Capitol State Forest provides the primary destination for horse campgrounds near University Place, Washington. At 1,300 feet elevation, the forest experiences cooler temperatures than the lowland areas around Puget Sound. The region's volcanic soil creates well-draining terrain that stays relatively firm even during seasonal rain, though some trails become muddy in winter months.
What to do
Trail riding expeditions: Kammenga Canyon Campground connects to extensive off-road vehicle and equestrian trails throughout the Capitol State Forest. "Nice open sites with space for multiple vehicles or trailers. Easy access to ORV trails," notes Tim, who adds that riders should "expect lots of noise from off-road vehicles and music."
Hiking through old growth: Millersylvania State Park Campground offers walking paths through preserved forest areas. "Nice state forest with old growth. Lots of walking trails and a lake," says Anna P., who appreciated the well-maintained trail system. The park maintains 8.6 miles of hiking trails that wind through mature forest stands.
Lake activities: Deep Lake at Millersylvania State Park provides swimming, fishing, and paddling opportunities from May through September. "The lake is the main attraction and it is hopping. We went early in the morning and staked a claim and were happy all day. There is a nice shallow area and two large swimming areas as well as a fishing dock," shares Ellen T.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Tolt MacDonald Park receives praise for its well-maintained amenities. "This park is big, beautiful, and very family friendly. I've been camping in this park a few times and the only complaint I have during a high traffic weekend is that there are not enough rest rooms," notes Dawnielle C. The park provides accessible restrooms with running water.
Peaceful atmosphere: Dragon's Gate Gardens offers exceptionally spacious campsites set in meadows. Amanda reports, "Each reservable space is massive.... 4-5 times the size of most campsites. While you may reasonably run into other campers within each section if you go for a walk, you won't even know anyone is in the other sections, its so private."
Knowledgeable hosts: Margaret McKenny Equestrian Campground employs camp hosts who maintain the facilities and assist visitors. "The camp hosts Steve and Ginny are helpful, kind and keep it maintained well," writes Rachel W., who regularly returns to the campground. Jody S. adds, "Camp hosts went out of their way to make it comfortable, clean and quiet."
What you should know
Permit requirements: Several equestrian campgrounds near University Place require permits. For Margaret McKenny, "You do need a discovery pass in order to stay and just register up front," explains Abby M. Washington Discovery Passes cost $35 annually, providing access to state parks and Department of Natural Resources lands.
Limited amenities: South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site offers basic camping without facilities. "No bathrooms, so plan on dropping the kids off at the pool before visiting," advises Jon H. Caroline E. notes, "Unfortunately, most sites are pretty trashed. Still a pretty area and a good location."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts the camping experience significantly. At Millersylvania State Park, Christina F. reports, "The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because our site had a huge mud puddle from the road going to the power and water hook-up. The thin layer of mud on the pavement made things quite slick as I was trying to get leveling blocks down."
Tips for camping with families
Choose developed campgrounds: Millersylvania State Park offers family-friendly facilities with organized activities. Calvin K. notes, "We come here often as we live in Olympia. Pros: close to the city in case you forget something or a little one has a meltdown, lots of varied activities: biking, light mtb, trail running, hiking, paddling & fishing."
Consider group sites: Green Mountain provides space for multiple families to camp together. "Nice clean camping area with easy access to multiple trails and logging roads. Trails are open to hiking horseback riding and motorcycles. Camp ground has multiple horse stalls in a common area," explains Ivy K.
Pack for variable weather: Even summer nights can be cool at higher elevations. Christina F. shared her experience at Millersylvania during Thanksgiving: "The park is on their winter schedule so only sites 1-7 and 226-248 were open. It made for a nice, quiet weekend even though the open sites were 80% full."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Majestic Mobile Manor & RV Park requires careful maneuvering for larger rigs. Savannah H. cautions, "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."
Leveling considerations: Tolt MacDonald Park offers level sites for RVs, eliminating one common setup challenge. Russ H. notes, "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through its fairly quiet."
Prepare for self-contained camping: Many horse campgrounds near University Place lack hookups. At Margaret McKenny, Abby M. advises, "No trash, no water, no hook ups so come prepared. Was able to get decent sun for my solar so was able to stay for a couple of days with no issues."
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