USDA Forest Service · California
Carter Meadows Horse Group
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Season
- June 15 to October 18
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,951 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CARTER MDW (NFSR 39N08) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Klamath National Forest
- Nearest town
- FORT JONES
- Address
- 11263 N. HWY. 3, FORT JONES, CA, 96032
- Phone
- 530-468-5351
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Overview
The Carter Meadows Horse Group Campground lies at the southern edge of the Klamath National Forest on the South Fork of the Salmon River. Designed for large groups with horses, the camp's proximity to the Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail makes the site popular with riders and hikers.
Recreation
The Carter Meadows Horse Group Site is adjacent to the Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail. From this site, groups can ride to three trailheads that access several wilderness lakes and many miles of trails.
Fishing is available in nearby streams and wilderness lakes.
Facilities
The Carter Meadows Horse Group Site is designed for up to 25 people and 25 horses. It includes an area for dispersed tent or trailer camping and three sections of corrals of varying sizes: seven one-horse corrals, three 2-horse corrals and three 3-4 horse corrals.
The site also includes a gravel parking area, a gated entrance, a hitch rack and a mounting ramp.
Natural Features
The Klamath National Forest encompasses nearly 2 million acres of land straddling the California and Oregon border.
The Klamath is a vast array of mountains, streams and lakes and, at elevations ranging from 450 to 8,900 feet, is home to diverse plant life and nearly 400 animal species. The partially shaded campground sits at an altitude of 5,800 feet.
Nearby Attractions
A short drive away, the Carter Meadows Summit is accessible for day hikes along the Pacific Crest Trail to Hidden and South Fork Lakes.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 27° | 12° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 37° | 26° | 8° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 41° | 26° | 14° | 71° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 29° | 16° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 59° | 37° | 25° | 74° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 69° | 44° | 30° | 88° | 2 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 55° | 38° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 82° | 55° | 44° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 48° | 37° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 42° | 28° | 74° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 46° | 32° | 18° | 64° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 26° | 4° | 54° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Trail Gulch Trailhead · 0.7 mi as the crow flies
Carter Meadows Interior 3.3 mi Hike, Trail Gulch 2.7 mi Hike · Drive there - Carter Meadows Summit Trailhead · 0.7 mi as the crow flies
Pacific Crest Trail 110 mi Hike, Carter Meadows Interior 3.3 mi Hike, Hidden Lake 0.8 mi Hike · Drive there - Long Gulch Trailhead · 1.0 mi as the crow flies
Carter Meadows Interior 3.3 mi Hike, Long Gulch 3.1 mi Hike · Drive there - Fish Lake Trailhead · 3.3 mi as the crow flies
Fish Lake Creek 3.9 mi Hike · Drive there - Trail Creek Trailhead · 3.4 mi as the crow flies
Trail Creek 2.6 mi Hike · Drive there
All 233 trails in Klamath National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Hidden Horse Equestrian Campground · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 6 sites
- Trail Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Shadow Creek · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Big Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi
- Idlewild Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.