Best Equestrian Camping near Clayton, NJ

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Brendan Byrne State Forest offers primitive equestrian camping with direct trail access within its 37,000 acres of New Jersey Pine Barrens. Located approximately 35 miles from Clayton, this year-round campground accommodates horses on trails throughout the forest, though it lacks dedicated horse corrals or stalls at campsites. The forest provides spacious sites suitable for horse trailer parking with enough room for vehicles and camping equipment. Facilities include drinking water, flush toilets, showers, and picnic tables at each site. Sites offer adequate room for setting up highlines or portable corrals that campers must bring themselves. Most campsites are well-maintained with enough space between neighbors to provide a sense of privacy in the wooded setting.

The extensive trail system throughout Brendan Byrne State Forest provides excellent opportunities for horseback riding on sandy paths through pine forests. Multiple access points connect riders to miles of interconnected trails suitable for day rides directly from the campground. Campers should bring portable water troughs for horses as natural water sources may be limited depending on seasonal conditions. The Pine Barrens terrain is generally flat with sandy soil, making for moderate riding difficulty appropriate for most experience levels. Some trails are shared with mountain bikers and hikers, requiring proper trail etiquette. The campground's remote location offers quiet surroundings with minimal light pollution, though occasional air traffic from nearby military bases can be heard. The forest's ranger station sells firewood and provides trail maps for planning riding routes through this distinctive ecosystem.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Clayton, New Jersey (5)

    1. Lums Pond State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Kirkwood, DE
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (302) 368-6989

    $17 - $32 / night

    "There are some equestrian and tent sites as well. Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking."

    "I took her older cousins to  the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."

    2. Brendan Byrne State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1191

    $3 - $60 / night

    "Campsite decent size, but some don't have clear boundaries to neighbors, and sometimes not optimally configured (e.g., the site next door's fire pit was placed on the edge of its site/right next to my"

    "Sand roads crisscross the whole area and navigation can be a bit tricky the first time around. The campgrounds are clean and simple."

    3. Blackbird State Forest Campground - CLOSED TIL FURTHER NOTICE

    6 Reviews
    Townsend, DE
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (302) 653-6505

    $25 / night

    "The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."

    "I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."

    4. Hibernia County Park

    8 Reviews
    Coatesville, PA
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (610) 383-3812

    $15 - $50 / night

    "This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the “sites” are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters."

    "Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Clayton, NJ

1 Photos of 5 Clayton Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Clayton, NJ

82 Reviews of 5 Clayton Campgrounds


  • Ellen B.
    May. 23, 2019

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Great place in the back yard

    We do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations.

    Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well.

    Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There’s an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!

  • M
    Apr. 4, 2022

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Will be back again [when we can get a reservation]

    I understand why it is so difficult to get a reservation at Lums Pond.  I don't know if it's the host campers or the management, but they're definitely doing something right.  

    I have to say, Jim, the host camper by us was fantastic.  As it was our first trip after a long winter, I managed to forget to put the anode back in our water heater.  I went over and sheepishly asked him if I could borrow a 1 1/2" socket.  He not only lent us a socket, but asked if I needed help, and if I had teflon tape (which I did) and was willing to lend a hand.

    The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back.  That was a bonus.

    Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards). The only complaint I have is that the kiddie swings seem to be modeled after the seasickness machine that they had on Mythbusters (https://archive.org/details/MythBusters..Season.3..480p576P..DVDripHDTV..X265HEVC..O69..FIXED/Mythbusters+-+S03E26+-+Seasickness+-+Kill+or+Cure.mkv).  I could only go on the swing with her for a little bit before I started to turn green.  Other than that?  She fought us about leaving the playground, and really would have been content if that was all we did.

    I took her older cousins to  the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore.

    The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond.  It was a long, but easy hike.

    The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease.

    All in all, it was a fantastic trip, and I hope to go back soon.

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 31, 2024

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Snall campground, big sites

    Nice smaller campground with large spacious sites. Very level and spaced apart from neighbor is you pick the right spots. We were in 17 which looked out to open space and woods. If it rains, some sites are flooded. Not much going on for activities in March. Near an Ape Adventure park, hike around lake, and any shopping or restaurants you might want are close by. It rained heavy so we didn’t get out much but walk around camp loop is nice and flat.

  • S
    Jun. 27, 2021

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Nice campsite for car camping

    Flat site, no tent bed, enough space to park two cars. Campsite decent size, but some don't have clear boundaries to neighbors, and sometimes not optimally configured (e.g., the site next door's fire pit was placed on the edge of its site/right next to my site). Could hear the traffic on Rte 72 at night despite being a half mile away.

    Bathrooms were clean and stocked, warm/hot water available. No issues with firepit, water, plenty of tinder nearby. Bought firewood at the office for $7, but there is plenty of dead wood lying around outside the campsite. Picnic tables were somewhat hacked/battoned for kindling, but many sites had a log lying around for such purpose.

    Went during the week and there were only 3 other campsites in use, ran into very few people on the trails. Ticks were definitely present but wasn't too crazy - found 2 on me in 3 days, no mosquito bites... thanks permethrin!

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 7, 2021

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Small and Nice

    This was our first time here and it’s only an hour from home. I was hopeful for another nice DE state park and I wasn’t disappointed. All DE parks are nicely laid out. There were shaded spots and sunny spots. Bathhouse was clean. The camp loop is a nice walk but there are also trails. They were pretty muddy when we were there. Site 35 was quite spacious as were many of them. Sites do sit close to the road but are spacious side to side. There is a large field in the center and woods surrounding the loop. Site 33 was close to our back side but site 37 was far from us. There is one cross road with sites and those were closer together. Sites on pond side were more spread apart than the opposite side. The one tent area was behind and slightly surrounding an RV site which was weird. The other tent areas were separate from RV sites. I would recommend this campground.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 24, 2021

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Quaint State Park

    Our GPS wanted to take us to the main park entrance on Howell School Rd versus Red Lion Rd to the campground entrance on the other side of the pond. The gate and store were not open so we went directly to back-in site 26 with FHUs. Our reservation sheet and vehicle pass were on the post when we arrived. Back-in was okay with having to swing our F-450 and 39’ 5th wheel into the grass between sites across the street. Utilities were smartly placed at the middle of the pad. We had 2 to 3 bars on Verizon and 2 bars on AT&T. However, we had trouble with AT&T maintaining internet on our Weingard Connect. The CG is in two loops. Sites 1-30 make up the first loop and that is where most of the larger rigs camped. A rough estimate(double check site size online) is that sites 12- 18 will take larger rigs up to around 45’ but you’ll need to park your tow vehicle or toad angled in front of your rig. Our site was long enough for our 39’ fifth wheel but we had to park our truck at an angle as well. The second loop does have larger sites but is mainly suited for small rigs to include a tent area. Both loops have a large grass field in the middle that the sites back up to, which is great for playing outside games and without many trees so you could use satellite from almost all the sites. From a spaciousness point of view, the best site in the CG is 17, but it is near the walking trail. The shower house also contains a small laundry with 3 washers and 4 dryers that are reasonably priced, although one washer was out of service at the time. However, there was not a change machine. You could purchase firewood from one of the on duty camp hosts. A short drive from the campground to another Lum’s Pond State Park area there’s a really cool dog park where you can walk the dogs off leash down trails and with open play areas along the pond. One of the best features of this off-leash area is how secluded it is away from the main road. Supposedly this is known as a haunted campground, although we didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary. If in the area, we would stay here again.

  • Dorian P.
    Jun. 24, 2021

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Great campground

    First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed! Made me feel super secluded and disconnected from the outside! The bathrooms and showers here were in really good condition, well cleaned and stocked, and was pleasant to use! The campsites are a little bit close to each and didnt offer much privacy but they were right in top of each other. Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker. Seasonal rangers drove by a handful of times and there was a dumpster at the entrance of the campground area which was nice. Overall, I would 100% go to this campground again and I really enjoyed my site. Also, there is a good amount of trails and a wawa down the street if you forgot anything for your trip

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2023

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Beautiful, remote and pristine

    This was definitely a unique camping experience for me. The forest is absolutely beautiful, but not by any design. Instead, nature is just doing its thing. Sand roads crisscross the whole area and navigation can be a bit tricky the first time around.

    The campgrounds are clean and simple. Some reviews mentioned that the borders between sites are a bit murky, which I agree with. In the larger loop, one site easily blends into another. I stayed in the smaller loop (1-13), which was simple and a bit more private. The bathrooms nearby were immaculately clean, which hasn’t been the case at many other state campgrounds. There was some occasional road noise, but nothing that kept me up at night. However, there was some low flying air traffic going in to the joint base nearby. It wasn’t terrible, but it was definitely noticeable.

    In a pinch, there’s a Wawa about 5 minutes away from the campground. Beyond that, there’s a bar and a gas station a bit further away. Anything else is a bit of a hike. If you want to get away and feel like you’re truly in nature, this is a good spot to visit.

  • Emily M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 7, 2022

    Blackbird State Forest Campground - CLOSED TIL FURTHER NOTICE

    Nice and secluded

    The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded. Nice hikes in the area, great weekend!


Guide to Clayton

Brendan Byrne State Forest offers primitive camping sites suitable for equestrian activities within 37,000 acres of the New Jersey Pine Barrens region. The forest sits at approximately 100-150 feet above sea level with predominantly sandy soil throughout the camping areas. Temperatures typically range from 25°F in winter to 85°F in summer, creating variable conditions for horseback riders looking to explore the terrain.

What to do

Trail riding through pine forests: Brendan Byrne State Forest features multiple trail options through distinctive pine barrens terrain. "Lots of good hiking trails, most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones," notes Dan M. from Brendan Byrne State Forest. The forest trails connect to wider networks throughout the pine barrens.

Fishing at nearby ponds: Several water features near camping areas provide fishing opportunities. At Hibernia County Park, "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," reports Anna. Chambers Lake in the park also offers additional fishing spots within a short drive of Clayton.

Scenic photography: The unique pine barrens ecosystem provides distinctive photography opportunities year-round. "Nice site with pretty foliage," mentions Esther L. about Brendan Byrne State Forest. The contrast between sandy terrain and pine vegetation creates interesting visual compositions.

What campers like

Well-maintained facilities: Many equestrian campers appreciate the upkeep of campground amenities. "The bathrooms and showers here were in really good condition, well cleaned and stocked, and was pleasant to use," notes Dorian P. about their stay at Brendan Byrne State Forest. Regular maintenance makes extended stays more comfortable.

Spacious sites with privacy: Blackbird State Forest Campground offers "spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking," according to John C. Similarly, at Brendan Byrne, "sites are spaced out enough to offer privacy. Good trees for hammocking," reports Lindsay D.

Natural quiet: The relative isolation from urban areas creates peaceful camping conditions. "It's far away from traffic noise. You can't here any cars or any other noise from civilization at all. It's at least 10 miles away from anything more than a single house in the woods," explains Benjamin K. about Brendan Byrne State Forest.

What you should know

Water availability varies: Access to water sources requires planning at some locations. At Lums Pond State Park Campground, "the closest water spigot wasn't working. Not a big problem as there are plenty of others," mentions Megan S. Brendan Byrne has "lots of potable water hydrants around the campground so not far of a walk to fill any water needs," according to Dan M.

Insect preparation essential: The pine barrens region has significant insect activity, particularly ticks. "Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks!" warns Megan S. Mosquitoes can also be prevalent depending on seasonal conditions.

Campfire restrictions: Some campgrounds enforce specific burn times. "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker," notes Dorian P. about Brendan Byrne State Forest. Always check current fire regulations before your visit.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Hibernia County Park, Anna reports "My kids are age 3-12... The park ranger this weekend was the nicest and very helpful with directions to walk to the playground and indoor restrooms."

Trail difficulty considerations: When planning horse rides with families, assess trail difficulties. "The Pine Barrens terrain is generally flat with sandy soil," making trails at Brendan Byrne accessible for various experience levels. "The trails are well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail," notes Mark about nearby Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area.

Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable rates for family outings. "Super great price at $15/night as well," mentions Anna about Hibernia County Park, making it accessible for families looking to camp near equestrian trails without significant expense.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: RV accommodations vary significantly between campgrounds. At Lums Pond State Park, sites feature "concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," according to Ellen B. This contrasts with primitive options at Brendan Byrne State Forest.

Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region require leveling equipment. Hibernia County Park sites "aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," according to Jennifer S., who camps in a 28-foot fifth wheel.

Dump station planning: Not all campgrounds with RV access provide dump stations. Jennifer S. notes about Hibernia County Park, "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Clayton, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Clayton, NJ is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 48 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Clayton, NJ?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Clayton, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.