Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates2 total sites
RV Sites
2 sites
About Horse Camp Primitive Campground
Number of accommodations: 2
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Swimming
Water Activities
Year-round
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Spring
Water Activities
Summer
Swimming
Water Activities
Fall
Water Activities
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
2 Sites Available
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Site Details
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2 Sites Available
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Reviews (37)
What Guests Are Saying
Horse Camp Primitive Campground offers a beautiful, clean environment with ample space for large vehicles and tent setups. Visitors appreciate the peaceful surroundings, proximity to a scenic river overlook, and well-maintained facilities, including bear boxes and picnic tables. However, there were issues with reservations, lack of fire permissions, and some campers experienced difficulty finding level parking spots.
What Guests Are Saying
Horse Camp Primitive Campground offers a beautiful, clean environment with ample space for large vehicles and tent setups. Visitors appreciate the peaceful surroundings, proximity to a scenic river overlook, and well-maintained facilities, including bear boxes and picnic tables. However, there were issues with reservations, lack of fire permissions, and some campers experienced difficulty finding level parking spots.
Review Summary
David L
VerifiedNovember 16, 2025 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
Had a great experience
Greg B
VerifiedMay 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
Very clean, pristine. Responsive rangers
Haley J
VerifiedNovember 13, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
This was a great spot to stay, quiet, close to the lake, beautiful scenery. No complaints about the campground itself, just the inconsiderate people who took our reserved spot (001), so we had to park our trailer at a less level space (002). Other than that, great location to do some stargazing 😊
Lisa B
VerifiedSeptember 20, 2024 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
We had a good time,love horse camp only problem was couldn't have a fire in the fire pit didn't know till we got there
rochelle p
VerifiedMay 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
Horse camp is one of my favorite places. I went with just my dog and it was amazing. There’s only two sites so it’s very private
Raffi B
VerifiedMay 5, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
Spent long weekend at Horse Camp for a get together with a group and some fishing in Clear Creek and Whiskeytown area. Great location and large sites. Only issues were not lot of flat spots for tents and occasional speeders on the first road that cuts through middle of two sites. But overall, liked the sites alot and will be back
Debbie M
VerifiedMarch 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
Quiet, beautiful location. Water spigot nearby. Toilet area was very well kept and clean. Great place to camp for hiking and kayaking.
Matthew C
VerifiedDecember 18, 2023 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
It's a great spot with tons of parking. It's nice to be away from all the other campers, however, you will get a decent amount of cars, bicyclists, and hikers passing by.
Tim P
VerifiedNovember 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
Plenty of space in Site 1
Shauna H
VerifiedNovember 15, 2022 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND
Quiet and spacious. Beautiful area and beautiful site. Bathroom was clean and well stocked. Bear boxes in good working order. I didn't see any bear but I saw deer and foxes. The fox know where you cook and where to find scraps or anything you leave unattended for a minute. So beware of them. They're so cute but don't let them have your food! Lots of shady trees. Huge site but not a huge amount of level space, bring your levelers. I only stayed one night since I was just passing through. I'd love to go back!
Location Horse Camp Primitive Campground
Address:
Po Box 188
Whiskeytown, CA, 96095
United States
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. Turn left onto the gravel road and proceed .5 miles to Horse Camp.
Elevation: 326 feet
6.5 mi drive to downtown Whiskeytown (about 15 min)
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
1PM
Check out time
12PM
General
- Download your proof of payment for your campsite from recreation.gov onto your phone or other device. You must be able to show this to a park ranger if requested.
- Entrance Pass Required - Whiskeytown is a National Park Service site and requires a vehicle entrance fee. You can purchase an entrance pass at the visitor center, or online by using your smart phone, tablet, or computer by going to the website. www.Recreation.Gov. If you already have a valid Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, or Whiskeytown Annual pass, please display this pass in a hangtag or place it on the dashboard of your vehicle. Annual passes from Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lava Beds National Monument are also valid here at Whiskeytown.
- Maximum occupancy is 10 people and 3 vehicles.
- Horse Camp may accommodate any vehicle or combination of vehicles, including trailers, RVs, and RVs pulling other vehicles.
- Quiet hours are between;
- Black bears frequent the area: all food, beverage containers, toiletries, cooking and eating utensils must be stored inside a bear-resistant locker or out of sight in your vehicle unless they are in immediate use.
- Protect our natural resources. Gather only dead and down wood for firewood. Do not put nails in trees or damage or remove vegetation. Campfires must be attended at all times and completely extinguished (using water and dirt) when going to bed or leaving the campsite.
- Pets must be kept on a leash or in a crate at all times. Pets may not be left unattended. Dispose of pet waste in trash cans.
- Please be advised that because the Carr Fire of 2018 burned extensively through the park, post-fire hazards such as falling trees and branches remain. Stay alert while camping in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
- You may stay a total of 14 days from May 15 through September 15 or a total of 30 days for the entire calendar year.
- Click here for more information about Whiskeytown National Recreation Area www.nps.gov/whis
- There is a 3 tent maximum per site for this campground.
- Camping is limited to an aggregate of 14 days between April 1 and October 31 (inclusive) and no more than 30 days per person per calendar year. No period of stay of 30 days may be succeeded by any period of stay with less than a 7-day break. The 14 day between April 1 and October 31 is necessary to provide more equitable access to campsites. The maximum 30 window between November 1 and March 30 is necessary to prevent individuals from residing within Whiskeytown
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Last updated: September 3, 2026
