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Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground provides options for equestrians near New Paris, Indiana despite limited dedicated horse facilities. The park features campgrounds with accommodation for tents, RVs, and cabins, though none have horse corrals according to available data. Camping sites include standard amenities like electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground maintains clean restroom and shower facilities, which visitors consistently note in their reviews. Water access is available throughout the park, though riders should plan accordingly for watering their horses.
Located approximately 35 miles northeast of New Paris, Chain O' Lakes offers multiple hiking trails that may accommodate horses on designated routes, though specific bridle trail information is limited. The park encompasses multiple connected lakes with boat access, providing scenic riding opportunities along shorelines where permitted. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some visitors noting occasional flooding or wet conditions that could impact horse access. The campground is open year-round and requires reservations, which is particularly important during peak seasons when the park fills with families. Camping sites provide adequate space for standard horse trailers, though riders should confirm specific equestrian policies when booking their stay.
"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."
"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"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."
from $20 - $90 / 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 Availabilityfrom $5 - $10 / night
Check Availability"There was a horse camp available as well as youth tenting and cabins to rent. This is a great State Park with more things to offer in addition to the ones mentioned above."
"Trails and the river close by. Bathrooms are phenomenal!! Enjoy!"
from $14 - $50 / 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
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.
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
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.
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.
Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground offers basic equestrian access approximately 35 miles from New Paris, Indiana. The region's terrain features moderately flat trails with occasional hills and wooded sections. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping provides cooler temperatures but sometimes muddy conditions.
Kayaking and canoeing: Chain O' Lakes State Park provides multiple connected lakes for paddling activities. "Between the hiking trails, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. You won't ever get bored," notes Amanda J. about Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground.
Trail riding: Pokagon State Park offers designated riding areas for horse enthusiasts. "There's trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do," mentions Becky N. from Pokagon State Park Campground, making it a viable option for equestrians seeking riding opportunities near New Paris.
Seasonal activities: Winter provides unique outdoor experiences when water activities aren't practical. Pokagon State Park features a toboggan run during winter months, with Amy K. noting, "There's an inn, restaurant, cabins, boat rentals, horseback riding, bike trails, beach, toboggan run, etc."
Spacious sites: Many equestrian campers appreciate room for trailers and equipment. At Tippecanoe River State Park Campground, "All sites are not too far from the bathrooms... All the outer sites are pretty good," according to Cynthia K., who provides detailed site information for planning purposes.
Clean facilities: Consistently maintained restrooms matter to riders after a day on trails. "The bathroom and shower facilities were clean and updated," reports Mary H. about Pokagon State Park Campground.
Natural surroundings: Campers value wooded settings and wildlife viewing opportunities. "Nice quiet campground with lots of wildlife. Tent lots are flat and a good size," states Karson G. about Chain O' Lakes State Park.
Seasonal challenges: Weather conditions can impact trail quality and camping comfort. Jerry R. from Chain O' Lakes mentions having "to move to another site due to my first one under water," highlighting the importance of flexible planning during rainy periods.
Mosquito preparation: Insect repellent is essential during summer months. "Worst place for mosquitoes," warns Rob H. about Tippecanoe River State Park, while Cynthia K. elaborates, "The mosquitos get bad in the summer, so come prepared. We camped the end of May and they were just getting going. Spring and late fall would be a good time to visit."
Budget options: Salamonie River State Forest offers more affordable equestrian camping alternatives. "Cheap, $13 self pay. No electric or showers but do have bathroom. Very secluded," reports Amber P., providing a cost-effective option for horse owners looking to camp on a budget.
Playground accessibility: For families with young children, certain sites provide better supervision options. At Tippecanoe River State Park, "For the playground, sites 2,3,4,6,&7 have direct access to a playground and you can watch your children from your site," advises Cynthia K.
Beach activities: Potato Creek State Park Campground offers water recreation beyond equestrian trails. "Bike trails, hiking trails, fishing, beach fun for the whole family," shares Brad H., providing alternative activities when not trail riding.
Noise considerations: Family-friendly areas can be louder during peak times. "Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust," notes Frank M. at Potato Creek, suggesting riders with horses select quieter camping sections.
Hookup logistics: Electric connections may require extra equipment. Frank M. from Potato Creek advises, "Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up," which applies to equestrian campers with living quarters trailers.
Site selection strategy: Kosciusko County Fairgrounds accommodates RVs during events. Whitley K. clarifies that "This is only meant as a fair ground and place for events. People that are participating in local events may bring RV here," which can be useful for equestrians attending shows or competitions.
Campground layout: Understanding the arrangement of facilities helps with site selection. At Potato Creek, Frank recommends "securing a spot in the back sites 230-287 for larger lots and quieter atmosphere," which benefits those traveling with horses who need more space and less commotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near New Paris, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near New Paris, IN is Elkhart County Fairgrounds with a 3.5-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near New Paris, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near New Paris, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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