Set up camp under giant cottonwoods and spend your days exploring the trails along the Carson River. Horse Camp is a little known campground that is managed by Nevada State Parks and is technically part of Fort Churchill State Historic Park. Never heard of it? That’s because this equestrian campground has slipped through the cracks. You won’t find much if any mention of it online and it is rarely used, especially by equestrians.
Horse Camp features two nicely built wooden corrals and two campsites with fire rings and picnic tables, though there is plenty of space for people to set up their own corrals. In years past there has been a porta potty here, but currently there are no restrooms or garbage cans on site. It is basically a pack it in-pack it out primitive camp. The cottonwoods here are massive and a tributary of the Carson River is just outside the camp; easy to get your horse to it or draw water from. The footing is sand, sand, and more sand.
Why isn’t Horse Camp better known and used? First, the nearby Scout Camp is easier to get too and has a restroom, garbage collection, and more corrals. Also, Horse Camp’s perimeter fencing is poor and the grazing cows often get into camp. There is a lot of cow poop in the campground. As we all know, with cows come flies. This camp can be horrendous with flies, especially later in the season.
That said, this is a nice, remote little spot to camp far away from anyone else IF you come at the right time – which is in the spring, before the river starts to dry up and the flies get too bad. From here you can ride out onto the single track trails that run alongside the Carson River between Horse Camp and Scout Camp. You can also ride out into the open desert, where the Pony Express Trail and American Discovery Trail run.
Getting Here
There are no signs to get to Horse Camp. To find it, continue on the main dirt road (Simpson Road) past Scout Camp. You’ll come to a fork with a sign for a lookout. Take the fork to the left and stay on the road until you get to the State Park gate entrance (and fee box) and finally, a sign for the campground. Note: Simpson Road can get dusty and rutty.
Trail Maps
