National Park Service · California
Horse Camp Primitive Campground
National Park Service · California, United States · in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
- Sites
- 2
- Hookups
- 2 with water, 2 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 25 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,083 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
- Nearest town
- Whiskeytown
- Address
- PO Box 188, Whiskeytown , CA, 96095
- Phone
- 530-242-3412
- Activities
- Camping, Gold Panning, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Mountain Biking
2 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Fees
Horse Camp camping fee: $20. This is the nightly cost for a tent-only site Maximum occupancy: 6 people and two vehicles. Pay for your site online at Recreation.gov or call toll free 1-877-444-6777. This is the only way to pay for or reserve a site at the campground. We no longer accept payment at the Whiskeytown visitor center.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 54° | 39° | 28° | 72° | 2 of 11 |
| February | 57° | 39° | 26° | 74° | 4 of 11 |
| March | 61° | 41° | 29° | 86° | 1 of 11 |
| April | 66° | 45° | 35° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 81° | 54° | 43° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 91° | 62° | 49° | 106° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 100° | 70° | 58° | 111° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 99° | 70° | 62° | 112° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 90° | 62° | 53° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 78° | 52° | 43° | 94° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 61° | 45° | 34° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 54° | 39° | 30° | 71° | 2 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground · National Park Service · 1 mi · 9 sites
- Brandy Creek Primitive Campground · National Park Service · 3 mi · 2 sites
- Sheep Camp Primitive Campground · National Park Service · 4 mi · 4 sites
- DRY CREEK GROUP CAMPGROUND (Whiskeytown NRA) · National Park Service · 4 mi · 2 sites
- Crystal Creek Primitive Campground · National Park Service · 9 mi · 2 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.