Looking for a rustic and comfortable horse camping experience near Apalachin? It's easy to find Apalachin campgrounds for horse camping with The Dyrt. You're sure to find the perfect site for your New York horse camping excursion.
Backbone Horse Campground is a small, semi-primitive campground designed primarily for campers or picnickers that bring horses with them.
$15 / night
Legend
This is an amazing state park that has something for everyone. There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network if hiking and horse riding trails. There are several campgrounds, with tremendous variety for every camping style. There are standard car camping tent sites, RV sites, and yurts and camper cabins. For those who like more rustic options, there are hike-in sites that are beautiful and not far from the parking area. The campsites are nestled in a deep shady mature forest, and peaceful and quiet due to the wooded aspect and spacing of sites (at least for me, in September in a hike-in site not far from the regular campground). It is nice to have such a fine camping and outdoor recreation opportunity within an easy drive of the city of Clarks Summit, so probably a great weekend getaway for local folks, but a wonderful stopover for anyone on a road trip through northern PA as it is not far off Interstate 81. I was there only one day, but would like to be back to explore the trails!
LegendNice state park. Wooded campgrounds. Nice sites. Boating and fishing.
GuidePretty good State park. Convenient to Scranton. The bathhouse was adequate and clean. Site was paved but not really level and layout was odd, fire ring and table were on drivers side. Didn’t use facilities but Lake looke nice
LegendStopped at Lackawanna on our way to Vermont... good overnight spot!
TravelerMy experience here was most enjoyable. I stayed in a yurt for the first time and it was also my first time camping since my teenage years. The yurt was most comfortable and the park is beautiful in the spring. Went hiking and was sure to bring my camera along. Got some beautiful shots too. Would highly recommend visiting and/or camping here!
GuideWe like Lackawanna State Park. This is the place we camped when we moved to PA. It has signts that are very wooded. Some are a little close to each other, but others offer plenty of space, including our site (52) on this trip. One of the biggest spots we have ever had. The site has one potential drawback for some, no electric hookup, however most of the loop we were in and the other pet friendly loop was also electric capable. The trails are fun for relaxing hikes, we especially like the one right along the lake. Also their is a huge lakefront area along a different stretch of the lake that offers people a lot of ways to enjoy themselves. It also has a huge pool area, but that was closed and that was our reason for giving the rating a 4 star. Can't have your number 1 item closed during the middle of summer and get a 5 star. We would love to come back in the winter when they have an ice rink with a warming house.
ScoutOur family of four enjoyed the quiet of the tent camping area for two nights. There was plenty to keep our nature/loving kiddos engaged. Our only complaint was the lack of active enforcement of quiet hours — otherwise there would be no complaints.
GuideMy husband and I stayed here for just one night during the week in early May. We were one of 3 campers in the second set of sites after you enter. They were clean and well spaced. Pretty woods and clean bathrooms. Just what we wanted
Scout
Perfect quiet spot to star gaze and listen to the wildlife. We had perfect weather and it was a spectacular night!
GuideThis is a really nice state park. Stayed just one night, but the campsites were in the woods and well separated.
GuideWe were Motorcycle camping and came in on a Holiday weekend without a reservation. But we were given a terrific tent site. The park was very neat and well manicured. Bathrooms were fairly nice, but no TP mid day. The sites were a little close to each other and where we were in the park was a mixed use area. So we had an RV next to us with the Genny running all day. The people were nice and fed us so I didn’t complain. The Lake looked nice though we didn’t use it. The roads all around were great for motorcycles and Scranton was very close for all your needs. This place gets thumbs up but only 4 stars because I’m hard to please.
GuideCamped here for a weekend, and probably one of my least favorite sites so far. Hiking trails are good, the lake is nice, but there is no privacy at the campsites; they're all very small and packed tight. Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained. Park rangers are hawkish and quick to assume wrongdoing.
Cell service covers the area, if you care. And no gas boats are allowed on the lake (cool!).
TravelerThis is a great little campground with fairly large sites. We were initially going to stay at Blueberry Patch however our tent was too large for the sites available. We see a posting that there were sites at Backbone that were for people with or without horses. More than half of the camp is designated for horses but only one horse trailer came into the camp the entire time we were there. The fire pits and picnic tables are very nice. Sites are first come first serve. Payment of the low fee is on the honor system and check in / out is very flexible. We seen maybe three people pass through the three days /two nights we were there. A Sheriff's truck did drive through Saturday morning just to patrol.
TravelerCampground has cabins and yurts, pull in sites for RV’s and strictly walk in tent sites. There is a beautiful lake and a very large pool. We went in early spring midweek, it was very quiet and exactly the get away we wanted.
TravelerNice hiking trails!
ScoutWe camp here several times a year and have never had a bad experience. Camp host is always most helpful and the park is always clean and well maintained. Great pool, lake, hiking etc.
GuideWe stayed one night when it happened to rain all evening. So, we stayed inside our camper. We did take a short walk around both camping loops in lighter rain. The swimming beach looked nice. They do have boat rental. Our site and the others we saw were nicely shaded. Look forward to visiting again in the sun for a longer period.
TravelerThe state park is a great way to get away and enjoy the forests. There is plenty of space to bring lunch and have a picnic. One suggestion would be to bring a fishing rod and enjoy casting while the kids run around and play.
ScoutWe originally came down to the National Forest to stay at the Blueberry Patch Campground but it was full by noon on the Friday before Memorial Day. This was also the first day it was open. We ended up having to come to this location. It was actually perfect for our small popup, but the horse riders that camp here were not pleased with us. This campground is apparently ONLY for horse owners with their horses. After another camper made a passive aggressive comment about us being here without horse, we attempted to find another location. Of course that was not a success the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, so we stayed. No other comment has been made and we aren’t the only ones that don’t have horses. We made the moral decision to leave if the campground filled with horse rider, but it hasn’t even reach half. We were told by locals that the horse riders are upset about the new $10 camping fee and that has deterred them from coming like they usually would. Anyways, both locations are great with a small fee. You’re centrally located to do and see everything from waterfalls, trails, vineyards and so on. It’s primitive, but more than half the price of a state par
RangerLarge camp sites have room for all your horses and horse paraphernalia. Call Finger Lakes National Forest to make sure trails aren’t closed due to weather, spring melt, etc. You need a permit to camp here but the permit and site are free. You can camp without having horses but get ready to smell them.
Horse camping in New York offers a unique experience for equestrians looking to explore the great outdoors alongside their horses. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse owners, you can enjoy scenic trails and peaceful surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Apalachin, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Apalachin, NY is Lackawanna State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.
