foot travel rather than horseback, nearby trails provide additional options. "This place is the best because the only way to get to the camping spots at Packwood Lake is to hike in or the use of ATV's. The views are AMAZING, and it's right next to the lake," states Shariah T. about the hiking opportunities.
What campers like
Proximity to Mount Rainier: The location serves as a convenient base for park exploration. "Decided super last minute to go up to mount Rainier and found this campground. Super clean, friendly people, and very close to the entrance to the park," writes Shelby W. about Soda Springs.
Cool forest environment: The dense tree cover creates a natural cooling effect during summer months. "Nice campground with vault toilet. Very quiet. Small spring and running creek. Cowlitz Trail is here," describes Breanna R., highlighting the pleasant natural features.
Budget-friendly option: Cost-conscious campers appreciate the value. "If you have a Discover Pass already you are good to go. Love of area for Horses, trailers and regular camping. Vault toilets. No views but who doesn't like Free?" comments Charyl B. about the affordability of horse campgrounds near Ashford, Washington.
What you should know
Solar power limitations: The forest canopy restricts solar charging capabilities. "I depend 100% on solar. There is deep shade in all camp spots, I chose a fairly sunny spot, but it wasn't enough to charge my batteries. Just a heads up," warns Fern about Bumping Lake Campground.
Rocky terrain challenges: Ground conditions can make tent setup difficult in some areas. "Was hard to stake my tent down bc of rocky soil, but it worked fine cause it's not windy," notes Callie S.
Shooting range noise: Nearby recreational shooting creates periodic noise disturbances. "This a a free camp ground if you have a Wa 'Discover Pass' it is a shady campground not great for solar. It is a pleasant campground but can be noisy at times as there is a shooting range not to far away," explains GrandpaMoto B.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: For families seeking additional recreation, some nearby campgrounds offer play structures. "The campground is on their winter schedule so only sites 1-7 and 226-248 were open. It made for a nice, quiet weekend even though the open sites were 80% full. We had a pull-through site right across from the dumpster, bathrooms, and camp host," reports Christina F. about Millersylvania State Park Campground.
Child-friendly exploration: Natural features provide entertainment for young campers. "This was a great spot right by the park for us to crash for the night. We pulled in on a Tuesday night and there were lots of spots open. Great sites with a table and a fire pit," shares Brittany S.
Educational opportunities: Some nearby campgrounds offer learning programs for children. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park, highly recommend this for anyone bringing kids," says Ashley B.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: Some sites accommodate bigger rigs better than others. "The spot is made for an experienced RVer. It was a quiet place but obviously has a lot of full timers. It took a long time to get set up because of the ridiculously small amount of space I had to maneuver my 33ft RV and my 8ft extended cab truck," cautions Savannah H. about Majestic Mobile Manor & RV Park.
Limited hookups: Most equestrian campgrounds prioritize space over services. "YOU NEED A WA DISCOVER PASS TO CAMP HERE!!! But it is free with the pass. And there's a gas station 5 minutes down the road in Ashford where you can buy one," explains Callie S.
Seasonal access considerations: Weather affects road conditions and campground availability. "23 May 2020 - you can drive to the 'Y' intersection for the camp grounds and horse camp, but the snow was so deep that walking is the only option. Several car made turning around in the intersection difficult," advises Eric H.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Ashford, WA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ashford, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ashford, WA is Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ashford, WA?
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