Equestrian camping near Pearl River, Louisiana offers access to forested trails through the De Soto National Forest and surrounding areas. The region's subtropical climate creates year-round camping opportunities with mild winters and warm, humid summers. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can occasionally drop below freezing.
What to do
Trail riding: Big Foot Horse Trail and Camp provides dedicated equestrian trails through pine forests. One visitor noted, "Campgrounds are beautiful with line forests surrounding the sites. Utilities are primitive but expected for a free campground. Watch where you step! Lots of horse poop."
Water activities: At Bogue Chitto State Park Campground, campers enjoy river-based recreation. "The river offers a nice swimming hole during the summer. WiFi worked good enough. Verizon cell service worked well in most areas of the park," shares one reviewer. Summer visitors can tube down the river, which is a popular activity during hot months.
Wildlife viewing: The wetland areas provide excellent opportunities to spot native species. At Bogue Chitto, a camper warns, "Literally, don't feed the gators. There were signs everywhere. Apparently many people don't heed the signs. When my hubby rustled a bag, several alligators swam right up to our site!"
What campers like
Spacious sites: Creekside Farm Co. earns praise for site layout and privacy. A camper mentions, "This quiet campground is spacious. They limit the number of campers so this really does feel like primitive camping in the woods."
Water features: Many campgrounds incorporate natural or man-made water elements. At Clearwater RV Park, one visitor appreciated "a beautiful lit up pond with a fountain and water wheel at night."
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards vary across campgrounds. Land-O-Pines receives positive feedback: "The park was clean and quiet, and the staff was friendly. About half the sites are for permanent users."
What you should know
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approaches. At New Orleans RV Resort & Marina, a reviewer cautions, "The biggest drawbacks are the drive up... When you first get off the Interstate, the area looks abandoned and a little sketchy, but it is ok."
Seasonal considerations: Hurricane season (June through November) can affect camping plans with heavy rainfall and potential evacuations. Prepare for summer heat and insects by bringing appropriate clothing and repellent.
Price variations: Costs vary significantly between public and private campgrounds. A tent camper at Land-O-Pines noted, "I would give it a better review except it's 50$ a night for a tent. We've averaged 20-30 bucks for the same."
Tips for camping with families
Supervised swimming: Land-O-Pines Family Campground offers swimming options for children. A parent shares, "There is a lot of fun things to do for the whole family, from swimming, water slide to playing bingo and a lot more."
Wildlife education: Turn wildlife sightings into learning opportunities. At Bogue Chitto State Park, families can observe native species: "We saw plenty of wildlife such as turkey, deer, rabbits, turtles, alligators and birds."
Holiday events: Several campgrounds host seasonal activities. Land-O-Pines receives praise for special events: "We went for Halloween weekend and there were alot of activities and trick or treating for the kids..great campsite great memories."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Sweetwater Campground RV Ranch, RVers should note potential overhead clearance issues. One RVer mentioned being "just not real happy with the tree limbs hanging low everywhere."
Utilities configuration: Pay attention to hookup locations and compatibility. At Land-O-Pines, a camper detailed their site: "Utilities: 20/50A electric near the middle. The 20A receptacle looked like it had some minor burn marks. Water next to power pole, good pressure. Sewer near power pole with 4 non screw-on fitting."
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies between campgrounds. For remote work needs, check reviews for signal strength. At Land-O-Pines, a visitor reported: "AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon full bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 30.8 Mbps down, 3.6 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 4.5 Mbps down, 11.8 Mbps up."
