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Wrights Lake Equestrian Campground

Notice

Due to the Wrights Lake Recreation Improvement Project, Wrights Lake Campground will be closed until July 31, but may open up to first come first serve if certain projects are finished early. After that, certain campsites may experience temporary closures. Please use caution while traveling through the Wrights Lake area as construction operations and heavy equipment will be present.

Trailheads and day use will still be accessible once conditions allow but may have temporary closures during this time.

Feb 27, 2026 – Aug 2, 2026

Overview

The Wrights Lake Equestrian Campground is available to visitors travelling with equestrian or packstock animals. The campground is situated near the Wrights Lake Campground in a grassy, open timber stand near the stream flowing from the spillway of Wrights Lake. The area is well-known for its vistas, hiking, wildflowers and birding.

Recreation

The campground provides access to the stream and lake, where visitors enjoy trout fishing, swimming and paddling. Motorboats are prohibited in the area. Stock users will enjoy access to multiple equestrian trails providing enjoyable rides throughout the back country and Desolation Wilderness, but may not ride through the Wrights Lake Campground and Day Use areas. An equestrian trail map is posted in the campground. Educational programs are offered at the Wrights Lake Campground amphitheater.

Facilities

The campground offers 15 campsites for tents or RVs with equestrians and other packstock. Each site is equipped with a table, campfire ring and grill; there are no hookups. Firewood can be gathered in the area. The campground has accessible vault toilets.

Natural Features

At nearly 7,000 feet in elevation, the campground is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest with a grassy understory. Large lodgepole and fir trees help shade the campsites. Wildflowers bloom throughout the spring and summer seasons. The campground is near Wrights Lake, a shallow 40-acre body of water popular for its serene and quiet atmosphere.

Nearby Attractions

Barrett Lake 4WD trail is popular for both motorized and non-motorized recreation. Desolation Wilderness permits for day trips are available at the wilderness trailheads, and overnight hiking permits are available at the Pacific Ranger Station, or online .

Charges & Cancellations

Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below).
Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.
Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Camp site features

Across 15 camp sites:

Picnic table: all 15 sites
Pets allowed: all 15 sites
Longest rig: 35 ft
Largest party: 6 people

Fees

* Recreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by location and/or activity. * Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person.

Directions

From Placerville, CA: Travel US-50 east approximately 25 miles to Ice House Road. Turn north onto Ice House Road. Take the 1st right to stay on Ice House Road. Travel approximately 10 miles to the junction with Big Hill Lookout Road/Wrights Lake Tie Road. Turn right toward Ice House Reservoir on the Wrights Lake Tie Road. At approximately 1.2 miles, stay to the left. Travel another 1.7 miles, turn left. Continue approximately 6.2 miles to Wrights Lake Road (Wrights Road). Turn left and travel another 2 miles to the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 1 PM.

Reviews

Ratings (11)

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

Leonard B

Loop:Equestrian

Site:080

Reviewed 2 years ago

The campground was clean and the outhouses were checked daily. The camp site had a nice level table, a fire ring and a large bear safe container. There was ample shade and the nearby stream (wide and slow moving by the campground) made for a pleasant setting. The dumpsters, which are for manure only (despite this people still had dumped trash in them) were convenient and easy to use. The water flow was slow, but one of the spigots remained on without holding it so buckets could easily be filled while doing other things. It was late August and so we took Wright's Lake Road in and out, which was no problem with our 3 horse, goose-neck bumper pull trailer and full sized pickup truck. There were no mosquitos or yellow jackets and relatively few flies. The trails for horseback riding are limited, and the footing on most of them is quite poor. Lots of rock, boulders, cobbles with large and often narrows steps up and down.

Brenda R

Loop:Equestrian

Site:077

Reviewed 3 years ago

Very clean and well kept. No non-equestrian campers were there as that has happened at other campgrounds. We enjoyed both of our visits.

Brenda R

Loop:Equestrian

Site:077

Reviewed 3 years ago

The weather was a little extreme with hail and rain, but that is to be expected in the high country in the summer. Much better than 102 degrees at home! Very quiet camp with no non-equestrian campers which is a rare find these days! Trails were indicated near camp but no trail signs after leaving the vicinity. Bring a paper map or download a map on your phone before leaving home. Water, garbage disposal and toilets are available and very close. Great experience and beautiful! Bugs like it also!!!

cindy t

Loop:Equestrian

Site:077

Reviewed 3 years ago

Our stay was absolutely wonderful. Nice horseback rides and then afternoons in the clean lake. Highly recommended for other equestrians.

Deborah I

Loop:Equestrian

Site:078

Reviewed 4 years ago

First time horse camping, loved it and look forward to going back. A few things to note; water pressure in campground extremely low due to broken water line. Filled water containers at non-horse campground. Although a Federal campground it is managed by a contracted management company, Royal Elk. We were told that they, NOT the federal park system, is making their own decisions on which rules to enforce within the campground. For example, allowing non horse campers to use facility. Earlier in the season parking was allowed in the meadow which is what caused the broken water supply line. We also heard that they are considering making this equine campground open to all. There are so few options for horse camping I hope this never happens.

Sherry G

Loop:Equestrian

Site:076

Reviewed 4 years ago

Nice horse camping spot. The lake and all there is to do other than of course riding is incredible. I was disappointed how difficult the water was...couldn't attach a hose to refill water tanks or buckets easier, amd they were few a far between sites. Also, the trails were very poorly marked if at all. Fire sadly hurt some, but generally, they all weren't labeled well. However, the area is an amazing spot to get away to. I definitely recommend it anyways and look forward to returning.

Kim H

Loop:Equestrian

Site:079

Reviewed 6 years ago

I stayed at the equestrian camp and thought it was osum! However there are some things you need to know b4 you go. The trails are rocky and some are not marked, and there is no map at the campsite. You can take a picture of the bulletin board map with your fon, but the map is only ok. It’s best to buy the National Geographic map and expand a copy before you go. You are not supposed to take your horse near the lake... health regulations, the houses get their water there, and people swim in the lake. You have to pack water to your horse, so bring a wheeled cart to do so. It is not possible to connect a hose to the spicket, so leave your hose at home. The directions to get to Wright’s lake on the website say to go up ice house road.... I totally disagree. Go up Wright’s lake road, it’s wayyyyy faster and the road is fine. I have a 3 horse gooseneck and had no trouble at all. Basically both ways are steep and winedy, so you might as well take Wright’s Road which is about 10 miles shorter. Overall, campsites are kept nice and clean, toilets are not flush but are cleaned daily and don’t seem to smell. There is a dumpster for your horse poop, and your garbage. So enjoy!!! Cool place.

Tina M

Loop:Equestrian

Site:075

Reviewed 6 years ago

The Equine campground is perfect the trails not so much. They are not marked properly were you can ride. Knowing we’re you can go with your equine with tree markers are helpful. Not just by the map at the campground. It was not helpful and we ended up in a area we were not supposed to be. Thank goodness a home owner helped us out.

Dawn E

Loop:Equestrian

Site:077

Reviewed 6 years ago

Loved the campground & access to trails. Our horse loved that there was grass available. We kayaked around the lake & up the creek. It was beautiful. The camp host came through each day to make sure all was well. We will definitely return as soon as possible.

James L

Loop:Equestrian

Site:072

Reviewed 6 years ago

We've been camping at the equestrian park for over 30 years and absolutely love the area. Our experience this year wasn't the best time had. Trails were not in good shape and the water line that supplied the campground was broken our crushed so we had to drive down to the parking area for water for the animals. Luckily we brought water contains to transport water. We plan on going back in September, hopefully the water line will have been repaired. Its absolutely beautiful there and we do have a great time. The camp hosts were great and very helpful.

Peggy O

Loop:Equestrian

Site:083

Reviewed 7 years ago

They could use more hose bibs and if back-flow devices were installed on the hose bibs, people could hookup hoses.

Popularity

Quiet · 37%

Busiest in July, when about 37% of sites are booked. Based on 9 years of reservations.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

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