2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Mohican State Park Campground offers primitive horse camping with bridle trails that feature creek crossings, steep hills, and beautiful pine trees. The campground welcomes dogs alongside horses and provides areas to tie horses at the entrance with high lines. Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground includes horseback riding opportunities as part of its recreational offerings along with boating, fishing, and hiking trails. Several users report that the bridle trails are well-groomed and maintained throughout the seasons, making this area popular with equestrian campers seeking reliable terrain.
Located within the Mohican-Memorial State Forest, these horse-friendly campgrounds provide direct access to an extensive network of equestrian trails. The primitive horse camp at Mohican accommodates both overnight stays and day-use riders, with ample trailer parking available. Pleasant Hill's equestrian trails connect to the broader Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District trail system, allowing for extended riding routes. Horse owners should note that while these facilities welcome equine visitors, they don't offer dedicated horse corrals according to the available data. Campers bringing horses should come prepared with portable containment systems or plan to use the provided high lines. The parks maintain a clean environment with proper waste management facilities for horse owners.
"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 this weekend
from $23 - $220 / 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
"Ashland fairgrounds has $20 tent sites or $35 full hookups. You may need an extension cord. All back in sites. Bathrooms are open and close by. No showers. Very clean and quiet."
from $20 - $35 / 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
"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 this weekend
from $19 - $180 / night
"Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it. All staff were very friendly. Would def recommend anyone to go."
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
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.
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.
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.
GuideWe came here during the 2024 River of Fire Event. The campground was packed but you couldn’t tell because the sites were all so spacious! Half the sites are right on the river which gives a good view and great place to fish and kayak(too cold on this trip). The event was very well organized and very fun to participate in. Staff was all very friendly and helpful! After the event many campers cleared out(end of season and kids in school) so my husband and I basically had the whole campground to ourselves for 2 of the days. It was extremely peaceful there and we look forward to returning.
GuideAshland fairgrounds has $20 tent sites or $35 full hookups. You may need an extension cord. All back in sites. 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. If you stay in the grass parking lot while no other events are going on you can stay for free.
GuideI didn’t see much of this park because I only stayed overnight, but I got a good nights rest and felt safe. A few of the spots are not level and it appeared that not all of them had tables or fire pits. It didn’t appear that anyone did drive throughs to monitor noise or who was there, but I didn’t mind. There were quite a bit of teens camping out and while they were pretty loud late into the night, it made me happy to see them camping and floating the river. The pit toilet shelters were large and clean too.
TravelerThe campsites are not as private as the pictures make it look. There are a LOT of campers and tents; it feels busy and crowded. We did like the paved pull-through site and were close to the river. Electric was good and people were friendly. Bathrooms close to all campsites. Showers not clean and broken; hot water questionable. We liked being close to the hiking trails this morning and it was dog friendly.
Mohican State Park Campground and Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground offer equestrian camping options within the hilly terrain of north-central Ohio, situated in the Clear Fork Valley. The region features mixed hardwood forests with elevations between 900-1200 feet and includes several watersheds including the Clear Fork of the Mohican River. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-35°F, while summer camping season brings 70-85°F days.
Tube the river: At Mohican Wilderness, campers can enjoy water activities on the Mohican 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!" shares Lexi K.
Visit Malabar Farm: Malabar Farm State Park Campground offers unique agricultural tourism alongside camping. "Louis Bromfield was a conservationist and among many other things (including winning a Pulitzer) he was in the forefront of organic and self-sustaining gardening. This place is amazing! (and would be an excellent home schoolers camping trip!)" notes Shelly S.
Go fishing: The lakes and rivers in the region provide excellent fishing opportunities. "Listening to the river is what makes this place peaceful. The Hemlock Gorge trail is accessible from the end of the campground. People bring rafts and tubes and float down the river to the main campground at the end of the gorge. There are also good fishing," says Marci P. about Mohican State Park.
Take a trail ride: Equestrian camping near Ashland offers multiple trail riding options. "We walked some of the bridle trails. They also have playgrounds that are open and some food trucks in case you don't want to cook," notes Andrea F. about Pleasant Hill Lake Park.
Large campsites: Campers appreciate the spacious sites available at Mohican Wilderness. "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. Quiet neighbors and friendly staff plus everything is mowed and well maintained," writes Andrea F.
Primitive camping options: For those seeking a more rustic experience, primitive camping is available. "There are 10 free camp sites for backpackers in Mohican, each is about a mile hike in, no vehicles can reach these sites. There are 4 on the mountain bike trail and 6 on the horse trails, first come first serve, no reservations," explains John H.
Tent-friendly facilities: For tent campers specifically, Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground offers good options. "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. shares about the Mohican area.
Full hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer full hookup sites. "We called last minute and it was on a 1st come, we hit the road quick. Great Lake close to rafting on Mohican river," notes Bobby C. about Pleasant Hill Lake Park.
Shower house considerations: Facilities vary between campgrounds. "The shower houses are ok. Not good. Just ok. When there are only 3 shower stalls, it's pretty important that they all work," Chris K. mentions about some facilities in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ashland, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ashland, 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 Ashland, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Ashland, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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