joani I.
Traveler
Travelerthe retreat at cannon beach
We came at night and left in am. Bathrooms clean. Shower hot. Both well lit
Equestrian Camping near Ilwaco, WA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Clatsop State Forest Northrup Creek Horse Campground provides dedicated equestrian facilities near Ilwaco, located about 60 miles south in Astoria, Oregon. The campground operates seasonally from May to November, offering tent and RV camping options with electric hookups including 30-amp and 50-amp service. Water hookups and sewer connections are available at sites designed to accommodate horse trailers. The relatively small campground maintains a peaceful atmosphere with direct access to forest riding trails. Sites are reservable, allowing riders to secure space for their horses and camping equipment in advance.
The trail network surrounding Northrup Creek connects riders to miles of forested paths through Clatsop State Forest. Horse owners will find drinking water available for their animals at designated areas within the campground, though no dedicated horse corrals are listed in the facilities. Pets are permitted throughout the campground, allowing visitors to bring dogs along with their horses. The campground's location provides convenient access to coastal riding opportunities while maintaining the forested setting equestrians prefer for trail riding. Despite being approximately an hour's drive from Ilwaco, Washington, the dedicated equestrian facilities make Northrup Creek worth the journey for horse campers seeking established camping options with hookups and reliable trail access.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Ilwaco (11)
1. Fort Stevens State Park Campground
"The trails around it were fun and led from the camp right up to the beach by the old ship wreck. My kids ages 2-14 always had something to do and we brought our bikes."
"Extensive walking/biking paths and beautiful shady sites. I now have a camper van and stop by frequently to use the dump station."
338 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $17 - $162 / night
2. Snag Lake Campground
"Two drive in sites the rest are walk in. A couple that are a short walk. Great fishing in the lake year round. The road up to campground is pretty rough. Lots of washboard."
"There's a couple spots for a bigger truck camper like ours and a handful of secluded tent sites you can walk to from the parking area."
3. Nehalem Bay State Park Campground
"Really cool atmosphere just steps away from the beach. The sounds of the waves can be heard right from your site. Nice facilities. Yurt is highly recommended and sleeps 5."
"This time was a first for us because we stayed in one of their primitive horse camp sites in our van, and had the opportunity to ride horses on the beach! "
219 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $25 - $90 / night
4. Williams Park Campground on the north Nemah River
Check Availabilityfrom $58 - $68 / night
5. Peggs Adult RV Park
6. the retreat at cannon beach
"Super convenient walkable location, amenities are top notch. My only complaint is that the sites are just a little small."
Check Availabilityfrom $99 / night
7. Rainbow Falls State Park Campground
"Forested campground with large playing field nearby. Willapa Hills hiking trail nearby, river access with some swimming available (but no designated areas or lifeguards)."
"27 for sites that are near the entrance. Nothing wrong with these sites, just that they are small and kind of close together and exposed, almost like overflow sites."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $12 - $70 / night
8. Clatsop State Forest Northrup Creek Horse Campground
"This is a wonderful campground far enough off the beaten path and being listed has a horse camp most likely keeps the crowds down. "
"While primarily a horse-friendly campsite, there are few RV/tent sites, but definitely not friendly for larger RVs."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
9. Nehalem Bay Trailer Park
"Location of resort is not where app indicates. The site is off North Fork as you come into Nehalem. We stayed two nights in the overflow and it was lovely."
10. Nehalem Bay State Campground
"Clean restrooms Super clean showers Big sites for a state park very nice Walk to beach Definitely will be back! Great experience"
Drive Time
- 1 hr 20 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 57 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 58 min from Portland, OR
- 2 hrs 37 min from Salem, OR
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Ilwaco, WA
10 Photos of 11 Ilwaco Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Ilwaco, WA
286 Reviews of 11 Ilwaco Campgrounds
- LLeonard H.
RangerNehalem Bay State Park Campground
Level Paved Sites, Good Restrooms
Paved roads a little narrow so more challenging to back-in 90-degree sites vs. 45-degree angled sites. Good restrooms with flush toilets and h/c water sinks. Hot showers included as part of camping fee. Two dump stations at entrance use honor system to pay $10 via cell-phone app. Nice beach walks over sand dunes to long flat beach. Expect wind on beach. Some sites a little close together but ok overall. Expect lots of families with kids in summer and on weekends. Overall a good stay.
Helen G.TravelerFort Stevens State Park Campground
Busy camp
Arrived late at night. Everything else pretty good but the bathroom and showers are really dirty. Camp is easy to navigate. But some people don’t respect the quiet hours. Very popular site. Hard to book in advance. No cellular signal.
- Christina F.Ranger
Nehalem Bay State Park Campground
Great vibe!
This was our next to last stop on the way home from Beverly Beach. Two campgrounds about the same size, could not be more different! The spaces at Nehalem Bay are still close, but not as close as Beverly Beach. There were kids, but just not as many running about. The vibe was so laid back here. We lucked out with a semi-private site. We had the site that was next to the road going to the horse camp area so there were some trees on that side and behind us, though you could still see a little bit of one or two horse sites. And I could hear the horses every once in awhile, which I found very comforting. The ocean is just over the dune and there are a couple different trails to get over to it. The beach itself is lovely with soft sand and very little seaweed or anything that comes in with the tide, the only issue is that it is windy. It's not too bad at night, but during the day, it is rough. We tried to take our kiddo out to play in the sand and it just sucked. Good spot for wind surfing or paragliding though as we saw several people doing this down the beach a little ways. One thing we would have liked to do, but could not convince our kiddo, there is a 2 mile loop trail around the airstrip (oh yeah, there's an airstrip here too on the bay side of the park where people can fly in and camp) and trails down on the jetty from the day use area. There is also a horseback riding outfit down there that operates seasonally. There is a playground, but it's not a traditional type of playground with swings and slides, at least not in our group of loops. It wasn't the best for little kiddos. We did not explore loops A,B, and C so not sure if that playground was the same. Lastly, the dump station: there are two lanes here, which is great. Nobody was at the dump station when we pulled in, so no waiting. This park is also partaking in the pilot program where you scan the qr code and pay $10 to dump tanks. I had Verizon connectivity at this park so there was no issue there, but someone a scribbled across the qr code at the dump station my husband pulled into so I had to go to the other lane to scan that qr code. Not a big deal, but it's just a different type issue. Once I scanned the qr code, it took me to the site and I didn't have any problems paying.
- Christina F.Ranger
Rainbow Falls State Park Campground
Lovely and quiet
This was our last stop after a trip down the Oregon coast. We spent two nights here. It's a lovely little state park along the Chehalis River. The "falls" are more of a rapids. There used to be a suspension bridge, but that was taken out in a flood in 2007. The campground is on the smaller side, but spaces are amongst the trees. Site 32, where we are, can accommodate a larger rig. The site is quite large and backs up to a hiking trail and the river, though there is a steep drop off. No playground for littles, but there is a large, open field where kids can play. No Verizon connectivity at all in the campground. I got one 5g bar over in the day use area by the houses. Also, the dump station is closed and looked like it had been for awhile so if you camp in a trailer and use your own bathroom, you'll need to go out and dump the tanks at one of the rest areas on I-5.
We do not have Starlink, but be warned if you do, there is heavy tree cover here. This park would benefit from the wifi pilot program that they are doing at some of the other WA state parks.
- KKelli C.
ScoutSnag Lake Campground
Unsafe
This place has a bad vibe for a good reason. We didn’t stay. We walked around and checked it out. There was an encampment around site 4 that took up 2 sites. There was trash all over it. There was a tree half cut down and they were still working on it even though it says not to cut down trees. They were yelling at each other the entire time. It was very concerning. You could almost hear the banjos playing if you listened close enough.
- mmitzi M.
GuideFort Stevens State Park Campground
Ft Stevens is Awesome
Clean, wonderful showers, well maintained and close to the beach! They offer bikes to rent. It’s very busy so part of your entertainment is watching people come and go. It can be noisy with kids and people, but mostly joyful noise! It’s a big difference from quiet campgrounds but something for everyone.
- Lex G.Traveler
the retreat at cannon beach
Nice stay
Super convenient walkable location, amenities are top notch. My only complaint is that the sites are just a little small.
- vvalScout
the retreat at cannon beach
Highly recommend it
We’ve stayed here several times and always enjoy coming back. The campground is older, but it’s well maintained and kept clean. The staff is friendly, and it’s a quiet, comfortable place to stay. We appreciate the care that goes into maintaining the property and will definitely be back again. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a relaxing RV campground.
Guide to Ilwaco
Equestrian camping near Ilwaco, Washington provides access to miles of forest trails through the Pacific Northwest's dense coastal woodlands. The region experiences a temperate maritime climate with average annual rainfall of 70-85 inches, creating lush riding conditions throughout spring and summer months. Trail conditions in the area vary seasonally, with some routes becoming muddy after heavy rainfall periods.
What to do
Beach horseback riding: Access beach riding trails at Nehalem Bay State Park Campground, located about 90 miles south of Ilwaco. "Great dune area. Always horses riding on the beach too. Super neat experience," reports Jamie B. The campground provides dedicated beach access points suitable for horses.
Trail exploration: The Clatsop State Forest offers extensive riding trails from Northrup Creek Horse Campground. According to Kelcie T., "We used the day use area this time but soon we plan on taking a trip up with our horses and riding the trails." The trail system extends through multiple sections of the forest with varying difficulty levels.
Fishing breaks: Rainbow Falls State Park offers opportunities to combine riding with fishing. "People played in the river. Camp was clean and spacious," notes L & K S. The river access points provide natural breaks during trail rides where horses can rest while riders fish.
What campers like
Dedicated equestrian sites: Northrup Creek Horse Campground provides specially designed spaces for horse campers. Dexter I. explains, "The horse camp sites all have corrals for the horses. Nice hiking trail starts at the tent camping area." These dedicated facilities make overnight stays with horses more comfortable.
Private camping atmosphere: For riders seeking quiet camps, Snag Lake Campground offers seclusion. "Primitive, private campsites around a beautiful small lake," states Anna N. The limited number of campsites means less competition for space during peak seasons.
Trail variety: Experienced riders appreciate the diversity of terrain. At Rainbow Falls, Rich M. notes, "The river had a lot of great swimming holes for all ages." These water access points provide natural rest areas during longer trail rides.
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most equestrian facilities operate seasonally. At Fort Stevens State Park, Gary M. advises, "The mosquitos were out in full force in the campground." May through September typically offers the best riding conditions with fewer insects in early fall.
Trail maintenance varies: Some trails receive more regular maintenance than others. At Snag Lake, Jaime J. warns, "Beautiful area, but a lot of campers have left trash behind." Always check current trail conditions before planning extended rides.
Parking restrictions: RV Outdoor Adventures and Cabins offers larger parking areas for horse trailers. JoAnna S. describes it as a "Large 36 acre peaceful Rv Park on the Clatskanie River," providing adequate space for horse trailers with tow vehicles.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Combine riding with swimming opportunities. At Rainbow Falls State Park, Kirstin K. shares, "We loved that this was right by the river and we could go swimming." These dual-activity sites keep non-riders engaged while others enjoy trail rides.
Open play spaces: Look for campgrounds with fields for children. "Big open field for playing, horseshoe pits, small playground, river trail, and fishing," mentions ashley E. about Rainbow Falls State Park. These amenities provide entertainment options beyond horseback activities.
Historical elements: Fort Stevens State Park offers educational opportunities between rides. Jill T. notes, "There is sooo much to do in this area! It's rich with history and we could have easily spent another week touring around." Historical sites provide rainy day alternatives when trails are too wet for riding.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for trailers: Choose sites specifically designed for horse trailers. Daniel S. cautions about Northrup Creek: "While primarily a horse-friendly campsite, there are few RV/tent sites, but definitely not friendly for larger RVs." Reserve appropriate spaces well in advance during summer months.
Hookup availability: For longer stays with horses, consider electric hookups. Jesse H. mentions about Northrup Creek, "Pit toilets were very clean! Big Tree Trail for hikers was well maintained." Basic amenities make multi-day equestrian trips more comfortable when returning from trail rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Ilwaco, WA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ilwaco, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ilwaco, WA is Fort Stevens State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 158 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ilwaco, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Ilwaco, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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