Littleton Horse Camp offers riders 11 sites with space for horse trailers and portable corrals. The nearby Layton Hill Horse Camp (also called Sage Horse Camp) provides additional equestrian camping with drinking water and reservable sites. Both campgrounds offer direct trail access for horse riding through Olympic National Forest terrain. Port Angeles serves as the gateway to these facilities with its location on the northern Olympic Peninsula at an elevation of 294 feet, where the maritime climate creates moderate temperatures suitable for year-round camping and riding.
What to do
Trail riding from camp: Equestrians can access bridle trails directly from Salt Creek Recreation Area without reloading horses into trailers. "Very clean and well kept up with showers (warm, not hot) trails, tide pool and beach access. Would come again," notes Tracy J.
Beach exploration: The Dungeness Spit provides unique coastal experiences from Dungeness Recreation Area. "You can take a short walk down to the spit to explore the sandy beaches. You are a short drive from the Olympic Game Farm, well worth a visit," recommends Melissa J.
Waterfall hiking: Near Collins Campground, visitors can take short hikes to scenic water features. "There is a hike with a trailhead 2 miles from the campsite. We walked there and it was a milder way walk uphill to the trail head and then the .8 mile hike heads to a pretty waterfall which you can walk behind," writes Asia M.
What campers like
River access: Many campsites at Collins Campground provide private water access. "There are 15 sites and most are along a river with private access from your campsite. We loved staying here! There is a lot of privacy between each site too," reports Asia M.
Wildlife viewing: The Olympic Peninsula offers abundant wildlife viewing opportunities from Campbell Tree Grove Campground. "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," shares Socks S.
Off-season availability: Horse camping options near Port Angeles often remain available when other sites fill up. "We came here around 9pm on a Friday as we couldn't get any first come spots elsewhere in the area. We don't have horses but it was a pleasant area to stay in still," reports Lillie P. about Sage Horse Camp.
What you should know
Water availability: Not all equestrian campgrounds provide drinking water. At Lyre River State Forest, campers find limited facilities. "Stayed here in the busy season, when we couldn't find space at any of the bigger more popular campgrounds, and there was no fee! It was nice and clean, quiet, and right next to a pretty stream," shares Brant T.
Alternative camping: Horse camps provide overflow options when other sites fill up. "The camp is intended for those with horses, but many people ended up car camping here due to a lack of anywhere else to go," explains Heartworn H. about Littleton Horse Camp.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating rough roads. "The road from highway 101 to the campground has SO MANY potholes. Big ones that we had to navigate in our RV but nothing that made it too hard to access the campground," warns Asia M. about Collins Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Interactive activities: Many equestrian campgrounds near Port Angeles have family-friendly features. At Dungeness Recreation Area, "There are playgrounds near the bathrooms. The bathrooms have showers, and are clean and accessible," reports Melissa J.
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable rates for families. "Located in walking distance to the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge ($3 family admission/day or with National Parks Pass), we found this campground to be just what we were looking for! A family campground with cheap and clean showers (50 cents/2 minutes)," shares Charlotte H.
Seasonal planning: Sadie Creek Campground offers affordable camping with a Discover Pass. "We drove right up. Notice said we needed a discover pass, which we didn't have, nor did we have enough service to look up what it was. We winged it and and got the pass later in town. $30 for so many sites in WA so worth it," advises Sophia S.
Tips from RVers
Hook-up availability: Some horse campgrounds offer limited electrical connections. Lyre River has options as one camper notes, "One site (6) has hookups and a cement pad but the hookups were locked for the season when we were there."
Site selection: At Salt Creek Recreation Area, RVers find specific areas designated for larger vehicles. "There are 2 areas an RV section and a tent camping area, I drove through the RV area and it seems nice enough but there is no separation," explains Kier S.
Dump station locations: Plan for waste disposal facilities near but not at campgrounds. "There is a dumpsite on the way out of the park convenient for RVers who dry camped," mentions Alex S. about Dungeness Recreation Area's facilities.
