Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park offers extensive equestrian camping facilities in the Cumberland Plateau region of southern Kentucky. The campground sits at approximately 723 feet elevation and receives around 50 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush woodland terrain for trail riding. The seasonal camping period corresponds with optimal riding conditions when trails remain dry and accessible from spring through fall.
What to do
Trail exploration beyond the campground: Access multiple difficulty levels of trails directly from Dale Hollow's equestrian camping areas. "The trail system surrounding Dale Hollow connects to various terrain options for riders of different experience levels," with access to water points during rides. "The Marina and Lodge are at the end of the road and there was a golf course on the way in. Pretty much covers all the bases of outdoor entertainment," notes Shelly S. from Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
Boat-in primitive camping with horses: Trailer your horses to lake access points and utilize primitive boat-in sites for overnight adventures. "I only spent 3 nights at Kemper Flats primitive campground for a fishing trip. We reached Kemper by pontoon boat from Willow Grove Marina a short 20 min ride. Nice site primitive cabin toilet no water faucet. Bring it in, take it out," reports Andy K. from Dale Hollow Lake - Primitive Camping.
Off-site horse adventures: Travel just 20 minutes to explore additional equestrian trails. "The location is great, just 20 minutes from Jamestown for a quick trip to Walmart or the Dollar store. Nice little restaurant just 4 miles down the road if you don't want to cook. Picket state park is only 30 minutes down the road for some nice hiking and other activities," explains Heather S. from True West Campground & Stables.
What campers like
Spacious pod camping design: The circular site arrangement creates ideal group camping environments. "Sites are in sections in small loops. Very good for families. Kids can ride their bikes around the circle. Playgrounds are everywhere. Very clean. Full hookups," shares Beth H. about Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
Clean facilities despite horse presence: Horse campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards throughout. "Beautiful campground, nice level spots that are easy to get in and out of, dump station on site which was very easy to get to. Barns are well kept and clean. Bathrooms/bathhouses were spotless! Free sawdust to campers for their stalls," notes Heather S. about True West Campground & Stables.
Multi-use recreation options: When not riding, campers enjoy other activities on property. "The campsites are ok reached down a very bumpy track not suitable for RV or similar. There was a porta toilet which was a bonus but lots of trash left behind by other campers," warns Andy K. about Eagle Point at Dale Hollow Lake.
What you should know
Water hookup placement: Plan for longer water hoses than standard at some equestrian sites. "I also wish they would have mentioned the length to water hookup. We ended up having to go buy a longer water hose bc the hookup was more than 30 foot away. We now keep a 50 foot hose, but didn't realize at the time there was actually hookups that far away," advises Beth H. about Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
Access challenges at primitive sites: Some horse-accessible primitive sites have difficult approaches. "We stayed for 2 nights at the Plankyard site. We were expecting the site to be more remote - but these sites are right off a large parking area and boat ramp. The sites are not well marked and there was some litter," reports Verity O. about Dale Hollow Lake Primitive Camping.
Reservation requirements: During peak season, advance booking is essential for horse camping. "The campground features an adjacent horse camp with direct access to several miles of trails through forested terrain," with limited availability during summer weekends.
Tips for camping with families
Circular layout advantages: The unique pod design creates natural play areas. "Campsites are on loops off the main loop/road. It puts 7-8 sites in a circle so it's possible for families to rent multiple site in same loop. Plenty of room for kids to play and also has a swimming pool!" recommends Kenny P. about Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
Water safety considerations: When bringing children to horse-friendly lake sites, establish clear boundaries. "The site is on the top of a high cliff so no water swimming was possible. Very shady area. There is a boat ramp next to the site which was in constant use day and night," cautions Andy K. about Eagle Point.
On-site activities between rides: Look for campgrounds with dedicated kid-friendly spaces. "The campground seemed quite large, and was fairly empty for a Weekend in August. Some sites have food storage lockers (not sure if all do) as the area is a bear habitat. We saw some deer and turkeys, so there's wildlife around for sure!" mentions Lori H. from Bandy Creek Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site length limitations: Many horse-friendly campsites have specific constraints. "The sites were a bit short and we couldn't park our tow vehicle in front of our 17' camper. So large campers beware. There are limited parking spots near the shower house," warns Chelsea D. about Bandy Creek Campground.
Electric options for horse trailers: Look for sites with appropriate hookups for living quarter trailers. "Our site (L4) was shaded all day long, which is important when you tent camp. The grounds are well kept. Plenty of park hosted activities for kiddos and adults," shares Lori H. about camping at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
Seasonal considerations: Plan for weather variability if camping outside peak season. "Full Time Travelers here. Stayed at Dale Hollow October 27-31/2021. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see too much of the park/area as it rained for most of our stay," reports Jovee S. about Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
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