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Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?

Posted by Fancy That on 5/22/2012, 4:57 pm
144.49.131.1

Every year I go to Jack Brook Horse Camp with a club (near La Honda) and it is WONDERFUL.

However this year, I already have mandatory vacation 10 days off surrounding FOURTH OF JULY.....and no club is doing Jack Brook during that time

So now I have to find something else similar? I love that at Jack Brook you can be in the redwood forest and have lots of shade and even some of the coastal temps can help keep things cool at night.

What I don't want is blazing hot, no trees, etc.

I like the idea of Point Reyes - since it'll be cooler/coastal - but we don't want to have to bring our own corrals.

Can anyone recommend something else? In the Bay Area Proper? We don't like to haul more than 3 hours and would prefer it be closer to 2 hours (from San Jose area)

Does anyone know if WADDEL CREEK, north of Santa Cruz, has good horse camping? Also - are the trails just PURE STEEP MOUNTAINS? My fat pony may not like that.

Any other suggestions? AGain - we want cooler or shady at least.....and nice trails and nice horse camping facilities.

THANKS!
Equine & Pet Portrait Artist
http://www.elainehickman.com
***Morgans Do It All***
Gilroy, CA
============================

What about Devil's Gulch in Marin?

Posted by datsundriver on 5/22/2012, 6:28 pm, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"

It is small, might be booked already. You can climb high mountains or cruise through the forest on easier trails.
It is in Samuel P. Taylor State Park but I could not get the ca.gov page to load.
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
Situs: El Granada, San Mateo County, CA - 5 miles north of Half Moon Bay

Link: http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/sptdevil.html

Look at Franks Valley Mt. Tam

Posted by CopperNChrome on 5/22/2012, 6:37 pm, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
198.232.63.171

They have pipe pens, pit toilet and it's a hop-skip and a jump from Pelican Inn for an evening nightcap.

Re: Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?

Posted by AmCanyonStable on 5/22/2012, 7:32 pm, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
76.204.29.254

1. You don't have to bring corrals to Point Reyes - you can highline. It is really easy and the horses take to it well even the first time. If you want to know how I would be happy to send you something.

2. Grant Park above San Jose has some shade, but not as much as you are used to.

3. Waddel Creek - I have ridden through,but did not stay. Not that attractive in camp, but good corrals. The trail is a gradual climb, getting steeper as you go. You can also trailer fairly quickly to Wilder Ranch or Henry Cowell to ride.
Wilder Ranch also has a horse camp, with corrals, but it is in a big unshaded open area overlooking the dump. Trails are nice though.

4. Agree with Samuel Taylor if you can get the reservation. Everything you are looking for.

5. Dru Barner Park Wentworth Springs Road at the 3200' elevation in Georgetown, Ca. aprox. 23 mi. SE of Auburn.
The campground is beautifully wooded with 48 campsites for equestrians including pull-thrus to accommodate large rigs. There is water available with troughs & faucets near the campsites with picnic tables and firerings in many. There are flush toilets.The campground is adjacent to the Rock Creek Recreational Area with over 160 mi. of trails. It is best to check with the Georgetown Ranger District PH 530-333-4312 to see if an organized event is going on. Otherwise rarely full. There is a $8. per night fee

Dru Barner isn't the place for cool temps in July nm

Posted by FriesianMom on 5/23/2012, 7:42 am, in reply to "Re: Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
12.149.148.7

nm
Friesian Breeder and Haflinger Rider
Back Creek Farm (Specializing in Retirement and Mares & Foals)
Sebastopol, CA

Oh, you are right, missed the cool part

Posted by AmCanyonStable on 5/23/2012, 8:16 am, in reply to "Dru Barner isn't the place for cool temps in July nm"
152.131.10.133

wow, thanks for all the feedback

Posted by Fancy That on 5/22/2012, 7:36 pm, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
166.250.54.209

keep it coming!!

ACS - especially THANK YOU!!! (I know you can high-line at Point Reyes but folks I'm going with specifically want corrals)

Samuel P Taylor and Mt Tam sound like possibilities.

I love the sounds of the place SE of Auburn....wow!
Equine & Pet Portrait Artist
http://www.elainehickman.com
***Morgans Do It All***
Gilroy, CA
============================

One more Santa Cruz right up your alley cross countycourse & camping!

Posted by CopperNChrome on 5/22/2012, 9:08 pm, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
166.205.137.147

You will have to search for the facility (I'm on iPhone). You have to join the club, they have camping, pipe pens, large arena, round pen, little cross country cours and tons of trails in the redwoods

Re: One more Santa Cruz right up your alley cross countycourse & camping!

Posted by ndwoods on 5/22/2012, 10:21 pm, in reply to "One more Santa Cruz right up your alley cross countycourse & camping!"
68.127.16.91

Santa Cruz horseman's assoc. facility. Cheap dues....great facility! Hot showers! You ride right into Henry Cowell State Park...
also Wilder State Park has horse camping...more primitive.... http://wilderstatepark.com
http://ndeewoods.blogspot.com/

Yep

Posted by RobynB on 5/22/2012, 10:57 pm, in reply to "Re: One more Santa Cruz right up your alley cross countycourse & camping!"
69.236.167.91

I was also going to suggest Henry Cowell. It may not work for you this time because they have the Fireworks ride the weekend of the 7-8th of July, and a pony club camp has the grounds the following weekend. But for the future, I think you'd love it and I can come visit you since I'm 10 minutes away

Here's all the info: http://www2.cruzio.com/~candg/Site/Homepage.html

cool, I never thought of Graham Hill/HC

Posted by Fancy That on 5/23/2012, 6:40 am, in reply to "Yep"
166.250.45.249

OMG what a great idea! i've ridden there before and used the arena, but never thought of being able to camp out a couple of nights there?

The dates could work because I'm off from June 28 through July 7.

We planned to go for a couple nights maybe June 31, July 1 and come back July 2.

So we'd avoid the Fireworks thing.

I'll have to check it out! I had no idea you could "camp out" there. THat may be perfect!

And yes, Robyn, you should totally come by
Equine & Pet Portrait Artist
http://www.elainehickman.com
***Morgans Do It All***
Gilroy, CA
============================

CNC - are you thinking of Graham Hill Showgrounds, SCCH?

Posted by Fancy That on 5/23/2012, 6:42 am, in reply to "One more Santa Cruz right up your alley cross countycourse & camping!"
166.250.45.249

thanks!!! You are thinking of Graham Hill Showgrounds which connects to Henry Cowell, right?

I know we'd have to join SCCH, but we always have to join whatever club to do Jack Brook, so we are used to that It's worth it.
Equine & Pet Portrait Artist
http://www.elainehickman.com
***Morgans Do It All***
Gilroy, CA
============================

Graham Hill that's the one :)

Posted by CopperNChrome on 5/23/2012, 9:22 am, in reply to "CNC - are you thinking of Graham Hill Showgrounds, SCCH?"
198.232.63.171

Once you pay the annual dues you can go any time and pay the day fee....no reservations needed...first come first serve. I used to go all the time but then I moved to Petaluma so I mostly do north bay stuff now.

Graham Hill

Posted by JM on 5/23/2012, 4:48 pm, in reply to "Graham Hill that's the one :)"
75.105.42.178

The yearly dues are $180 plus key card fee first yr.
Guest fees apply if you take a non family member, I think $25/night/person, very nice facility.

Re: Graham Hill

Posted by ndwoods on 5/24/2012, 12:03 am, in reply to " Graham Hill"
68.170.178.29

And only $120 for single member, not family, and you can do a work day at the grounds and save $20 off that....
http://ndeewoods.blogspot.com/

Jackson Demonstration forest

Posted by FriesianMom on 5/23/2012, 7:02 am, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
12.149.148.7

It is a little further away than your two hours but you can't beat it. Horse camp is at mile marker 17.5 between Willits and Ft Bragg. Call CDF in Ft Bragg to see if there is already a group going in there - 707-964-5674. $15 a night, pit toilets, corrals, creek setting, lots of redwoods and trails on both sides of the highway (easy crossing). We are going next weekend. Normally we do Redtail at the further end of Jackson for July 4th but we have another mare due.
Friesian Breeder and Haflinger Rider
Back Creek Farm (Specializing in Retirement and Mares & Foals)
Sebastopol, CA

Montana Del Oro

Posted by BarbaraC on 5/23/2012, 9:08 am, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
148.87.19.206

is down by San Luis Obispo. I have always wanted to camp there. It looked clean, is situated in the eucalyptus groves, and there are lots of trails there.

I can usually make Morro Bay within 2.5 hours from San Jose, so a little outside your travel time range, but I think it would be a very nice place to camp and ride. Just watch out for speed limit down 101, the CHP loves to tag horse people between Salinas and SLO.

Montana Del Oro State Park
Gateway to Almaden Valley/Southwest San Jose
Saving one dog's life may not make a difference, but it makes all the difference in the world to that one dog.

Waddell Beach = Big Basin Horse Camp

Posted by JM on 5/23/2012, 4:54 pm, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
75.105.42.178

A little meadow fenced with 6 sites, 1 tie & 1 pen Each site.
Flat riding near the camp or you can go up into the hills.
831-425-1218 reservations

Re: Waddell Beach = Big Basin Horse Camp

Posted by Fancy That on 5/23/2012, 8:11 pm, in reply to " Waddell Beach = Big Basin Horse Camp"
166.250.44.73

thank you!!! I'll check it out
Equine & Pet Portrait Artist
http://www.elainehickman.com
***Morgans Do It All***
Gilroy, CA
============================

Is there still a camp at Fort Ord? (Monterey)

Posted by datsundriver on 5/23/2012, 9:08 pm, in reply to "Horsecamping in Bay Area - with trees/cooler areas?"
67.180.99.134

I've never been but seems I have heard others speak of camping and riding out there.
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
Situs: El Granada, San Mateo County, CA - 5 miles north of Half Moon Bay

I don't know, I think there

Posted by cajunmoon on 5/25/2012, 10:16 am, in reply to "Is there still a camp at Fort Ord? (Monterey)"
66.81.254.163

used to be one by Toro Park, close to Laguna Seca. You could probably haul over by the Marina side, and camp in a trailer, but don't know that it is really legal. We just do day trips over to the Reservation Road side, or the Marina Equestrian center on 9th. There are restrooms at both sides.

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