A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service horse camp

Horse Campground

Forest Service horse camp in Plumas National Forest, Plumas County, California. 5,485 feet. 26.1 miles from Portola.

Managed by
Forest Service Plumas National Forest
Elevation
5,485 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
10 10 equestrian non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Plumas County

Overview

Horse Camp is located on the eastern shore of the Little Grass Valley Reservoir, giving visitors ample opportunity to fish, swim, boat and enjoy nature.

The camp is one of eight campgrounds in the area, but the only one equipped to handle equestrian campers. It provides access to a beautiful, adjacent mountain lake and various hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails that meander through the scenic hills and valleys.

Recreation

The 1,615-acre lake provides ample opportunities for visitors to fish, boat, swim and water ski. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of trout and kokanee salmon, among other species of fish, however, fishing licenses are required to participate.

The Lakeshore Trail, which loops 14.5 miles around the lake, is available for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The trail connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which stretches from 2,650 miles from Canada to Mexico, across three states. A variety of day hikes can be done on portions of the trail.

Facilities

The campground offers 10, single-family equestrian campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Eight of these sites are available to reserve online. Hookups are not available and the parking surfaces are gravel. Lantern posts and hitching posts are provided at each site. Each site is also equipped with a table and a campfire ring with a grill. Accessible vault toilets are provided. An on-site host may be available.

Natural Features

The campground is located in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, in northern California, at an elevation of about 5,060 feet. It is on the eastern shore of the Little Grass Valley Reservoir, which was formed by flooding in the 1960s. The campground and the lake are surrounded by thick stands of pine and fir trees. There are several campgrounds located around the lake as well as cabins on the south side. The campground is also the center of a popular snowmobiling area during winter months.

Nearby Attractions

About 12 miles northeast of the lake at an elevation of 5,446 feet lies a small, natural lily pond, called Fowler Lake. This beautiful site is perfect for day hikes and picnics.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • swimming site
  • water sports

The land around Horse Campground

The ringed pin is this horse camp; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.