Vern Whitaker Horse Camp

About

Vern Whitaker Horse Camp sits on the edge of Coyote Canyon with striking views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. This equestrian-focused campground serves horseback riders exploring California's largest state park, offering 10 sites with corrals and direct trail access into the surrounding desert wilderness. The camp operates seasonally from October through May, avoiding the extreme summer heat. Each campsite accommodates up to 8 people and 4 horses, with individual corrals for securing animals overnight. Standard amenities include fire rings, picnic tables, flush toilets, solar-heated warm water showers, and potable drinking water. One ADA-accessible campsite is available, along with an accessible restroom and an accessible horse mounting ramp. Access requires approximately 3.6 miles of dirt road from Henderson Canyon Road. The campground is exclusively for campers with horses and is not available for general camping. Reservations are available through ReserveCalifornia for the October through April period, with first-come, first-served availability in May.

Directions

From Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, head north on Borrego Springs Road for 3.3 miles until the road curves sharply right and becomes Henderson Canyon Road. Continue 0.2 miles to the Vern Whitaker sign, then turn left onto the dirt road and travel 3.6 miles to the campground.