Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area accommodates horses at its dedicated facilities in Promised Land State Park, Pennsylvania. The equestrian area provides specialized sites where campers can stay with their horses, approximately 90 miles west of Spring Glen. Campsites include electric hookups, water access, and fire rings with cooking grates. The sites maintain sufficient space for horse trailers with separate parking areas designated for vehicles and trailers. Restroom facilities with showers and toilets are available to campers. The campground receives excellent ratings from previous visitors, with particular mention of the well-maintained horse areas and accessibility to riding trails.
The equestrian trails surrounding Lower Lake Campground connect directly to an extensive network of riding paths throughout Promised Land State Park. Riders access multiple trail difficulty levels suitable for beginners and experienced equestrians. The park maintains trail maps at the registration office, showing interconnected routes and indicating water access points for horses. Camping reservations require advance booking, especially during peak summer months when equestrian sites fill quickly. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with spring often bringing muddy sections after rainfall. The campground enforces standard rules regarding manure cleanup and requires proof of negative Coggins tests for all horses. Hemlock Hill's proximity to other recreational areas in the park allows campers to combine riding activities with fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.
"Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 - $44 / night
"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."
"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
"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
from $55 - $195 / night
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.
GuideThis is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State. The campsites are well laid out, the surroundings are stunning, and the entire campground is very clean and well maintained. We visited in October, and it was pleasantly uncrowded, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The peaceful atmosphere and beautiful fall scenery made for a perfect camping trip. I'm not sure how busy it gets during the peak summer season, but our autumn visit was fantastic. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be coming back.
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.
ScoutI don’t normally write reviews especially a negative one. We had a very upsetting experience at North-South Lake. We drove over two hours to visit my husband’s childhood campground for the first time with our three kids(ages 5, 7, and 9). When we arrived at the entrance, we were asked if it was a day visit, and we said yes, we were only staying for the day. We paid the fee, received a map, and drove in. My husband was so excited to finally share this place and create memories with our children. Looking for a place to park, we thought we were lucky to find an empty campsite in one of the loops where he used to camp as a child.
We parked the car hoping to enjoy the view of the lake, take a walk, and maybe make the kids a couple of s’mores before heading home.
At around 2:15–2:30 p.m., the “SUPERVISOR” in the white Kia approached us in an extremely rude and nasty manner, speaking as if we were committing a serious crime and comparing our situation to“sleeping in someone else’s hotel room.” She asked us if we had a reservation; we said no. She said,“Someone else reserved this spot.” We were very apologetic, embarrassed, and immediately put our stuff in the car. I said they could have told us; we would have moved right away. I’m sorry.
She said,“They aren’t supposed to talk to you; that’s why they send me here.” She told us we had ten minutes to leave, waited there while we put our chair, blanket, and s’more cookies in the car, and refused our 9-year-old daughter access to the bathroom while we packed up our three things, and even followed us out of the loop to make sure we didn’t park elsewhere. My daughter came to us crying because the lady told her she couldn’t use the bathroom and had to get in the car. Well, she had an accident in the car right as we were pulling out.
We were mortified and apologetic. My husband even offered to leave the firewood we had just purchased for the next campers, but she was dismissive and harsh about that as well.
The following day, I called and asked to speak with a manager to explain how we were treated. The manager was just as unfriendly and miserable sounding as the supervisor. I was told they had been looking for us“for hours” and that it’s“common sense” not to park in a campsite. She actually said it’s considered trespassing. So, a friendly warning for first-time visitors: Apparently, if you don’t know that“day use” doesn’t mean“park in any empty campsite,” just for the day, you’re officially a trespassing criminal, at least according to the manager.
Reading the website now, I see that check-in for people with reservations is at 2 p.m., which was the time we were trying to make a small fire, so unless someone left their site and returned, it’s unclear how they could have been looking for us“for hours.” We were right there at 2pm.
The website also states: Day Use• Anyone who is not camping is a day-user. Day-use hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Day-users are not allowed between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
We were not camping but didn’t realize we couldn’t park in an empty campsite. I think“common sense” would be to inform DAY USE visitors at the ENTRANCE to use public parking, especially for families or first-time visitors who may not be camping experts. Bottom line: this was my husband’s childhood family spot. We just wanted to take a beautiful fall drive and have a special day with our kids.
We understand now that we needed to reserve the parking spot ahead of time, and it was an honest misunderstanding. I would have even offered to pay for the campers’ stay for their trouble. What we wish for is that the staff had approached us respectfully and explained the situation instead of treating us like criminals. Imagine being such a miserable person and working in such a BEAUTIFUL and peaceful place for families.
This was meant to be a special family day, honoring memories of my father-in-law and creating new ones with our children. Instead, it became stressful and humiliating. Sadly, this is what our children will remember about the day and about North South Lake
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.
LegendWe were on a 5 state East Coast camping trip. Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home. Thursday & Friday it was Neverending rain & wind. Saturday was the nice day.
North South Lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake. This is a tent campers paradise. New York tent campers are hard core camping during Tropical Storm Debbie!
There are 7 loops. We were in loop 2. Site 85. There are some sites with an incline down to the site. That might give some rvs trouble. It did for us & I had to be driven out of the campground to call 911. Thank you Mary!! It all ended well & we got a different site.
There are bears that visit the campground & one came one of the nights & visited our camping neighbor's site. They showed us a picture- it was a large black bear.
Generators are allowed for 5 hours & they tell you when you can use them.
The bathrooms/showers are state park clean- which means not very.
There is NO cell service & just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged.
This is a hiking park & for this middle aged overweight flatlander they are pretty strenuous. Kaaterskill Falls is an exception - short, easy trail, but the parking fills up quickly. Then they close it! You'll have to take a shuttle to get in.
The trail to the Mountain House Site is also pretty easy, with more of an incline.
There's 2 nice lakes with beaches.
The Catskills are very scenic& we enjoyed our time there!
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.
GuideI really love this campground each of the campsites in our loop which was in the lower 100s, has a lot of foliage around it, creating privacy between you and the site next to you. There is a lake with swimming, clean bathrooms, clean, clean showers. Picnic table and fire pit with grill top. There’s a lot of bear activity here, so constantly cleaning up your food is very important. Definitely love it here for woodsy feel.
Promised Land State Park offers several equestrian camping options approximately 90 miles from Spring Glen, New York. The Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area provides specific sites for riders and their horses in a wooded section of the park. Trail access connects directly to a 50-mile network of riding paths with varying difficulty levels. Sites average 50-70 feet in size and can accommodate multiple trailers with designated trailer parking areas separate from vehicles. Camping season extends from mid-April through late October with limited winter availability for experienced riders.
Trail riding on dedicated paths: Stokes State Forest maintains extensive equestrian trails connecting to the Appalachian Trail. The park features terrain suitable for various skill levels. "The area was quiet and peaceful, and areas with waterfalls and great views were easily accessable," notes Kiya N., who particularly enjoyed riding beside water features.
Swimming in pristine lakes: North-South Lake Campground offers multiple swimming areas with clear water. "One of my favorite swimming spots," writes Lizz H., who visits regularly with family and friends. The lake areas include designated swimming zones with roped-off sections for safety.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple stocked ponds and lakes exist throughout the region's parks. "Kids caught multiple sunnies and even a small perch," reports Shannon C. about her experience at Keen Lake. Most fishing areas require a valid New York or Pennsylvania fishing license depending on location.
Clean, modern restroom facilities: Pickerel Point Campground receives consistent praise for maintenance standards. "Beautiful new bathrooms," writes Alaina Z., noting the recent renovations. Most campgrounds in the region feature flush toilets and hot showers, though some remote horse-friendly areas may have more limited facilities.
Spacious, well-designed sites: Campers appreciate the thoughtful layout at most equestrian campgrounds. "The sites were spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents," reports E.M.V. about her stay at Lake Ocquittunk. Equestrian sites typically offer extra space for both camping gear and horse trailers.
Proximity to multiple recreation options: The region's parks connect to extensive trail systems. "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot," explains Brittany W., highlighting how North-South Lake serves as a convenient base for exploring multiple natural features in a single trip.
Reservation requirements: Most horse campgrounds near Spring Glen require advance reservations, especially during peak summer months. Sites at Keen Lake Resort Campground fill quickly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. "We hopped in the car and drove the 2 mins to get to the beach. There was always parking," notes Emily Z., suggesting that even during busy periods, amenities remain accessible.
Seasonal considerations: Weather conditions affect trail quality significantly. "Trail conditions vary seasonally, with spring often bringing muddy sections after rainfall," according to park rangers. Campers should check weather forecasts before arrival and pack appropriate gear for variable conditions.
Pet and alcohol policies: Regulations vary by park. Most equestrian areas allow pets with proper vaccination records but have specific guidelines for control and waste management. "Certain sites allow pets. My favorite site does, plus I can launch my kayak right from there! The only drawback is no alcohol allowed," explains Nancy L. about her experience at Pickerel Point.
Choose sites with nearby amenities: Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area offers family-friendly facilities. "Short walk to bathrooms, showers and lake. Though had to drive to park and beaches," advises Dawn R. Families with younger children should prioritize sites closer to restrooms and water sources.
Plan age-appropriate activities: Many parks offer junior ranger or nature programs. "Great for families. There is a lot to do in the area and plenty of kids for my daughter to meet," explains Will D. about his experience camping in the region. Activities like guided trail rides can be arranged with advance notice at most equestrian facilities.
Pack for variable weather: Temperature fluctuations can be significant in the mountainous terrain around Spring Glen. "Not too hot during the day and nice and cool overnight," notes Daniel G. about summer conditions. Layered clothing and proper rain gear ensure comfort regardless of weather changes.
Site selection for horse trailers: Bear Spring Mountain accommodates larger rigs but requires careful navigation on some narrow access roads. "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," writes J G., highlighting the additional amenities available beyond equestrian facilities.
Hookup availability: Most designated equestrian sites offer at least partial hookups. "We had full hookups (20/30/50 amp, water & sewer). There's no cable but we were able to pickup about 6 channels with our digital antenna," reports Debbie W. about utilities at Pickerel Point. Equestrian sites typically prioritize water access for both campers and horses.
Leveling challenges: Many equestrian sites have uneven terrain to accommodate trailer parking. "The only downside was fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs," notes Dawn R. RVers should bring additional leveling blocks and stabilizers, especially for sites designated for horse camping where terrain may be more rugged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Spring Glen, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Spring Glen, NY is North-South Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Spring Glen, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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