Cowboy Camp at Forest Grove Farm
8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents11 acres · Port Townsend, WAJust what is Cowboy Camp, you might ask. The traditional definition refers to sleeping outside under the stars with only a bedroll, a fire and the night sky for companions. But if you are a fan of the western genre and lifestyle, you might also know it as a place to go to hang out with like minded folks and experience the Cowboy lifestyle. This includes all people, men and women alike, as the term "Cowboy" is largely generic and not gender oriented. Such was the case for the actors of the recent TV series 1883. All went to cowboy camp to learn about horses, riding, cowboy skills such as roping, and of course to experience traditional cowboy chuckwagon fare. A taste of that lifestyle is what we are offering here at our Cowboy Camp.
It wouldn't be Cowboy Camp without horses and they are definitely present. They can be heard whinnying at mealtimes and throughout the day as they keep in touch with each other. They are generally quiet at night. Horses are not allowed in camping areas when campers are present. No farm would be complete without chickens and ours is no exception. We do have a rooster but he is housed up next to the house with his own hens so hopefully not too noisy. He does wake up early though, frequently long before sunrise. So again, earplugs might be in order for the light sleeper. We do sell farm fresh eggs for your dining enjoyment. $5 per dozen. See the add-on section to reserve yours.
We are offering camping sites ranging from simple tent sites with fire ring, picnic table and soft sandy tent sites to small cabin type tents with bed and electricity, up to our newly constructed Cowboy yurt with wool felt siding and floor on raised wooden platform, twin sleeping cots, electricity and wood stove.
As part of your cowboy camp experience you can sign up for a horsemanship lesson involving handling and grooming horses and time spent working with the horse in the round pen. (There is no riding offered at this time). You can also sign up for a roping lesson. Learn to throw a loop and catch "Little blue", our roping dummy steer head.
We also have games of horseshoes ( with real horseshoes) and corn hole boards. You can take a hike around the property on our trail through mature Douglas fir and majestic Western cedar forest.
A 1/4 mile walk down our quiet country gravel road will take you to the 80 acre Jefferson County Land trust forest with several beautiful trails meandering through mature uncut forest. These trails are suitable for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. That forest further connects to the Cappy's trail system, a network of several miles of trails that will wind around and eventually lead into Port Townsend itself if you choose to venture into town.
Or you can choose to travel via mountain bike or foot approximately one mile down the road to the DNR forest property that will lead you through more gorgeous wooded and open areas to access the Larry Scott trail, a 7.3 mile out and back firm surface multi-use trail that leads either out of town through the woods or to the north directly into Port Townsend along the scenic waterfront.
Our beautiful piece of property is comprised of almost 11 acres situated on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula just outside the quaint Victorian seaport town of Port Townsend. It lies approximately 4 miles from downtown with its many art galleries, restaurants, shops, boat harbor, farmer's market and the historic Rose theater.
The farm itself is located within a section of old growth forest comprised of 100 year old Doug Firs, cedar trees and alder groves. There is an open pasture area in the center of the property, which is ringed completely by thick stands of forest, so it feels completely private. You have to look closely to see the neighboring two houses through the forest.
The horses are excluded from camping areas during your visit, and will most likely be housed on neighboring property while guests are present. No need to worry about curious horses coming into your campsite to say hello.
It is a wildlife paradise with frequent visits from local deer, bald eagles, ducks on the pond, owls nesting in the trees, and coyotes travelling through.
The frog pond is alive all night with singing. If you are a light sleeper you might consider earplugs.
We have created a walking trail through the forest around the land that is full of the sounds of life and birds. A pileated woodpecker makes its home in the back corner and two pairs of barred owls also inhabit the nearby Douglas firs. They can be heard at night calling out as they settle in for the evening.
An important note for the walking explorer, please be aware that many areas of the farm are in their natural state. This means you might encounter prickly plants such as star thistle, nettles and tansy ragwort. We are happy to identify these for you if you are unfamiliar with them. Please be aware and dress in long pants and long sleeves while hiking. There are no poisonous snakes present in this region.
We train horses here so there is a full size riding arena and training round pen. On any given day, you might see horses being trained and ridden.
At the end of your day of adventures, you can opt to sign up ( when your site is booked) for a delicious feast at Cowboy Camp. Using old time traditional Dutch oven cooking techniques and slow smoking methods, meals are comprised of such items as slow cooked smoked pork shoulder, Dutch oven baked "Horseshoe Beans" ( a crowd favorite), fire roasted corn on the cob
(in season), homemade potato salad, green spinach salad, and of course dessert such as homemade blackberry cobbler or pineapple upside down cake. Vegetarian selections are also available upon request.
Venturing out from the farm you can sign up to go on a whale watching excursion with Puget Sound Express out of Port Townsend. Seeing a whale is guaranteed or you get a free return trip.
Also, the Olympic National Park is only a short one hour drive to the west and the view from Hurricane Ridge is not to be missed.
Your Hosts:
Property owners Karma and Rick come with a long extensive history of experience in the horse industry and western culture. Together they share over 100 years of experience with horses, both having ridden since young children.
Karma loves sharing her knowledge of horses and horsemanship with others and has been a certified riding instructor for many years.
Rick grew up with a horse and cattle background from a young age. As a young man he competed in the rodeo sports of bareback broncs, calf roping, bull riding and team roping. He then worked as a professional farrier, horse trainer and ranch employee in Texas. He learned the art of Texas BBQ cooking while living and working on Texas ranches.
He loves to cook for others and enjoys sharing tales of the ranch life.
You can choose to be as involved as you like during your visit. You can sit quietly in the forest and just enjoy peace and quiet if you so desire. We will not bother you. Our goal is simply to provide you with a beautiful place to relax, play, and enjoy during your visit.
So come on out, set a spell, and enjoy a wonderful day, weekend, or week here at Cowboy Camp.
Side note : Due to the presence of horses, chickens and various wildlife on the property, in addition to outdoor cooking activities, we do not allow outside dogs at this time. Thank you for your understanding.