Boulder Oaks Eqst
Boulder Oaks offers equestrian and family sites in the scenic Cleveland National Forest, about an hour away from San Diego, California. Visitors are drawn here for the convenience of horseback riding and day hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as picnicking in the beautiful mountain setting.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · tent only in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 13 |
| Host/management | 20 |
Site guide
13 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2425 | BOUL | Pull-through | Gravel | 16 / 4 |
| 3132 | BOUL | Pull-through | Gravel | 16 / 4 |
| 3536 | BOUL | Pull-through | Gravel | 16 / 4 |
| 021 | SING | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 022 | SING | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 023 | SING | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 026 | SING | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 027 | SING | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 028 | SING | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 029 | SING | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
The campground consists of two loops. One has equestrian sites and corrals, and the other offers family campsites. The facility is equipped with one vault toilet per loop.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Cleveland National Forest |
| Booking | First come, first serve. No reservations available. |
| Fees | $20/Night for single unit, $40/Night for double unit, $5/Night for extra vehicle. Equestrian sites are $25/Night single unit and $50/Night double unit. Potable water is available. |
| Rules | Vehicles 27 ft. max. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Boulder Oaks is located 55 miles east of San Diego, California. Take I-8 to the Buckman Springs Road exit. Continue east on Old Highway 80 for 2 miles to the campground entrance. Campground is located on the right hand side of the road when heading east.
| Nearest town | Alpine, California |
| Coordinates | 32.7303° N, 116.4825° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bobby Combs RV Centers - El Cajon ↗ | 26.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Leslie's Pool Supply ↗ | 31.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
SAN DIEGO – BOULDER OAKS CAMPGROUND
Worth a stop
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
- 6.6 miBear Valley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.1 miPine Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.4 miDesert View Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 13.4 miPioneer Mail Picnic Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miPacific Crest Trail-South Fo ↗11.1 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_scenic_or_historic
- 0.1 miPacific Crest Trail-Boulder ↗13.9 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_scenic_or_historic
- 2.1 miThe Narrows0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miKernan ↗5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 4.3 miBronco Peak1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 4.4 miEspinosa Trail (TH to 10,628' ↗7.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miBoulder Oaks Trailhead ↗Cleveland National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Cleveland National Forest begins about 0.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.5 miCleveland National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 561,887 acres
- 5.8 miPine Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,260 acres
- 5.8 miHauser Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,919 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- US Inspection Station–TecateBuilding · Tecate · 13.5 mi
Natural features
The campground sits at an elevation of 3,300 ft. with oak and manzanita trees providing shade. The surrounding mountains are dotted with sagebrush, and wildflowers add color to the landscape in spring and early summer. The area is home to many species of local and migratory birds. The campground is habitat for the endangered Arroyo Toad.
Recreation
The national forest lends itself well to horseback riding and hiking. Boulder Oaks has direct access to a segment of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, a national scenic trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. Horseback riding is also permitted on all Cleveland National Forest roads and trails, except for nature trails.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Boulder Oaks Eqst?
Sites at Boulder Oaks Eqst are reservable on Recreation.gov. First come, first serve. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Boulder Oaks Eqst?
$20/Night for single unit, $40/Night for double unit, $5/Night for extra vehicle. Equestrian sites are $25/Night single unit and $50/Night double unit. Potable water is available.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Boulder Oaks Eqst?
Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Boulder Oaks Eqst open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Boulder Oaks Eqst have?
33 sites, including 13 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Boulder Oaks Eqst?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Is there cell service at Boulder Oaks Eqst?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Boulder Oaks Eqst?
The national forest lends itself well to horseback riding and hiking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Boulder Oaks Eqst?
Alpine, California. Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Source: Getting there
What if Boulder Oaks Eqst is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cibbets Flat Campground (3.9 mi, first-come), Bobcat Meadow Campground (4.5 mi), and Corral Canyon Campground (5.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby