Kalama Horse Camp

Federal campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Location: Amboy , WA, WA

Price: From $23 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (34 reviews)

Season: May through October

Kalama Horse Camp is located just outside the west boundary of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 27 sites accomodate primarily equestrian users, with nearby access to trails for horseback riding, hiking and biking.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/kalama-horse-camp to be notified when sites open up.

Kalama Horse Camp offers 27 sites primarily for equestrian users with nearby access to trails for horseback riding, hiking, and biking on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Mount St. Helens. Campers rate it 4.7/5 stars and appreciate the beautiful scenery and great trail access.

Wildlife alert: Mountain goats, black bears, columbian black-tailed deer, cascade golden-mantled ground squirrels, cedar waxwings, canada jays, western tanagers, varied thrushes, common garter snakes, and northern alligator lizards have been documented within 8km.

Insider tips for Kalama Horse Camp: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. Obtain a Washington Discovery Pass to avoid citations. The camp is primarily designed for horse camping with hitching posts and mounting blocks available.

Skip Kalama Horse Camp if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only self-contained RVs suitable.. You require year-round access — seasonal operations May through October only.. You're looking for developed lake recreation — McBride Lake no longer exists according to recent camper reports..

Best time to visit Kalama Horse Camp: May-October — Official operating season for the campground..

Nearby campgrounds: Marble Mountain Group Picnic Site (Cougar, WA), Lower Falls Campground (Trout Lake, WA), Sunset Falls Campground (Yacolt, WA), Paradise Creek Campground (CARSON, WA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Kalama Horse Camp

Cell signal at Kalama Horse Camp (Amboy , WA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Federal campground in Gifford Pinchot National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Kalama Horse Camp

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Amboy , WA, WA★ 4.5 (34 reviews)From $23/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Kalama Horse Camp is located just outside the west boundary of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 27 sites accomodate primarily equestrian users, with nearby access to trails for horseback riding, hiking and biking.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:RV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only self-contained RVs suitable.✕ You require year-round access — seasonal operations May through October only.✕ You're looking for developed lake recreation — McBride Lake no longer exists according to recent camper reports.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand.

Obtain a Washington Discovery Pass to avoid citations.

The camp is primarily designed for horse camping with hitching posts and mounting blocks available.

Best: May-October

Official operating season for the campground.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mountain goats, black bears, columbian black-tailed deer, cascade golden-mantled ground squirrels, cedar waxwings, canada jays, western tanagers, varied thrushes, common garter snakes, and northern alligator lizards have been documented within 8km.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
360-449-7800· Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Getting there →

From Portland, OR take I-5 north to Woodland, WA. Take Exit 21 for WA-503 E toward Woodland/Cougar. Follow WA-503 East; turn left onto Forest Road 81, following signs for Kalama Recreation Area. Travel 8 miles north; turn right and continue following signs for Forest Road 81. Campground is on the right.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Gifford Pinchot National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Gifford Pinchot National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Kalama Horse Camp cost per night?+
Kalama Horse Camp costs $23 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Kalama Horse Camp open?+
Kalama Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Kalama Horse Camp have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Kalama Horse Camp?+
Kalama Horse Camp is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Kalama Horse Camp?+
Kalama Horse Camp is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Kalama Horse Camp?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Kalama Horse Camp is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Kalama Horse Camp open, and what are check-in times?+
Kalama Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Gifford Pinchot National Forest- Kalama Horse Camp
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$23 /night★ 4.5 (34)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Kalama Horse Camp cost per night?+
What season is Kalama Horse Camp open?+
Does Kalama Horse Camp have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Marble Mountain Group Picnic Site

Cougar, WA

From $100/night

Lower Falls Campground

Trout Lake, WA

From $20/night

Sunset Falls Campground

Yacolt, WA

From $20/night

Paradise Creek Campground

CARSON, WA

From $25/night

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