Finding a campsite is a major concern for wilderness adventurers with two feet.

How about finding one that’s designed for critters with four?

No problem.

The Deschutes National Forest has a system of horse camps designed specifically for equestrians, one of which is particularly popular.

”To me, this is the premier horse camp on the whole West Coast,” said Jack Peasley of Clackamas, camp host at Quinn Meadow Horse Camp, located just off the Cascade Lakes Highway north of Elk Lake.

That horse camp is one of nine in the Deschutes National Forest and one of about 70 in Oregon. Horse camps include tent/trailer sites and horse stalls, typically four, nearby.

Quinn Meadow rates high with many equestrians because of its stunningly scenic setting in the shadow of Mount Bachelor, good tasting potable water from a hand pump, and many trail riding options.

”It’s the crown jewel of horse camps, there’s no question about that,” said Jim Leep, horse ranger for the Bend/Fort Rock District.

”There’s probably three or four days of riding at Quinn Meadow without seeing the same ground.”

Quinn Meadow has the added attraction of a locked gate. Campsites are by reservation only, and many users reserve spots six months in advance. Campers are mailed a confirmation letter along with the combination to a lock on the gate. The combination is changed periodically through the summer.

”It’s the most beautiful place in the world,” said Linda Carpenter of Rochester, Wash., camping at Quinn Meadow with her walking mule Gwenivere and trail horse Francisco. ”And I like the security of the camp. When I’m gone all day long I feel my equipment is safe.”

”We’ve been on every trail out there,” she added, noting that she has been coming to Quinn Meadow for 15 years. ”I do love the volcanic area. I’m hooked.”

Paul Taylor of Colton, camped at another site at Quinn Meadow, also liked being in a camp with a locked gate.

”The facility is fantastic,” said Taylor, who’s been coming to the camp for 20 years and helps maintain the facility as a member of Oregon Equestrian Trails. ”But the nicest thing about it is not having a flow of traffic coming through, which can be kind of dangerous with large animals.”

Most of the horse camps in the Deschutes National Forest are utilized by day users, who park at a site for the day and go out riding for a few hours.

Others, though, like Wayne Salisbury of Forest Grove and Jim Sicard of Prineville, were at Quinn Meadow for a few days of rest after 20 days on the trail crossing Oregon from south to north.

”It’s been fun,” said Sicard. ”We’ve been doing a lot of little side trips.”

In their travels on the Pacific Crest Trail, the two riders had come across a pair of nudist backpackers; one hiker wearing a turban, robe and sandals; and reports of a two-humped camel serving as a pack animal.

”Good thing we didn’t come across that, or our horses would have gone crazy,” said Salisbury.

The two had also put out two smoldering campfires that someone had left behind and packed out assorted garbage they found along the trail. They estimated another 14 days in the saddle would take them to the Columbia River. But for now, kicking back for a while at Quinn Meadow seemed in order.

”As far as horse camps, this is probably one of the better horse camps in Oregon,” Sicard said.

A 39-page list titled Oregon Horse Camps is available at national forest offices throughout Oregon. The list details how many tent/trailer sites are at each camp, whether or not reservations are needed, what fees to expect, and phone numbers if reservations are needed. The list is free.