Capitol State Forest offers multiple equestrian camping facilities near Napavine, Washington. The forest spans 110,000 acres with 150 miles of multi-use trails across varying terrain. Elevations range from 400 to 2,600 feet, creating diverse riding conditions through second-growth forests, wetlands, and clearings.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: Capitol State Forest provides extensive riding options beyond the basic campground amenities. At Fall Creek Campground, riders can access multiple difficulty levels of trails. "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," notes Zin C.
Swimming access: Many equestrian-friendly campgrounds feature creek or river access where both riders and horses can cool off. "Kids really enjoyed the creek nearby and it was great for our tent camping. We were able to hike around and had water, and restrooms that were clean," reports Mayna M. about Fall Creek.
Mountain biking trails: For those bringing both horses and bikes, Porter Creek accommodates multiple trail users. "There are 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 won't be disappointed with the view!" explains Brittany E.
What campers like
Self-sufficient camping: Horse campers appreciate the primitive yet functional setup at equestrian campgrounds. "Spent 7 days (max) here. Camp hosts went out of their way to make it comfortable, clean and quiet. Completely dispersed tent or rv camping with a Washington Discovery Pass ($35 year) otherwise FREE for up too 7 days," shares Jody S. about Margaret McKenny Equestrian Campground.
Dedicated loops: The organization of camping areas earns positive feedback. "This 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," reports Abby M. about Margaret McKenny.
Direct trail access: Campers value the convenience of riding directly from camp. At Lewis & Clark State Park Campground, riders enjoy similar benefits: "Sitting in our peaceful and private campsite amid a grove of trees, I felt I must share kudos for this state park. Many of the structures were built in the 1930's by the CCC and it has an iconic feel," writes Janet S.
What you should know
Permit requirements: Most horse campgrounds near Napavine require a Washington Discover Pass. "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," advises Samuel H. about Fall Creek.
Limited amenities: Horse campgrounds typically provide basic services. "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," explains Abby M.
Varying site quality: Site conditions can differ greatly within the same campground. "There were several campsites near the river where you could smell human excrement, see large piles of used toilet paper (specifically 16 being the worst), along with garbage littered around almost every campsite and a ton of broken glass," warns E V. about Porter Creek.
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds near Napavine offer play structures for children. At Rainbow Falls State Park Campground, "Big open field for playing, horseshoe pits, small playground, river trail, and fishing," mentions Ashley E.
Educational opportunities: Several parks provide learning experiences. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park, highly recommend this for anyone bringing kids," shares Ashley B. about Seaquest State Park.
Open recreation areas: Family-friendly campgrounds feature space for activities. "Big open park space for kids to play. Hiking along falls is fun. Swimming in hot weather would be great. It was COLD in June. Sites are nice," notes Sharon J. about Rainbow Falls.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: RV camping near equestrian facilities requires careful planning. At Millersylvania State Park Campground, "Separated tent and RV sites, sites are spacious, a very pretty and clean lake, Beer Garden at the lake, clean bathrooms, shower requires tokens but shortens the shower time if you have to wait," explains John G.
Full hookup options: Some campgrounds offer complete services for RVs with horses. "We stayed at a full hook up campsite that included electricity sewer and freshwater. Something we would change forever: The eight full hook up sites sat right on a very busy highway with loud logging trucks going by. It did quiet down at night however," cautions Theresa R. about Lewis & Clark State Park.
Space considerations: Maneuvering large rigs can be challenging at certain horse campgrounds. "It was a quiet place but obviously has a lot of full timers. It took a long time to get set up because of the ridiculously small amount of space I had to maneuver my 33ft RV and my 8ft extended cab truck," warns Savannah H.
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