Horse Campground
Horse Camp is located on the eastern shore of the Little Grass Valley Reservoir, giving visitors ample opportunity to fish, swim, boat and enjoy nature. The camp is one of eight campgrounds in the area, but the only one equipped to handle equestrian campers. It provides access to a beautiful, adjacent mountain lake and various hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails that meander through the scenic hills and valleys.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 10 |
Site guide
10 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 42 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | 24 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 47 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 002 Host | Back-in | 42 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
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 |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers 10, single-family equestrian campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Eight of these sites are available to reserve online. Hookups are not available and the parking surfaces are gravel. Lantern posts and hitching posts are provided at each site. Each site is also equipped with a table and a campfire ring with a grill. Accessible vault toilets are provided. An on-site host may be available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Oroville, California, travel east on Oro Dam Boulevard to Highway 162/Olive Highway. Continue on Highway 162/Olive Highway for 5 miles to Forbestown Road. Turn right and go 16 miles to La Porte Road. Turn left and travel 27 miles to La Porte, then 2 miles to signs for the recreation area.
| Nearest town | Oroville, California |
| Coordinates | 39.7353° N, 120.9531° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 35.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 45.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Trails nearby
- 1.2 miBald Mountain Trail2.2 mi trail
- 1.2 miLakeshore Trail ↗14.3 mi trail
- 1.3 miWallace1.6 mi trail
- 1.8 miGibson1 mi trail
- 2 miBald Mountain PCT Tie1.2 mi trail
- 2.2 miEast Branch Ridge2.1 mi trail
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 Plumas National Forest.
- inPlumas National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,431,953 acres
- 8 miTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 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
- Hospital BridgeStructure · Downieville · 13.4 mi
- Hansen BridgeStructure · Downieville · 13.7 mi
- Durgan BridgeStructure · Downieville · 13.8 mi
Natural features
The campground is located in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, in northern California, at an elevation of about 5,060 feet. It is on the eastern shore of the Little Grass Valley Reservoir, which was formed by flooding in the 1960s. The campground and the lake are surrounded by thick stands of pine and fir trees. There are several campgrounds located around the lake as well as cabins on the south side. The campground is also the center of a popular snowmobiling area during winter months.
Recreation
The 1,615-acre lake provides ample opportunities for visitors to fish, boat, swim and water ski. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of trout and kokanee salmon, among other species of fish, however, fishing licenses are required to participate. The Lakeshore Trail, which loops 14.5 miles around the lake, is available for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The trail connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which stretches from 2,650 miles from Canada to Mexico, across three states. A variety of day hikes can be done on portions of the trail.
Nearby
About 12 miles northeast of the lake at an elevation of 5,446 feet lies a small, natural lily pond, called Fowler Lake. This beautiful site is perfect for day hikes and picnics.
Guidebooks for California
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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 Horse Campground?
Sites at Horse Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Horse Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Horse Campground have?
10 sites, including 10 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Horse Campground?
Horse Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Horse Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Horse Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Horse Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Horse Campground?
The 1,615-acre lake provides ample opportunities for visitors to fish, boat, swim and water ski. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Horse Campground?
Oroville, California. About 12 miles northeast of the lake at an elevation of 5,446 feet lies a small, natural lily pond, called Fowler Lake.
Source: Getting there
What if Horse Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Red Feather California (under 0.1 mi, partly first-come), Running Deer Campground (under 0.1 mi, partly first-come), and Little Grass Valley Recreation Area (1.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby