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Equestrian Camping near Washington, MA

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Washington, Massachusetts has limited established horse-friendly campgrounds. Based on available data, North-South Lake Campground in nearby Haines Falls, New York offers tent and RV camping with pets allowed, though it lacks dedicated horse corrals. The campground provides fire pits with grill tops, picnic tables, and access to both North and South Lakes. Sites are relatively private with foliage creating natural separation between neighboring campsites. The campground operates seasonally from May 19 to October 22 and maintains clean bathrooms and hot showers. Multiple hiking trails accessible directly from the campground offer opportunities for day hikes.

    Located within the Catskill Forest Preserve, North-South Lake is the largest campground in the area with seven camping loops and various site options. Some sites are positioned near streams or the lakes, though loop selection matters as construction noise may affect certain areas. The campground provides access to multiple hiking trails including routes to Kaaterskill Falls and the Mountain House Site. No cell service or WiFi is available throughout the park, creating a truly unplugged outdoor experience. Black bear activity is common in the area, requiring strict food storage practices. Generator use is restricted to specific hours. For equestrians seeking facilities closer to Washington, additional research for private farms or specialized horse camps is recommended.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Washington (2)

      1. North-South Lake Campground

      4.5(44)48mi from Washington214 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Loved that trailheads are walking distance from the sites. But we felt very close to campers next to us, not a lot of shrubbery between sites to feel somewhat private."

      "Had a great time at this campground- surrounded by many returning campers which gave the whole experience a good community vibe. Ice cream truck comes around each evening in the summer."

      from $22 - $44 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Country Campsites

      Be the first to review49mi from WashingtonRVs, Tents, Cabins

      from $55 - $195 / night

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Washington, MA

    43 Reviews of 2 Washington Campgrounds


    • nThe Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 22, 2021

      North-South Lake Campground

      Beautiful grounds but…

      Gorgeous campgrounds, friendly staff, and spectacular facilities. Loved that trailheads are walking distance from the sites. But we felt very close to campers next to us, not a lot of shrubbery between sites to feel somewhat private. Fire pits are very nice but more catered to cooking instead of being able to sit around in a circle. Also, we picked a site hoping we’d have a nice view of the lake but it’s hard to see from the site and a good walk away. Overall, beautiful grounds but I’d take less facilities to have a more “woodsy” vibe but that’s just my preference!

    • Lena L.
      Jun. 14, 2018

      North-South Lake Campground

      Family friendly

      Had a great time at this campground- surrounded by many returning campers which gave the whole experience a good community vibe. Ice cream truck comes around each evening in the summer. Sites are tucked away in the trees for privacy. We set up our 6 person tent and two hammocks comfortably. Long walk to the beach from our site but enjoyable anyway. Nice little hiking trails nearby.

    • R
      Aug. 26, 2018

      North-South Lake Campground

      Love this place

      The sites are spacious and private and there are lake side sites available too. Perfect for groups!! We were able to maximize our lake experience by bringing an inflatable kayak. I was able to explore many different parts of the lake and do a decent amount of fishing. There were a few hiking trails walking distance of the campground that were fun to explore. We will def come back!!

    • M
      Jul. 3, 2019

      North-South Lake Campground

      Great family campground

      This place is enormous. This is a NYS park run by DEC. They are very strict with quite hours which are from 10pm to 7am. The had a truck come around many times after 10pm to make sure everyone was quite. This is a great spot for young kids. I was warned about high black bear activity in the region and even had to sign a waiver acknowledging their presence and all the rules associated.

      Each site had a fire pit with a grill on top of it and a picnic table. Sites are very close together but that didn’t bother me. There are bathrooms and showers, both very clean in every loop. Attached to the bathroom area is a large sink to wash dishes.

      The north lake is under construction so there is not beach front there. Beware of staying in Loop 6 as you will probably hear the construction noises.

      The north lake does however have a nice path alongside it and a spot to deploy a non motorized boat.

      No cell service anywhere in the park or close by.

      I highly recommend staying here.

    • M
      Oct. 26, 2025

      North-South Lake Campground

      Beautiful grounds HORRIBLE STAFF

      I don’t normally write reviews especially a negative one. We had a very upsetting experience at North-South Lake. We drove over two hours to visit my husband’s childhood campground for the first time with our three kids(ages 5, 7, and 9). When we arrived at the entrance, we were asked if it was a day visit, and we said yes, we were only staying for the day. We paid the fee, received a map, and drove in. My husband was so excited to finally share this place and create memories with our children. Looking for a place to park, we thought we were lucky to find an empty campsite in one of the loops where he used to camp as a child.

      We parked the car hoping to enjoy the view of the lake, take a walk, and maybe make the kids a couple of s’mores before heading home.

       At around 2:15–2:30 p.m., the “SUPERVISOR” in the white Kia approached us in an extremely rude and nasty manner, speaking as if we were committing a serious crime and comparing our situation to“sleeping in someone else’s hotel room.” She asked us if we had a reservation; we said no. She said,“Someone else reserved this spot.” We were very apologetic, embarrassed, and immediately put our stuff in the car. I said they could have told us; we would have moved right away. I’m sorry. 

      She said,“They aren’t supposed to talk to you; that’s why they send me here.” She told us we had ten minutes to leave, waited there while we put our chair, blanket, and s’more cookies in the car, and refused our 9-year-old daughter access to the bathroom while we packed up our three things, and even followed us out of the loop to make sure we didn’t park elsewhere. My daughter came to us crying because the lady told her she couldn’t use the bathroom and had to get in the car. Well, she had an accident in the car right as we were pulling out. 

      We were mortified and apologetic. My husband even offered to leave the firewood we had just purchased for the next campers, but she was dismissive and harsh about that as well. 

      The following day, I called and asked to speak with a manager to explain how we were treated. The manager was just as unfriendly and miserable sounding as the supervisor. I was told they had been looking for us“for hours” and that it’s“common sense” not to park in a campsite. She actually said it’s considered trespassing. So, a friendly warning for first-time visitors: Apparently, if you don’t know that“day use” doesn’t mean“park in any empty campsite,” just for the day, you’re officially a trespassing criminal, at least according to the manager. 

      Reading the website now, I see that check-in for people with reservations is at 2 p.m., which was the time we were trying to make a small fire, so unless someone left their site and returned, it’s unclear how they could have been looking for us“for hours.” We were right there at 2pm. 

      The website also states: Day Use• Anyone who is not camping is a day-user. Day-use hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Day-users are not allowed between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

      We were not camping but didn’t realize we couldn’t park in an empty campsite. I think“common sense” would be to inform DAY USE visitors at the ENTRANCE to use public parking, especially for families or first-time visitors who may not be camping experts. Bottom line: this was my husband’s childhood family spot. We just wanted to take a beautiful fall drive and have a special day with our kids. 

      We understand now that we needed to reserve the parking spot ahead of time, and it was an honest misunderstanding. I would have even offered to pay for the campers’ stay for their trouble. What we wish for is that the staff had approached us respectfully and explained the situation instead of treating us like criminals. Imagine being such a miserable person and working in such a BEAUTIFUL and peaceful place for families. 

      This was meant to be a special family day, honoring memories of my father-in-law and creating new ones with our children. Instead, it became stressful and humiliating. Sadly, this is what our children will remember about the day and about North South Lake

    • L
      Jun. 24, 2022

      North-South Lake Campground

      Lake, creek and waterfalls!

      Beautiful. Our site had a creek close behind it and only a short walk to the lake. We were there in middle of the week and it was very quiet. Most sites a shady and private. Loved it, hope to visit again sometime.

    • Brian H.
      Aug. 31, 2016

      North-South Lake Campground

      camp here if you love hiking

      the hiking here is phenomenal! easy and walking distance from your site

    • Nadia V.
      Aug. 30, 2016

      North-South Lake Campground

      Had so much fun-Can't wait to come back!

      North-South Lake Campground was a blast. My family and I loved every second of it. We enjoyed some beautiful hikes- one that lead to a rock that they call "alligator rock" which obviously looked like an alligator. This same hike took us around some other pretty cool sites as well. It was really nice to get away from the busy city and come here to escape the busyness. North South Lake is located within the Catskill Forest Preserve and I was told that this is the largest campsite available. I believe them because we did get lost once we were in the park, trying to find our camping spot. I would recommend downloading or asking for a campground map before going so you know exactly where your campsite is. We also enjoyed the lakes that were located within the campground. We found 2 different lakes, but not sure if there are more. We also did some hiking (to Alligator Rock). One hike that I really enjoyed was Kaaterskill Falls- This was absolutely gorgeous and the views were amazing. We did some research prior to coming, and from this hike you are able to see 5 different states from the top of this hike. We went on a beautiful, clear day so we were able to see miles ahead of us. Other activities you can do are boat, fish, and swim at the beaches. This campground literally has everything you could want in a campground and more! I would recommend coming here, and would give this North-South Lake a 10/10, A+++

    • Reneé Rose B.
      Sep. 13, 2021

      North-South Lake Campground

      A perfect visit

      The campground was active but not crowded. There is a variety of water sources with multiple camp sites abutting them. Each site is spacious and is tucked nicely into the woods giving optimal privacy. The sites do not have water or electricity but there’s a water tap nearby the sites. The sky is open and brilliant at night.


    Guide to Washington

    North-South Lake Campground offers recreational activities throughout the Catskill Forest Preserve at elevations reaching 2,250 feet. The seasonal campground sits near several notable peaks, including North Mountain (3,180 feet) and South Mountain (2,980 feet), creating a terrain popular with hikers seeking mountain vistas. Winter temperatures average below freezing, making the May through October operating season ideal for comfortable camping.

    What to do

    Swimming in two lakes: North-South Lake Campground provides swimming areas with clean, refreshing water. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," notes Lizz H., who regularly visits the campground's swimming spots.

    Explore historic sites: Visitors can hike to the former Mountain House hotel site and other historic locations. "A lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road from the campground," explains Jessica W. about North-South Lake Campground.

    Multi-activity options: The campground serves as a hub for various outdoor pursuits. Chris D. shares, "Camping, swimming, hiking, boating, biking, this place has it all," making it suitable for visitors with diverse interests.

    What campers like

    Convenient waterfall access: The proximity to one of the Catskills' most iconic waterfalls draws many visitors. "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there," writes Brittany W. about her stay at North-South Lake Campground.

    Lake environments: The dual lake setting creates multiple recreation opportunities. Luka M. states simply, "Been there couple of times. Love it. Two lakes. Highly recommended," highlighting the appeal of having two different water bodies to enjoy.

    Well-maintained facilities: Cleanliness consistently appears in positive reviews. Rachel G. appreciates the "Clean and well run campground with beautiful lakes and surrounded by trails. perfect Hudson getaway. Reserve very early for waterfront."

    What you should know

    Seasonal crowds: Holiday periods bring significantly more visitors to the area. Tara L. advises, "North South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge. Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds."

    Early reservations needed: Popular sites require advance planning. According to Eliany L., the campground has "many different size sites big enough for groups and small for just single. Great place to camp. The view from the town to the campground was amazing!" This variety makes Country Campsites popular and fills quickly during peak season.

    Bathroom facilities: Unlike some dispersed areas, these campgrounds maintain proper restrooms. Brittany W. notes, "The restrooms were clean and had showers, which we did not expect," providing an unexpected amenity for those accustomed to more primitive camping.

    Tips for camping with families

    Choose loop location carefully: Each camping loop offers different proximity to amenities and natural features. Becky G. recommends the "Large family friendly campground with all the amenities - boating, showers, great hiking," making it suitable for multi-generational trips.

    Consider activity options: Families appreciate the range of activities available without leaving the campground. Chris D. reminisces about "Childhood memories revisited," stating, "I'm a native of the Catskills and spent many an afternoon with my family enjoying the facilities at North/South Lake. I've recently started going there again with my own family and it's great to see them take the same enjoyment I did."

    Select appropriately sized sites: Groups requiring multiple tents should reserve larger sites. Eliany L. found North-South Lake Campground has "many different size sites big enough for groups and small for just single," allowing flexibility for different family configurations.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection matters: The campground layout accommodates various RV sizes, but not all sites are suitable for larger rigs. While specific horse campgrounds near Washington, Massachusetts remain limited, the campgrounds in nearby New York State Parks accommodate recreational vehicles with standard hookups and amenities.

    Advance planning essential: RV campers report needing to book well in advance, particularly for sites with hookups. The lack of dedicated equestrian camping facilities near Washington means horse owners often need alternative arrangements at private farms when visiting the region.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Washington, MA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Washington, MA is North-South Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 44 reviews.