Palisades Horse Camp
Palisades Horse Camp is located 30 miles north of Pagosa Springs, high in the San Juan National Forest. This beautiful area has excellent horseback riding and hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 12 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
12 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 16 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 002 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 003 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 16 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 004 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 005 | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 16 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 006 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 007 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 008 | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 009 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 010 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This equestrian campground offers single- and double-family campsites to campers with horses. Corrals with feeding bins are provided. The corrals are divided into two sections with room for two to three horses on each side, depending on horse temperaments. Hitching racks are set up throughout the campground and a water tank is on-site. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A campground host is on-site, and is very knowledgeable about the area.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | Mid-June to November (limited services Sept - Nov) |
| Forest | San Juan National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 |
| Fees | Standard: $27 Double: $54 |
| Rules | Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am. Please be a good neighbor and limit use of generators to no more than one hour at a time. Dogs must be leashed or otherwise physically restrained. Do not leave pets unattended. Check-out time: 12:00 pm; Check-in time: 2:00 pm - if the site is empty, campers may come in anytime. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Pagosa Springs, at the intersection of Highway 160 and Piedra Road/County Road 600, turn north and drive approximately 23 miles to Williams Creek Road/Forest Road 640. Turn right and drive approximately 7 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Pagosa Springs, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.5464° N, 107.1967° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGold Mountain
44 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedHigh Mesa Piles Rx
50 mi from the campground · 324 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 35.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ski Barn ↗ | 41.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Palisades Horse Campground Review
Worth a stop
- 0.4 miWilliams Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.7 miTeal Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 3.1 miPoison Park Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.1 miPiedra Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 12.4 miLove Lake Picnic Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miWilliams Creek ↗9.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miCimarrona ↗8.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miIndian Creek ↗8.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.7 miHossick ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miWeminuche ↗12 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miMiddle Fork ↗11.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.4 miWilliams Creek Trailhead ↗San Juan 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
This campground sits inside Weminuche Wilderness, which overlaps San Juan National Forest.
- inWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 acres
- inSan Juan National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,094,539 acres
- 3.2 miRio Grande National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,937,280 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
- Debs SchoolBuilding · Pagosa Springs · 7.7 mi
Natural features
The campground is nestled in a stand of pine, spruce and fir trees, and sits at an elevation of 8,300 feet. The area provides panoramic views of the surrounding meadows and mountains. Williams Creek flows nearby. The surrounding forest provides a prime wildlife habitat. Bears, deer, elk and moose frequent the area.
Recreation
Hiking and horseback riding trails are the main attraction at Palisades. The Williams Creek Trail leads directly from the campground into the Weminuche Wilderness, crossing the Continental Divide.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Palisades Horse Camp?
Sites at Palisades Horse Camp are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Palisades Horse Camp?
Standard: $27 Double: $54
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Palisades Horse Camp?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Palisades Horse Camp?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Palisades Horse Camp open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Mid-June to November (limited services Sept - Nov).
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Palisades Horse Camp have?
12 sites, including 12 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Palisades Horse Camp?
The longest site here provides 45 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
Can I have a campfire at Palisades Horse Camp?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Palisades Horse Camp?
Hiking and horseback riding trails are the main attraction at Palisades. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Palisades Horse Camp?
Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Source: Getting there
What if Palisades Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cimarrona (0.9 mi, first-come), Teal (3.1 mi, first-come), and Williams Creek Campground (3.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby