Photo courtesy of Elle Ossello
Though it’s a relatively new addition to Oregon’s extensive collection of state parks, L.L. Stub Steward State Park is well on its way to becoming one of Oregon’s premiere destinations for those with an affinity for camping with horses. This 1,654-acre swath of land—situated just 34 miles west of Portland and sandwiched between two small towns—serves up just about every type of adventure imaginable, including an extensive network of horseback riding trails.
Perched at one of the highest points in the park, Hares Canyon Horse Camp looks over verdant, scenic Coast Range forest. It’s chock full of amenities, and anything that it may be lacking can be found at one of the other campgrounds or in one of the nearby towns.
Fifteen full-hookup horse stall sites dot the camp, each prepped with electricity, water, a picnic table, a fire put, and four-stall corrals. Two more nearby sites are twice the size of the others and offer six-stall corrals. For the equines, manure bins are provided, and for the humans, hot showers and flush toilets.
Open March 1 through November 1, the season stretches longer than the weather usually allows. Even so, be sure to plan as far in advance as possible—during sunny weekends, reservations fill quickly.