Horseshoe Lake

Amazing campground. Super great spot. Great views, super quiet and secluded. The host was amazing. The mosquitoes were awful. However nothing you could do. 

Bit of a drive in, and since it’s FCFS, definitely get there early if you want a good spot. There are only 2 sites that are next to the lake, the others are not more than 100 yards max - but they are pretty close together. Road in can be tricky for some regular passenger cars, but SUVs and anything bigger or with more clearance is totally fine. Toilet was very clean and the sites were well maintained, but well used, some of the picnic tables were pretty damaged/old. Lake was gorgeous and the water was really warm! Didn’t have an issue with mosquitoes but I could see how early in the season they can get bad. Overall a great campground and worth the drive.

This is a lovely and small first-come, first-served campground along the banks of picturesque Horseshoe Lake. It's an amazing setting with most sites having a view of the lake. Waking up to mist boiling off the perfectly still lake was a treat. A short trail down the peninsula leads to absolutely stunning views of Mount Adams with the lake in the foreground (particularly at sunset). Fishing, paddleboarding, and hiking seemed to be the most popular activities. Mosquitos were quite vicious, which is not surprising considering the lakes in the area.

Based on its remote location, it was busier than expected, but most folks who showed up on a Friday afternoon in early August were able to snag a campsite (if none are available, there are plenty of dispersed camping spots along Forest Service Road 120 on the way to the lake). It's a compact campground, so spots are pretty close together and you'll likely hear neighbor's conversations, but there are plenty of stands of conifers that provide a bit of privacy.

The road (FS120) was not well-maintained at all. I would recommend a higher clearance vehicles or skill in maneuvering deeply rutted and uneven dirt roads with significant potholes. There was a pit toilet, but it was not functional/open at the moment.

I spent four nights here and loved it. It's a little (somewhat hidden) gem.

8/10

This is a small first-come, first served campground. On a late July weekend approximately half of the ten sites were empty. There are no amenities other than a vault toilet and there are tons of mosquitos - bring bug spray. However, the lake is heaven for paddle boarding and kayaking and the view of Mt. Adams from the lake is AMAZING.

Compared to nearby campgrounds, it’s smaller which I like because there are less people. Not a lot of bugs.