$15 / night

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Established Camping

Backbone Horse Campground

4 Reviews

Backbone Horse Campground, near Burdett, New York, is a unique spot that caters to both horse owners and those looking for a peaceful escape. With spacious sites and a laid-back vibe, it’s perfect for stargazing and soaking in the sounds of nature.

This campground is all about simplicity, featuring basic amenities like toilets and trash disposal, but no electric hookups or showers. Visitors have raved about the quiet atmosphere, with one camper noting it as “a perfect quiet spot to star gaze and listen to the wildlife.” The sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis, which adds to the relaxed feel of the place.

If you’re into horseback riding, you’ll find plenty of room for your horses and gear. The campground is surrounded by beautiful trails, making it a great base for exploring the Finger Lakes region. Reviewers have mentioned that while the campground is primarily for horse owners, it’s still welcoming to those without horses, so don’t hesitate to check it out.

With its central location, you’re close to waterfalls, hiking trails, and local vineyards. Whether you’re camping with horses or just looking for a quiet retreat, Backbone Horse Campground offers a charming experience in the great outdoors.

Description

US Forest Service

Finger Lakes National Forest

Overview

Backbone Horse Campground is a small, semi-primitive campground designed primarily for campers or picnickers that bring horses with them.

Reservation Info

The campground is open year round and sites are available on a first come first serve basis.

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Location

Backbone Horse Campground is located in New York

Coordinates

42.485556 N
76.806667 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Available
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Trash
Phone Service
Toilets
Alcohol

Contact

General Info

Visit Website

Drive Time

28 min from Ithaca
36 min from Elmira
1 hr 22 min from Binghamton
1 hr 24 min from Syracuse

Ian A.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 29, 2021

Quiet and peaceful

Perfect quiet spot to star gaze and listen to the wildlife. We had perfect weather and it was a spectacular night!

Sitesite #1

Month of VisitAugust

Heather D.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 5, 2019

We had the whole place to ourselves

This 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.

Brenley R.

Scout

Reviewed May. 29, 2018

Central Primitive Spot

We originally came down to the National Forest to stay at the Blueberry Patch Campground but it was full by noon on the Friday before Memorial Day. This was also the first day it was open. We ended up having to come to this location. It was actually perfect for our small popup, but the horse riders that camp here were not pleased with us. This campground is apparently ONLY for horse owners with their horses. After another camper made a passive aggressive comment about us being here without horse, we attempted to find another location. Of course that was not a success the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, so we stayed. No other comment has been made and we aren’t the only ones that don’t have horses. We made the moral decision to leave if the campground filled with horse rider, but it hasn’t even reach half. We were told by locals that the horse riders are upset about the new $10 camping fee and that has deterred them from coming like they usually would. Anyways, both locations are great with a small fee. You’re centrally located to do and see everything from waterfalls, trails, vineyards and so on. It’s primitive, but more than half the price of a state par

Site10

Month of VisitMay

Harry H.

Ranger

Reviewed Oct. 1, 2017

All year Finger Lakes camping with your horses

Large camp sites have room for all your horses and horse paraphernalia. Call Finger Lakes National Forest to make sure trails aren’t closed due to weather, spring melt, etc. You need a permit to camp here but the permit and site are free. You can camp without having horses but get ready to smell them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there cell phone reception at Backbone Horse Campground?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Backbone Horse Campground?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Backbone Horse Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Backbone Horse Campground, try setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Backbone Horse Campground?

There are 1 campsites at Backbone Horse Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

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