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Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground offers trail rides with several accessible trails for horseback riding near Garrett, Indiana. The campground features well-maintained trails ranging from easy to rugged, with distances of 1 to 4 miles that interconnect to create longer routes. Horse owners can navigate through forested areas and around the nine connected lakes. The park maintains clean facilities with electric hookups and accommodates both tent and RV camping. The campground does not have dedicated horse corrals, but the spacious sites provide ample room for portable corrals or highlines.
Trails through meadows, woods, and around the lakes make Chain O' Lakes particularly appealing for equestrian visitors. The park's connecting waterways create scenic riding routes with multiple trail crossings that allow for customized ride lengths. Water access points are available throughout the trail system for horses. The park's camp store stocks supplies that may be useful for riders who forget essentials. Campsites with partial shade offer comfortable accommodations during summer months. The primitive camping loop features more level sites ideal for setting up portable horse containment systems. Visitors note the campground can get busy during summer weekends, so reservations are recommended for equestrians needing specific site configurations for horse trailers.
"Met up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by."
"Chain is perfect for kayaking and canoeing with 9 connected lakes and 11 total. A couple lakes are perfect for boat fishing as long as you have an electric motor only."
from $14 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric)."
"This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it."
from $20 - $480 / night
Check Availability"The paved bike trail in the park starts near the campground, and connects with a bike trail along the Wabash River that goes into nearby Bluffton, and is an easy ride. "
"Plenty of trails to hike and a nice little lake to enjoy. Will definitely come back here"
from $20 - $33 / night
Check Availability"Overall Rating: 4 for access to the area, very clean facilities, and not too many campers thus time of year.
Price 2024: $35 for water/electric only.""A little close to your neighbors but the way the sites are angled you had plenty of room. Very friendly people. Easy in and out."
"We camped in a tent had a fire went hiking found little waterfalls and there is another part that allows horses!!"
"This is one of the best parks we have been to in Indiana. We Volunteer all over our the USA at State Parks and National Forest. So we know what to look for."
from $14 - $35 / night
Check Availability"I return to Salamonie River State Forest year after year because it truly feels like Northeast Indiana’s best-kept secret."
"The trails can get extreme.. if you’re really into hiking this is a great place. Three waterfalls and lots of trails with horses walking around."
from $13 - $15 / night
Check Availability"If you can get a lake view site enjoy. Some spot are far away from the shower houses but you can drive to them. Nice marina with a great store and boat rentals"
"There’s also an entire beach close by, the parking lot needs to be maintained at the beach. I saw DNR once a day. The boat launch is close if you have a boat. The restrooms are clean but primitive."
from $5 - $10 / night
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GuideEquestrian trails and campgrounds are popular here. Horse rides sold on site. There is a nice hotel that sometimes hosts events actually located in the park. Come tobagginging and ice fishing in the winter and then pamper yourself in the hotel, or visit in the summer and have a beach day or easy hike with the family. Great spot for Pokémon Go because of the available cell service.
TravelerI return to Salamonie River State Forest year after year because it truly feels like Northeast Indiana’s best-kept secret. This 21‑site primitive campground offers peaceful seclusion, 4 pit toilets, and two water sources—including a spring‑fed spigot with crisp, cold, delicious drinking water. I’ve stayed at several sites, with Site 18 and Site 20 as favorites. Tent‑friendly, small camper-friendly, pet‑friendly, and just $15/night, it sits beside horse trails, hiking routes, and great fishing. A small campground with big shine—highly recommended.
TravelerPokagon State Park has an excellent state park campground. Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric). Many sites are flat (good for tent camping) while others are slightly rolling hills (helps breakup the sites a bit). There is a lot to do in the park including many trails, horse riding (horse stable on site), and lake swimming on a nicely improved beach. Only cons are no full hook up and the fire rings/grills could be improved.
TravelerThis is an extremely large campground. About seventy-five percent of the sites are electric. We stayed in Site 255, which was not electric (booked last minute). This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it. However, Site 269 (next to Site 277) afforded great privacy and was large; among the non-electric sites this was the best I saw. I did not survey the electric sites, but I’m sure the site matters a lot. Non-electric sites are $20.00, plus a $9.00 park entrance fee.
There are numerous walking trails, along with horse and bike trails. Additionally, there are boat rentals, horseback rides, pony rentals, swimming, nature center, and a restaurant at the inn.
This is a family oriented park. Extended family groupings are very common. Nevertheless, people and their children are well behaved.
I would recommend this campground for two days or more. A one day stay will mean you probably won’t see much of this wonderful park. The only reason I gave it a four was that even in mid-September it was packed.
LegendI have camped here a couple of times while visiting northern Indiana to have repairs done on my RV. Overall, I like this campground where for $30/night you can get a 50 amp full hook-up site or $23/night a 30 amp and water site. If you plan on staying longer weekly and monthly rates are really good. The campground sits in the middle of the county fairgrounds so there is usually something going on – either a fair, concert, horse event, or an RV rally. Depending on what time of year you are here and part of the week, the campground could be very crowded or very empty. The nice thing is the people in the office let you pick whatever site you want and don’t assign one to you. There are 275 full hook-up sites with 50 amp full hook-up and 30 amp water & electric only. There are no fires allowed and some sites don’t have picnic tables but you can request one and they will bring it to your site.
There is very little shade and during my last visit the late September fall temperatures climbed to nearly 90 degrees and was brutal. This campground is better suited for RVs than tents but you are permitted to tent camp. Bathrooms and showers are scattered about and I was amazed at always how clean they (and the grounds as a whole) are. They do offer WiFi which worked pretty well in non-peak hours like early morning but was not reliable and sometimes frustrating. Since many sites have a clear view of the sky, you most likely will get satellite television reception and a dozen or so antenna channels.
One of the things I like about this park is the vast expanse of grounds to wander about walking my dog. There is a trail system just outside of the park that allows you miles and miles of walking and biking trails. Downtown Goshen is less than two miles away and has some great restaurants (including Venturi Pizza, Maple Indian Cuisine – which has an awesome buffet, and Goshen Brewing Company). The Saturday farmers market is great with lots of produce, breads, meats, cheeses, and crafts.
The last time I visited coincided with the Mennonite Relief Fund which was a big fund raiser for their charity that packed the grounds with stuff for sale, food, and activities. It was fun to be there during the event but it meant the campground and grounds were packed.
Now for the bad about this campground. It is located right next to very busy train tracks that operate 24/7 and blow their horns quite often. They were really annoying in the middle of the night. Sites are close together so if it is crowded and you have a neighbor, you will be right on top of them. There is no shade which can be very miserable.
Pros:
· Price - $30/night for a 50 amp full hook-up site
· Nearby downtown stores and restaurants
· Sites are not assigned so you can pick where you want to camp
· Grassy patios
· Large grounds to meander around
· Nearby biking/walking trail
Cons:
· Very noisy from nearby trains operated at all hours
· Few trees for shade or privacy
· Some sites are very tight and close to your neighbor
· Can be very crowded
· WiFi provided but not reliable
TravelerMet up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by.
TravelerThere are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do
GuideThis place is really nice, especially on Sundays because everyone is gone. Mostly local people camping. I stayed two days. It was originally supposed to be one. People here are very friendly. I was even given a whole brand new tent in the package plus dinner and breakfast the next day🤯 It’s a smaller campground. The trails can get extreme.. if you’re really into hiking this is a great place. Three waterfalls and lots of trails with horses walking around. :Update the water source in the picture I posted is the only one available, I would not recommend drinking it. Go to the Army Corps of Engineers Dam location 3 min away and they have fresh water constantly running out of stainless steel stations that’s pure.
TravelerWe stayed at site #99 which is fairly easy to find and somewhat secluded from the main camper section of the campground. The site and neighboring sites are non-electric which makes you have to be creative if you need an air mattress. The site is partial sun midafternoon. The campground can get busy and loud but for the most part everyone was was respectful of others.
Chain is perfect for kayaking and canoeing with 9 connected lakes and 11 total. A couple lakes are perfect for boat fishing as long as you have an electric motor only. Overall, in my opinion, this is one of the more underrated state parks in Indiana. Worth the trip up north away from the more popular parks in the southern part of the state.
Chain O' Lakes State Park offers extensive water recreation near Garrett, Indiana. The park features nine connected lakes covering 202 acres with maximum depths of 17 feet. Camping options include sites for equestrians, with the park located approximately 22 miles from Garrett.
Watercraft activities: Explore all nine interconnected lakes at Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground, where visitors can kayak and canoe through the chain. "My family and I go to Chain O Lakes for short hikes, kayaking and camping. There are a handful of paddle up camping spots that are very hard to reserve," notes Whitley K.
Family-friendly swimming: The beach area provides supervised swimming during summer months. "Kayaking and the beach was a huge hit with the kids," shares Jeremy C. about his experience at Chain O' Lakes.
Hiking options: Explore the trail system at Ouabache State Park Campground with routes ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. "There's a surprising variation between more deciduous and coniferous environments depending on the trail you choose. While you're there, don't forget to say hello to the bison!" recommends Bethany S.
Winter recreation: Several parks in the region remain open year-round for cold weather activities. "Love this place for winter camping. The campground comfort stations are heated all winter long," reports Lisa N. about Ouabache State Park.
Wildlife viewing: The parks near Garrett feature diverse animal populations. At Ouabache State Park, "The kids loved the Bison. 200 ft fire tower you can climb," says Brad H.
Lake views: Select campsites at Lost Bridge West State Recreation Area provide scenic waterfront views. "If you can get a lake view site enjoy. Some spot are far away from the shower houses but you can drive to them," advises Darrell B.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for bathhouses and common areas. At Pokagon State Park Campground, "The bathroom and shower facilities were clean and updated," reports Mary H.
Year-round accessibility: Multiple horse campgrounds near Garrett remain open through all seasons. "Primitive camps sites are open year round," notes Brad M. regarding the camping options at Ouabache State Park.
Site selection matters: Campsite quality can vary significantly within the same park. At Lost Bridge State Recreation Area, "Some sites are very close together, while some offer a little more room. Sites 221-243, 202-204 offer lake views. I say VIEWS, not access," explains Cynthia K.
Reservation timing: Popular equestrian sites fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Water view sites reserve quickly. No full hook-up," advises J C. about Lost Bridge State Recreation Area.
Primitive options available: For those seeking a more basic camping experience, Salamonie River State Forest provides an alternative. "Cheap, $13 self pay. No electric or showers but do have bathroom. Very secluded," reports amber P.
Water quality concerns: Some campgrounds have issues with water sources. "The potable water is brown and smelly. Be sure to bring your water filter! But we did enjoy our weekend here," warns emily P. about Ouabache State Park.
Multiple activity options: Parks with diverse recreation keep children engaged. "There is so much to do. Between the hiking trails, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. You won't ever get bored," says Amanda J. about Chain O' Lakes.
Playground access: Many campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. At Lost Bridge State Recreation Area, visitors enjoy "Nice level lots, beach, playgrounds, 15 miles of hiking/walking," according to kim K.
Educational opportunities: Nature programs provide learning experiences. "We spoke with the naturalist and volunteered our time she was absolutely fantastic," shares Julie B. about her visit to Chain O' Lakes.
Quiet times vary: Some campgrounds enforce quiet hours better than others. "We had a bad camping neighbor on Sat night who had a party until 4am. No one broke it up," reports Cynthia K. about her experience at Lost Bridge State Recreation Area.
Site leveling: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring additional equipment. "The campsite did have a bigger than expected slope, but nothing horrible," notes Burns G. about Lost Bridge State Recreation Area.
Limited full hookups: Most equestrian campgrounds near Garrett offer only partial connections. "Only electric hookups, but good for a short weekend," states Kristen S. about Pokagon State Park.
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for sanitation needs. "Double dump station. Stay away from campsites 101 & 102 - these are right by the dump station," advises Cynthia K. about Lost Bridge State Recreation Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Garrett, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Garrett, IN is Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 54 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Garrett, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Garrett, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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