1 campground with availability this weekend
Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp offers specialized trails and camping arrangements for equestrians near Ashford, Washington, approximately 30 miles from Buckley. The campground provides vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, and trash service while maintaining large campsites specifically designed for horse trailers. The equestrian-focused campground requires a Washington Discover Pass for entry but camping itself is free with a 7-day limit in any 30-day period. Most sites are designated for horse camping with ample space for both horses and camping equipment, though some allow tent camping without horses. The campground remains relatively uncrowded even during peak periods, creating a peaceful environment for riders and their animals.
Direct access to an ADA-accessible trail system begins at Sahara Creek, offering level terrain suitable for both experienced and novice riders. The trail network connects to additional routes through surrounding Department of Natural Resources land, providing varied riding experiences through forested areas. Campers should note that while the campground is specifically designed for equestrians, no dedicated horse corrals are provided, so portable containment systems are necessary. The nearby shooting range creates occasional noise that may disturb some horses, though most animals adjust quickly. The campground's location places it within 15 minutes of Mount Rainier National Park entrance, making it an excellent base camp for exploring both the immediate trail system and nearby attractions. The shaded nature of the sites offers cool relief during summer months but limits solar charging capabilities for those depending on solar power.
"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"
"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."
"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
"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. "
Available this weekend
from $12 - $140 / night
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $48 / night
from $65 - $71 / night
"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!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $915 / night
"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."
"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
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.
RangerHowever 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.
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.
Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp provides specialized equestrian facilities approximately 30 miles from Buckley, Washington. Located at an elevation of 2,300 feet, the camp experiences cooler temperatures than surrounding lowland areas even in summer months. The campground restricts RV camping entirely while maintaining a focus on horse trailer accommodations with rocky soil that can make tent stakes difficult to secure.
Trail riding and hiking: Access ADA-accessible trails directly from Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp with routes suitable for various experience levels. The camp connects to a larger trail network through surrounding Department of Natural Resources land. "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.
Fishing opportunities: Bumping Lake Campground offers excellent fishing access with rainbow trout available for anglers. The campground provides boat rentals to reach prime fishing spots. "The lake is five miles long with lots of camping spots along the lake. They also have cabins you can rent," shares Becky R.
Wildlife viewing: Cooper Lake at Owhi Campground provides opportunities to spot local wildlife including elk. "We canoed on the lake and saw a few Elk bugling. Really amazing views," writes Kerrie L. The campground prohibits internal combustion motors, creating a quieter environment for wildlife observation.
Proximity to Mt. Rainier: Horse campgrounds near Buckley provide convenient access to national park attractions. "15 minutes from the entrance to Mt Rainier. Good place if you're here for that reason," explains Callie S. from Sahara Creek. Similarly, another visitor notes, "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."
Affordable camping: Many campers appreciate the value of South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site, which offers free camping with a Discover Pass. "I travel and work remotely so I'm always looking for free places that have cell reception and this place hits the jackpot," writes Austin R. Sahara Creek also requires only a Discover Pass for camping: "Free WITH your Discover Pass, 7 day limit in a 30 day period."
Water recreation: Lakes and rivers provide recreational opportunities at several equestrian campgrounds near Buckley. At Cooper Lake, one camper notes, "Right on the lake and if not you get a very private site walking distance to water." The lake prohibits motorized boats, creating a peaceful environment for paddling.
Shooting range proximity: Nearby shooting ranges can affect the camping experience at Sahara Creek. "Shooting range is close by, doesn't bother me but it's pretty noisy," reports one camper. While most horses adapt quickly to these conditions, first-time visitors should be prepared for occasional noise disruptions.
Weather and seasonal conditions: Many campgrounds in the region experience variable conditions. "It was still chilly in mid June and there were plenty of open sites. I would imagine this is a very popular campground in the summer," notes a visitor to Soda Springs. Another camper shares, "Even in heat waves this area is cooler and at night it is perfect."
Cell service availability: Connectivity varies significantly between horse campgrounds near the Buckley area. At South Fork Snoqualmie River, "I have Verizon and have 2-3 bars of service," while at Soda Springs, a camper notes, "This is a perfect getaway for people looking to unplug as no cell service is available."
Best campgrounds for children: Millersylvania State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities including lake access and organized activities. "We come here often as we live in Olympia. Pros: close to the city in case you forget something or a little one has a meltdown, lots of varied activities: biking, light mtb, trail running, hiking, paddling & fishing," writes Calvin K.
Safety considerations: Some campgrounds require extra vigilance with children. At South Fork Snoqualmie River, one camper warns, "Be very cautious as near one of the camp sites are very dangerous plants that are fatal and they are lined all around the campground so not recommended if you have children."
Family amenities: Look for campgrounds with specific family-friendly facilities. Millersylvania State Park features "a nice shallow area and two large swimming areas as well as a fishing dock. The lake is small and great for letting kids go out in kayaks or other boats," according to Ellen T.
Site selection for trailers: Horse trailer accommodations require careful planning. At Tolt MacDonald Park, "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through," notes Russ H. This contrasts with Sahara Creek's more primitive setup focused on horse trailers.
Solar power limitations: Campers relying on solar charging should note site conditions. At Sahara Creek, one camper reports, "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."
Access road conditions: Road quality affects RV and trailer access to campgrounds. At 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," warns Parker C. Sahara Creek similarly requires careful navigation with horse trailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Buckley, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Buckley, WA is South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site with a 3.9-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Buckley, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 equestrian camping locations near Buckley, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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