Pokagon State Park Campground provides several amenities for visitors with horses. Horseback riding trails run through the park with guided rides available through the on-site stables. The campground accommodates both horses and riders with multiple accommodation options including tent sites, RV sites with electric hookups, and cabins. While the park doesn't have dedicated horse corrals, the stables offer trail rides ranging from short pony rides to longer guided excursions on the park's trail system. Horse enthusiasts note that trail rides are popular among families, with many reviewers mentioning horseback riding as a favorite activity during their stay.
The trail system at Pokagon connects riders to multiple hiking paths and scenic overlooks throughout the 1,260-acre property. Horse owners should make reservations in advance, especially during summer months when the campground reaches capacity. The park maintains separate trails for horses, hikers, and bikers to ensure safety for all visitors. Daily trail rides operate from the stables with different options based on rider experience level. Trails wind through wooded areas and provide views of Lake James. Trail conditions remain well-maintained throughout the riding season, though some reviewers mention the trails can become muddy after rainfall. Water access is available at the stables for horses, and horse trailer parking can be arranged with advance notice through the park office.
$20 - $480 / night
"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."
$14 - $80 / night
"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."
"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."
$20 - $90 / night
"I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean."
"Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust. Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up."
"The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶"
"Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes."
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.
Guide...although you probably wouldn't want to camp in the Indiana winter. I grew up coming here mostly to sled on the hills! But, there is a lot more to do. It surrounds Worster Lake and there are cabins, RV sites, and tent sites along with horse trails and bike trails. In the winter, there's sledding hills and ice fishing. The campgrounds are pretty standard, nothing special. If you live in the area, it's a fine little getaway.
ScoutI feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean. Bath houses are always clean! Playground areas for the kids throughout the park lots of bike and walking trails. No pools but a beautiful man made lake for swimming and fishing. Lots of wildlife throughout the park. A great nature center is a must to see for the little ones. My family has camped here for many years. There is also a separate campground for horse lovers.
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.
TravelerThe trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶
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
ScoutMMichigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. $25per night with electric. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes. Roads quiet and could easily ride your road bike to nearby bike paths. I loved the lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky.
LegendCampground= 4 stars; check-in= 2 stars. Very large campground with close to 300 sites plus a horse camp and about 20 cabins. We picked this park solely because it was convenient to our next destination, so we were not concerned with amenities. We did not make a reservation because I really do not want to pay the extra fee if it is not necessary. Upon arrival, we paid the $9 entrance fee ($7 for Indiana residents) and drove the 3 miles to the campground office. Somewhat surprised to find both staffed at 6 pm on a Thursday after Labor Day. We were told to drive around and pick several desired sites as they could not tell us which ones still had people due to arrive that night who had reserved. Huh?? So, we drove around two of the five loops and picked half a dozen sites that would be suitable. But that’s where the fun began- not! There seemed to be some computer glitch in that every site we asked about showed as not available, even though more than half the sites were empty. Eventually, we were told to just go to one of the sites we picked and set up and that a security guard would come and collect our money. Eventually, at just before 9 pm, the security guard did come and told us the glitch had been fixed and asked that we come to the office and register. The glitch was not fixed! But we paid our fee and were able to stay the night and the staff was very apologetic.
There is no differentiation between RV and tent sites (the only one that is separate is the horse camp). The E Loop seemed to be the most crowded, mostly with RVs. The sites in the D Loop were spaced a decent amount of distance apart but other than that, there was no real privacy between them. This was not a problem because the loop had many empty sites and we were able to easily find one that had an empty one on either side of us. There are paths to the beach accessible from the D and E loops but note the beach is only open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There is no longer a dog beach at Potato Creek. There is a general store(open until 8 pm) and bike rentals which, if we were going to stay longer, we might have taken advantage of. There are boat rentals in season. Several trails and playgrounds so I imagine that in the summer, this is a nice family campground (even the name is Family campground).
The mosquitos were vicious, likely worse due to the amount of rain the area has had this year. Bathrooms were very clean and there was hot water, a nice luxury but you have to be careful not to bump your head on the shelf over the sink when washing your face. Didn’t use them but there were also showers.
The check-in process notwithstanding, our stay was fine for the night.
Pokagon State Park offers dedicated facilities for equine enthusiasts near Lagrange, Indiana. The park spans 1,260 acres of woodland terrain and maintains separate trail systems for different user types. Electric-only campsites accommodate riders and their horses, with advance reservations recommended particularly during peak summer months.
Hiking and biking trails: Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground offers extensive interconnected trails for hikers and cyclists. "There is an extensive trail system to enjoy that connects with the nearby nature preserve," notes one visitor. The park has well-maintained routes that vary in difficulty.
Mountain biking: Fort Custer Recreation Area features dedicated mountain bike trails separate from hiking paths. "There are quite a few mountain bike trails on the other side of the recreation area. A horse trail circles around the outside edge," reports a visitor. This layout prevents conflicts between different trail users.
Boating options: Multiple lakes at state parks provide paddling opportunities. According to one camper at Chain O' Lakes, "Between the hiking trails, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. You won't ever get bored. The facility is clean and very safe."
Spacious sites: Potato Creek State Park Campground earns praise for its layout and amenities. "We recommend securing a spot in the back sites 230-287 for larger lots and quieter atmosphere. Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust," shares one camper.
Wildlife viewing: The natural wetlands at state parks near Lagrange attract diverse wildlife. "Natural wetlands abound, so definitely bring the mosquito spray," advises a Potato Creek visitor. Early morning and evening offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Beach access: Several parks combine camping with swimming options. A Chain O' Lakes visitor mentions, "Kayaking and the beach was a huge hit with the kids," highlighting the appeal for families seeking water recreation beyond horseback activities.
Reservation requirements: Plan ahead for equestrian camping facilities. At Pokagon State Park Campground, one camper noted: "There's 500+ sites, but all nicely separated and shaded. There's an inn, restaurant, cabins, boat rentals, horseback riding, bike trails, beach, toboggan run, etc."
Weather considerations: Trail conditions can change quickly in this region. "Trails can become muddy after rainfall," several reviewers mentioned. Consider waterproof footwear and call ahead for current trail status.
Facility variations: Bathroom and shower facilities vary between campgrounds and camping loops. At Chain O' Lakes, one camper reported, "The pit toilets did not have doors, and there were some mosquitoes. The RV sites have better bathrooms I believe."
Activity options: Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground provides diverse recreation for children. "We spoke with the naturalist and volunteered our time she was absolutely fantastic," shares one visitor, highlighting educational opportunities beyond horseback riding.
Site selection: Choose campsites strategically based on your family's needs. At Potato Creek, "Sites were smooth and level and well taken care of. Lots of nice walking and biking trails and a big electric motor only fishing lake and nice beach."
Multi-day planning: Allow adequate time to explore equestrian facilities near Lagrange. A visitor to Fort Custer notes, "We ended up turning our 4 mile trip into a 6.5 mile one but there are plenty of spots to rest and enjoy the time." Trail rides often take longer than expected, especially with younger riders.
Hookup considerations: Most horse-friendly campgrounds offer electric-only sites. At Fort Custer Recreation Area, a visitor notes, "Since there are no water or sewer hook ups, lines at the dump/fill station can get long." Plan accordingly, especially during busy weekends.
Extension cords: Some sites require longer electrical connections than standard. At Potato Creek, "Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up," advises an RVer. This preparation prevents last-minute scrambling when setting up camp.
Access considerations: Horse campgrounds near Lagrange often require additional driving time within the park. One Potato Creek camper mentioned, "Takes 10-15 mins to drive out of campground, so keep this in mind." This affects planning for off-site activities or supply runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lagrange, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lagrange, IN is Pokagon State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 52 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lagrange, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Lagrange, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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