Best Equestrian Camping near Ellensburg, WA

Teanaway Campground offers camping options for equestrians in the Teanaway Community Forest, approximately 20 minutes from Cle Elum. The campground features both drive-in sites and dedicated walk-in camping areas, with some spaces specifically designated for horse camping. Most sites include picnic tables and fire rings, though the campground lacks drinking water and electric hookups. Vault toilets are available and maintained regularly. The nearby North Fork of the Teanaway River provides water access, though riders should note this is primarily for recreation rather than for watering horses. Verizon users report 1-bar LTE service on the east side of the campground, which improves with signal boosters. The campground fills quickly during peak seasons, particularly on weekends.

Trail access directly from the campground connects riders to the broader Teanaway Community Forest trail system, popular for both horseback riding and mountain biking. Several hiking paths in the area permit horses, including routes toward Lake Ingalls and other scenic destinations in the Cascade Mountains. Discover Pass is required for camping, though enforcement varies seasonally. The gravel roads throughout the campground are well-maintained and accommodate horse trailers, with ample parking available at most sites. Summer months bring dusty conditions that can affect both horses and equipment. Campers report the campground is most enjoyable Sunday through Thursday when crowds thin considerably and noise levels decrease. The Beverly Creek Bridge area offers additional dispersed camping opportunities with better views of Mt. Stuart for those willing to venture further into the forest.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Ellensburg, Washington (18)

    1. Teanaway Campground

    14 Reviews
    Cle Elum, WA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 925-8510

    "There are walk in (50 to 100 feet walk) sites as well as horse camping sites. Pit toilets are clean, don’t smell, and have TP. Road in campground is in good condition with pretty new gravel."

    "I was able to come stay here in the fall, and hike Lake Ingalls. It was absolutely gorgeous! Hands down the best decision my friends and I have made. The campground was actually somewhat busy."

    2. Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Yakima, WA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 575-2774

    "It’s close to Yakima and great for a place to visit while you’re in “The Palm Springs of Washington”."

    "Lol A skunk did cross our path and ran behind our tent...but that's all the action. During this time it was $25 a night for tents. It was close to town but not TOO close....BIG park."

    3. Riders Camp Campground

    1 Review
    South Cle Elum, WA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 674-4411

    "This is a great place to camp and ride ORVs they have a beginners loop trailhead attached to this site as well as a trail head to a larger trail system."

    4. Cottonwood Campground (WA)

    4 Reviews
    Goose Prairie, WA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 338-7869

    $22 / night

    "The Cascades have so many peaks to climb, glaciers to see, and shorter trails. But you have to get deep into the backcountry before you have access to most of them."

    "It is in a great location near Mt Rainier for a fraction of the price of closer campgrounds. It was very small, but very lush between sites which made it extremely private."

    5. Bumping Lake Campground

    17 Reviews
    Goose Prairie, WA
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 338-7869

    $24 - $48 / 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."

    6. Barn Valley - closed

    2 Reviews
    Cle Elum, WA
    25 miles
    +1 (206) 963-5243

    $25 - $75 / night

    7. Hause Creek Campground

    9 Reviews
    White Pass, WA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 338-7869

    $27 - $54 / night

    "Large sites, some with access to the River. Highway noise was pretty loud in some of the upper sites. Bathrooms (pit toilets) were very clean and the camp host was lovely! Nice recreation area nearby."

    "Had a great time next to the river."

    8. Indian Camp Campground

    1 Review
    Roslyn, WA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 925-8510

    9. Owhi Campground

    7 Reviews
    Snoqualmie Pass, WA
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 674-4411

    $14 / night

    "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."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Ellensburg, WA

48 Photos of 18 Ellensburg Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Ellensburg, WA

97 Reviews of 18 Ellensburg Campgrounds


  • R
    Sep. 13, 2020

    Yakima River RV Park

    Great spot

    1. http://www/yakimarv.com
    2. My wife and I started full timing in our RV three years ago and have stayed at many RV parks during that time. Yakima River RV Park is one that is special to us. It's located on the Yakima River near Ellensburg Washington. It is a small privately owned park in a beautiful valley. The park is great for self-contained RV's and it does offer some dry camping sites. Due to the park being on a flood-plain there are limited FHU sites available for a minimum 2 day stay. WiFi is free and relatively strong. The grounds are carefully maintained with grass and trees between the spacious sites. Sites can accommodate RV's up to 60ft. and are pull through. Overflow parking is available for your toad or cargo trailer. If you are looking for a quiet overnight stay or longer, this is for you. Oh, you may occasionally hear the baying of the rodeo bulls in the pasture next to the park
  • p
    May. 12, 2023

    Teanaway Campground

    Beautiful Campground in Forest

    Beautiful campground with several dispersed spots, most with picnic table and fire pit. There are walk in (50 to 100 feet walk) sites as well as horse camping sites. Pit toilets are clean, don’t smell, and have TP. Road in campground is in good condition with pretty new gravel. Large frisbee golf course borders campground to east. River runs along southern edge. Verizon 1-bar LTE on east side. WeBoost made it a very usable 3 bars. Starlink works too - most sites have good openings to sky.

  • V
    Sep. 27, 2020

    Yakima River RV Park

    Charming and picturesque! Super friendly hosts

    I was so impressed with the organized check-in process, efficient simple paperwork, and welcoming feeling I got when we rolled up without a reservation. We were even "escorted" to our spot! There are lots of trees, cows and horses near by and it's super quiet, oh, except for the numerous freight trains than ran through the night. Bring ear plugs, problem solved. The grounds are immaculate; you can tell these people really care about this place. There's a gate to enter and exit so we felt very safe and there weren't random vehicles driving around. Beautiful rolling hills and open wheat fields made for a lovely bike ride. Definitely recommend this place!

  • Eric H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 15, 2020

    Soda Springs

    Roughing it is perfect

    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.

  • Jess G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2019

    Indian Camp Campground

    Free range cows

    Camp here for free for 7 days with a discover pass! 2 pit toilets, fire ring and picnic table at each site. Big areas for RVs, horse trailers and group sites. No water hook ups or dump stations. River access and lots of trails for nature walks. Very beautiful area! I had phone service and I use Sprint.

  • s
    May. 19, 2018

    Bumping Lake Campground

    Absolutely the best!

    It’s got it all. Lake access. Trail access. Pristine wilderness. Horse trails. Hunting. Fishing. Scenery.

    I would rather not tell you about it and keep it to myself.

  • Breanna R.
    Jul. 12, 2017

    Soda Springs

    Nestled in the Woods

    Nice campground with vault toilet. Very quiet. Small spring and running creek. 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. At least when we were there the drive was flooded over but manageable.

  • Donald C.
    Jun. 21, 2020

    Owhi Campground

    Cooper Lake WA.

    Very remote woodsy area around the lake. Pristine waters, state fish stocked lake, bring drinking water. The lake does not have a road going around it, but the fire roads do have trail heads for backpacking. There is camping on the other side of the lake only excess by boat. Well I guess a helicopter would work. There are horse camps at the end of the fire road with a cul-de-sac to turn around and head back out. Lots of boon-dockers off the forest roads. A boat launch is available but motors are not allowed on the lake.

  • C M.
    Jul. 30, 2019

    Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground

    Really cool

    This place is pretty cool. It’s close to Yakima and great for a place to visit while you’re in “The Palm Springs of Washington”.


Guide to Ellensburg

Teanaway Community Forest offers diverse equestrian recreation approximately 20 miles northwest of Ellensburg. Located at elevations between 2,200-5,200 feet, this 50,000-acre landscape connects the eastern Cascade Mountains with shrub-steppe terrain. The forest experiences hot, dry summers with daytime temperatures often exceeding 90°F from July through August, contrasting with cold winters where snow accumulation limits access.

What to do

Mountain biking on forest trails: Access the trail system directly from Teanaway Campground with routes suitable for intermediate riders. "If you are a mountain biker, this spot will not disappoint with the trail system right out of camp," notes Silas about Teanaway Campground.

Lake fishing: Cooper Lake near Cle Elum offers trout fishing in a non-motorized lake setting. "Rainbow trout are available to catch for the crafty fisherman," according to Megan C. at Owhi Campground.

Off-road vehicle recreation: The Riders Camp area provides designated ORV trails with varying difficulty levels. Bruce S. explains, "This is a great place to camp and ride ORVs they have a beginners loop trailhead attached to this site as well as a trail head to a larger trail system."

Water activities: The North Fork Teanaway River offers cooling spots during summer heat. "River access for the kids. If you are a mountain biker, this spot will not disappoint with the trail system right out of camp," mentions Silas about the area.

What campers like

Stargazing opportunities: Clear skies make for excellent night viewing in summer months. "Get there a little early to get a good spot so you can see those brilliant stars at night," recommends Cassiey K. at Teanaway Campground.

Weekday camping: Sites are notably less crowded midweek with improved ambiance. "By Sunday evening 90% of the crowd had left and it was heavenly!" shares Callie C. about her experience.

Riverside camping: Several sites offer direct water access for cooling off during hot days. "The sites were a little over grown when we were there. The pit toilets were clean," says Chad K. about Hause Creek Campground.

Wildlife viewing: Early morning visitors may encounter small animals and birds. "Wake up to the sounds of ravens yelling and chipmunks trying to climb in your car throughout the day!" reports Alexia D. about the forest environment.

What you should know

Summer dust conditions: The dry climate creates dusty campsites and trails during peak season. "Got a little dusty and windy but once it died down the the view of the starts was worth the minor hassle," notes Ginger M.

Camp early for prime spots: Equestrian sites fill quickly during weekends, especially in summer. "We talked to some gals up the trail in sites #9 & 10 and they arrived on Tuesday evening to claim their sites for a large group for the weekend," explains a camper at Bumping Lake Campground.

Limited services: Most horse camping areas have minimal facilities. "No water/electricity. T-mobile was hit or miss - couldn't connect hot spot," explains Callie C.

Toilet facilities: Vault toilets are standard but conditions vary by location. "Bring your own toilet paper because there wasn't any in the bathroom," advises Shaelyn B.

Tips for camping with families

River cooling spots: The North Fork Teanaway offers safe wading areas for children during hot days. "There is a pretty little calico cat that hung out with us for a bit, who happily plopped around us outside," mentions Cassiey K. about unexpected wildlife encounters.

Kid-friendly activities: Several sites offer open spaces for play away from horse areas. "The surrounding grounds is a park with playground equipment and a huge field. There are tons of hikes and a small pond to explore...with turtles!" says Mary C. about Yakima Sportsman State Park.

Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience significant weekend crowds affecting atmosphere. "Not what I was expecting. Not ideal for tent camping, and the river was nowhere to be found," reports one tent camper about overcrowded conditions.

Accessible horse trails: Several routes are suitable for beginners and younger riders. "We've been coming here since a child and I bring my kids here to learn how to ride and enjoy all the great outdoor have to offer," notes Bruce S.

Tips from RVers

Site access: Gravel roads to equestrian sites can be navigated with larger rigs but require caution. "About a 20 minute drive from Clu Elum. Free with a Discovery Pass but no one checked while I was there," notes Katy W.

Parking capacity: Designated horse camping areas provide sufficient space for trailers. "The camp sites were larger than expected; we reserved 2 sites for 4 people but would have been all right with just one site," mentions Wendy at Hause Creek.

Water management: No hookups means bringing sufficient water for both campers and horses. "No water or trash but some vault toilets," reports Katy W.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ellensburg, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ellensburg, WA is Teanaway Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 14 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ellensburg, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 equestrian camping locations near Ellensburg, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.