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Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp provides equestrian camping opportunities near Bonney Lake, Washington with both tent and RV accommodations. This campground is located in Ashford, approximately 15 minutes from Mount Rainier National Park entrance, making it a convenient base for exploring the area. A Washington Discover Pass is required for camping, which is otherwise free with a 7-day limit in a 30-day period. The campground features large sites, many specifically reserved for horse campers, clean vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. The ADA accessible trail is level and suitable for walking dogs while enjoying the presence of horses throughout the campground.
Trail riders can access miles of forest paths directly from the campground, with the picnic shelter offering protection during inclement weather with closable sides. The campground is situated in deep shade, making it less suitable for solar power but providing a cool retreat during summer months. Sites are primitive with no water, no trash service (pack it in, pack it out policy), and rocky soil that may make tent staking challenging. A nearby shooting range creates periodic noise, though most visitors report this doesn't significantly impact their stay. The large sites accommodate horse trailers with ample room for setup, and nearby gas stations in Ashford (5 minutes away) sell Discover Passes for those needing them upon arrival.
"The campground is next to a classy laundromat, and I say classy because it’s probably one of the nicest laundromats in the area that even has a dumpsite for RVs."
"The campground is in 500+ acre Tolt-McDonald Park, far enough away from any busy road so that there is no traffic noise, just the sound of the Tolt River rapids."
"Lovely area such beautiful surroundings."
"Very cool spot with new generation trees growing out of old generation stumps, close to river for water, very popular spot so found a lot of trash but loved the sites and hiking trails nearby"
"This is a very nice, typical Washington state park with plenty of trees, greenery, hiking, pathways and even a lake."
"This is a beautiful park located on Deep Lake just outside of Olympia. The park itself is huge offering lots of options for campers. "
from $12 - $137 / night
Check Availability"Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers."
"Lots of horses here which is enjoyable. An ADA trail is level for walking the dog.
Shooting range is close by, doesn’t bother me but it’s pretty noisy."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $65 - $71 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Very remote woodsy area around the lake. Pristine waters, state fish stocked lake, bring drinking water."
"Cooper Lake is absolutely stunning and admittedly the campsites are situated pretty well for views and privacy but there are definitely Pros and Cons to this campground."
from $14 / night
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RangerVery 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.
GuideQuiet, but we were here mid week in late August….
RangerThis 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.
TravelerPerfectly 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.
GuideEveryone is all close together. But it’s free. They have bathroom porta potty.
ScoutThis is a really pretty site. The camping and beach access is great. We saw bald eagles and very low flying cargo planes. There is some kind of RC flying area on the north side of the site.
There is road noise, but that is going to depend on where you camp. 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.
It is large enough that we got our class A with trailer in and out. There is a bit of a loop, but this can be blocked so check first. The road is very rough, you have to go slow.
There is a dump and non-potable water station at the park a few miles up the road. It is$5 for non-campers today.
GuideBeautiful well maintained sites with tables and fire rings. Washington Pass required. Plenty of room for RVs at many of the sites - it was mostly empty when we came.
ScoutArrived pretty late. In daylight sites are easy to find but a bit hard in twilight/dark but lots of open spots and an easy going camp hosts makes that better.
Think more tailgating than camping on event nights.
Back in camping, ADA portapotty, showers are well used but clean and great water pressure.
For the cost and same day late booking good option for a day to come Clean up yourself and the car.
GuideUSE AS A LAST OPTION ONLY - It's right behind the racetrack so if you like rednecks reving engines until midnight less than 100yds from your campsite you'll love it here! Didn't even bother with the restrooms or showers, everything looks pretty run down at the RV-2 site. Overall, a pretty crap operation. The other parks in the county are AMAZING, just steer clear of this place
Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp sits at approximately 1,750 feet elevation in the foothills surrounding Mount Rainier. This equestrian campground experiences mild summer temperatures ranging from 55-75°F, with occasional rainfall even during dry months. The forest surrounding the camp consists primarily of Douglas fir and western hemlock, creating dense shade throughout most campsites.
Trail riding from camp: Riders can access miles of trails directly from Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp, with routes suitable for various skill levels. "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.
Visit Mount Rainier National Park: Located just 15 minutes from Tolt MacDonald Park, the park entrance provides access to hiking, viewpoints, and visitor centers. "It's located right smack in the middle of carnation so on a nice sunny day you could walk out of the park to get pizza, ice cream or even mexican food," shares Mercedes D.
Non-motorized lake activities: At Cooper Lake, enjoy peaceful water experiences without motor noise. "Cooper Lake hosts non-motorized-only boats which makes for a peaceful camping experience. The lake is absolutely beautiful, as is the surrounding Alpine Wilderness overlooking it," writes Megan C. about Owhi Campground.
Spacious equestrian sites: The camping areas accommodate horses and trailers comfortably. "Gorgeous site with large sites. However many are reserved for horse campers only," explains Amy K. about Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
Natural shade and cool temperatures: The dense tree cover provides relief during summer heat. "The sites were nicely spaced and wooded. The Lower Campground is not on Bumping Lake and seems to be set a bit more for RV camping with pull through sites, mostly paved pads, and a bit closer together than the Upper," describes Shay F. from Bumping Lake Campground.
Level trails for walking: The ADA accessible trail provides good options for dog walking. "An ADA trail is level for walking the dog. You can hear some highway noise, but again, hasn't bothered me," reports Fern about Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
Discover Pass requirement: Camping requires a Washington State Discover Pass, available nearby if needed. "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," advises Callie S.
Limited amenities: Sites are primitive with specific challenges to consider. "Primitive camping, no water, no restrooms just vault toilets, no trash pickup either so you need to pack everything out. Was hard to stake my tent down bc of rocky soil, but it worked fine cause it's not windy," shares Callie S.
Dispersed camping options: For those seeking more solitude, dispersed sites are available near South Fork Snoqualmie River. "Access road is right off the highway and unpaved, has a TON of holes so I wouldn't recommend driving down it without good ground clearance. There are a number of established sites where you can pull off the road and drive back into the woods a bit," explains Parker C.
Consider noise factors: Some campgrounds have nearby activities that create noise. "Shooting range is close by, doesn't bother me but it's pretty noisy. Can hear some highway noise, but again, hasn't bothered me," mentions Fern about Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
Choose campgrounds with playground access: Some nearby options include family-friendly amenities. "This park is huge! Lots of space to hang out and swim. There's always kids running around so it is great for young ones. Bathrooms were clean and big," writes Bree G. about Riffe Lake Campground.
Look for walk-in sites for privacy: Some campgrounds offer walk-in sites that provide more seclusion. "While at the Owhi Campground we hiked, kayaked, hung in hammocks and trucked from our camp to the lake and back more times than I care to count," shares Megan C.
Site selection considerations: Not all campgrounds accommodate large RVs equally well. "RV sites are all pull through its fairly quiet. Nice setting lots of outdoor and indoor activities with in a short drive. We didn't use the restrooms since we have a self-contained trailer. There's a charge dump station at the ministorage at the turn off," explains Russ H. about Tolt MacDonald Park.
Limited RV access at equestrian sites: Check restrictions before bringing an RV to horse camps. "Most of the sites are horse camping only, but there are a handful that allow other types EXCEPT FOR RV, to my understanding there is NO RV CAMPING HERE," cautions Callie S. about Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bonney Lake, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bonney Lake, WA is Tolt MacDonald Park, WA with a 4.3-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bonney Lake, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 equestrian camping locations near Bonney Lake, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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