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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.
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.
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.
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.
For facility specific information, please call (909) 866-8550.
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.
Rules & Reservation Policies
As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations.
Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites.
Booking Window
For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility.
Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees
Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.
Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies.
Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location.
Late Cancellations
Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.
Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.
No-Shows
Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.
If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.
Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund.
Refunds
Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.
Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.
Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.
Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.
Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.
Recreation.gov Billing Information
Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777."
Changes to Policies and Procedures
Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July
In Big Bear City, CA, at the intersection of Greenspot Rd. and Big Bear Blvd., take Greenspot Rd. (State Rt. 38) south 15 miles to Heart Bar campground sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.6 miles to campground sign. Turn left into campground.
This is a very nice camping Area. We enjoy coming up here and just doing the day rides also
Exclusive use only for horse owners. The regular Public is not wanted here, but it is great access to the river trail. Dusty from pickups racing high speed down the road
Thank you for having such a nice spot like this for us and the horses
Nice camping,
Real bathroom, flush toilet and Hot Showers!
New picknick benches and fire pits.
Rain before we got there, no dust!
