Santiam Horse Camp

Closed — Closed for the season through May 14, 2026. Prime season runs May 15 through October 4. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance.

About

Santiam Horse Camp was designed and constructed in 2006 through a partnership between the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Silver Falls Chapter of Oregon Equestrian Trails, with volunteers contributing nearly 2,000 hours of service. The campground served recreationalists for years until the 2020 Labor Day Fires severely impacted the area. After a yearlong closure, it reopened in summer 2022 in a partially burned forest setting that adds unique character to the landscape. The campground offers 9 equestrian campsites with log corrals requiring campers to bring at least one pack or saddle animal, plus 2 tent sites available to all non-motorized recreationalists. All sites include picnic tables and fire grates, with potable water available from a hand pump well. The camp provides vault toilets, manure bins, and trash service. One site features pull-through access while the rest are back-in sites, each accommodating up to 8 people and 2 vehicles. Santiam Horse Camp serves as the starting point for the Monument Peak Trail System, offering miles of diverse forest trails with clear streams and unique geological formations. Located just 30 miles east of Salem in the Santiam Canyon, the campground welcomes horseback riders, mountain bikers, and hikers seeking a less-crowded state forest experience. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance through the Oregon State Parks reservation system.

Directions

From Salem take Highway 22 eastbound 30 miles to Gates. Turn right on Horeb Road for 300 feet, then left on Sorbin Street. Drive 0.3 miles crossing the river to Gates School Road. Turn right on Gates School Road for 1.1 miles to Henness Lane. Turn left on Henness Lane (becomes gravel Monument Peak Road) for 1.1 miles to Xmas Tree Road. Turn right on Xmas Tree Road and drive 0.3 miles to the campground.

Nearby Campgrounds