Vern Whitaker Horse Camp
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®, CAVern Whitaker Horse Camp is the only dedicated equestrian campground in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, offering 12 sites with individual horse corrals, potable water, and solar-heated showers at the northern edge of the Borrego Valley near the historic Coyote Canyon route.
Campground Details
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 12
- 💵Fee per Night
- $35
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 📅Max Stay
- 14 days
- 🚐RV Max Length
- 35 ft
- 🏔️Elevation
- 960 ft
- 📍GPS
- 33.34869, -116.39916
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- fall, winter, spring
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 760-767-5311
- 🗺️Address
- Borrego Springs, CA, 92004
Amenities
Last verified: 4/17/2026
Named for a longtime park volunteer and horseman, Vern Whitaker Horse Camp is purpose-built for equestrians and their mounts. Each of the 12 sites comes with a substantial pen corral, fire ring, picnic table, and access to potable water. Token-operated solar showers and flush toilets serve the campground, giving riders a comfortable base after a day on the trail.
The camp's location in the northern valley near Coyote Canyon Road makes it an ideal staging point for multi-day rides into Coyote Canyon—a historic route used by the Anza expedition in 1775 and still one of the most scenic off-highway corridors in southern California. The canyon is closed from June 15 through September 15 to protect the desert bighorn sheep, so equestrian visits should target the open season from mid-September through mid-June.
This campground is equestrians-only; no pets other than horses are permitted, and standard passenger vehicles without trailers are not allowed to use horse sites. Reservations are required and book through ReserveCalifornia.com. Weekend spots from November through March fill up fast—plan at least 4–6 weeks ahead for peak dates.
The maximum stay is 14 consecutive nights. Sites accommodate trailers up to 35 feet. The campground is open October 1 through May 31; it closes for the summer months.