Jonathan M.
Scout
ScoutChain O' Lakes State Park Campground
Nice Fall Weekend
For our first fall, chilly camping weekend, it was a nice getaway. We got to enjoy the Halloween decorations and the quiet chilly mornings.
Equestrian Camping near Garrett, IN
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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.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Garrett (8)
1. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground
"Chain O Lakes State Park, Albion Indiana. Northwest of Fort Wayne. 416 electric, nonelectric & primitive campsites. Water is available & 3 dumps.
This was our 3rd time camping here."
"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."
from $14 - $80 / night
Check Availability2. Pokagon State Park Campground
"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 Availability3. Ouabache State Park Campground
"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 Availability4. Elkhart County Fairgrounds
"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."
5. Lost Bridge West State Recreation Area Campgrounds — Salamonie Lake
"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 Availability6. Salamonie River State Forest
"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 Availability7. Lost Bridge West
"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."
8. Kosciusko County Fairgrounds
from $5 - $10 / night
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Drive Time
- 22 min from Fort Wayne, IN
- 1 hr 11 min from Battle Creek, MI
- 1 hr 13 min from Elkhart, IN
- 1 hr 31 min from South Bend, IN
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Garrett, IN
1 Photos of 8 Garrett Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Garrett, IN
156 Reviews of 8 Garrett Campgrounds
- Frank B.Scout
Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground
Relaxing September Evening at Chain O' Lakes State Park
I stayed one evening last Wednesday here, a first time for me. Just tent camping / sleeping in the car. There were other campers around enjoying the pleasant evening, mainly in RVs. Everyone was very quiet and respectful. The shower buildings are old fashioned with a common area to place clothes and a towel, and only a shower curtain for each individual shower. However, I was the only one showering at the time anyway. The shower area was state park clean, I guess. Before leaving, I viewed the one room schoolhouse on the grounds, just from the windows as it wasn't open at the time. Quaint and old school. Overall, I recommend camping at the park if you can live with the shower building or have an RV for added convenience.
Michael M.
GuidePokagon State Park Campground
Simple stop
We used Pokagon State Park as a two-night stopover on our way home from Northern Michigan, and overall, it was a good option for a short stay.
We stayed in Site 109, which was tucked away and felt fairly isolated from the rest of the campground. In early spring or late fall, I imagine the site would have a nice view of the lake, but in August the tree cover was too thick to see much of it.
The gravel pad was reasonably level, but we needed a couple inches of leveling blocks to get the RV sitting flat. There wasn’t really much of a grassy area at the site for the dogs, but we were able to walk them easily just down the road.
We brought our bicycles, which was a great way to explore the park. We rode around to the nature center, equestrian facility, and beach, and enjoyed being able to see more of the park without having to drive everywhere.
One thing that surprised us was the single dump station for the entire campground. Since none of the sites have full hookups, I would imagine the line could get ridiculously long after a busy weekend.
Overall, we’d stay here again, but probably only as a one- or two-night layover rather than a longer destination stay. Site 109 worked well for us because of its privacy and quiet location.
- Tom O.Guide
Pokagon State Park Campground
Lots to Do
A very large campground with lots to do. Spacious site. Charges a vehicle fee along with campground fee. Sites in loop 1 are gravel and mostly not level. Lots of noise from motor boats on the lake during the day.
- ttammy I.Scout
Pokagon State Park Campground
Stay away from loop 6
I love this state park. My kids wanted to Join us a week or to our. Site 507 and 509 were available. Do not stay there. The sewer smell was so bad we did not want to leave our trailer. If that was our first trip we would never returned
- AAngela B.Scout
Pokagon State Park Campground
Great site/ DNR presence too much
Great site, however, DNR drives by every five minutes. The primitive bathroom facilities are absolutely horrid, the newer ones up the road from site 238 are beautiful.
Cynthia K.
LegendChain O' Lakes State Park Campground
Nice State Park!
Chain O Lakes State Park, Albion Indiana. Northwest of Fort Wayne.
416 electric, nonelectric & primitive campsites. Water is available & 3 dumps.
This was our 3rd time camping here. We were in handicapped site 325 which was a pretty good site. We had good neighbors which helps. The campground is well established & shaded. Read the site descriptions carefully for inclines & site dimensions.
What is really interesting is they have 7 canoe campsites. They have their own pit toilets & a little dock. Site 3 is behind the pit toilet, but the rest looked ok. They're just off trail 4 as well.
Cabins are also available.
Hot showers& bathrooms. They were state park clean, but definitely need some upgrading.
This is a boating/fishing/hiking park.
There's 29 miles of fairly easy trails- all can be looped.
9 connecting glacial kettle lakes make for great kayaking & canoeing. Electric motor only makes for a peaceful lake experience. Fishing was pretty good according to my fisherguy.
There's a 1915 schoolhouse that's open on the weekends.
There's a small swimming beach with food for sale. There's also boat rental with canoes, kayaks & small boats.
Nice campground for a summer weekend!
Susan W.
TravelerSalamonie River State Forest
Small Gem, Big Shine!
I 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.
Kaley A.GuidePokagon State Park Campground
Nice park from what I could see
This is the second time I’ve been to this park. Neither time was I able to really see the park (kids), so that is the only reason I have it a 4.
I really liked our campsite. We were in the middle of a circle drive and had the whole inner circle to ourselves, which was nice for the kids to play. It was a HUGE campsite with a fairly long back in driveway. The site was slopped, especially close to the power source. It was a bit annoying for us as tent campers but not so much that I wouldn’t rent this site again.
We weren’t all that far from water, the bathhouse, and trash services as well as a natural water spring and a trail to hike.
Guide to Garrett
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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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.
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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 4.2-star rating from 57 reviews.
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