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West Branch State Park Campground offers bridle trails and horseback riding areas near Aurora, Ohio. The 5,000-acre park features approximately 20 miles of multi-use trails open to horses and snowmobiles separate from the 12 miles of hiking-only paths. Horse campers have access to a designated equine camping area with basic amenities, though the area lacks individual horse corrals. Recent visitors note that tent campers are sometimes placed in the horse camping section, which can create safety concerns with children running near horses that may spook.
Located about 15 miles from Cuyahoga Valley National Park, West Branch provides numerous options for riders seeking regional trail connections. The park's horse camping area accommodates both equestrians with trailers and traditional campers, though horse owners should be aware that primitive tent campers sometimes outnumber equestrian campers during peak season. The campsites are minimally developed without electric hookups or water connections directly at the sites. Horse campers planning overnight stays should bring appropriate containment systems for their animals as the park does not provide corrals or stalls. Water access is available throughout the campground, and the nearby lake offers additional recreation opportunities after trail riding.
"The bathrooms are clean and include a laundry and sinks outside to wash your dishes. Campground hosts and staff are friendly and helpful. Sites are roomy and clean. Lots of variety."
"There is no WiFi and barely one bar of cell service; your best internet access is at the nice public library 7 miles away in Ravenna Sand beach is an easy walk from all camp sites and boat trailers can"
from $30 - $52 / night
Check Availability"This park is one of my favorites in Ohio at this time. Most of the sites are some what private. There are many trails and even a fog park next to the lake."
"They told me Ohio State Parks were voted #1 in the US. Well there is a reason for that. Beautiful, clean, great spots, not a bad site in the entire park."
from $27 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it. All staff were very friendly. Would def recommend anyone to go."
TravelerYou need to make reservations well in advance for the “primo” sites. The bathrooms are clean and include a laundry and sinks outside to wash your dishes. Campground hosts and staff are friendly and helpful. Sites are roomy and clean. Lots of variety. If you’re into hiking, disc golf, kayaking, fishing, equestrian pursuits, etc, this is the park for you.
Traveler3 Immaculate bath houses all with laundry facilities, all sites have electric (no f-ing generators) and many have have water and sewer hook ups. There is no WiFi and barely one bar of cell service; your best internet access is at the nice public library 7 miles away in Ravenna Sand beach is an easy walk from all camp sites and boat trailers can be parked on your camp site Boat launch has a big trailer parking lot, too. There are hiking, equestrian and mountain biking trails in the park and launching off paddle boards is ok at the boat launch or the nearby beach Friendly staff and camp hosts!
RangerThis park is one of my favorites in Ohio at this time. Most of the sites are some what private. There are many trails and even a fog park next to the lake.
GuideFirst time here. They told me Ohio State Parks were voted #1 in the US. Well there is a reason for that. Beautiful, clean, great spots, not a bad site in the entire park. Wood is dry and cheap right outside the park entrance. Bass fishing is top notch on the lake. I would definitely come back here again and again.
LegendRanger Review: Morsel Spork at West Branch State Park
**Campground Review: **
This state park was very welcome after our first two unlucky Ohio state park experiences. We had no trouble pulling in at 3 pm on a Sunday after Labor Day with no reservations and snagging a very nice spot (Site 50 backs up to Kirwan Reservoir). There are two loops that are on Jay Lake where there is a beach; it was understandable that there weren’t any water view spots that had not been reserved here. A very quiet park that is well-maintained with lots of amenities. Even the rumbling of the nearby trains was on the quiet side! Nice playground with toy stocked sandpit, volleyball net, cheap laundry ($3 per load, wash and dry), dishwashing sinks, showers, and clean bathrooms. There was even a step stool for kids to be able to reach the sinks. A staffed store(9am-7pm on Sunday, 11am-7pm Monday– Thursday and 9 am– 8:30 pm on Saturday) with basic supplies and, of course, t-shirts and sweatshirts. Some of the sites have a slight grade so be cautious when selecting. Many trees that provide separation between sites. Several short hiking trails. A side note: I only saw one non-Ohio license plate besides ours in the entire park, almost like it is an Ohio secret (not anymore!)
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**Product Review: **
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the opportunity to test products. At this campground, I tested the large Morsel Spork from Outdoor Element. I have to admit that when I unpacked my box from Outdoor Elements, I was surprised at how LONG our morsel sporks were(we have other sporks that are much shorter so I was expecting these to be a similar size) but then I saw a photo of someone using it with their freeze-dried meal and it was an aha moment! No need to dirty another dish because this mighty spork can reach to the bottom of the pouch with no problem! These sporks are also sturdier than others we have used. The rubber scraper edge is a nice touch – would be great for getting the last delicious bits of meals from the freeze-dried meal pouches and I’m thinking also in glass or plastic containers. A very nice addition to our camping tools.
LegendHere's what's great about this campground situated at an easy drive from major cities like Columbus and Cleveland...its scenic, a fully loaded campground with bathhouses, parks, hiking paths, swimming resivoir with boat rental...we highly recommend renting a pontoon for the day and hanging out in the resivoir for swimming and lounging! It's both relaxing and nice to get away from the beach crowd!
ScoutStayed in two different areas of West Branch State Park while visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Very impressed with large, clean bath houses, including fully private showers. Sites were very large and spread out, visit bing lots of nice privacy. Though we did not take advantage, the park also offered horse bridle trails, mountain biking and water activities on the lake. What a gem!
GuideWe just got back from our first trip to Mosquito Lake State Park Campground. All in all, it was a great experience.
We stayed in site 67, which is a waterfront site, with electric. The water is about 25 yards from the pad, but is visible from the entire site. The site was spacious, but not as private as some of the others. There is some woods between this site and the sites on either side, but other sites are visible. The fire pits and picnic tables were staggered, so it created some distance to make it feel more private.
The campground as a whole, was very quiet. We stayed from Wednesday to Friday. The group next to us seemed a little rowdy when we first pulled in, but by 10:00 there was no noise anywhere near us.
Most sites seemed pretty level from side to side, but where we were, several had a slope from front to back. Away from the waterfront, most sites looked pretty level. The amount of space between sites varied from site to site. Some sites had woods on both sides, while others were pretty open. Some had nice large grassy areas, others were much smaller. Sites from 214-224 are in a cul de sac and are water front, but they were pretty close together with very little privacy between sites, if any. They are very close to the water though.
There are bathrooms and water scatter about, but from what I saw there was only 1 shower house.
Wal-mart and other shopping and restaurants were about 3 miles away. Park was easy to get to, only one turn for us off the highway. Lake was great for kayaking and paddleboarding. Very nice dog park in a different part of the park. There is a boat launch accessible from inside the campground.
Dump station has 2 lanes which was nice when checking out. Fresh water fill up was also located near the dump station.
GuideBeautiful area for a get away in Ohio. The beach is never too packed. You can take kayaks out and venture off around the shores.
West Branch State Park offers diverse options for equestrian camping near Aurora, Ohio. The park encompasses roughly 5,000 acres with numerous campsites adjacent to Kirwan Reservoir. Camping facilities range from primitive tent sites to waterfront locations with varying terrain features. Many sites are situated on sloping ground requiring leveling equipment, particularly for RV campers.
Waterside activities: West Branch provides ample opportunities for water recreation directly accessible from campsites. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. There are many inlets to explore or fish," reports Alisa G. at West Branch State Park Campground.
Disc golf and geocaching: The park maintains several recreational alternatives beyond standard camping activities. "We also played some disc golf and went geocaching," mentions Andrea F., who enjoyed these options despite challenges with her campsite.
Trail exploration: Multiple networks of trails accommodate different users throughout the region. "There are little hideaway trails everywhere, making for a fun adventure!" says Jill T., who enjoyed discovering secluded paths.
Horseback riding: Canton/East Sparta KOA Holiday offers dedicated equestrian facilities not found at other area campgrounds. "Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it," shares Bradley B. who visited with his family.
Private, spacious sites: The campsites at many local parks provide substantial room between neighbors. "West Branch has private, spacious, shady sites," notes Alisa G., who appreciates the seclusion.
Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower cleanliness consistently ranks high in camper feedback. "Very clean bathrooms! Beautiful sites with lake views," writes Teresa B. about her experience at Mosquito Lake State Park Campground.
Dog-friendly amenities: Several parks accommodate pets with dedicated facilities. "The dog park is amazing. There's so much to do here," explains Courtney C. about Mosquito Lake, highlighting its pet accommodations alongside other recreational options.
Individual shower facilities: Separate shower stalls are available at select campgrounds. "Clean individual showers," notes Dan M. succinctly about his experience.
Uneven terrain: Many sites require leveling equipment for comfortable camping. "We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches," reports Andrea F. at West Branch State Park Campground, describing site 190.
Water access issues: Several campgrounds have design flaws in their water fill stations. "First the water fill is on an incline so when our tank was 'full' pulling away from fill station it was really only 2/3 full," notes Andrea F.
Limited primitive facilities: Some parks have minimal amenities for tent campers. "No real bathrooms except at the front of the park. No place to wash dishes. Rough if you're tent camping," reports Courtney C. about Mosquito Lake.
Seasonal algae: Water conditions can limit recreation during summer months. "The algae was kind of thick, which made fishing impossible, so we stopped bringing the kayak," Rose S. explains about Mosquito Lake's seasonal water quality issues.
Reserve waterfront sites early: Prime lakeside locations require advance planning. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" advises Alisa G., who regularly visits Canton-East Sparta KOA with her family.
Utilize park amenities: Many campgrounds offer family-oriented resources. "The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers," notes Alisa G., highlighting free recreation options.
Look for playgrounds: Several area campgrounds feature play areas for children. "There is an epic playground for kids. If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters," shares Joe F. about his family's experience.
Check weekend activities: Scheduled events often occur on weekends. "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," mentions Alisa G. about regular family programming.
Bring leveling equipment: Site grades vary significantly throughout area campgrounds. "Even the pads [are] on slopes so make sure to bring stuff to level," advises Joe I. at Bear Creek Resort Ranch KOA Holiday.
Consider hookup requirements: Utilities differ widely between sites and campgrounds. "We're at site 160. No electricity, no hook ups, but a HUGE lakefront site. We're in a self-contained RV so it's not a problem for us," shares Rino S., highlighting the tradeoff between amenities and location.
Check site length: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. "Big-rig friendly" sites are available at multiple campgrounds, but require specific reservations.
Verify seasonal availability: While many campgrounds operate year-round, facilities and hookup availability may change seasonally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Aurora, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Aurora, OH is West Branch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 66 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Aurora, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Aurora, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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