Box Canyon Horse Camp
Box Canyon Horse Camp is a primitive campground developed to provide access for equestrians to both wilderness and undeveloped roadless areas west of the Cascade crest. Groves of conifers and scattered meadows make an appealing setting for both hikers and packsaddle enthusiasts. Basic facilities such as tables, vault toilets and fire pits are provided as well as packsaddle specific amenities such as a stock hitching posts, corrals and water trough. There is no potable water (drinking water). In summer, water is piped into the trough for stock only (not safe for drinking); check before you go to see if water is available.
More like this: first-come in Oregon · free in Oregon · tent only in Oregon
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No Fee |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year Round, but Forest Service Rd 19 is not maintained for snow and ice in the winter |
| Forest | Willamette National Forest |
| Booking | No advance reservations. |
| Fees | No Fee |
| Rules | Maximum trailer length 30 feet. Camping is not allowed more than 14 days in a 60 day period. Use of chainsaws in the campground is prohibited. Dogs MUST be on leash at all times within the campground |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 43.9049° N, 122.0837° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMr Rx Piles
19 mi from the campground
- PrescribedMf Rx Piles
24 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRabbit 42 Rx
35 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Cold Springs
42 mi from the campground · 158 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Supply ↗ | 39.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV Bend ↗ | 41.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Horseback into Black Box Canyon - Desert Trek - Utah
Worth a stop
- 0.1 miBox Canyon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.2 miRoaring Ridge South Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miMcBee ↗24 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miChucksney Mountain ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miGrasshopper ↗12.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miBox Canyon1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.9 miNorth Fork Segment #5 ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miShale Ridge ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miBox Canyon Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.9 miShale Ridge Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 2.2 miRoaring Ridge South Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 2.4 miConstitution Grove Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Willamette National Forest, which overlaps Deschutes National Forest.
- inWillamette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,801,292 acres
- inDeschutes National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,870,116 acres
- 1.2 miThree Sisters Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 283,818 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Elk Lake Guard StationBuilding · Bend · 14.8 mi
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Box Canyon Horse Camp?
No. Box Canyon Horse Camp is first-come, first-served. No advance reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Box Canyon Horse Camp?
Nothing. Box Canyon Horse Camp is listed as free. No Fee
Source: Forest Service
Is Box Canyon Horse Camp open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Year Round, but Forest Service Rd 19 is not maintained for snow and ice in the winter.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Box Canyon Horse Camp?
Box Canyon Horse Camp is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Box Canyon Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Roaring River (Group) (3.2 mi), Skookum Creek Campground (3.5 mi, first-come), and Frissell Crossing Campground (3.9 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby