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Kalama Horse Camp Campground provides basic facilities for equestrians in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Cougar, Washington. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with drive-in access, though it lacks big-rig friendly sites. Equestrians appreciate the picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets while camping with their horses. The campground maintains sanitary dump stations and trash collection but does not offer electric hookups, water hookups, or showers. The horse camp attracts riders seeking access to forest trails, with visitors rating their experiences consistently positive. The campground operates seasonally from May 1 to November 1, making it unavailable during winter months.
Riders can access multiple forest trails directly from the campground, connecting to the broader Gifford Pinchot National Forest trail system. The natural setting provides ample opportunities for day rides through diverse terrain. Horse owners should bring their own water for animals as drinking water is not available on site. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system in place. While the facilities are basic compared to more developed equestrian campgrounds, the remote forest location and direct trail access make it popular among riders looking for a more primitive camping experience with their horses. Proper forest etiquette is expected, including packing out all horse waste and following Leave No Trace principles on trails.
"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."
from $12 - $87 / night
Check Availability"Had a beautiful spot with a short trail to the creek. Has some very clean pit toilets through the camp ground. Its a horse camp, to be mindful of the horses."
"Trails from campsites and throughout the campground to the creek or hiking/biking/horse trails. Fires in the provided pits were allowed in early July."
"Close proximity to Multonomah Falls. Pros - bathrooms with electric outlets, free showers, deer come close and are fun to watch, quiet & fairly private stay."
"There is distance between you and other guests but if you want to meet your neighbors you can. They have ADA sites, a lake, play grounds and a welcome center."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Clean and generally friendly, the Jantzen Beach RV Park is right inside of Portland (at the northern end, close to Vancouver, Washington)."
"Jantzen Beach RV Park feels like a real-world stop straight out of a Subway Surfers World Tour—a lively, convenient, and colorful place where travelers pause, recharge, and enjoy the surroundings before"
from $40 / night
Check Availability"Across the road is a horse camp that the PCT goes through. There is a spur from the PCT directly into the campground for easy access. There is a beautiful view of Mt."
"Some camp sots are better situated then others, so do research before making reservation."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $23 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $12 - $87 / night
Check Availability"Not only is the campground itself a woodland wonderland with winding paths through tall old growth forest areas, but the surrounding area of the park itself is impressive with exciting things to do around"
"We didn’t have any issues at the site, but noticed that spots RV4 and RV5 were relatively distanced from each other, while spots RV1-RV3 were pretty close to each other."
from $37 - $51 / night
Check Availability"9 campsites available, but when we got there they were all taken so we took a spot right beside the lake. Fly fishing allowed. Has a bathroom and access to non-potable water."
LegendThere are several pretty large, primitive, river-side group sites throughout the woods in the Yacolt Burn Forest near the Pacific Crest Trail there. We drove through on a Saturday and found multiple open. It looks like all you need is your Washington Discover Pass and to be the first to claim it. Just past Stevenson, this area is pretty undiscovered considering how close it is to Portland.
ScoutGreat place to camp. It has wonderful hiking trails. There is swimming available in the warmer months in the Clackamas River. Horse trails for equestrians and fishing!
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!
LegendThis is hands down one of my favorite campgrounds, because the spots are large, far apart from the other sites, and very quiet. It is not too far from the Portland area, I would recommend getting last minute supplies before getting off the highway. The campground is a horse campground, but I reserved on the Monday before arrival and it was still very empty so no fear about taking a spot from equestrians. The spot I had (Spot 4) was huge, plenty of room for a larger party, felt like a quarter of an acre. There were no neighbors on one side of the spot and only the water spigot on the other. All the spots in the campground had plenty of space between spots. There was lots of dead, dried out wood laying all around the site that after a couple hours of collecting I had plenty to keep a fire all weekend, and still left a pile of wood when I left. The campground is close to many trails in the area, mainly Romano Falls Trail. There are views of Mt. Hood, peeking out through the trees here and there.
Additional Stay, Different Year
-A few more trees have been knocked down due to winter storms, but this is still a great campground.
TravelerSite was nice and private, staff was very friendly, and the grounds were pretty clean! A short hike will take you right to the river and there’s plenty of nice trail to explore. If stepping around occasional horse poop isn’t your thing, maybe skip the hike though. Plenty of horses and dogs around.
LegendSmaller, but we were able to switch sites away from an area with two families/lots of little kids (so the area is easy for people who don't camp a lot). Beautiful river, lots of horses and fisherpeople, great trails, tall trees, lots of shade, close to Portland. Plus you can reserve sites ahead of time.
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.
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.
Kalama Horse Camp Campground sits within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Cougar, Washington at an elevation of approximately 1,800 feet. The campground operates seasonally from May through November, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 55-85°F. This primitive equestrian camping area connects directly to multiple forest trails, making it a popular destination for riders seeking wilderness access without straying far from their camp.
Trail riding near Mount St. Helens: The trail system accessible from Kalama Horse Camp Campground connects riders to the broader Gifford Pinchot National Forest network. "This is primarily a spot where you go to park your horse trailer and go from there! Short trails from the campsite, very close to the Mt. St Helens trails! Very nice area," notes A.M.C.
Foraging for mushrooms: The forests around Panther Creek Campground offer exceptional mushroom hunting opportunities during fall months. One camper reports the area is ideal "for a day of gravel biking or hiking, as there are many forest roads to meander off from here... or foraging for mushrooms in the fall."
Fishing in local waters: Several stocked lakes provide fishing opportunities throughout the region. At Merrill Lake, "Fisherman come and go during the day" and visitors can enjoy "fly-fishing only" waters with "stones in the stream" that are "a rainbow of metamorphic rock."
Hiking to volcanic formations: The Columbia River Gorge area features unique volcanic formations and hiking trails. At Beacon Rock, "The climb up the rock is through a well-built trail. It can get narrow at spots and not for those who fear heights. The view at the top, however, is amazing."
Privacy between sites: Many horse campgrounds near Yacolt offer secluded camping spots. At Merrill Lake Campground, "There are 8 walk in sites and one drive up site, all first come first serve discovery pass required. You'll still see and hear your fellow campers, but it does seem semi private."
Proximity to Mt. St. Helens: The location provides convenient access to volcanic attractions while maintaining forest seclusion. As one Kalama Horse Camp visitor notes, "Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a veritable wonderland... Lava flows, waterfalls, views of huge mountains and huge rivers, tons of berry picking, the Pacific Crest trail... it's ridiculous."
Dedicated equestrian facilities: Horse-friendly campgrounds provide specialized amenities for equestrian campers. According to a visitor, Kalama Horse Camp "has always been one of my favorite places to take my horses for a camping adventure. There are several awesome trails you can take right from the campground and there is a campground trail that guides you around the whole campground area."
Riverside camping options: Several campgrounds offer water access. At Panther Creek Campground, "There are multiple access points to the creek and the PCT is just outside the campground. Water, pit toilets (clean) and firewood are available."
First-come, first-served system: Most horse camps in the area don't take reservations. At Beacon Rock State Park Campground, "Sites are first-come, first-served, and even on Memorial Day weekend there were several still available at 5pm on Sunday."
Seasonal closures affect access: Most campgrounds in the region close during winter. For example, Panther Creek Campground is only open "May 18 to September 24," while Merrill Lake "feels very remote, despite its relatively close proximity to the Portland/Vancouver area."
Varying amenities between campgrounds: Facilities range from primitive to more developed. At Merrill Lake, visitors should "bring your own toilet paper, the bathroom seems to never be stocked" and "make sure to haul out all trash."
Parking situations vary: Some campgrounds require walking to sites from parking areas. At Merrill Lake, "This is a tents only campground... All sites are walk in. They are leveled out in a crushed rock space so be sure to bring a tarp for under your tent."
Playground access: For families with young children, certain campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. Seaquest State Park Campground features "a huge playground area as well as a day use site with covered shelters within the park."
Junior Ranger programs: Educational opportunities exist for children at select locations. One visitor notes, "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."
Easy trails for beginners: Family-friendly hiking options abound in the region. Seaquest State Park has "several miles of hiking trails which would be rated as easy for most and would be a great intro to hiking for families."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids can observe local animals in their natural habitat. Near several campgrounds, families can spot "elk, deer, and osprey" while exploring the forest trails.
Limited hookup availability: Most equestrian campgrounds offer minimal RV amenities. At Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground, "There are 5 sites with hook ups. Sites 1-3 are very close together with 4 & 5 slightly more spread out."
Size restrictions for rigs: Many forest campgrounds cannot accommodate larger RVs. At Panther Creek Campground, one visitor noted the "sites were a little hard to get into because of all the cars, trucks parked on the roadway," though they eventually managed to fit their "34ft" fifth-wheel.
Weather considerations: Seasonal temperature fluctuations affect camping comfort. A winter visitor to Battle Ground Lake reported, "Rolled in January 1st. Self pay. About 5 sites with power and water. We got a nice level one. There are only 5 other sites in the whole campground occupied... And 25 degrees."
Potable water access: Water availability varies between sites. At Panther Creek, visitors appreciate that "water sources and restrooms are such a luxury out here," while other campgrounds may require bringing your own water supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Yacolt, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Yacolt, WA is Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 41 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Yacolt, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 equestrian camping locations near Yacolt, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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