Horse Camp Primitive Campground
This campground is located in the southeast corner of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 15 miles west of Redding, California, and three and a half hours north of Sacramento. This is the only campground in the park that can accommodate camping with horses, but horseback riders must share the campground with visitors who may not have horses. The cool, clear waters of Whiskeytown Lake provide endless water activities. The picturesque mountain setting and extensive forested backcountry offer ample opportunities for horseback riding, hiking and biking.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 2 |
Site guide
2 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 3 | Yes | Standard |
| 002 | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 3 | 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 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Horse Camp can accommodate any vehicle or combination of vehicles, including trailers, RVs and RVs pulling other vehicles. Overflow parking is available. Each campsite is equipped with two picnic tables, two large bear-resistant storage lockers, a metal fire pit with a swing-arm barbecue grill and a lamp pole. The two campsites share a vault toilet. A hand pump provides potable water when available. There is no electricity at the site. There are no corrals, hitching posts or troughs at the site. Horses must be high-lined or tethered to trailer.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Interstate 5 in Redding, CA, drive 10 miles west on Highway 299. Turn left on Kennedy Memorial Drive at the visitor center and follow it for 1.6 miles until you reach a fork in the road at the dam. Turn left on Paige Bar Road and drive for two miles until you reach another fork in the road at the NEED Camp.
| Nearest town | Whiskeytown, California |
| Coordinates | 40.5761° N, 122.5314° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShf Rx
13 mi from the campground
- PrescribedFive-6 Rx
24 mi from the campground
- PrescribedFive-7 Rx
25 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 6 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 8.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | The Hermit’s Hut ↗ | 8.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Brandy Creek Beach is located five and a half miles from the campground and features sandy beaches, a large swimming area, picnicking and barbecuing facilities. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are showers, a store with food and supplies and rentals of paddle boards and kayaks.
- 11.5 mi
- 11.6 mi
- 11.8 miCentimudi Public Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
- inShasta-Trinity National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,715,499 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
- Lorenz HotelBuilding · Redding · 7.3 mi
- Old City Hall BuildingBuilding · Redding · 7.4 mi
- Cascade TheatreBuilding · Redding · 7.5 mi
Natural features
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located where the Klamath Mountains, Cascade and Coast Mountain Ranges, and the Sacramento Valley meet, creating a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes. Foothill pines lightly shade Horse Camp.
Recreation
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. Year round, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, fishing and picnicking attract visitors. Hunting is allowed in the appropriate season.
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 Camp Primitive Campground?
Sites at Horse Camp Primitive 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 Camp Primitive Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Horse Camp Primitive Campground have?
2 sites, including 2 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Horse Camp Primitive Campground?
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
Are pets allowed at Horse Camp Primitive Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Horse Camp Primitive Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Horse Camp Primitive Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Horse Camp Primitive Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Horse Camp Primitive Campground?
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Horse Camp Primitive Campground?
Whiskeytown, California. Brandy Creek Beach is located five and a half miles from the campground and features sandy beaches, a large swimming area, picnicking and barbecuing facilities.
Source: Getting there
What if Horse Camp Primitive Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground (1.3 mi), Brandy Creek Primitive Campground (3.2 mi), and Sheep Camp Primitive Campground (3.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Horse Camp Primitive Campground in?
Horse Camp Primitive Campground is a Whiskeytown National Recreation Area campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.