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Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp provides equestrians with specialized camping areas for horses and riders approximately 3 miles from Mount Rainier National Park. Several sites are reserved exclusively for horse campers, offering direct access to riding trails. The campground features a picnic shelter with closable sides for protection during inclement weather. Regular campsites include fire pits and picnic tables, with vault toilets available throughout the property. Camping is free with a Washington Discover Pass, which can be purchased at nearby gas stations in Ashford. Visitors note the campground has deep shade in all camp spots, making it challenging for those relying on solar power.
The equestrian trail system connecting to Sahara Creek provides multiple route options through forested terrain. Located near the entrance to Mount Rainier, the campground serves as a convenient base for exploring both the park and surrounding trails. The horse-friendly atmosphere creates opportunities for campers to observe horses in their natural element. The camping area enforces a 7-day limit within any 30-day period. During summer weekends, early arrival is recommended as the most accessible sites fill quickly. A shooting range nearby creates occasional noise that some campers mention in reviews. Pack-in, pack-out rules apply as there are no trash facilities available, and the rocky soil can make staking tents challenging though the lack of wind makes this manageable.
"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"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 - $140 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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"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!"
from $25 - $915 / night
Check 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."
"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."
"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."
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.
ScoutThe first time going was amazing! It was fall, and with the crowds gone, it was heaven on earth. The next time was the weekend and a summer getaway, with EVERYONE else, so it was noisy, crazy noisy. Now we only go during the week to avoid all the noise! Great, clean restrooms, and friendly staff. The lake and river offer plenty to do and see. We visit every year or two for the peace and quiet.
Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp provides equestrian camping opportunities approximately 3 miles from Mount Rainier National Park. The campground sits at an elevation of 1,800 feet and experiences significant temperature drops at night even during summer months. Trail systems connect directly to the campground, creating accessible riding options through dense forest terrain dominated by Douglas fir and western hemlock.
Explore river trails: Several camping areas near Carbonado provide access to river trails with varying difficulty levels. At South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site, campers can find "a nice long trail that took us to the river. That was nice" though some visitors note the terrain can get "muddy" during wet periods.
Fish in nearby lakes: Multiple fishing opportunities exist within 30-45 minutes of Carbonado. At 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." Fishing is particularly productive during early morning hours.
Hiking near volcanic areas: The region offers hiking opportunities with volcanic significance. One visitor to Soda Springs mentioned, "This is an incredibly small and primitive campground... There is tons of wildlife and lots of trails and riverbank to explore." The campground provides access to multiple day hikes ranging from 2-8 miles.
Natural shade coverage: Many campgrounds in the area feature significant tree cover. At Millersylvania State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the "nice state forest with old growth. Lots of walking trails and a lake. Many families and kids running free." The forest canopy provides natural cooling during hot summer months.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region supports diverse wildlife populations. When camping near Carbonado, visitors often report wildlife sightings. At Taidnapam Park, one camper noted the area has "lots of fun areas around the edge of the lake to explore that used to be under water - making for interested hiking" where wildlife is frequently spotted.
Equestrian-focused amenities: For those seeking equestrian camping near Carbonado, Washington, specialized facilities make horse camping convenient. Beyond Sahara Creek, Bumping Lake Campground accommodates horse riders with "Beautiful equestrian campground... large sites. However many are reserved for horse campers only."
Early arrival recommended: Dispersed camping spots fill quickly during peak season. At South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site, "There are a ton of really great sites along this road, although most of the drive-in sites will be taken if it's a busy weekend, so get there early!"
Cell service variability: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. Some areas near Carbonado have limited reception. One camper at South Fork Snoqualmie noted, "I travel and work remotely so I'm always looking for free places that have cell reception and this place hits the jackpot. I've come in twice on a Saturday afternoon and have been able to find an open spot with my 18 ft travel trailer, I have Verizon and have 2-3 bars of service."
Rocky soil challenges: Many sites have challenging ground conditions for tent stakes. At South Fork Snoqualmie River, campers should be prepared for "a TON of holes so I wouldn't recommend driving down it without good ground clearance" and potential difficulties with tent setup on rocky soil.
Water level fluctuations: Lake levels can vary significantly by season affecting water activities. At Taidnapam Park, "the water levels have been permanently lowered by 30-ish feet. This is bad news for people who only went there for boating and fishing and swimming in the swim area."
Playground accessibility: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. Millersylvania State Park Campground features "a playground" and "a community area with horseshoe pits" providing recreation options beyond typical camping activities.
Safety considerations: Some areas require extra supervision for young children. Near South Fork Snoqualmie River, one camper warned to "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."
Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer organized activities for children. Taidnapam Park has "a scavenger hunt of items hidden around the campground that you can do with your kids (or if they are a bit older they can do on their own) and a playground."
Site length considerations: RV campers should research site dimensions before booking. 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 its fairly quiet."
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds present challenges for larger vehicles. South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site has an "unpaved" access road with "a TON of holes so I wouldn't recommend driving down it without good ground clearance."
Hookup availability: Hookup options vary between campgrounds. Riffe Lake Campground offers "several back-in spots, some with partial hookups and some with full hookups. Most of the spots are well-shaded from the trees."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Carbonado, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Carbonado, WA is Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Carbonado, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 equestrian camping locations near Carbonado, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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