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Horse Camp Primitive Campground in California
Hard to BookNational Park

Horse Camp Primitive Campground

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, California

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As of September 2026, Horse Camp Primitive Campground is a campground in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, California with 2 campsites. Horse Camp Primitive Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Horse Camp Primitive Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Horse Camp Primitive Campground is located at 40.5761ยฐ N, 122.5314ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
10

Horse Camp Primitive Campground reservations and next available dates

September 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Next Available Dates

Sep 30 (1 site)Oct 1 (2 sites)Oct 2 (1 site)

1 site open on Sep 30 at Horse Camp Primitive Campground. Book one now, or pick your dates above and get an alert when a site opens.

As of 30 September 2026, 13:27 UTC.

Stay and booking rules

  • Mid-stay changes allowed

Published by Recreation.gov for Horse Camp Primitive Campground, read on September 29, 2026.

Campsites at Horse Camp Primitive Campground

  • Standard 2

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • showers
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, wildlife, horse riding.

All sites at Horse Camp Primitive Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the HORSE CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND loop.

SiteTypeSleeps
001Standard10
002Standard10

About Horse Camp Primitive Campground

Overview

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.

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.

Facilities

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.

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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (530) 246-1225.

Nearby Attractions

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.

Rules and notices at Horse Camp Primitive Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 29, 2026. Check Horse Camp Primitive Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

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.

Check-in time is 1:00 p.m. and check-out time is 12 p.m. (noon).

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 10 pm and 6 am.

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

Horse Camp Primitive Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Horse Camp Primitive Campground?

Horse Camp Primitive Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Horse Camp Primitive Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Horse Camp Primitive Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Horse Camp Primitive Campground have?

Horse Camp Primitive Campground has 2 campsites.

More campgrounds in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

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All 9 Whiskeytown National Recreation Area campgrounds

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