6 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Mohican State Park Campground features well-maintained horse trails with creek crossings and steep hills through beautiful pine forests. The campground provides both standard camping facilities and specialized areas for horse camping. Direct access to the extensive trail system begins at the campground, making it convenient for riders looking to explore the natural terrain. Dogs are also welcome to accompany horses on the trails. Large camping sites throughout the park offer enough space for both camping equipment and horse trailers, with several primitive areas available for a more rustic experience.
Located approximately 30 miles from Gambier, the bridle trails at Mohican connect to a network of paths through the Mohican-Memorial State Forest. Equestrians can access primitive horse camping areas with basic amenities like pit toilets but without water or electricity hookups. Riders often utilize the high lines for securing horses overnight at the primitive sites. The trails feature varying difficulty levels suitable for both beginners and experienced equestrians. Mohican's class B campground area offers first-come, first-served sites closer to the trail access points. Many riders appreciate the free park and pack primitive camp sites specifically designated along the horse trails, though these sites require approximately a mile hike in and vehicles cannot reach them. During winter months, trail traffic decreases significantly, providing more solitary riding experiences through the scenic forest terrain.
"Miles of well groomed horse trails available with creek crossings, steep hills and beautiful pine tree."
"As part of a nearly 200-mile bikepacking ride, this was our last stop! We spent 2 nights in their "Class B" area down in the Mohican River Valley and loved it."
Available next weekend
from $23 - $220 / night
"They are full of amenities like: horse back riding, shooting sports, canoeing, playground, swimming lake, putt putt and more."
"We come back to MW each year and try to get the same sites (323-322) as they are very private with access to the water while still being super close to the store and walkable to the bathrooms:showers."
from $25 - $44 / night
"Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent. Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities. "
"There are tons of trails to check out all throughout the park. Kayaking on the northern side of the lake would be recommended. It gets too busy with larger boats in the main area of the lake."
Available next weekend
from $19 - $70 / night
"Didn’t see much of the park on Friday, but Saturday we went exploring and saw the marina, beach, horse camp area, and walked some of the bridle trails."
"Positives: Lots are spacious
- Lots of activities: WhoaZone, boating, fishing, horseback riding, near Mohican Adventures for rafting, hiking
- Quiet and with friendly staff and seasonal campers
- Large"
from $27 / night
"I camped at this state park in the very scenic rolling hills of central Ohio on a hot and sunny weekend and was happy to find plenty of shade."
"I have been extremely disappointed with Ohio State Park campgrounds."
Available next weekend
from $20 - $170 / night
"This state park spans over 2,000 acres and is just north of the cute Ohio town of Delaware. "
"Delaware State Park is a gem in the Ohio state park system. What is amazing to us is how few people seem to know it exists!"
Available next weekend
from $35 - $40 / night
"Not your typical going hiking kinda campground (there are trails but they are not “major”) you come here to step away from city life and tour a working farm. Ohio countryside at its best."
"Lots of hiking trails and a few sites boasting the filming locations for scenes from the movie Shawshank Redemption."
Available next weekend
from $19 - $180 / night
"Bathrooms are open and close by. No showers. Very clean and quiet. There were 4 others staying here. All were nice. If you arrive after hours grab an envelope and drop payment in an envelope."
from $20 - $35 / night
from $60 / night
"Blue Rock State Park is outside Zanesville, Oh off I70. Rt 60 takes you South and then you have a choice of routes in. Good Ohio farmland scenery."
"Lovely park near Zanesville. The park is beautiful, lots of wildlife, and the trails were great."
Available next weekend
from $19 - $55 / night
ScoutWe camped here for the first time this year and ended up booking 2 more trips here. We just finished our last trip. We love this campsite. No other place has sites this big and give you this much space. Awesome place to camp
ScoutRight close to Columbus this campground is a staple for locals trying to just get away for the weekend. There is an amphitheater, a camper’s beach, nature center, and more all within the campground. Alum creek state park is a larger facility surrounding the campground with a public beach, walking paths, mountain bike trails, archery range, hunting areas, boat marina and more. The public beach is rather gravelly but has nice shower houses and grills available. We are attending during fall fest where they put on many activities for the campers and it is a lot of fun. You have to reserve 6 months in advance to be able to get in on fall fest unless there is a last minute cancellation. Our site is relatively flat parking, we didn’t need to level the rig. It did rain the morning we got here and the area around the fire pit was a bit muddy. The view out the back of this camp site is nice and wooded, you’re not looking at your neighbors out the back window. The sides you can definitely see each other but it’s still wooded and secluded enough between the sites here.
RangerGreat campground. My favorite is each loop has their own shower house! Nice playgrounds for kids. Nice private sites. Lots of woods and trails. Good lake for boating fishing and kayaking. Park is very clean and well maintained. They have a kids fishing pond! It’s also great for biking.
Rangerwe come back to MW a few times each year as the access to the river and quiet nature of the campground is great. The playground is nice, the store is clean and well stocked.
RangerThis campground is huge. Great for biking. Nice lake for fishing, boating and kayaking. There is a campers beach in campground. Many sites have water access. Small fishing pond. Very nice camp store. Big, wooded sites.
GuideSecond time here. Quiet, except for the birds chirping.
Only 3 other campsites in use on an August weekend.
Water and pit toilet.
Enough At&t cell service to connect, but it's not great.
RangerWe return to Mohican wilderness a few times each year and love the sites we choose right on the river.
Most sites here are wide open field sites and would not suite our style of camping.
Bathrooms are typically clean.
ScoutWe love this park. Nice camp sites. Lots of wooded areas. Very nice lake. Has lots to do, put put golf, shuffle board, disk golf. But our last camp there was disappointing. 3 of the campers in area D where we were did nothing all day and evening smoking Marijuana. We had to smell the skunk smell all day long from them as well as them letting there kids ride around on a golf cart all day and night with no head lites not even tagged for on road.I brought it to the camp stores attention and they said there's nothing they can do, we don't enforce the rules here . They said if I had a problem to call odnr. There was a camp host at the restroom area and watched a lady take her dog inside and said nothing to her.what are the parks rules for if the host won't even enforce them. Not one ranger through the park for 3 days..
RangerWe come back to MW each year and try to get the same sites (323-322) as they are very private with access to the water while still being super close to the store and walkable to the bathrooms:showers.
We love how peaceful it is and the play areas for kids. We’ll bring kayaks for the river which is cool but the last time it was too cold.
Mohican State Park offers horseback riding opportunities through diverse terrain approximately 30 miles from Gambier. The park features a mix of primitive camping options and standard sites that accommodate various camping preferences. Equestrians can access several trails connecting through the Mohican-Memorial State Forest, with varying levels of difficulty suitable for riders of all experience levels.
Fishing opportunities: Blue Rock State Park has a small lake where visitors can fish for various species. "The fishing was good, and the activities with the naturalist (Cayden) were fun and engaging. The hiking was wonderful, the equestrian trails looked very nice, and the fire tower was a fun climb," notes Ryan W. from Blue Rock State Park Campground.
River activities: Mohican Wilderness offers water recreation along the river. "We go every year and do the 20 mile kayaking trip, such a nice little spot along the river & the best way to kick off summer!" says Lexi K. The campground provides direct river access for fishing, swimming, and paddling.
Hiking trails: Several parks feature hiking paths through wooded areas. At Delaware State Park Campground, "There are plenty of hiking/biking trails for you to get out and explore the park. Many of the trails link together so you can decide how long you want to hike," according to Nancy W. Trails range from short loops to more extensive routes.
Spacious campsites: Mohican Wilderness provides large sites with good separation. "We have camped here 3 times now and even though it's a large park the sites are huge so you still feel like you can kick back and relax," shares Andrea F. Many sites offer natural barriers like trees and vegetation for added privacy.
Clean facilities: Dillon State Park Campground maintains well-kept amenities. "The people in the office are very nice, the pad is almost perfectly level, the grounds are well kept, and the buildings (while a bit long in the tooth) are well maintained," reports Ron A. The park offers both basic facilities and more modern amenities.
Waterfront camping: Numerous campers appreciate sites that border water features. "Site 810 in the Narrows. Our site was a little muddy and a little smaller than other sites but overall we were very happy with the campground and would camp there again!" describes CampgroundKaren about their riverfront site at Mohican Wilderness.
Site selection matters: At Mohican State Park Campground, campers will find varying site types. "As far as tent camping goes, it does not get any easier than this. Everything is clean and well organized. Perfect for first time campers," Jenny K. explains. Some areas are more primitive while others offer more amenities.
Weather considerations: Camping near Gambier can involve variable conditions. "Camping in the off season is our favorite time of year. This particular park has potable water on by the dump station and the dump station is open. The water at the full hook up sites are turned off," notes Andrea F. about Mohican State Park Campground.
Availability challenges: Some locations require planning ahead. "The prices here are reasonable, however most sites are booked by seasonal campers who pay for the whole season and leave their RV/set-ups in one place the whole season, so all the choice sites (ie lakefront) are always taken," Catherine mentions about Alum Creek State Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds provide play areas for children. At Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground, "There are two basketball courts on either side of the park and a few playgrounds. Overall great camping," says Michelle H. These recreational spaces offer diversions for younger campers.
Swimming options: Water recreation keeps kids busy. "The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush. Beautiful walking trails. There's also a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity. There's a small beach within the campground, a bigger public beach a short drive away," Catherine explains about Alum Creek State Park.
Kid-friendly sites: When selecting equestrian camping near Gambier, Ohio, look for sites suitable for families. "This is our favorite park of 2019. The hiking trails are great with a covered bridge, overlook and waterfalls. The sites are nice and large with lots of trees throughout the park. Camp store is nice and well stocked, gem mining and mountain bike trails are located within the campground as well as a pool," Andrea F. shares about Mohican State Park.
Site leveling: Check campground descriptions for level sites. "This state park spans over 2,000 acres and is just north of the cute Ohio town of Delaware. The 'pod' layout of the campground made for large campsites (some sites are over 90 feet in length and well suited for large RV's) with good separation between sites," notes Nancy W. about Delaware State Park Campground.
Hookup considerations: Know which hookups are available at different campgrounds. "Large camping sites throughout the park offer enough space for both camping equipment and horse trailers, with several primitive areas available for a more rustic experience," according to descriptions of equestrian camping options.
Off-season advantages: Consider camping outside peak times. "Another Thanksgiving spent in our camper and it was so nice and relaxing. There were more campers than expected this weekend. I guess everyone likes to social distance in their campers too," Andrea F. mentions about Mohican State Park in November.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gambier, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gambier, OH is Mohican State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 48 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gambier, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Gambier, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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