Equestrian camping near Plainville, Massachusetts offers riders access to trail systems within wooded New England terrain. The region maintains several dedicated horse camps within an hour's drive of Plainville, with most facilities open from spring through fall. Camping options range from rustic facilities with basic amenities to more developed sites with hookups for trailers.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: At Pachaug State Forest, three distinct horseback riding loops originate directly from the campground. "Campsites are located around a loop with a couple of composting toilets near the entrance. Water is available. There's space your your camping gear as well as a trailer and horseline," notes one visitor.
Hiking adventures: For non-equestrian activities, Ponkapoag Camp offers extensive hiking options. "Hiking trails abound on the property. While none of the trails are steep, they all go through beautiful ares, with views of the pond, and interesting rock formations. Blue Hill is within hiking distance, and it is a favorite spot for seeing the sunrise," shares a camper.
Water activities: Many campgrounds feature ponds for swimming and boating. "The pond itself is a wonderful place for kayaking and canoeing. There are several rocky boulders poking out of the water that make fun spots to discover," reports a visitor to Ponkapoag Camp. Another camper at Ponkapoag added, "The kids can hang out in the clubhouse if it's raining or swim in the pond if it's hot."
What campers like
Proximity to Boston: Myles Standish State Forest serves as a convenient base camp. "Myles Standish State Park is located just this side of the Cape Cod canal so your not actually 'on the cape'. The park is a great staging area for day trips to Plymouth and all its history as well as being and easy bike ride to the upper cape," explains one visitor.
Multi-day trail access: The preserved trail networks provide extensive riding opportunities. "The bridle trail network connects riders to the extensive Arcadia Management Area trail system, providing multiple days of riding opportunities through diverse terrain," according to equestrian campers.
Spacious sites: Normandy Farms Campground offers well-designed camping areas. "Our site was easy to navigate in and out of and was definitely big rig-friendly with ample space for our motorhome and tow car. All utilities were well-placed and functioned properly," reports one RVer. Another notes, "Campsites are big and we'll spaced. Bathrooms are best of any campground."
What you should know
Seasonal variations: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. For example, Wolf Den Campground operates from "May 26 to September 4," though some sites remain open longer. "Stayed here on a Tuesday night right after hurricane Henri. The park was completely cleaned up from any damage or debris, all in great shape," noted a late August visitor.
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance booking, especially for weekend stays. "The campground doesn't have hook ups, but there is a dump station with water and water available around the loops... In 2020 with Covid, there were restrictions on visitors to the campground, reservations required, and swimming was not allowed."
Rustic facilities: Horse camping areas typically offer basic amenities. One camper noted of Frog Hollow Horse Camp: "It's hard to find much information about this equestrian, first come, first serve campground in Connecticut's Pachaug State Forest." Ponkapoag Camp also maintains a rustic approach: "THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER."
Tips for camping with families
Playground and recreation: The Preserve Club and Residences offers extensive amenities. "The Preserve Club and Residences is a members/owners only community which is New England's most amenity rich properties, in fact it may be the only place in the world that has such a diverse amount of outdoor offerings," explains one visitor.
Swimming options: Many campgrounds feature natural swimming areas. At Ponkapoag Camp, "The pond itself is a wonderful place for kayaking and canoeing. There are several rocky boulders poking out of the water that make fun spots to discover. The sunsets over the pond are spectacular to watch from the dock."
Activity planning: State forests offer educational opportunities. "We explored all over the bog looking for interesting species of plants and animals and found so many amazing things. This is an amazing site to take anyone who is adventurous and loves to explore. It also doesn't hurt that it's so close to Boston," shares a Ponkapoag visitor.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Normandy Farms Campground offers multiple service levels. "There are plenty of sites to choose from the 'premium' full hook-up (50 amp) to basic with just water and electric and many others in between. Both back-in and pull thrus are available as are sites with shade and full sun."
Site selection: At Myles Standish, campers recommend considering which areas suit your needs. "The campgrounds themselves are really nice, but considering there are about 400 spots, you may find that some area's are more to your liking when it comes to things like more sun or more shade. Some locations offer less space between campsites, some more."
Weekday advantages: For a quieter experience, timing matters. "But the Sunday, and Monday nights, the 7 closest spots to us were empty, it was like having the woods to ourselves," shares a Myles Standish camper who stayed through part of a week.
Legend
