17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Margaret McKenny Equestrian Campground features horse corrals, making it the primary equestrian-specific option near Montesano, Washington. Located in Capitol State Forest, this campground has three camping loops, with one dedicated to horses Monday through Friday. The primitive campground requires a Washington Discovery Pass for overnight stays and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Vault toilets are available in each loop, but no drinking water, trash service, or hookups are provided. The campground is maintained by onsite hosts who keep the facilities clean and well-maintained. Sites accommodate both tent camping and RVs, though the access roads require slow driving in certain areas.
Trail riders can access extensive hiking and riding opportunities directly from the campground with multiple trails surrounding the area. The maximum stay permitted is seven days at this primitive camping location. No hookups are available for RVs, so campers should arrive fully self-contained with adequate water supplies. Pets are allowed at the campground but must follow strictly enforced rules. While highway noise can occasionally be heard from nearby roads, the campground generally provides a peaceful setting for equestrians. The spacious layout allows comfortable accommodation for horses and camping equipment. Registration is required upon arrival at the front information board, and campers can call ahead with questions about site availability before making the trip.
"There are hiking trails close by but be sure to do your homework because there are many trails that allow ATV, horses, bikes, and people on them."
"There is a bunch of awesome trails with beautiful surroundings for every level of hikers and if you can find your way to Porter Falls, you definitely wont be disappointed with the view!"
"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 - $45 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $27 - $45 / night
Check Availability"You are supposed to have a Washington State Discovery pass to stay here, also they want you to fill out self registration once you arrive, fyi there are no pens onsite to do so."
"We had our choice of campsites, near hiking trails and the creek. The road wasn't too rough to get there, and we were able to park nearby. What more do you need?"
"There are 3 loops, one is dedicated to horses M-F. Both visits I arrived Sunday afternoon and found a few spots to pick from. There’s a vault toilet per loop."
"Completely dispersed tent or rv camping with a Washington Discovery Pass ($35 year) otherwise FREE for up too 7 days."
"Our site is one away from from the toilet/ bath house there are 6 combo rooms. There are 3 cabins, 12 full service sites, tent sites some w/ electric. Laundry 1 washer and dryer."
"Showers and clean bath rooms available plus a small store for your wood and forgotten marshmallow needs... close to the beach and equestrian friendly... this is where we always stay!"
"Just a five minute walk from the beach."
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"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."
"It is tucked away on the western side of the Olympic Mountains, but easy to drive to. Old fashioned forest service-type campground, with lots of vegetation between camp sites for privacy. "
from $14 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe have gone and stayed in many of their sites. Very roomy sites and Richard the care taker is an amazing camp host! He has always made our stay wonderful. Showers and clean bath rooms available plus a small store for your wood and forgotten marshmallow needs... close to the beach and equestrian friendly... this is where we always stay!
GuideVery 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.
TravelerThis Campsite is in the woods and does not have basic amenities. It's a very rustic outdoor experience, Frequented by ATV and motorcycle and mountain biking people. There is a latrine here but no water hookups. There is a large creek running alongside some of the campsites. There are hiking trails close by but be sure to do your homework because there are many trails that allow ATV, horses, bikes, and people on them. Over all this is a great place to go if you want to get away.
TravelerDispersed sites - most standard, but some partial hook up sites available. Forested campground with large playing field nearby. Willapa Hills hiking trail nearby, river access with some swimming available (but no designated areas or lifeguards). Showers available/uses tokens.
Horse camp sites too!
ScoutI should have done a little more research before reserving a spot as this was not what I was looking for. There were pastures and fields surrounding the campground which was set back in a part of forrest. The street in front of the campground was a main road that cars and tractors drove up and down all day. All of the other campers were quiet and respectful but the location was not what we had hoped for. As far as recreation goes, neither we nor our neighbors could find the falls. There were regular flush toilets available and it was decently clean. Plenty of field space and climbing toys for families. We stayed in site 48 which was away from the other campsites but near the entrance to the campground and close to the road.
LegendThis is a very nice, typical Washington state park with plenty of trees, greenery, hiking, pathways and even a lake. There's a camp store along with several large outdoor kitchens that would be good to use for groups. Many of the structures like the kitchens and even bathrooms were built back in the 1930s by the CCC, which is pretty cool. It's just far enough off I-5 to not have the freeway noise, but close enough to be convenient. It's also nearby to Great Wolf Lodge if you're looking for a place to stay near there.
On the other hand, the RV sites especially are basically in a big field with a cement road going around it. The sites have tables and fire pits, but no privacy what-so-ever. The tent sites are slightly better, with more trees, but still very close to one another.
The campground also has glamping available (canvas permanent tents) that looked cool.
ScoutNice open sites with space for multiple vehicles or trailers. Easy access to ORV trails. Expect lots of noise from off-road vehicles and music.
LegendThis is a pretty nice campground! There are 3 loops, one is dedicated to horses M-F. Both visits I arrived Sunday afternoon and found a few spots to pick from. There’s a vault toilet per loop. No trash, no water, no hook ups so come prepared. There’s a host onsite and they are very kind. You do need a discovery pass in order to stay and just register up front. Was able to get decent sun for my solar so was able to stay for a couple of days with no issues. There’s hiking trails all around you!
LegendThey have glamping! Or as the campground calls it: pampered camping. This is a beautiful park located on Deep Lake just outside of Olympia. The park itself is huge offering lots of options for campers. Super easy to get our trailer in and out of the spaces and there was lots of extra parking for our larger group. A quick walk around the grounds offered a nice hike and showed us some pretty awesome sites Id like to stay at in the future. They are on a progressive price, meaning depending on the site is what your price will be.
The canvas tent option was one I didn’t know about until I got there. The tents are cabin shaped and have a few chairs and BBQ grill outside it. Great option for families.
The park also offers a cottage right next to the lake. This is a nice alternative to traditional camping. One thing that was great about the park was the various kitchens around the grounds. This offers a great way for larger groups to have a set space for meals.
Capitol State Forest offers numerous equestrian camping options within a 30-minute drive of Montesano, Washington. Located in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains at elevations ranging from 400 to 2,600 feet, this 110,000-acre forest receives approximately 70 inches of rainfall annually. Camping areas throughout the region typically operate seasonally with limited amenities during winter months.
Trail exploration with horses: Porter Creek Campground provides access to numerous hiking and riding paths in Capitol State Forest. "There are hiking trails close by but be sure to do your homework because there are many trails that allow ATV, horses, bikes, and people on them," notes one visitor to Porter Creek Campground.
Swimming in natural settings: Several campgrounds offer water access for cooling off during summer months. At Rainbow Falls State Park, "the river had a lot of great swimming holes for all ages," according to a visitor who stayed at Rainbow Falls State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Both rivers and lakes throughout the region are stocked with fish. At Snag Lake, "the lake is stocked with trout. We saw many fishermen catch a lot of fish in a short time," reports a camper who visited Snag Lake Campground.
Peaceful atmosphere: Many campgrounds in the region provide a quiet retreat. At Fall Creek Campground, visitors appreciate the tranquility: "Very pleasant campground. We had our choice of campsites, near hiking trails and the creek. The road wasn't too rough to get there, and we were able to park nearby," shares a camper at Fall Creek Campground.
Spacious campsites: Screamin' Eagle Campground offers roomier sites than typically found in the area. A visitor notes, "Extremely nice rv park. Level gravel parking sites. Good Wifi. Very clean restrooms," while another mentions "very roomy sites" at Screamin' Eagle Campground.
Accessibility to trails: Many campgrounds connect directly to trail networks. Campbell Tree Grove offers "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," according to one visitor.
Weather considerations: The area experiences heavy rainfall, particularly from October through April. Plan accordingly with waterproof gear and proper shelter.
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate on first-come, first-served basis. At Millersylvania State Park, one camper noted: "After months of trying to get reservations for this popular campground, we finally got one for Thanksgiving weekend! The park is on their winter schedule so only sites 1-7 and 226-248 were open."
Road conditions: Access roads to several campgrounds can be challenging. A visitor to Campbell Tree Grove Campground warns, "The road out to it is pretty treacherous also. Not for beginners, we had to help some people who put their car in a ditch by wrecking it."
Plan for indoor activities: Given the frequent rainfall, bring games and activities for shelter time. A camper at Millersylvania State Park mentions: "We still enjoyed the close/easy access to bathrooms, showers, potable water, and hiking trails, not to mention the numerous activities available near the lake."
Look for campgrounds with playgrounds: Some locations provide recreational facilities for children. At Rainbow Falls, a visitor notes: "There is a large field with a playground, pavilion, and playground. The river had a lot of great swimming holes for all ages."
Choose campsites near facilities: When camping with children, proximity to bathrooms matters. At Big Spruce Resort, one guest observed: "Our site is one away from from the toilet/bath house there are 6 combo rooms. There are 3 cabins, 12 full service sites, tent sites some w/ electric," making it convenient for families at Big Spruce Resort RV and Cabins.
Plan for limited hookups: Most equestrian camping near Montesano provides minimal or no RV services. A visitor to Margaret McKenny notes: "No trash, no water, no hook ups so come prepared. There's a host onsite and they are very kind."
Solar power options: Some campgrounds have sufficient clearings for solar panels. One camper at Margaret McKenny Campground shares: "Was able to get decent sun for my solar so was able to stay for a couple of days with no issues."
Size limitations: Larger RVs may struggle at certain sites. A visitor to Snag Lake warns: "We backed in our ModBug ATV hauler ok, but any bigger would have been an issue," indicating the space constraints common at forest campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Montesano, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Montesano, WA is Porter Creek with a 4.1-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Montesano, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Montesano, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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