Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Painted Post. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Camping with your horse in Painted Post just got easier. Find New York equestrian campgrounds with ease on The Dyrt.
Tompkins Campground is on the north shore of Cowanesque Lake in the northern tier of Pennsylvania, less than one mile from the New York state border. Surrounded by lush forested ridges, the lake offers recreation for the entire family, including picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, hunting and wildlife watching. The campground is a great place for kids of any age.
Cowanesque Lake offers a variety of outdoor activities. With a boat ramp and overnight mooring, campers can easily spend time on the water. There are a variety of indigenous fish that inhabit the area's streams and lakes, and fishing tournaments are held frequently. The North and South Tailrace areas provide access for fishing downstream of Cowanesque Dam. The fields and forests around the lakes are popular destinations for both local and out-of-state hunters looking for large and small game species native to the eastern hardwood forests. The 4 mile Moccasin Trail within the facility leads hikers on a trek through reclaimed farm fields and wood lots inhabited by a variety of watchable wildlife.
The partially forested campground sits in the pristine setting of the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains. The surrounding land paints a scenic picture of rolling mountains and open fields.
Reservations to include any reservation changes, such as cancel, refund requests, site transfer, or date changes cannot be made at facility location.
$40 / night
Backbone Horse Campground is a small, semi-primitive campground designed primarily for campers or picnickers that bring horses with them.
$15 / night
$40 - $45 / night
Traveler
We arrived on Saturday and departed the following Friday. The campground was exceptionally maintained, bathrooms and showers virtually spotless and the pool was clearly and consistently maintained at all times. Plenty of space to spread out and walk. All of the roads were paved and sites were very large.
GuideStayed at this campsite, taking our pop-up camper on its maiden voyage to the Grand Canyon of PA. Was able to choose a location that worked best for us. The area we selected was not busy. Campsite appeared to have a lot of seasonal campers. My husband does not like staying in crowded campgrounds with people surrounding you and up all night screaming and singing. We go camping to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Not to listen to people pretending to relive their college days....lol. Area is open, not offering a lot of privacy, but we had shade and woods behind us, and the ground was grassy and level. The pool was nice and the rec center had a lot of activities for kids. The pond offered fishing and pedal boat rentals. We chose this campsite due to its proximity to the Leonard Harrison State Park. We had no issues here and would recommend.
Scout
The site and facilities were very well kept and clean. The night we arrived there was several other campers but cleared out for the weekend so we basically got the whole lower camp ground to ourselves which was great. Sites are well spaced so you don’t feel like it’s crowded. Would definitely visit again!
TravelerThis has to be the best campground I’ve ever been to. From the beautiful lake to the stunning views of the vistas, you are always feeling at peace.
Scout
Perfect quiet spot to star gaze and listen to the wildlife. We had perfect weather and it was a spectacular night!
ScoutWhat a great park. Was there in order to go to nearby Cherry Springs SP which is a certified Dark Sky area, to see the stars. Cherry Springs is about 8 miles away. We like staying at Lyman Run since Cherry Springs gets filled pretty quickly. Lyman Run campground is great. There are 2 campgrounds, one right by the lake(larger) and one a little further away (smaller). We prefer the smaller one. Bathrooms are newer with a nice, new system for “composting” I guess. No odor at all. And nice and clean. Nice hiking trails, beach area by lake, fishing and then the stars! One of my favs.
TravelerStayed for the weekend at site 25 at the lower campground. Site was next to the bathrooms but no problems noise. Nice and quiet overall. Bathrooms were very clean with nice hot water in the showers. There are pit toilets but they are well maintained and there was no smell even though it was hot out. Some good trail for hiking with a great scenic overlook on the Rock Run Trail. The concession stand by the beach only took cash while we were there, no cards. Cherry Springs right down the road. Recommend bringing chairs or a blanket to sit on if you drive over there for stargazing.
GuideWe were at the Lower Campgrounds. It was perfect. It was so quiet and peaceful, did not even notice other campers around. (I can’t speak for the Daggett Run side though). Bathhouse was very clean. Had a good time fishing at the lake and stopping for ice cream at the beach shop is a must!
Traveler
Amazing View And Hiking
TravelerWas planning on camping at Cherry Springs but it was full for the weekend and decided to say here. Great location to camp with family and friends.very quiet campgrounds, clean bathrooms, and the beach at the reservoir makes for a great day of swimming or fishing. About a 10 or 15 minute drive to the observatory field. Highly recommend taking a night to head up there.
GuideNice alternative to Cherry Springs. Campgrounds are well maintained. Clean bathrooms with toilets, sinks and shower.
We camped at site #26. Maybe had to walk in about 50ft. to campsite. Has fire rings and picnic table.
GuideWe stayed at Lyman Run because we needed electricity hookups, and Cherry Springs didn't offer it. Our trip was for astrophotography purposes, and Lyman Run is only a 10 minute drive away from the Cherry Springs viewing area. Totally worth it!
The good: Daggett Loop sites 16 and 17 are pretty solid. They're the last two in the loop and next to 17 is a river trail just to yourselves. It's nice. The bathrooms are modern and clean. Electricity hookups work great and I was able to pull a consistent 80% of max load(~32 amps) the entire time without issue. Sites are well kept. No cell service on site, but a 10 minute drive and you've got it (the best, imo)
The bad: The lake is a bit scummy/stagnant and was jammed pack with people (and since this review is written during COVID, no one was wearing masks or social distancing--disappointing). The sites are really close together with zero trees in-between sites. Bring your own privacy. PA has cross-county firewood ban, but the campsite doesn't have a firewood store. Had to drive 15 minutes off the campsite to find a random house selling firewood for $5 a bundle.
TravelerNice clean place. Can get a bit crowded in some spots where the campers seem to be on top of one another. Luckily we didn’t have one of those sites. Nice area lots to do in the area if you are ok driving to different places. No cell service and WiFi isn’t reliable if that’s what you need or are looking for.
GuideLyman Run holds a special place for me. It’s nestled within the gold level dark sky area. This means on a clear night and with a waning or new moon, one could see the arm of the Milky Way with millions of stars- more than most people see in a lifetime. The camp sites are a bit rough- there are two loops, with one loop catering to the mostly RV crowds and the remaining one for tents. There are a few really good and shaded tent sites in the RV loop. The location of the park is near Cherry Springs SP, which gets all the attention for the night sky viewing. We were able to use Lyman Run as a way station as we visited Kinzua, the PA Grand Canyon, and other sites in the PA Woods area. There’s even a chance to watch elk nearby. Each site has a fire ring, with wood available nearby. Amenities include a beach at a nearby lake, warm showers, and good hiking trails. There is a general store nearby, but the nearest town is almost 45+ minutes away. But hey, there’s a Fox’s Pizza there, so ... win? Since Cherry Springs (at the time of this writing) does not take reservations, we opted for the sure thing. Tent pads are well taken care of and the bathrooms are clean. This park is worth the time and view- you will not be disappointed.
TravelerStayed with my husband last fall for our first camping trip and have zero complaints. This place was perfect has everything you need. The surrounding area is loaded with things to do as well if you feel like venturing out. Cherry Springs Dark Park is just up the road but the view from our tent was just as good. We also stopped at the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Hiking trails were within walking distance from the tent. Looking forward to our next stay and some more camp food!
GuideSites are pretty level and well kept. The bathrooms are great! Remote, cute little place! They maintain the place well! There are a few trails close by. Nothing crazy but nice to have something close. Not far from cherry spring. We stayed at site 25. We were right next to the bathroom. Convenient, but did hear some traffic from other campers but not bad.
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.
GuideSpent a week here and loved it. Very remote wooded area with small stream. Sites are tight but worth it, gorgeous area. Bathrooms are clean and large, staff keeps the grounds immaculate. Lake and beach nearby.
GuideSites are close together small and in wooded areas. Close enough to the lake and beach which is clean but small. Bathrooms are well kept and clean workers keep trash picked up and grounds immaculate. Very close to Cherry Springs International Dark Sky Park with its amazing views of the stars and Milky Way.
TravelerThis is a small, fairly remote campground. The sites are very small- some don't even have room for a pop-up canopy. Sites have a fairly level parking pad for campers. Some sites lead you to believe they are on water (stream)- the stream is barely there and there is no access to it. There are ATV trails all over the park which can get loud. Tons of great hiking trails and a great beach. Fishing and boat launch also available.
TravelerSpread out site. Primitive amenities. Nice short hikes.
GuideWe had a lot of fun camping here. There are some great hikes in the area. The campsites are pretty close to each other but we ended up making friends. Make sure to bring your telescope!
TravelerThe sites are affordable, spacious, and they allow dogs. The campground is quiet at night and the stars are sensational. It's also super close to Cherry Springs if you want the full dark sky experience. The bathroom and showers were clean. Sink area outside for convenience, like a wash area, very handy. Little creek runs beside it for kids to play and explore. There's a beach with concessions stand and paddle boats on the lake with the prettiest skyline of surrounding the lake. Got an ATV? They have trails that run all over the place. Love this campground. Wish it was closer to home.
GuideStony Fork Creek is beautiful and offers nearby hiking trails, a lake, and activities. My only complaint is that other campers did not respect quiet hours and it took the campground staff too long to ask them to quiet down.
GuideWe booked a tent site, and there was only one small patch of grass where we could set up our tent. But the people next to us were in a big group and already had their tents set up very close to our grass, and we didn't feel comfortable camping that close to people. My brother had an RV site, so we went down to his and set up our tent there and it was much nicer. The fire pits are very nice, and the hiking trails in the park are great.
Guidewent here in October, so maybe that’s why I loved it so much, perfect weather. fun areas to hike around, beautiful, wildlife everywhere. if I remeber correctly the bathrooms had heat which was SO nice when it was cold at night/in the morning. very close to cherry spring which is the national dark park for star watching. We just kept an eye on the sky through the night and when it looked clear we’d pack up quick and head over to the cherry springs Look out area about 15-20 min away. would definitely reccomed
GuideIt's a beautiful place to visit. Has some good fishing hiking camping. Great area to take long drives. Even if we're not staying there we usually ride over just enjoy the beautiful sights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Painted Post, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Painted Post, NY is Tompkins with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Painted Post, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Painted Post, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
