Palisades Horse Camp

PALISADES HORSE CAMP
PALISADES HORSE CAMP
PALISADES HORSE CAMP
PALISADES HORSE CAMP
PALISADES HORSE CAMP

About 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.

Number of accommodations: 12

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Horseback Riding

Horseback Riding

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 29 to Sep 26

Campground Amenities

Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

12 Sites Available

Site
Price
🏕️ 001, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
16 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 002, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 003, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
16 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 004, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 005, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
16 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 006, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 007, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 008, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 009, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 010, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 011, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
16 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏕️ 012, Loop: Loop A Equestrian
8 guests · Campfire
Price not available

Reviews (34)

What Guests Are Saying

Palisades Horse Camp is praised for its beautiful location, clean facilities, and friendly camp host, making it a favorite among visitors. However, access to the camp is marred by rough road conditions that can damage vehicles, and some pens are equipped with uncomfortable concrete surfaces. Despite these drawbacks, many guests express a strong desire to return and recommend the campground for its overall charm and cleanliness.

Review Summary

4.4
34 reviews
5
67.6%
23
4
20.6%
7
3
5.9%
2
2
0.0%
0
1
5.9%
2

Mark V

Verified

August 15, 2023 Stayed at: 003, Loop: Loop A

4

Just need more shade for the horses and tables..It was so hot but we love riding out there...Thank you

Laura R

Verified

October 2, 2022 Stayed at: 009, Loop: Loop A

5

Have been going to palisades horse camp for years. Pat our camp host was the best ever at any camp I’ve ever stayed at. She was amazing and showed us a trail we had never found before. She’s an amazing woman and kept us very informed on all the trails and were attentive to our needs.
Laura Rome

Russell K

Verified

September 22, 2022 Stayed at: 002, Loop: Loop A

5

Clean, quiet and well maintained

Kim F

Verified

September 13, 2022 Stayed at: 002, Loop: Loop A

4

The campground was excellent! The campground host was absolutely incredible!!! One of the most well-maintained campgrounds we've ever been to. Thanks for a great stay. Williams Creek Trail is very rocky for the first 3/4 of a mile so be prepared for that if you don't typically ride in rocky areas. Cimarrona Trail is a a better trail in and of itself, but is a steady incline for several miles. Need to be in shape (riders and horses) to make this an enjoyable ride.

Mindy P

Verified

September 12, 2022 Stayed at: 003, Loop: Loop A

5

Had a wonderful time at the Palisades horse camp. Very nice facilities and great host. It’s wonderful to be able to ride the horses, paddleboard at the lake, and go for a nice hike all from one absolutely gorgeous location.

Fredonia L

Verified

August 18, 2022 Stayed at: 012, Loop: Loop A

4

There is 20 miles of dirt road before you get to the campground and it is pretty rough. The campground was beautiful, bathrooms were very clean, and water was within reasonable distance. The trails were pretty good and the scenery was awesome! The small chance of rain turned into a large hailstorm for us one day while riding. I suggest you screenshot the weather for your stay before you leave Pagosa Springs. The corrals are nice but stay very wet because you get a small shower almost daily. The only thing the campground needs to be perfect is a shower house!

Maxine D

Verified

August 17, 2022 Stayed at: 007, Loop: Loop A

4

Lovely view trails 2000 ft elevation gain in 5-6 mi. 2 large pens ankle deep mud due to lots of rain. We had good riding weather. Shoes or good boots necessary due to rocks. Lost 1 boot. Boggy in spots. Spectacular rock faces

Lisa B

Verified

August 12, 2022 Stayed at: 007, Loop: Loop A

5

Ms. Pat, the camp host, was wonderful!

ROY G

Verified

August 5, 2022 Stayed at: 010, Loop: Loop A

5

Camp Host, Pat was very helpful and a job to visit with. Restrooms were always clean. We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend this location for anyone interested in enjoying the nice mountain weather and great. Trails to ride on.

Jonathan T

Verified

September 13, 2021 Stayed at: 012, Loop: Loop A

1

This is a sad story, because this site is usually one of my favorites in the San Juan Wilderness. The road repair owned by the forest service just before the turn-in to the site had removed the cow grate. Herds of cows wandered through the camp for what looked like a long time. They defecated in all the campsites and on the site road. The situation was made worse by rains that created mushy ponds of manure as land mines throughout the that we stepped stepped on in the middle of the night. We woke up to cows grazing in front of our tents and in our campsite.

Location Palisades Horse Camp

Address:

Pagosa Springs, CO, 81147
United States

Elevation: 2645 feet

Distance to downtown

29 mi drive to downtown Pagosa Springs (about 59 min)

Policies & Rules

General

  • Campground allows Horses and Mules Only; no exceptions. No llamas or other livestock. Campground is for equestrian campers only
  • Grazing is not allowed in the campground; bring adequate certified weed-free feed
  • Campers are responsible for keeping their corrals clean throughout their stay and when they depart
  • Double sites have a divided corral for a maximum of 4 to 6 horses; single sites not sharing a corral can accommodate a maximum of 4 to 6 horses; single sites sharing a corral can accommodate a maximum of 2 to 3 horses
  • This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques.
  • Click here for more information on the San Juan National Forest
  • Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
  • Sites 6 and12 share a corral/stall. The corral is divided down the middle so the horses are separated, but will be in the same corral. Each site has a capacity of 2-3 horses.
  • The summer season here closes on 9/27/2026. This campground is open from 9/28/2026 for its Fall/Winter Season until 11/15/2025 or until the weather changes, whichever comes first. On 9/28/2026 the camping fee is half-price at $16.00/night. The restroom will remain open and the campground will become a "Pack it in -Pack it Out" with no trash dumpster available for your use. There will be no water available during this time. It will become First Come First Served, no reservations accepted.

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Last updated: September 7, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service