Willow Prairie Horsecamp

Summary

Willow Prairie Horse Camp is a great equestrian facility located near Mt. Mc Loughlin and the Sky Lakes Wilderness. The camp offers large equestrian sites with corrals, picnic tables, campfires and grills, vault toilets and drinking water, and a trailer to deposit manure and hay. Additionally, the unique area of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest provides endless trails to explore and a wetland area with wildlife like elk, deer, and cranes. Nearby Fish Lake offers great fishing, boating, canoeing, and swimming opportunities.

Overview

Willow Prairie Horse Camp is nestled in tall timber at an elevation of 4,400 feet just southwest of Mt. Mc Loughlin, near a beautiful meadow of the same name. The camp offers many amenities to make you and your horses feel at home.

The camp was converted to a horse camp in 1990 with the addition of 19 miles of interconnecting horseback riding trails. The renovation was made possible through a partnership between the Forest Service and the Coalition of Equestrian Clubs, which provided much of the labor for this wonderful facility.

Recreation

Willow Prairie Horse Camp offers equestrian access to a wide variety of trails. Rugged peaks, sparkling lakes and forested areas provide the backdrop for many of these rides.

Facilities

Willow Prairie offers large equestrian sites, each with corrals, a picnic table, campfire ring with grill and ample parking. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

A watering trough is available for horses, and a trailer is left on-site for campers to deposit manure and hay upon departure.

Natural Features

The unique character of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is composed of two distinct geological provinces: the Cascade Range and the Siskiyou Mountains. The Cascade Range is dominated by snow-capped volcanic peaks such as 9,495' Mt. Mc Loughlin within the Sky Lakes Wilderness. The Siskiyou area embodies world-class wild rivers, remarkable fisheries and the most complex and treasured plant communities in the Pacific Northwest.

Adjacent to the camp is a wetland area featuring beaver dams and several large ponds where wildlife abounds. Sandhill cranes, Canada geese, ducks, elk, deer and many others frequent the area.

Nearby Attractions

Willow Prairie Guard Station was constructed on the edge of the meadow in 1924 by a Forest Service road crew. Its main purpose at that time was as a firefighter guard station. The original cabin was recently restored by local volunteers and employees of the Butte Falls Ranger District.

Fish Lake is just 10 minutes from Willow Prairie. Visitors enjoy fishing, boating, canoeing and swimming. A small resort on the lake offers motor boat and canoe rentals.