Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park offers horse-friendly camping near Warwick, New York. Located in Greentown, Pennsylvania, this campground provides specialized facilities for equestrians while accommodating tent and RV camping. Electric hookups, water hookups, and sewer connections are available at campsites. The campground features fire rings, picnic tables, and access to showers and toilets. Hemlock Hill maintains sanitary dump stations for RVs and trailers. The campground is designed to accommodate horses with ample space for trailers and equipment. Sites are reservable in advance, which is recommended during peak season when equestrian campsites fill quickly.
Trail access connects riders to the extensive network within Promised Land State Park, offering varied terrain for riders of all experience levels. The campground serves as a convenient base for exploring the park's bridle paths and connecting routes. Pets are permitted in the campground, allowing campers to bring both horses and dogs during their stay. The campground received excellent reviews from previous visitors, earning a perfect 5-star rating. The facilities are well-maintained, with clean restrooms and reliable amenities for both human and equine guests. Campers should note that alcohol is not permitted within the park boundaries. Proper manure management and adherence to horse camping etiquette are expected of all visitors using the equestrian facilities.
$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."
$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."
$25 / night
$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"
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.
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.
LegendThe caping set up was nice and I enjoyed the proximity to available hikes in the area. The ‘lake’ however, was kind of a disappointment. It was much smaller then I expected and a rather underwhelming. Of the camping options in Stokes State Forest, Lake Oqcuittunk and Steamill were each a bit closer to High Point which offers more hiking options. Each campsite was set up with a picnic table and a fire ring. One big positive was the covered picnic area which was a nice place to bring food and eat and hang out during the day to get out of the sun.
The Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area sits at approximately 1,500 feet elevation in the Pocono Mountains. This specialized camping area serves as a strategic base for riders exploring trail systems throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. The equestrian facilities maintain separate camping areas designed to accommodate horse trailers and provide adequate space for both human campers and their equine companions.
Trail riding adventures: Access bridle paths directly from Pickerel Point Campground — Promised Land State Park where the trails offer varied terrain for different riding abilities. "The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail," notes Kelly F., who appreciated the well-maintained routes.
Fishing opportunities: Find multiple fishing spots within a short ride from equestrian campsites. "Clear streams and lake. Stunning overall," writes Stephanie T. about the Ocquittunk area, where waters are known for supporting healthy fish populations and providing peaceful shoreline access.
Winter riding: Continue equestrian camping activities through colder months when many campgrounds remain open. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," explains a visitor to Promised Land State Park, noting the year-round accessibility.
Waterfront locations: Select campsites with direct water access for both humans and horses. "We 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!" reports Kara L. about her stay at Stokes State Forest.
Spacious sites: Enjoy room for horse trailers and camping equipment without feeling crowded. "The bathrooms are clean and nicely placed. The sites had a fire ring with a cooking grate and a picnic table and were well spaced out from other sites. The views of the lake are nice, very peaceful," according to Catherine S., highlighting the comfortable layout.
Clean facilities: Utilize well-maintained bathhouses and shower facilities even during peak season. "The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," confirms Kelly F., emphasizing an essential comfort for riders after long days on the trail.
Seasonal considerations: Plan for varying conditions throughout the year at equestrian campgrounds. "Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by," notes one camper about winter camping at Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, pointing out important winter adaptations.
Site terrain variations: Prepare for different ground conditions at campsites. "Chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad!" advises Alaina Z., warning about potentially uncomfortable tent camping without proper equipment.
Food storage requirements: Follow proper safety protocols in bear country. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided," cautions one reviewer, highlighting an important safety consideration when camping with horses.
Educational opportunities: Take advantage of programs designed for younger campers. "Can never go wrong here. Was pleasantly surprised they have programs for kids," writes John R. about his family's experience at Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area — Promised Land State Park.
Kid-friendly sites: Select camping areas with appropriate amenities for children. "Kids had a great time! Bathrooms could be cleaned more often but relatively clean. Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc," recommends Paula R., emphasizing features that enhance family camping experiences.
Cabin options: Consider cabins for mixed family and equestrian camping when weather is uncertain. "We stay in the cabins. It's great to have the small kitchen when camping with the family," suggests Amy B., highlighting alternative accommodations that support multi-generation trips.
Equestrian site selection: Choose specialized sites that accommodate both RVs and horse trailers. "I stayed at the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park and despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit," shares Maze M. about staying at Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area — Promised Land State Park.
Hookup availability: Verify utility connections before booking horse-friendly campsites. "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," explains Debbie W., detailing the RV amenities available at some locations.
Access considerations: Plan your route carefully with horse trailers and RVs. "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze," advises Joe R., highlighting navigation challenges that affect RVers with trailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Warwick, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Warwick, NY is Stokes State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Warwick, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Warwick, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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