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Best Equestrian Camping near Waterville, NY

18 Reviews

Charles E. Baker State Forest offers primitive camping in a secluded woodland setting with access to hiking and bridle trails. The forest maintains one designated campsite with a fire pit and picnic table, as well as ample space for dispersed camping throughout the property. Visitors can camp for free without reservations, though the primitive nature means no electric hookups, running water, or toilet facilities. A dirt access road leads to camping areas suitable for tent camping or small recreational vehicles. Campers have reported good water access at a nearby pond. The forest accommodates equestrians with trail riding opportunities, though no dedicated horse corrals are present. Visitors typically bring their own portable containment systems for horses. The Dyrt includes reviews of campgrounds near Waterville, New York.

The forest features miles of trails through wooded terrain ideal for day rides and overnight equestrian camping trips. Riders should be prepared for self-sufficient camping as the forest provides minimal facilities. Horse owners must bring water containers, feed storage solutions, and appropriate containment systems. The surrounding area includes additional state forests and public lands with connected trail systems for extended riding opportunities. Visitors report the trails are well maintained and offer a good mix of terrain. The forest's natural setting provides a quiet camping experience with minimal crowds even during peak seasons. Campers should note that while the forest is pet-friendly, management of horse waste is the responsibility of owners, and proper trail etiquette should be observed for the preservation of the natural environment.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Waterville, New York (2)

    1. The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

    11 Reviews
    Oneida, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 361-7275

    $65 - $75 / night

    "For activities, there are some great hikes around the campground, as well as excellent playgrounds, fishing, an awesome pool, and of course, free shuttle rides to the Turning Stone Casino right up the"

    "Convenient to the highway with 24 hour shuttles to the casino 5 minutes away, yet quiet and beautifully maintained."

    2. Charles E. Baker State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Hubbardsville, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 674-4017

    "Only found one designated campsite, which was available, but there’s a lot of good space for dispersed camping right nearby. Access at the end of a long, but well maintained, dirt road."

    "Beautiful forest with miles of trails. I found this spot passing through on my bike and had no problem pitching a tent in a secluded spot in the woods."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Waterville, NY

18 Reviews of 2 Waterville Campgrounds

  • Madeleine W.
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Shady Pines Camp at CBG Farm - CLOSED

    Beautiful spot for relaxing

    I stayed at Charles’ farm with a friend of mine. We had a great time! Charles was there to greet us, he was a little quiet in the beginning but we had a great chat. We bought some kabob meat from him and cooked it up on the fire pit with some corn for dinner. There isn’t a heap to do once you’re on the actual farm, but if you want a place to walk through pastures, relax, watch the sunset, see the stars, and be outside, this is the place for you. There are fish in the pond, but we didn’t do any fishing this time so I’m not sure if you have to bring your own gear or not. Make sure you bring long pants if you want to walk through the back pasture to avoid burrs in your legs! We pitched our tent near the pond next to the cabin. It was a great spot with a fire pit right there, plenty of wood provided, a lovely bench to watch the sunset from. The outhouse is small but functional. After we left the farm we went and picked apples at nearby Deer Run Farm. Overall we had a wonderful time. Thank you Charles for having us!

  • M
    Aug. 23, 2018

    The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

    Very nice high-end camp resort for RV's and full timers or weekend warriors

    This is a nice campground. I mean really nice. Very well thought out. All sites are full hookups (i think) and paved. Definitely geared towards the RV or trailer crowd.

    Very well kept up, bathrooms are very modern and well stocked. Staff are attentive and useful, and they operate a great store with lots of options.

    For activities, there are some great hikes around the campground, as well as excellent playgrounds, fishing, an awesome pool, and of course, free shuttle rides to the Turning Stone Casino right up the street.

    The only real negatives would be the proximity to some railroad tracks, which can be somewhat active and very audible in some spots (you'll want to stay towards the south / front of the park if this kind of thing bothers you). That and some sites aren't that close to a bath house, so if you're not planning on duecing in your box, you might be looking at a longer walk than others based on where your site is.

  • Lena L.
    Aug. 28, 2018

    Shady Pines Camp at CBG Farm - CLOSED

    A backpacking experience without having to backpack!

    This is a gorgeous environment! I’ll start by saying that when we go back, we’ll throw all of our stuff into our packs so that we can walk in all in. Kind of like the shortest backpacking trip! I actually think this would be the perfect environment for someone who wants to test their skills staying ‘alone’ in the ‘backcountry’ without really being either. It’s a nice in between for those who are looking for more solitude than the average campground provides but without having to hike into a back country site.

    When you arrive at CBG farm, Charlie (and if you’re lucky, his friendly dog Drift) will meet you at the meat store and then show you the way (a 2 minute drive around the corner) to the Shady Pines camp. You’ll park in the grass across from cornfields, and then ride with Charlie around a path through the woods and fields to check out the sites. We chose to stay near the “lake”, a pond that Charlie put in, and stocks wth fish.

    It’s a gorgeous spot. We set up a hammock, put our tent out in the field, used the wooden table to cook our dinner, and made a fire. The cows were nearby and we could occasionally hear them mooing, but a friend asked if it smelled like cows, and it really doesn’t! It actually smells like apples. You can still hear a few cars drive by but they’re mostly drowned out by the crickets.

    Theres a cabin and an outhouse a short walk away, and an incredible outdoor kitchen that we didn’t need to use but would love to grill some burgers next time we go.

    We truly loved this spot and can’t wait to bring some friends next time! Anyone in the Central NY area needing a night away should check out Shady Pines!

  • r
    Aug. 12, 2018

    Shady Pines Camp at CBG Farm - CLOSED

    Rustic and beautiful

    After meeting up with the owner we went down to the parking area. A dirt trail and park on the side in the grass. You have to walk in about 2 minutes on a trail. The owner has a golf cart with a small wagon and transported our stuff to the campsite and back when we left…he was really nice and very helpful.the trail opened to open grassy areas with surrounding trees where we pitched our tent…a small table and fire ring w grate provided. Also firewood.you get water back up at the barn but the owner was nice and brought us a 5 gal. Jug. Pond stocked with fish…catch and release. We caught some nice bass and bullhead…kids had a blast. Past the pond is the cabin with sitting spots and an open cement fire stove and oven also a fire pit. Theres an outhouse behind the cabin w a seat over a bucket w chemicals…papertowels tp hand sanitizer and disenfectant wipes nicely provided. We did have cellphone signals. Overall a really nice spot to relax and commune w nature.

  • April L.
    Apr. 4, 2019

    The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

    Beautiful

    Convenient to the highway with 24 hour shuttles to the casino 5 minutes away, yet quiet and beautifully maintained. Offers a pool, playground, hiking trail, fishing pond, paddleboat rentals, camp store, very clean bath houses throughout, maintained sites, fire rings at each site and organized in loops to offer wooded and full sun sites depending on what you are looking for. Visited at least once a year since 2016 with our most recent visit being June 2018. Hoping to visit again this season.

  • Carl G.
    May. 27, 2023

    The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

    Great weekend

    Turning Stone is well maintained with nice sites. Memorial day weekend the weather is beautiful spring weather. All full hook up sites from full sun to full shade. Been coming here for 25 + years. There is the casino, dining, golf course and more near by.

  • Sarah A.
    Aug. 18, 2023

    The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

    Weird vibe but great property

    The property is beautiful and quiet. Cute market at check in. Plenty to do. Neighbors keep to themselves and kind of stare le us down when we pulled in and during dog walks…maybe just an outlier experience? Staff very kind. We just stayed one night so we were an easy in and out. Super buggy.

  • Russel M.
    Jun. 18, 2024

    The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

    Turning Stone has lovely

    Turning Stone has lovely locations and is kept up nicely. Over Memorial Day weekend, the weather is gorgeous for spring. Every fully equipped site, with complete shade or full sun. been visiting for more than 25 years. Nearby are a golf course, food options, a casino, and @geometry dash online .

  • Jen O.
    Jun. 23, 2021

    The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

    Great One Night Stop - Would Have Stayed Longer!

    We scheduled a pull through for 1 night last minute due to an unexpected change in plans. We are a full-time traveling family (2 kids - 8 & 13) and 2 English Bulldogs. We have a Class A motorhome and flat tow a Jeep. The campground was beautiful and easy to get in and out of. The sites were level and great size with nice spacing in between. The location was nice too! We did head over to the casino briefly and enjoyed that. We also took a drive to the University of Syracuse to tour the campus. Clean and wonderful park. Would definitely recommend.

Guide to Waterville

Charles E. Baker State Forest provides primitive camping opportunities near Waterville, New York. Located in the central New York region at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 feet, the forest experiences typical northeast seasonal patterns with warm summers and cold winters. The terrain consists primarily of mixed hardwood forest with some coniferous stands and small ponds scattered throughout the property.

What to do

Trail riding opportunities: Equestrians visiting horse campgrounds near Waterville, New York can access miles of established trails. "Beautiful forest with miles of trails," notes Matt A. about Charles E. Baker State Forest.

Fishing access: Multiple water bodies near camping areas provide fishing opportunities. "Water access at a lovely nearby pond," reports Cameron about their stay at Charles E. Baker State Forest.

Casino entertainment: For campers wanting entertainment options, nearby attractions include gaming facilities. "There is the casino, dining, golf course and more near by," explains Carl G. about The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone, located approximately 25 miles from Waterville.

What campers like

Secluded camping spots: The area offers quiet, natural settings away from crowds. "I found this spot passing through on my bike and had no problem pitching a tent in a secluded spot in the woods," shares Matt A. about his experience at Charles E. Baker State Forest.

Night sky viewing: Clear skies in rural locations create optimal stargazing conditions. "Its so peaceful at night. My favorite time to come is August during the meteor showers," writes Jessica D. about her experiences at The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone.

Well-maintained facilities: Established campgrounds in the region maintain clean, functional amenities. "Turning Stone is well maintained with nice sites. Memorial day weekend the weather is beautiful spring weather," notes Carl G. from his 25+ years of camping experience at the location.

What you should know

Access road conditions: Prepare for unpaved roads leading to primitive camping areas. "Access at the end of a long, but well maintained, dirt road," explains Cameron about Charles E. Baker State Forest.

Limited facilities: Most primitive camping near Waterville lacks developed amenities. "Only giving 4 stars because the best free sites have water pumps and vault toilets, but this is a great camping experience," Cameron adds about the forest camping experience.

Site availability: Designated sites may be limited at some locations. "Only found one designated campsite, which was available, but there's a lot of good space for dispersed camping right nearby," notes Cameron about their camping experience.

Tips for camping with families

Playground availability: Some area campgrounds offer recreational facilities for children. "Offers a pool, playground, hiking trail, fishing pond, paddleboat rentals, camp store, very clean bath houses throughout," April L. notes about the family-friendly amenities at The Villages RV Park.

Educational opportunities: The forest environment provides natural learning experiences about local ecology. "We also took a drive to the University of Syracuse to tour the campus," mentions Jen O., suggesting educational side trips from regional campgrounds.

Activity planning: Schedule outdoor activities based on seasonal conditions. "Very well kept up, bathrooms are very modern and well stocked. Staff are attentive and useful, and they operate a great store with lots of options," writes Michael O. about The Villages at Turning Stone, noting the resources available for planning activities.

Tips from RVers

Site types: RV campers should research site specifications before arrival. "Sitesare spacious, lots to do for kids, facilities are new and clean," notes Keri about The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone.

Leveling requirements: Most primitive sites require self-leveling. "The sites were level and great size with nice spacing in between," explains Jen O. about her experience with a Class A motorhome at Turning Stone.

Hookup availability: Equestrian campgrounds near Waterville vary in hookup options. "All full hook up sites from full sun to full shade," reports Carl G. about the RV accommodations at Turning Stone, contrasting with more primitive options at state forest locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Waterville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Waterville, NY is The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone with a 4.9-star rating from 11 reviews.

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