Kelso is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Kelso is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
Cresap Bay Campground
41 min away
Lake Merwin Camper's Hideaway (MEMBERS ONLY)
41 min away
"I love Seaquest for their beautiful campsites and the proximity to a wonderful forest to bathe in."
"I gave this park a high rating primarily because of its location."
$45 / night
"Stayed the night in one of thier small cabins, very nice sat outside by the fire and just watched the stars, this is a primary horse camp and is surrounded by trails, seen a heard of elk on one of my hikes"
"Since the camp is planned predominantly as a youth recreation center, I was a bit worried that it would be a pretty loud campsite due to lots of kids running around. That was not the case for us!"
"Driving up there the way we drive (from Vancouver) you go up through ranching/farming territory and it’s nice and green and pretty, so it’s nice getting there."
"Hiking around the lake is a great way to start and/or end you day while staying at Battle Ground Lake SP. Horses are welcome. There are cabins available also. Several sites overlook the lake."
$27 - $41 / night
"The upper area encircles a large open are perfect for games and running around. There is a nice disk golf course and a lot of large paths for waking and biking."
"And a loop with corals for horses. Miles of horse trails, bike trails, hiking trails."
$60 - $65 / night
$12 - $45 / night
"There is lots to do around the campground you just have to venture out and find it. This is a pet and horse friendly spot.
There is one hiker spot for first come first serve."
"To the west are these beautiful sites, facilities, and walking trails. In the morning, we hiked the old growth loop prior to resuming our journey."
"Kalama Horse Camp has always been one of my favorite places to take my horses for a camping adventure."
"This is primarily a spot where you go to park your horse trailer and go from there! However it’s “first come first served”. Has few amenities, pit toilets.... clean and composting."
"There are 8 walk in sites and one drive up site, all first come first serve discovery pass required. Some sites are larger than others, but in ours we were able to fit two 6ptents and one 2p tent."
"Discover pass required
Merrill Lake, just outside of Cougar, WA feels very remote, despite its relatively close proximity to the Portland/Vancouver area."
$20 - $35 / night
"This campground is adjacent to a couple of really awesome bike paths, so I parked here for day use. I haven't camped here YET but I thought I could add some photos!"
"I've seen boyscout troops come through on packs of bicycles and single joggers on the Banks Vernonia trail which is easy and scenic."
$33 - $57 / night
"Hares Canyon Horse Camp is one of three campgrounds in Stub Stewart State Park and unlike other horse camps which often allow the overflow of tenters and rv'ers without horses, this horse camp is equestrian"
"I don’t have a horse but I still stayed here! We were in the area, struggling to find a place to camp. After 7 pm, the campground let us set up camp in an empty equestrian campsite. Unique experience!"
LegendHares Canyon Horse Camp is one of three campgrounds in Stub Stewart State Park and unlike other horse camps which often allow the overflow of tenters and rv'ers without horses, this horse camp is equestrian only.
The Campground is set up in one loop and offers both single and double sites, ADA facilities, showers, toilets, and trash. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a corral. There is a double corral on the double sites.
You must clean up after your own horse. Manure bin as well as shovels/brooms are provided onsite.
In mid May, the sites were very wide open.
GuideI don’t have a horse but I still stayed here! We were in the area, struggling to find a place to camp. After 7 pm, the campground let us set up camp in an empty equestrian campsite. Unique experience!
GuideI love Seaquest for their beautiful campsites and the proximity to a wonderful forest to bathe in. But don't go for the RV sites, which are laid out in a parking lot setting with no real distance from neighbors and not surrounded by trees. Unless that's your jam. It was definitely not ours, tent camping alongside some friends with a trailer who liked nothing more than to hang out at said trailer, and walk through the campground to look at other.. trailers. I don't think they even stepped foot in the 7+ miles of forest trails which is a few steps away. If you can step away from the hookups and get a real campsite off the RV pad, it is a stunning experience. Each site is surrounded by trees, creating privacy and serenity. Another great option is the yurts. We stayed in Yurt 2 (the only pet friendly yurt) and loved it.
For those with RV's, trailers, campers - look into the regular sites because I think some of them even have hookups and can accommodate most sizes. Just steer clear of RV sites T1-T16.
ScoutStayed the night in one of thier small cabins, very nice sat outside by the fire and just watched the stars, this is a primary horse camp and is surrounded by trails, seen a heard of elk on one of my hikes
GuideWe love it! For a lot of reasons. Part of the reason is it’s close, so that’s part good. Driving up there the way we drive (from Vancouver) you go up through ranching/farming territory and it’s nice and green and pretty, so it’s nice getting there. You do have a lot of options, in that the first time we went up there was with our hiking club, and we went up there for a hike around the calderas so it’s easy to do a day trip in a car. Part of our discovery was while we were there is that the food place is really good and very nice. The kids playground was great for the grandkids.
As far as the camping, while it’s open, for the most part you do have a limited amount of privacy in the campground. The campsite we picked was a mix of things: just far enough away from the restrooms where we don’t get all the traffic there, but close enough so it’s not too far either. We were within easy walking distance to two restrooms/showers.
One thing that always looked intriguing is they do have the cabins, so maybe one of these times we’ll rent one. Another thing that some people might like is that they do have horses and some of the trails around the lake you can have horses on, plus a separate area/campground where you can have your horses, which are fun to see.
It’s a small lake but big lake, meaning they do not allow motors on the lake, even electric motors, so it’s all floats, kayakers, etc. A lot of people grab the big inter-tubes and go with that. And of course fishing up there is generally pretty good, especially when they stock it. The trails around the lake are kind of fun also because you have a high trail (very forested) and you also have a certain amount of low trails right on the water where you could have your own spots to fish and swim.
Like most campgrounds, it has its peak season and its off-season, but you can go there year-round if you choose to. The beach area isn’t big, but that’s okay. Wherever you’re heading (from the campsites down to the water, to the playground, to the food shack) you always have different trails and options for how to get from one place to another if you want to explore. If there’s anything you forgot (groceries, fishing gear etc.) you can be in the small town of Battle Ground within 5 miles.
LegendThis is a great spot for group camping! The upper area encircles a large open are perfect for games and running around. There is a nice disk golf course and a lot of large paths for waking and biking. Tons of hiking trails and close to Vernonia. The restrooms are clean. There are several ADA sites, cabins, tent soots and even horse sites.
LegendWe had the campground to our self midweek. This is a wonderful campground far enough off the beaten path and being listed has a horse camp most likely keeps the crowds down. While this is a horse campground, only 8 of the sites are for horse campers, a small tent/RV camping loop of 3 sites is also available, but the parking pads are small so don't think most RVs will fit in the spots. Each campsite has a picnic table and metal fire ring. Nice flat ground for your tent with plenty of shade from the large trees. Campground has a hand pump for water. Dish wash stations are through out the campground for pouring out you dish water. The horse camp sites all have corrals for the horses. Nice hiking trail starts at the tent camping area, "Big Tree Trail" will take you past some monster sized trees. This will be a campground we return to the next time we visit Oregon
ScoutMy partner and I had a relaxing time camping at Camp Wilkerson, staying overnight on a Saturday and Sunday in August. Since the camp is planned predominantly as a youth recreation center, I was a bit worried that it would be a pretty loud campsite due to lots of kids running around. That was not the case for us! We stayed at the tent site T9 and pretty much had the place to ourselves on Sunday. The solitude and creek nearby made the experience quite tranquil. It's our new favorite camping spot and we will be back.
The bathrooms are sort of far away from the tent sites, but it wasn't a big deal. It was nice to have a flush toilet available. We did have a hell of a time figuring out the trail wayfinding! The Little Foot trail is overgrown and the wayfinding signs don't make any sense. This was a bummer since we don't have a horse and it was the only trail that didn't have lots of horse poop on it. We had a hard time figuring out the other two trails, too, but the Liahona one made the most sense. So, stick to the Liahona trail, take a picture of the map and bring a compass.
GuideA great place to camp with the familyin tents or an rv, groups, rent a cabin or hold an event like a wedding. Bring your horses and ride the trails and stay at the horse camp.
Tent and two RV sites are on the first right turn and there is even a stream to play at. Cabins are the first left turn and each has a cute porch swing. Adirondacks are all over and great for scouts to group camp.
The lower bathroom is old and needs updated. The showers are free but the water just sprays everywhere and you have to keep pushing the button for more water. The upper bathrooms are amazing and worth the walk near the horse camp. The tent loop only has a porta potty but it doesn’t stink.
If you do not reserve your spots you can only stay one night and there is an additional $5 transaction fee to pay on site.
Oh and there is no map at the beginning but if you go to the horse camp there is a full map.
Sprint and Verizon have no signal for sure and no Wi-fi is available.
Horse camping in Washington offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine companions. With a variety of campgrounds equipped with horse-friendly amenities, riders can experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Kelso, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Kelso, WA is Seaquest State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 45 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Kelso, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 equestrian camping locations near Kelso, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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