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Carter Caves State Resort Park features an Equestrian Campground approximately 1.5 miles from the main campground area in Olive Hill, Kentucky. The equestrian campground provides electric hookups, water access, showers, and toilets for horse owners while camping. Campground amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, and a sanitary dump station. Horse trails connect directly to the camping area, making it convenient for riders to access the park's extensive trail network. The campsite layout accommodates both horses and camping equipment with sufficient space for most rigs and trailers. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak seasons from April through October when the park experiences higher visitation. Many riders comment on the peaceful atmosphere and well-maintained trails throughout the wooded terrain. Several trails allow for exploration of the park's natural rock formations while on horseback.
The trail system around Carter Caves offers various riding options ranging from easy paths suitable for beginners to more challenging routes with elevation changes and creek crossings. Horses are permitted on designated bridle trails only, and riders must carry proof of negative Coggins test results as required by Kentucky state regulations. Water for horses is available at the campground, but riders should bring additional water containers for trail rides. The campground serves as a convenient base for exploring nearby riding opportunities including those at Grayson Lake and surrounding state park lands. Trail maps are available at the park office, helping riders plan appropriate routes based on their experience level and time constraints. Kentucky state parks that welcome equestrians typically enforce proper manure management and tie-out policies to maintain the natural environment.
"This is a beautiful state park with breathtaking views of creeks along the roadway, wonderful landscape designed by nature, good hiking trails, peaceful campground, and a nice lodge."
"We liked that we could walk to the bathrooms and not have to drive there. We stayed at site 100 and really enjoyed the shade trees."
from $20 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Didn't appreciate the grill in the next site (thought it was too close to us). We were in Site #8. Not sure what all is around here."
"We stayed on the upper end by the veterans cemetery, even though it's close to the pool and playground, it was pretty quiet. Sites were a bit unlevel, but easy to back into."
from $55 - $85 / night
Check Availability"* Beautiful area of Kentucky Nice trails and great kayaking"
"Primitive Site 22 was fantastic, tucked away from everyone and quiet. Greenbo just doesn't have a lot to do if you arent boating. And that's okay. We just wanted a lazy trip anyway."
from $22 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Stayed here for one night on a road trip to the Great Lakes. It’s basically in the middle of nowhere but nestled nicely on a lake with pretty water and nice scenery."
"It is close to the water. We left our boats down on the bank. You have a "private" restroom and shower house. Occasionally you will get a hiker or someone coming through the trails that will use it."
from $35 - $150 / night
Check Availability"The equestrian sites are full hookups and able to accommodate large rigs with pull through sites. The RV sites are under construction and will be some time before they are done."
from $45 - $62 / night
Check Availability"The proximity to the river and kayaking is a big priority for me. They have kayaks for rent at the campground or you can bring your own. "
"We were able to put up a 20 x 10 canopy outside of our camper canopy with plenty of extra room. Lots of space for the kids to run."
"The hiking trails are scenic and pretty and the lake while not overly big, is clean and great for swimming(there's a beach) , kayaking, and fishing."
"Great campground with super easy access to the trail and lake. The sites are spread apart enough so you aren’t right beside someone - and shaded."
from $15 - $20 / night
Check Availability"If you're a tent person using Vesuvius as a home base for trail hiking, stick with Iron Ridge."
"Great location to earn some backpacking miles. Feels quite remote, but along the trails there are shelters, bathrooms, trash reciprocals, and other useful hookups."
from $35 - $52 / night
Check Availability"The park’s along the lake and has hiking, birding, a restaurant, and a nice surprise: an open air theatre with shows outside all summer."
"I lived in the Dewey Lake-JWSP area with family members, until 2002. Currently, I live about 10-15 minutes away from JWSP and visit the park at least once a month, depending on the weather."
from $30 - $35 / night
Check Availability
GuideGreenbo is a small state park tucked away in beautiful greenup co a very quit peaceful park. With a little known secret outside of the area world class bass fishing. Yelp that’s right you wouldn’t ever guess that by the size of the lake but it’s fact and the restaurant at the lodge. Is outstanding
TravelerWe love Twin Knobs! We have camped there numerous times - in the Sping, Summer, and Fall. Electric and non electric sites. The campground staff is always a pleasure to interact with, and so kind! Always clean. Most sites are within walking distance to the lake. My only suggestion is I wish they had some playgrounds for small kids.
Scouttrails are a complete mess, a lot were impassable and very dangerous not recommended for horses, some have not had any maintenance done in years, even the main trail out of camp a couple miles was impassable... very poor :(
TravelerCampground is beautiful. Restrooms were very clean.
Mix of hook up and primitive. VERY spacious sites with privacy and space between. Its right on Cave Run Lake too.
Only negative we saw was widowmaker limbs in trees directly above campsites.
TravelerNice pool, most sites I could see have sewer. Water pressure was low. Very few shady sites on top level.
GuideQuiet and peaceful campground in the former corn field of the owners grandfather. Clean bathhouse, kids play area and hammocks for relaxing. Staff will shuttle you and a kayak 3 miles up the Licking river for a relaxing, family friendly float. My site had electric and water with a dump station available for $40.
TravelerWe were surprised to find the store open when we arrived at 6, but woman inside was a trip. She could not seem to figure out how to do anything and talked to herself the whole time. Check in took about 20-30 minutes! She was very friendly though and explained how to get to our site. Tried to get propane- first she said she didn't know how to do it, then she decided she did, but wound up being clueless. She did let us change our site because it was so far from the bathroom. We had to go down a crazy steep narrow hill to get to the lower area. Thought it might be quiet but wound up on top of a busy road. Ok for an overnight. Huge street lights over us. Sites a little junky looking.
GuideThe equestrian sites are full hookups and able to accommodate large rigs with pull through sites. The RV sites are under construction and will be some time before they are done. Bathhouse is clean and up to date. The roads are narrow and windy.
TravelerVery clean. Site was generous and clean. Registration staff helpful and very friendly.
Carter Caves State Resort Park offers equestrian camping opportunities approximately 1.5 miles from the main campground area. The equestrian campground includes full hookup sites with pull-through access designed to accommodate larger rigs. This area features both 30-amp and 50-amp electrical service, though some campers note that extension cords may be needed at certain sites. The horse-friendly campground connects directly to the park's network of bridle paths and hiking trails.
Kayaking the Licking River: The Ole Cornfield campground provides convenient access for paddlers. "We went kayaking (they have a kayaking service on site) and played in the river. Far enough away from the road that we didn't hear any noise, just the river running," notes Karen P. The campground offers shuttle service to the dam for a scenic float back to camp.
Explore cave systems: Carter Caves features multiple cave exploration options. "Various levels of cabing experience at a reasonable cost. Lots of hiking, fairly well marked. Almost every hike is relatively short with an arch or natural bridge as a feature," explains Bryan G., who visited with a scout group. Cave tours vary in difficulty from beginner to more challenging routes.
Mountain biking: Twin Knobs Recreation Area offers direct trail access for cyclists. "There are mountain biking trails that you can access right from the campground so that was nice," according to a reviewer who appreciated the trail connectivity. The campground's location on Cave Run Lake also allows for combined water and land activities.
Secluded sites: Twin Knobs Recreation Area provides private camping spots. "The campground is in a wooded area and each campsite is separate by woods from the nearby sites," notes Stephen H. The natural separation between sites creates a more private outdoor experience than typical state park campgrounds.
Clean facilities: The Ole Cornfield maintains well-kept amenities according to visitors. "The campground is always extremely clean as are the bathrooms. Water and electric on site with a wide spot," reports Karen P. The bathrooms feature quality paper products and clean shower facilities.
Peaceful atmosphere: Greenbo Lake State Park offers a quieter camping experience. "Primitive Site 22 was fantastic, tucked away from everyone and quiet," writes Paul K. The campground provides both electric and primitive sites with varying degrees of privacy, though some report the sites are packed together in certain areas.
Water hookup positioning: At Jenny Wiley State Park, water connections require planning. "What's odd is that you share a water spigot with a neighbor so you have to have a long hose to go across your whole section," explains Pamela S. Some sites have awkward utility placement with water hookups positioned at the front rather than sides of campsites.
Cell service limitations: Several campgrounds in the area have limited connectivity. Twin Knobs campers report, "Internet service is spotty there– our Verizon hotspot worked ok, but the Sprint was super slow." At Shawnee State Park in nearby Ohio, visitors note "there is absolutely no cell service in the Campground."
Reservation timing: For equestrian campgrounds near Grayson Lake, advance planning is essential. The equestrian campground at Carter Caves can fill quickly during peak season. Many campers recommend reservations 6+ months in advance for premium sites, especially those with horse-friendly amenities or sites close to water.
Water play options: Shallow water access at The Ole Cornfield suits young children. "The grandkids love to play in the river, which is about 1 to 2 feet deep at this location. Great for wading and catching minnows, crawdads, and such," shares Karen P. This provides safe water exploration for children not ready for deeper lake swimming.
Planned activities: Carter Caves State Park offers organized programs for kids. "Grab a ranger-guided tour and learn something! Great for the kids!" suggests Chris B. During holiday periods like Halloween, the park hosts special themed weekends with decorating contests and trick-or-treating opportunities.
Playground access: Shawnee State Park includes dedicated kid-friendly areas. "The campground had fun amenities for kids, like a very small mini golf course and an outdoor screen for movie nights," reports Jay T. The campground also features multiple playgrounds and organized weekend activities.
Electric hookup sharing: At Greenbo Lake State Park, power posts serve multiple sites. "They advertise the sites with 30 and 50 amp hookups. What they didn't say was that you had to share a post. The people beside me already had the 50 amp," explains Karen P., who had to adjust by running appliances on propane instead.
Water pressure management: Iron Ridge at Lake Vesuvius campers should monitor pressure. "Beautiful place to camp. Some sites are more difficult for parking a camper than others...but the water pressure was extremely high," warns Wendi L. RVers should bring pressure regulators to protect their plumbing systems.
Site length verification: When reserving at Shawnee State Park, double-check site dimensions. One RVer reports: "We were told that the site we'd been assigned was room enough for 52'. Our RV is only 34' so that would be more than enough. we got there and it was maybe 20-24" in length." Several visitors recommend calling to verify actual site dimensions rather than relying solely on website information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Grayson Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Grayson Lake is Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 46 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Grayson Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Grayson Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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