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Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park offers specialized facilities for horse owners. The equestrian area provides electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp service for RVs. Sites accommodate tents and recreational vehicles with horse-friendly layouts designed to facilitate trailer parking. Campground amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, water hookups, showers, and toilets. The campground consistently receives high ratings from visitors, with perfect 5-star ratings from multiple campers. Each site features reservable spots with standard campsite features while maintaining adequate space for horses and their equipment. Sewer hookups and a sanitary dump station are available for longer stays with horse trailers.
Connected to multiple trail systems within Promised Land State Park, the equestrian area provides direct access to bridle paths suitable for various skill levels. Riders can connect to longer trail networks that extend throughout the park's 3,000 acres. Water access points for horses are strategically located along the trails. The park's location in Greentown, Pennsylvania places it within reasonable driving distance from New Milford, New York, making it accessible for weekend trips. Sites are designed to accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space. The sites remain functional during various weather conditions, with visitors noting the campground remains usable even during light rain. Proper manure management is required, with designated disposal areas for horse waste to maintain the natural environment.
"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
Check Availability"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."
"SO many weekenders from New York and New Jersey being so loud, littering, and highly disrespectful to others and the land. Quite a shame. If you’re reading this and offended, be the change!!"
"Pros: beautiful new bathrooms -private lakeside walk-in sites -beavers! Far away but exciting nonetheless -the Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked."
from $24 - $58 / night
Check Availability"Very plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City."
"Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
"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 $31 - $33 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $29 / night
Check Availability"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
RangerVery plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!
ScoutThere is only a small place for tents. Mostly people go there with campers. Not your typical campground. Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly.
LegendVery hard to get a good site in this park. But if you get the right one, you can launch your kayaks right from the site. The sites are very crowded together, some you can’t tell where one begins and the next one ends. But the park is beautiful. Avoid going on the weekends if you can help it. SO many weekenders from New York and New Jersey being so loud, littering, and highly disrespectful to others and the land. Quite a shame. If you’re reading this and offended, be the change!!
GuidePros: -beautiful new bathrooms -private lakeside walk-in sites -beavers! Far away but exciting nonetheless -the Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked.
Cons: -chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad! -has a beach but it's not much to look at -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
We stayed in site 157. Accessible via a path from the designated parking space to the site about 2 minute walk. Lakeside, but visibility not great due to vegetation. All sites have little trails down to the water.
Site 174 by the road and less private, but prettily overhung by evergreens.
The cabins look very nice inside.
TravelerEnjoyed a great weekend at Stokes State Forest. 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. Site came with bear proof bin for garbage and fire ring. Very comfortable site, quiet but still with plenty of amenities. Bathrooms and shower were all single stall and very clean, only a 5 min walk from our site. Two water sources nearby as well. We didn’t have direct views of the lake, but were within a minute walk to some quiet views of the lake. Also the location is amazing; there are trail heads near the campsites and longer trails, including access to the Appalachian Trail within a short 10-15 minute drive. You can also rent kayaks and SUP at the main office. Highly recommend Stokes.
RangerI would definitely recommend this campsite to anyone wanting a beautiful, remote setting, but with all of the conveniences that the campgrounds offer. Anyone from a beginner to an expert would enjoy Stokes. Whether it be just a short, relaxing weekend trip or an adventure-packed week long trip, this place has the potential to be whatever you make it.
Pros:
Has the perfect balance of feeling secluded without feeling completely alone in the middle of nowhere; the campsite we were specifically on was just far enough to be remote-feeling and fully private with trees surrounding it
Cute little pond right on the campgrounds
Our site had a fire ring, a picnic table, and a large sturdy pole with a hook for your lantern/mesh dry bag/etc
Even, rocky, yet soft enough ground to sleep on, many trees available for hammock camping
There was a huge, nasty storm one night that we stayed there, with terrible downpour and flash flood warnings, our site was elevated and did not get flooded
A lot of firewood and kindling in the area to be gathered, or you can buy firewood right from the office
Lots of stuff to do in the area for nature-lovers and outdoors-enthusiasts (Hiking trails, fishing/fly-fishing, sightseeing, mountain-biking, kayaking/paddle-boarding (rentals in the area if you do not own), hunting, swimming, horseback riding, waterfall-hunting, bird/wildlife watching (there are hawks, rabbits, owls, deer, toads, snakes, turtles, frogs, foxes, bats, salamanders, many interesting bugs, beavers, and bears in the area, you never know what you will see), lots of beautiful brooks and streams throughout the entire park, many awesome remote areas to set up your hammock and relax) Whoever said that there wasn't much to do here is just either not an outdoors person or straight up lying!
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 you are really needing a clean restroom where you can wash your hands, the park office's restroom is always open and very clean
Can be buggy at night time however, I was pleasantly surprised to have experienced zero mosquito bites and ZERO ticks on ourselves and even our dog (however she did have a leech on her from playing in the brook all day). We moderately used bug spray on ourselves and the dog had her flea and tick topical on.
Beautiful view of the stars on a clear night (Which can be breathtaking especially to city folk or those that cannot see stars from their homes)
Cons:
Can hear the traffic from 206, but generally gets much quieter at night
Campsites are close enough that you may occasionally hear other groups if they are being very loud (We were next to a group campsite that had a very noisy party crowd, but could really only hear them at their loudest, and we weren't bothered)
Tent sites are located just off the dirt road where people travel to get to their sites, which means other campers' cars will occasionally pass right through your area. If this bothers you, be sure to book a site as far back as possible. Ex: Site T137 should have no vehicle traffic but your own and is the most remote of that area
Water fill stations can be a bit busy at certain times
Our fire ring rack was bent, but luckily we came prepared with our own rack to place on top of it and it worked out
Lots of poison ivy in the area, if you are not immune to it be very mindful of where you are stepping!
Our neighbor warned us that they got a flat tire after arriving at their campsite, and after searching their site found a bunch of nails almost intentionally thrown about. It's not the park's fault and the rangers were made aware of it. Carefully check your site after arriving for anything out of place and report to the office if necessary to keep these campsites safe and enjoyable.
Points of interest nearby the campsite:
Big Flat Brook - A beautiful babbling brook that runs all throughout the area. Has great fly fishing for stocked rainbow trout. Access to the brook was only a short but beautiful hike north from our site through some thistle fields and woodlands.
Buttermilk falls (Tallest waterfall in NJ), Tillman Ravine, Dingmans Ferry/Falls, and my personal favorite, Silver Spray Falls - Multiple gorgeous waterfalls and ravines just waiting to be explored, all within ~15-20 min by car. I definitely recommend checking them out while you are camping here especially if you live far away from the area.
Sunrise Mountain and Rattlesnake Mountain - Catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset on top of Sunrise Mountain, which is a pleasant, scenic car ride directly to the top where there is a small parking lot, a smelly outhouse, and a nice picnic table area with a great view. Rattlesnake Mountain is a part of the Appalachian Trail and is somewhat barren towards the top which makes for excellent views. Like its name, it's not uncommon to see many snakes in the area, rattlesnakes tend to hang out on the top and sunbathe on the rocks. Keep your pets on a leash and have a stick handy just in case, however, they will leave you alone if you keep your distance.
Lake Ashroe, Stony Lake, Lake Ocquittunk - Many lakes for multiple activities in the area such as fishing (trout stocked waters), kayaking, swimming (Stony lake has a beach area with lifeguards, restrooms, and picnic areas. Check their website for more info.)
Horseback riding - A few great horseback riding places nearby, some offering trail rides through the beautiful park.
Appalachian Trail - The widely-known Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking-only trail in the world, that runs all the way from Maine to Georgia goes right through this area. You may run into very interesting people from all over who are thru-hiking the AT.
PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR VISIT. LEAVE NO TRACE. KEEP OUR PARKS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU.
ScoutStayed here 2 nights in May, Friday-Sunday. There were a decent amount of people on Friday, but significantly more on Saturday. Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall. The other stalls weren't as bad, but definitely not clean. Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning. Not including the bathroom situation, the only con to this campground is it's proximity to the highway. You can hear 78, especially at night once the campground settles down.
GuideWe 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!
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 provides specialized accommodations for horse owners and riders visiting the Promised Land State Park region. Located in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains at 1,500 feet elevation, the area maintains cooler summer temperatures than surrounding regions. Sites are specifically designed with horse trailers in mind, allowing for easy access while maintaining natural surroundings.
Trail riding from camp: The Promised Land State Park trail system includes several bridle paths connecting directly from Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area. David S. notes, "We have camped here in tents and with our teardrop trailer. All of our experiences have been good."
Water activities at Spruce Run: Multiple water access points allow for fishing, boating and swimming within a short drive. According to Ruette W. at Spruce Run Recreation Area, "You can launch your kayak easily from the shore. The sites are large, many have nice mix of sun and shade."
Hiking near Stokes Forest: Connect with Appalachian Trail segments for day hikes or longer treks. Josh S. writes about Stokes State Forest: "After packing up we drove down the road and were able to get in a nice 5 mile hike up to the fire tower."
Quiet equestrian camping: The specialized horse-friendly environment provides both functional facilities and peaceful surroundings. One visitor to Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area comments, "Clean bathrooms are essential and even when the large campground is full the bathrooms have been clean."
Waterfront views: Many campsites near New Milford offer direct water access. Kara L. from Ocquittunk shares, "We stayed at site #T007, it 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!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural setting provides chances to observe local wildlife. At Mohican Outdoor Center, Dan X. reports, "Plenty of fish, snapping turtles, and other wildlife. If you're there in the summer, I'd recommend taking a kayak around the lake and filling it with wild blueberries."
Weather considerations: Horse campgrounds in Pennsylvania's higher elevations experience variable conditions. Angie G. from Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area reports, "First trip of the season and we were amazed. Not crowded this time of year, serene, and perfect weather."
Manure disposal rules: All equestrian camping areas require proper waste management with designated disposal areas.
Reservation timing: Book well in advance for horse sites during peak seasons as availability can be limited.
Site selection for horses: Look for sites with adequate space for horse trailers and grazing areas. Daniel G. notes, "A little crowded and you can overhear everyone around you, which is the only reason I took off one star."
Cabin alternatives: For families new to horse camping, consider cabin options that provide shelter while maintaining access to equestrian facilities. Amy B. says of Stokes State Forest, "We stay in the cabins. It's great to have the small kitchen when camping with the family."
Child-friendly water access: Several horse campgrounds feature shallow water access points safe for children. Maze M. describes their experience: "I stayed at the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park and despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful."
Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds offer ranger programs and wildlife education during summer months.
Hookup availability: For RVers traveling with horses, some sites offer 30-amp and 50-amp service to accommodate larger rigs. Paula R. at Pickerel Point Campground notes, "Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc."
Trailer parking considerations: Position your rig to create natural shade for horses during summer months. Frank J. advises, "My campsite was 34W, right next the reservoir. Nice location however the website said it was full shade. The picnic table was in shade. The spot for the RV was full sun."
Water management: Fill tanks before arrival as not all horse-friendly sites have direct water hookups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near New Milford, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near New Milford, NY is Stokes State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near New Milford, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near New Milford, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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