Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park accommodates horse owners with specialized camping facilities. The equestrian area features electric hookups, water hookups, and amenities designed for campers traveling with horses. The campground maintains designated sites that allow for both tent and RV camping with adequate space for horse trailers. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with nearby restroom facilities featuring showers and toilets. The park's equestrian focus ensures trails and facilities accommodate the needs of riders and their horses. Sites at the equestrian area are reservable, allowing horse owners to secure accommodations in advance.
Trail access directly from the campground connects riders to the extensive network of bridle paths throughout Promised Land State Park. Riders can explore forested trails that wind through the Pennsylvania landscape, with routes suitable for various experience levels. The campground's location provides convenient access to water sources for horses after trail rides. Horse owners must follow park regulations regarding waste management and animal containment while camping. Pets are permitted within the equestrian camping area, allowing families to bring other animals along with their horses. The campground's equestrian facilities reflect the park's commitment to providing specialized outdoor recreation opportunities for different user groups. Reservation requirements should be confirmed in advance, particularly during peak riding seasons when equestrian sites may be in higher demand.
$7 - $55 / 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"
"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."
$20 - $44 / night
"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."
$145 - $180 / night
"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."
"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."
$5 - $75 / 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."
$27 - $29 / 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."
$125 / 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"
$25 / 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!
GuideThis is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station. Not much else. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room. If it's packed, your neighbor with be within inches of your rig. Pluses, minutes walk to the Statue of Liberty, liberty Science center. Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!
Horseback riding trails wind through the Pennsylvania landscape near Promised Land State Park, providing equestrian campers with convenient access from specialized sites. Lower Lake Campground's Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area features electric and water hookups specifically designed for campers traveling with horses. Trail access connects directly to the extensive bridle path network throughout the park.
Trail riding near Delaware Water Gap: The Mohican Outdoor Center offers access to numerous trails in the surrounding Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. "The AT runs right through the camp. I love this place!!!" notes camper Shawn B. These trails connect to the broader Appalachian Trail system with varied terrain suitable for different experience levels.
Kayaking on multiple lakes: Spruce Run Recreation Area provides opportunities for water recreation alongside equestrian activities. "You can launch your kayak easily from the shore," explains Ruette W. Campers can rent boats or bring their own for exploring the reservoir.
Wildlife observation: At Camp Starry Night, campers can observe local farm animals while enjoying campfires. "You get a nice view of the steer and sheep in the next field while watching the fire," reports Jen R. The surrounding fields and forests provide additional wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the day.
Spacious sites: Stokes State Forest offers generously sized camping areas. "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," writes E.M.V. The extra room allows equestrian campers to spread out equipment and gear.
Water access: Many sites at Pickerel Point Campground provide direct lake access for watering horses after trail rides. "I spent the night at Promised Land State Park at Pickerel Point and it was so pretty and quiet. Mine overlooked the water and had a gorgeous sunset," shares Carolyn M.
Clean facilities: The maintenance standards at Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area support comfortable equestrian camping experiences. "Bathrooms were clean and water was hot in the shower," notes Angie G. These facilities complement the specialized equestrian amenities available at designated sites.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping in the area requires preparation. "Turning on the oven is a help, but not a good solution. The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely. I went through two bundles of wood in one night," advises W L. about their winter cabin stay at Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area.
Terrain challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have rocky sites that require careful tent placement. "Most campsites were very rocky, but you can find some that have a little bit of grass," reports Adeline M. Equestrian campers should inspect sites carefully for suitable trailer parking and horse containment areas.
Facility availability: Bathrooms may be winterized during off-season visits. "Only one section of their camping was still open but the bathrooms and showers had been winterized," mentions Tiffany K. Call ahead to confirm which amenities remain available for equestrian camping during shoulder seasons.
Educational opportunities: Families can participate in organized activities at Liberty Harbor RV Park with easy access to nearby attractions. "My wife visited Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The sites had electric and water and were in a fenced off section of the marina parking area," writes Kevin A., highlighting options for day trips from camp.
Playground access: Multiple recreation areas feature child-friendly amenities. "Several playgrounds, boat launches, and life guarded swimming area," notes Jocelyn G. These facilities provide alternative activities for children when not participating in equestrian programs.
Nature exploration: The trail systems accommodate varying abilities and interests. "This visit we hiked the Tillman Ravine trail (tip: make the trail a loop and visit both the ravine and the nearby old cemetery)," suggests Trip Over Life. Shorter trails offer family-friendly options for exploring the landscape around equestrian campsites.
Site selection: At Stokes State Forest, certain sites accommodate larger vehicles better than others. "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs," advises Douglas P. This consideration applies particularly to RVs with horse trailers attached.
Hookup options: Equestrian sites typically provide necessary connections for RVs. "I stayed at the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park... The RV pads were spaced out perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit," shares Maze M. These amenities support comfortable extended stays while accessing equestrian facilities.
Water planning: Prepare for variable water access at different sites. "We fill our fresh water tank for and bring drinking water," explains Ruette W. Equestrian campers should plan water needs for both personal use and horses, particularly at sites without direct hookups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sterling Forest, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sterling Forest, NY is Stokes State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sterling Forest, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Sterling Forest, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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