Best Equestrian Camping near Carlsborg, WA

Sadie Creek Campground west of Joyce on Highway 112 is perfect for a certain group of people, and not so amazing for another group of people.

If you enjoy Off-Roading or motorized anything this is the spot for you! With six spaces and plenty of parking for your trailer or RV, Sadie Creek has everything you could ask for. Also an extensive system of trails both on the northern and southern end of the highway will give days of riding through heavily wooded (and probably difficult) terrain. Also a great place for equestrians although if your horse spooks easily perhaps not.

If you are a tent camper or enjoy solitude as apposed to the social aspects to the great outdoors I would heavily advise against this campground. It's ok for a quick night's stay if a spot is open but the sites are practically right next to each other and expect to share the space with others that may not be so quiet. I would suggest Lyre River campground 6 miles to the east if that's what you're after.

Although there's no hook-ups there is a pit toilet on site. With a yearly Discovery Pass ($30) the campground is free. You have Murdock Beach down the road which gives great views of the Salish Sea. Closest town would be Joyce 10 miles to the east, with a great general store and through street to Lake Crescent. Multi-use trails run out from the north or south of the campground so great jump-off point for hiking or trail running in the Olympic National Forest.

I discovered Littleton horse camp out of necessity. I dont usually make reservations when I camp which proved quite difficult when journeying through the Olympic Peninsula during peak season. Most campgrounds I planned to go to were not only completely full, but has so many cars and campers on a frantic hunt for a place to stay for the night. Crescent Lake was no exception. All the campgrounds in the area were completely full, and while there is BLM land in the surrounding area, I was camping by myself and didnt feel comfortable doing dispersed camping.

Luckily, I found Littleton Horse Camp. The camp is intended for those with horses, but many people ended up car camping here due to a lack of anywhere else to go. There was no host there so it was kind of a free for all. I dont recommend camping here if there are other options but it was a good backup since there was no where else to go. There were about 5 groups of campers when I arrived in the afternoon, and when I returned from my day at the Lake, there were about 20 cars there. There is a put toilet, but no water. I found a place behind one of the horse posts where there was a little clearing ands set my tent up there. If you really need water and have a filter, there is a creek when you begin go on the trail to Mt Muller which is located along the road heading into campground.

Its about a 15 minute drive to Crescent Lake, and the trailhead to hike Mt. Muller is on the way into Littleton Horse camp. I highly recommend hiking up to Mt Muller for a great uphill butt-burner with spectacular views alongside beautiful fauna and cedar trees.

Glad to know about this place in case im in a pinch next time I come back to enjoy the beauty of the area.

Very secluded, deep wood camping. About an hour on unpaved road until you get to the actual camp but the drive is gorgeous! Old growth and new baby trees line the roads and there’s about 10+ little streams along the way. The bugs weren’t too bad with citronella bracelets and candles but bring bug spray if you like. There’s river access and lots of trails to explore. There’s even horse trails and a huge horse stall area for a group site/horse trailer.

We drove past 3 piles of bear scat along the dirt road into the campground, which was fine. Our dog growled into the woods a couple of times while on some nature walk which was a little worrisome but with the right tools, actions and preventative things we were fine.

Dungeness Recreation Area is known as the portal to the Dungeness Spit, but there is a lot more to discover before you arrive at the National Wildlife Refuge. Picnic on the bluff, watch the shipping lanes and catch a glimpse of Mt. Baker. Providing the starting point of a great adventure, the 216-acre Park offers many amenities. The virtues include a 1-mile long scenic bluff trail with picnic sites, a pocket picnic area, a group picnic area with shelter, and equestrian trails.

There is a 5.5-mile natural sand spit which is the longest in the country, and serves as a peaceful place to go for a walk along the beach. The narrow strip of land juts out from the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula and encloses the beautiful Dungeness Bay.

The Dungeness County Campgrund is clean and the camping spots are private. There are 66 campsites. No utilities at campsites. The campground is located on a bluff above the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is open all year long. There was a picnic table and fire pit available at each site. Clean bathrooms and pay showers. There is firewood available to purchase from the campground host. (cash only).

This is another one of those late evening finds for us that makes this no reservations lifestyle work. Driving along Hwy 112 on the Olympic Peninsula can feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere and then this little gem pops up seemingly out of nowhere. 

There’s just a handful of sites situated in a line at the end of a large parking area for the OHV access trails nearby, but they are lovely. These sites are FREE with your Washington State Discover Pass ($30 annual pass), and we can imagine that it gets pretty crowded on popular weekends.  

Campsites we’re pretty packed together, with picnic tables and fire rings.  Pictures were taken on a Monday morning when everyone else had already left. : )  Had the place to ourselves for a couple of hours.  

There is a vault toilet and a fresh water tap.   We just stayed the night on the way to/from the west side of the peninsula back to the east side, so it was perfect.

Nearby OHV trails and dirt roads offer lots of recreation opportunities, as well as the nearby Olympic National Park. Driving distances in this area are pretty far, so plan accordingly. 

The closest town with all services is Port Angeles, but many gas stations, general stores and mom and pop restaurants can be found in the small villages through which you will drive.

We love this campground so much, I almost hesitate to write this review. Like a number of Washington State Parks, the plug-in sites are in a large field, with very few trees around and kind of look like a lot of other standard RV parks with three or so levels of close parking with lovely views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca between the US and Canada.

While the view is lovely, this is not where this park shines. Go further, into the primitive camping loops, there you’ll find paradise. The sites are small, and situated under a diverse coastal Washington beach forest. A few of the sites have some good solar opportunities, while others are completely under canopy. Most could only accommodate smaller rigs, but a few could get a mid-sized Class B, vans and smaller trailers aren’t a problem. 

Aside from reminding us of the kind of campsites we went to as kids, this place just feels like a great place to hang out and let the kids run feral. This park offers one of the most stunning tide pool experiences that these two naturalists have ever seen without getting in a boat. It’s so richly filled with creatures in the intertidal zone, that it has to be seen in order to be believed. Just a short walk from the campground, go armed with good footwear and the curiosity of a child. Trust us, just put it on the list. 

There’s lots of hiking within the park as well, from the short coastal path, to exploring the WWII ruins, and down to the sandy beach below the bluff on which the campground sits. Nearby Olympic National Park offers many recreational opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast, the hiking is particularly stunning there. 

Port Angeles is less than 20 minutes away where you can get resupplied, or treat yourself to dinner, or get more information about the National Park. The nearby communities have gas stations, general stores and convenience stores but only a few Mom and Pop diners/ cafes along state route 112.