Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp provides designated equestrian sites near Mount Rainier National Park, approximately 15 minutes from the park entrance. Regular camping sites and horse-specific areas coexist within the campground, offering direct access to trail systems suitable for both day rides and longer excursions. The campground requires a Washington Discover Pass for entry but is otherwise free with a 7-day limit in any 30-day period. Sites feature fire rings and picnic tables, and vault toilets are maintained throughout the property. Most areas of the campground offer deep shade, which provides natural cooling for horses during summer months but limits solar charging capabilities for campers.
Trail connectivity makes Sahara Creek particularly valuable for equestrians planning rides through the surrounding forest land. The ADA-accessible trail provides an easy walking option for exercising horses or dogs while remaining close to camp. While water for horses is not provided on-site, the campground's proximity to streams offers natural watering options during non-drought periods. The shooting range nearby creates intermittent noise that some horses may find disturbing, though most acclimate quickly. Trailer parking is ample at most sites, with level areas for easy unloading. Pack-in, pack-out principles apply as there are no trash services available. The campground's location provides a practical basecamp for exploring both Mount Rainier's accessible trails and the extensive network of forest service routes throughout the surrounding wilderness areas.
"Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers."
"Lots of horses here which is enjoyable. An ADA trail is level for walking the dog.
Shooting range is close by, doesn’t bother me but it’s pretty noisy."
from $30 / night
"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."
"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."
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $48 / night
"This place is the best because the only way to get to the camping spots at Packwood Lake is to hike in or the use of ATV’s."
"Amazing camp site with a good amount of lakeside camps. Staying in site 41 to 44 guarantees amazing sunrise and sunset views. The lake water is crystal clear. Excellent location if you enjoy hiking."
"nice tall shade trees and beautiful access to the lake. trails are around and a large beach to relax on. sites are large and trees are close enough to hang a hammock. note: road to get here is entirely"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $45 / night
"We scored a walk-in tent site ($22.) on Monday in the middle of August without a reservation."
"We came here for the 4th of July to get away from the fireworks in the city (our dog is terrified of them!). We had an amazing experience!"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $915 / night
"The hike is beautiful and the lake at the end is stunning. It was a great place to start gaze"
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $54 / night
RangerVery nice! Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers. Sites are wooded between and large with table, firepits/grill combo, and level wooded spaces. 2 clean, well stocked pit toilets are available. Water faucets available at several locations. WA discover pass but free otherwise. It is patrolled regularly.
RangerThis went from a four star stay to one star in the blink of an eye. There is a shooting range directly behind this campground, and the horse trails lead right past it. On August 8th 2026 around 2PM, someone’s horse was shot while they were riding less than a half a mile away from camp and when they called 911, animal control came but police would NOT come even to investigate. This was reckless use of a firearm, animal endangerment, and honestly should be a felony. There is no way to accidentally be shooting at the trails from the shooting range, you have to DECIDE to do that. Police are absolutely useless, and now I know especially in this area the cops don’t give a damn about anyone’s safety.
You can hear shooting nearby all day and all night despite the posted hours at the range. Although it’s a free stay with a discover pass, I will NOT EVER stay here again and would not recommend this place to anyone with horses.
TravelerPerfectly fine, especially considering the low low price of $0. Sites no closer together (honestly, more spacious than) the average KoA I’ve paid $60-$90 to pop up a tent in.
I chose a spot closer to the road than the lake, but if I’d arrived before 7:45 other spots would have been available, I’d imagine.
TravelerThe description and reviews do match this site. This is a large swap lake with dispersed camping. It was a fun adventure getting to site but be warned this is not a RV or car site, you will need a 4x4 to access the site.
RangerHowever you camp, tent or RV, there is a site for you here. Taidnapam is the second Tacoma Power park where I have camped. There are two sides to this campground--the older side which are sites 1-52 are a mix of full hook-ups and partial hook-ups. The newer, larger loop is almost all full hook-ups with a few exceptions that are partial. There are tent spots in-between the two sides. They also have 2 group sites--one with 22 spots of full and partial hook-ups and one primitive group site. We stayed in site 9 with full hook-ups on the older loop. This loop is one big circle with a dividing road so it's kind of like two loops. The rest rooms and playground was in the middle of the first loop. My site had a short trail right to the restrooms/playground area. The playground was pretty awesome! On the far end of the second loop, there is a trail that takes you to the day-use area where there is a second fantastic playground. There was also a sprinkler system there, but we didn't know how to make it work. This area is right next to the river/east end of Riffe Lake. There are no swimming areas however because the lake has lowered over the years. We did ask if there were any swimming areas nearby or a way to get down to the water and they did have a list in the office. We checked out a few of the closer places, but since I have a 4 years old, I did not feel that any of the places were safe enough for her to get down to the water and I did not want to drive miles to get to the next park. One of the fun things about this park are the gnomes up in the trees! I didn't find out until the night before we left, but I guess you can do like a scavenger hunt type of thing to find all the gnomes.
GuideEveryone is all close together. But it’s free. They have bathroom porta potty.
ScoutThis is a really pretty site. The camping and beach access is great. We saw bald eagles and very low flying cargo planes. There is some kind of RC flying area on the north side of the site.
There is road noise, but that is going to depend on where you camp. There are sites right next to the road and sites a few hundred yards away. There are"homeless" camps here. They didn't bother us, but you can tell that not everyone here is a recreational camper.
It is large enough that we got our class A with trailer in and out. There is a bit of a loop, but this can be blocked so check first. The road is very rough, you have to go slow.
There is a dump and non-potable water station at the park a few miles up the road. It is$5 for non-campers today.
GuideBeautiful well maintained sites with tables and fire rings. Washington Pass required. Plenty of room for RVs at many of the sites - it was mostly empty when we came.
ScoutThe first time going was amazing! It was fall, and with the crowds gone, it was heaven on earth. The next time was the weekend and a summer getaway, with EVERYONE else, so it was noisy, crazy noisy. Now we only go during the week to avoid all the noise! Great, clean restrooms, and friendly staff. The lake and river offer plenty to do and see. We visit every year or two for the peace and quiet.
Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp sits approximately 15 minutes from Mount Rainier National Park entrance. The campground features designated equestrian sites alongside regular campsites. Accessible with a Washington Discover Pass, campers can stay up to 7 days within a 30-day period. The camp includes fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Most sites feature deep shade, which keeps horses cool during summer months but limits solar charging options for campers with portable equipment.
Trail riding from camp: Horse enthusiasts can access trail systems directly from Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp for both day rides and extended trips. "This spot will always hold a very special place in my heart. Camping along bumping river seriously has it all, wide open sites that allow shooting, biking, fishing, fires, you name it," notes Jess G. about the Bumping Lake Campground.
Hiking to Goat Lake: For hikers seeking alpine vistas, the trek to Goat Lake offers stunning rewards. "The hike is beautiful and the lake at the end is stunning. It was a great place to star gaze," shares Karen C. about Goat Lake/Snowgrass Flat Backcountry Camp.
Lake activities: Many campgrounds provide lake access for fishing, kayaking and swimming during summer months. "We were easily able to make short notice reservations. Even added an additional day after we had been here a couple days without a problem," notes Chris B. about visiting Taidnapam Park.
Proximity to Mount Rainier: The location provides convenient access for day trips into the national park. "This was a great spot right by the park for us to crash for the night. We pulled in on a Tuesday night and there were lots of spots open," reports Brittany S. about her experience at Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
River access: Many sites offer direct water access for cooling off or fishing. "Sites 9-12 are reservable, walk in and right against the river. The river was running high while we were there, so it drowned out most of the road noise," explains Stephanie S. about Hause Creek Campground.
Privacy between sites: Several horse campgrounds near Paradise, Washington offer well-spaced camping areas. "Sites were super shaded. Lots of trees for some privacy. Easy lake access close by," writes Jenna B. about Walupt Lake Campground, noting the natural separation between camping areas.
Weather variability: Mountain conditions can change rapidly in this region. "Cold in the morning (Aug) but warms up quickly," cautions Peter J. about camping at Walupt Lake Campground.
Discover Pass requirement: Washington state recreation areas typically require permits. "YOU NEED A WA DISCOVER PASS TO CAMP HERE!!! But it is free with the pass. And there's a gas station 5 minutes down the road in Ashford where you can buy one," advises Callie S. about Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
Limited facilities: Many equestrian camping areas have basic amenities only. "This is a dispersed camping area, no toilets, no tables, no potable water. Be prepared and do your part to keep our forest clean," reminds Jess G. about camping in the region.
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer specific amenities for children. "Taidnapam is a great place to bring your kids. There are some great spots to camp on both sides. My kids think it is the best place. They can ride their bikes, play at the park, and see lots of wildlife," shares Sharla H.
Walk-in tent sites: For families seeking more privacy and natural surroundings, consider walk-in options. "We love this campground to go to with kids - the walk-in tent sites are great and the water is so shallow now for quite a ways out so the kids can play in the water and the sand/mud along the edge of the lake," recommends Rachel K.
Site selection for families: Choose campsites with adequate space for multiple tents and play areas. "Site 9 is huge with room for several tents and hammocks. There's little to no vegetation between it and site 10, but the river drowns out conversation and music noise," notes Stephanie S., describing the spacious options at Hause Creek Campground.
Access challenges: Some equestrian campgrounds have difficult approaches. "The road to get here is entirely dirt," warns Noelle K. about Walupt Lake Campground, suggesting preparation for unpaved conditions.
Limited hookups: Most horse campgrounds near Paradise offer primitive camping without electrical connections. "I depend 100% on solar. There is deep shade in all camp spots, I chose a fairly sunny spot, but it wasn't enough to charge my batteries," cautions Fern about Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp.
Site size considerations: Verify that your vehicle configuration fits the available spaces. "We were in an RV. While some sites are better than others, there really aren't any bad sites here. We had full hookups. I think about half the park does. All the sites are nicely spaced apart and we didn't feel cramped at all," explains Chris B., detailing the accommodations at Taidnapam Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Paradise, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Paradise, WA is Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Paradise, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 equestrian camping locations near Paradise, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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