Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park provides primitive horse camping facilities near Barryville, New York. Located in Greentown, Pennsylvania, this campground features sites specifically designed for equestrians with their horses and trailers. The campground offers electric hookups with 30 and 50 amp service for RVs and trailers. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings with fires permitted throughout the camping season. Bathrooms with showers and toilets are available on-site. The campground maintains clean facilities with adequate space for horse trailer parking. Most campsites are drive-in accessible, making it convenient for horse trailers and equipment.
The equestrian trails connect directly to the campground, allowing riders immediate access to the park's extensive trail system. Promised Land State Park encompasses over 3,000 acres with multiple interconnected trails suitable for horseback riding. Water access is available throughout the park for horses. The park maintains a 5-star rating among equestrians who appreciate the well-maintained trails and spacious campsites. Reservations are required for all equestrian camping sites and can be made through the Pennsylvania state park reservation system. The camping season typically runs from April through October, with peak horse camping occurring during the summer months when trail conditions are optimal. Riders should check trail status before arrival as seasonal conditions may affect accessibility.
"We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents."
"* Water and dumpsters are within walking distance, or if you are not up to walking you can just take a short drive to fill up and dispose of your trash
- There are outhouses scattered around, or if"
from $7 - $55 / night
"I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. "
"We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well maintained and flat which were the most important."
"We stayed at site #T007 is was a short walk from the car to the site, but so worth it for many reasons."
"The caping set up was nice and I enjoyed the proximity to available hikes in the area. The ‘lake’ however, was kind of a disappointment."
"3 hour drive from NYC, and a wonderful campsite with good weather in the summer - not too hot during the day and nice and cool overnight."
"We stayed in lower lake beechwood site 323. Was decent site only downside was fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs, otherwise it’s a nice wooded site with privacy."
from $27 - $29 / night
from $25 / night
"There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network if hiking and horse riding trails."
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $90 / night
"If you're there in the summer, I'd recommend taking a kayak around the lake and filling it with wild blueberries. Lots of hiking options as well."
"The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also."
from $5 - $75 / night
"Went here with some friends who had never been outside NYC before. They were absolutely blown away. For me, it was a nice site but not exceptional. Bring or rent a kayak!"
"I drove to NYC for a business trip and ended up driving 1 and a half hour to reach this place. I always carry a tent in the back of my trunk and decided to go camping."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $40 / night
"This location was about an hour and a half away from our home so it was far enough to feel like we were getting away but close enough that we could be home quickly in case of an emergency since we decided"
from $125 / night
GuideStayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
TravelerThe state park is beautiful. The site was very nice. The park itself is very big with many activities available such as boat rentals and a swimming pool. There's also an amphitheatre which hosts specials. During our stay the only activity we made it to was the pool. The main reason we didn't do more was the distance. We have a motorhome so we didn't have additional vehicles to get to and from places. We walked to the park which according to my Fitbit was 1.5 miles away. That doesn't seem too bad until you realize it's mostly hills in both directions! We are a fairly active young family who has no problem with a bit of a walk but after that experience we decided to just spend the remainder of our trip hanging out at our site. It's a good thing we only stayed 2 nights because our 10 year old might've lost his mind with boredom if we stayed longer. Overall, the site we had was great and I'd recommend it. My husband and I may come back for a couples date weekend.
RangerI've visited the MOC a bunch of times, and have taken training classes here also. There are campsites for tent camping, cabin stays where you can rent a whole cabin or rent a bunk in a cabin with others. There is a store as well as food options. It's a great place to visit whether you grab a meal, a bunk, or just take a hike. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also.
TravelerWe’re here for the Rock, Ribs, and Ridges festival and what a great experience! Make sure to bring a 50’ power cord as the hook ups are grouped together on telephone poles rather than at each individual site. As far as I know camping is only available during select events.
GuideWe stayed at a tent platform site in Shotwell camping area. The platforms could use a little maintenance as there were a few tie down hooks that were missing or corroded. The campsites are close around this loop that includes lean-tos, but not so close that you are bothered by your neighbors normal sounds. The bathroom is close and clean. There is a bear box at each campsite which gave peace of mind. Firewood is available for sale at the park office. The staff there is very welcoming. Great Jersey getaway with gorgeous hiking trails.
GuideStayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers. Nice play area for kids, water craft rentals, nice lake. Plenty of picnic areas for day trips.
GuideThere are four campgrounds that are all pretty different, we stayed at Shotwell across from the pond. For the most part, each campsite has its own porta potty or it shared with a couple other sites. At the entrance of the campground, there is a bathhouse with running water, bathrooms, and potable water. We stayed in one of the RV areas across the pond. It was peaceful to hear the frogs chirping at night, but definitely didn’t think about how many more bugs the pond would bring, probably wouldn’t stay at that specific spot again even though it’s really pretty. Most of the campsites were very rocky, but you can find some that have a little bit of grass. We came on a Friday night. Everyone was up pretty late, but was not crazy loud. The rest of the weekend it seemed like everyone’s simmered down. The campground was full of mostly families. If you wanted to shower, you would have to head to the group campsite not too far but you need to drive. We don’t typically expect to have a campgrounds with a ton of amenities. Potable water and a toilet is really all we need. Overall, it was a great time gorgeous park. Also took a few pictures of the cabins in Shotwell. I wouldn’t personally rent one, but I guess if your winter camping it has a little fireplace and will keep you dry and somewhat warm.
TravelerStokes is my go-to state park for unplugging and enjoying time with my family. We brought our son (23 months at time of visit) on his first camping trip this past September. He loved every minute of it.
Site T07 in Lake Ocquittunk is gorgeous and one of the few relatively secluded sites in the campground. You need to carry your gear down a narrow, rocky path that's a little steep near the road, but it's manageable. There's also a graded path into the site adjacent to a neighboring site, but you should check with those campers if they are ok with you cutting through to use it. (We opted not to disturb our neighbors and take the slope.)
I thought I would be able to launch my kayak from site 7 since it's waterfront, but there are a lot of huge rocks in the water that prevent you from getting out into the lake. We had to find a different launch spot. That was probably the biggest disappointment for us.
Still, I love site 7 and it's absolutely worth the privacy and the views every morning.
GuideStokes State Forest is a beautiful park with a lot of different trails to check out, though some of them are difficult to access due to parking. The camping areas are split between two different entrances. If you’re in Lake Ocquitunk, like I was, you don’t enter at the main entrance, you have to go past the main entrance about another mile on rt. 15 N. and enter by the YMCA. All the other camping areas are near the main entrance by the forest office. The campsites themselves are a little too close together in some spots with little coverage or privacy. There is a day parking area which is only accessible going through the main entrance by the forest office— if you visit during the week park entrance is free, but on the weekend fees can be a bit steep. I wasn’t super happy with my campsite as I wasn’t able to physically have my car on the site like I thought. I had to park in a small lot above my campsite and carry my belongings down a short slope to the site. I like to car-camp so this was a bit of a let down having my car separate from my actual campsite.
The bathrooms were nice and had flush toilets, but the showers were out of service during my time. Bathrooms are extremely spaced out so you will have to walk a far distance unless you strategically choose a site next to one. I drove through the other campsite and only saw 1 set of bathrooms that had toilets and showers per campground, not including the outhouses I saw for those in the small cabins.
Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area serves as the primary equestrian camping facility in the Promised Land State Park region near Barryville, New York. The facility sits at an elevation of approximately 1,800 feet in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, where summer temperatures typically range between 55-78°F. The campground's location provides direct access to over 50 miles of interconnected horse trails spanning multiple state parks and forests.
Trail riding access: Ocquittunk in Stokes State Forest offers opportunities for riding and hiking with multiple trail options. "We stayed at site #T007 is was a short walk from the car to the site, but so worth it for many reasons. The site itself is huge and we were able to position our tent facing the lake, it was beautiful!" writes Kara L.
Horse-friendly lakes: Keen Lake Resort Campground features water access suitable for horses. "This family run Campground is beautiful and clean. The RV sites are spaced out nicely. There are plenty of things to do; paddle boats, row boats, swimming pool, snack bar/campstore, activities, etc. Very beautiful area," according to Charlotte D.
Wildlife watching: During fall and winter months, Bear Spring Mountain — DEC offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "There is an area for day use where you can rent a paddle boat or kayak to go out on the water. Highly recommended if you like hiking. Great flowers and nature. There is a hiking loop that goes around the pond," notes J G.
Clean facilities: Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area maintains well-kept bathrooms and showers. "I stayed at the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park and despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. You could only ever hear the wildlife. The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit," writes Maze M.
Spacious campsites: Sites at Stokes State Forest provide ample room for horse trailers and equipment. "We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents," shares E.M.V.
Winter accessibility: Some horse campgrounds near Barryville remain open year-round. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers. The park is large with many hiking trails and ice fishing," reports Mara S. about Pickerel Point Campground.
Reservation requirements: All equestrian sites require advance booking through park reservation systems.
Campfire regulations: Pickerel Point Campground — Promised Land State Park maintains specific fire safety rules. "Sites have nice sizable fire pits, but they are very tall. It's difficult to cook over them, and sitting around the campfire in the evening is a much less visually appealing experience than I'd like," notes Alaina Z.
Seasonal considerations: Trail conditions vary significantly by season, with some becoming impassable during wet periods. "We went in early spring midweek, it was very quiet and exactly the get away we wanted," explains David G. about Lackawanna State Park.
Kid-friendly activities: Lackawanna State Park Campground offers programming designed for children. "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 of hiking and horse riding trails," writes Janet R.
Site selection for horses: Choose sites with adequate space for both family camping gear and horse equipment. "Stayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers. Nice play area for kids, water craft rentals, nice lake. Plenty of picnic areas for day trips," notes cheryl M.
Security measures: Most equestrian campgrounds employ rangers who patrol regularly. "The security is great and patrol to make sure quiet hours are quiet to be courtiers to other campers that want quiet time," shares Mike H.
Hookup availability: Camp Mohican Outdoor Center provides limited RV services for equestrian campers. "The Group Campsite was really big. It had 5-6 platforms, privys, big fire ring, a grill, a beatbox, a large pavilion w/picnic tables and a real full sized bathroom only 100 yards away," reports Shawn B.
Leveling challenges: Many horse campgrounds feature terrain that requires leveling blocks. "Secluded but still convenient. We went to Stokes for a one nighter to test out my new truck tent. While making reservations it said almost all sites were full but upon arrival the vast majority of sites were empty which made for a quiet/relaxing night," shares Josh S.
Seasonal water access: Winter campers should note that water hookups are often disconnected during cold months. "Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by," notes Mara S. about winter camping at Promised Land State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Barryville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Barryville, NY is Stokes State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Barryville, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Barryville, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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