Campground

Wild Horse Equestrian Family

San Bernardino National Forest, California

About this campground

A variety of backcountry hiking, biking and horseback riding trails can be found near the campground, including the famed Santa Ana River Trail, which provides miles of scenic mountain views and points of exploration.

The campground offers eight single-family campsites and three double campsites, available for tent and RV camping.

A variety of other trailheads begin near the campground, including Fish Creek Meadow, Mission Creek, Dry Lake and South Fork, among others.

Map

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Latitude
34.155262° N
Longitude
116.781601° W
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Know before you arrive

Access, sites & campground features

Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.

Connectivity

  • T-Mobile5GGood coverageVerified by 0 campers
  • VerizonLTESome coverageVerified by 10 campers · Oct 18, 2026
  • AT&T5GExcellent coverageVerified by 1 camper · Oct 18, 2026

Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.

Access

  • Drive-in

Site types

  • Tent sites
  • RV / trailer sites
  • Equestrian sites
  • Standard campsites
  • CabinsCommunity report

Features

For campers

  • Toilets
  • Showers
  • Drinking water
  • Picnic table
  • FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
  • Firewood availableCommunity report
  • Phone serviceCommunity report
  • Trash serviceCommunity report
  • Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
  • Reservable

For vehicles

  • Pull-through sites
  • Big rig friendlyCommunity report
  • Back-in sitesCommunity report
  • Sanitary dumpCommunity report

Official campground guide

Plan with the full campground details

Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.

Open official source

Overview

The Wild Horse Equestrian Campground is one of a handful that is equipped for corralling horses in the beautiful pine-forested mountains of Southern California available by reservation and is for equestrian campers only . It is strategically located to provide campers with access to a variety of horseback riding trails, as well as the wide open meadows of the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

Facilities

The campground offers eight single-family campsites and three double campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Some sites are accessible and only campers with horses are allowed to use the campground.

Sites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided.

More than two dozen single-horse corrals are provided, as well as a horse watering station, horse staging area and hitching racks. Parking space is limited at the campground.

Recreation

A variety of backcountry hiking, biking and horseback riding trails can be found near the campground, including the famed Santa Ana River Trail, which provides miles of scenic mountain views and points of exploration.

It is typically a one-hour loop ride that meanders through the area, but another route off the same trail will lead to a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, several miles away.

A variety of other trailheads begin near the campground, including Fish Creek Meadow, Mission Creek, Dry Lake and South Fork, among others. Fishing is also available in the numerous nearby mountain streams.

Natural Features

The campground is situated high in the mountains, at an elevation of about 7,000 feet. Surrounding terrain is rocky and steep, but appropriate for both the beginner and intermediate rider. Tall pine trees cover the landscape, providing welcomed shade at the campground.

Nearby Attractions

The Big Bear Lake and its adjoining town are located approximately 20 miles from the campground, offering a variety of water-related recreation opportunities, as well as golf, shopping and restaurant options.

Activities & amenities

What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.

Available activities

  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Wilderness

Amenities and facility features

  • Flush toilets
  • Showers
  • Potable water
  • Picnic tables
  • Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
  • Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
  • Campfire Rings
  • Drinking Water
  • Horse Corrals
  • Trailheads

Recreation sites

Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.

Standard Non-Electric

11 sites
Reservation type
Site-Specific
Equipment
Horse, Tent, Trailer
Maximum people
16
Maximum vehicles
2
Maximum vehicle length
30 ft
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Site rules, inventory & rates

Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.

Site rules

Maximum stay
14 consecutive days
Max Stay
14 days
Holiday-weekend minimum
0 days
Weekend minimum
0 days
Reservation cutoff
1 day(s) prior to arrival
Maximum published occupancy
16 people per site
Maximum published vehicles
2 vehicles per site
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Food storage
Wild Horse Equestrian Family's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with San Bernardino National Forest.
Fire and stove use
Wild Horse Equestrian Family's official facility record states: Sites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills.
Pets
Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.

Inventory window

Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.

Currently bookable through
Oct 3, 2026
Next release
Nov 29, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
Next book-through date
May 29, 2027
Group sites bookable through
Sep 18, 2027

Published seasons & rates

SeasonSite typeNightly rateAdditional personDeposit
Peak SeasonMay 1, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026Standard Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonMay 1, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026Standard Non-Electric$69——
Peak SeasonMay 29, 2027 – Sep 18, 2027Standard Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonMay 29, 2027 – Sep 18, 2027Standard Non-Electric$69——
Peak SeasonApr 30, 2028 – Sep 18, 2028Standard Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonApr 30, 2028 – Sep 18, 2028Standard Non-Electric$69——

Important facility notices

Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.

  • Campers must have a horse at this campground. You will not be permitted to camp without a horse.
  • Forest Service recommends one horse per stall.
  • This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations
  • In accordance with standard industry practices, Mountain Top Recreation will be assessing a $8 additional vehicle fee per night on the second vehicle in each single family campsite, and on the third and fourth vehicles in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the first two are considered to be one vehicle and the third and fourth are also considered to be one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles. The fee will be collected at the campground if you did not pay for the Extra Vehicle Add On. Extra vehicles must fit on the parking spur at your site.
  • Click here for more information on the San Bernardino National Forest
  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
  • Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.

Getting there & contact

Official directions

From I-10 in Redlands, turn onto State Highway 38 and continue north for approximately 31 miles, to Forest Route 1N02. Turn right and continue less than a mile to the campground.

Sources

Recreation.gov official facility record — Wild Horse Equestrian FamilyUSDA Forest Service — responsible pet practicesRecreation.gov official facility record — Wild Horse Equestrian FamilyWild Horse Equestrian Family official facility detailsRecreation.gov official facility record — Wild Horse Equestrian Family — food-storage guidanceThe Dyrt community reports — San Bernardino National Forest Wild Horse Equestrian CampgroundRecreation.gov campground details APIRecreation.gov published seasons and ratesRecreation.gov booking-window release dataRecreation.gov recreation-site inventory