Challenges of Boondocking at American Horse Lake
Challenges of Boondocking at American Horse Lake
### Navigation / GPS Issues
- Your GPS will likely direct you to the wrong location.
- After turning onto N2520 Road, you are still about 1 mile from the park.
- Do not continue straight to the gravel road (you’ve gone too far).
- At the sign, turn left and follow the paved road instead.
### RV Sites and Road Conditions
- There is only one perfectly level site suitable for an RV.
- As you enter the park, take the first left to reach it.
- The internal roads are narrow, rutted, and in poor condition.
- Turns are very sharp with limited space — attempting to navigate them with an RV results in off-roading.
### Trash Disposal
- There are no trash facilities at the camp.
- Some garbage was present at the site, likely due to the lack of proper disposal options.
- Campers must pack out all trash and take it to the next location.
### Water and Power
- No hookups — no electric or water available.
- Bring all the water you’ll need, or be prepared to conserve.
- Without solar power, you will drain your RV battery over multiple days.
### Water Replenishment Option
- In town, the city hall staff directed me to a spigot at the shelter behind the elementary school.
- The spigot is approximately 100 feet from the closest parking area.
- You will need a long hose (for filling a water bladder) or be prepared to carry jugs/bottles that distance.
This place is a 20 min drive from the park and NOT suitable for RV refilling. Here are the coordinates of the shelter. 35°37'48.5"N 98°19'43.4"W Snapshot below.
Bottom line: This is a true boondocking site with minimal amenities and challenging access/roads for larger RVs. Good preparation (water, power, trash plan, and careful navigation) is essential. ANY RV over 30 ft should avoid this place.
All that said:
The stay was very peaceful and the views are outstanding! Only other people I saw were the fishermen coming and going at the boat launch down at the lake.