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West Branch State Park Campground features a dedicated equestrian camping area with bridle trails and accommodations for horse owners. The park maintains separate horse camping sites that can accommodate trailers, though recent reviews note that tent campers are sometimes placed in this area. Equestrian campers have reported concerns about safety when non-horse campers are booked in the horse camp section, as many visitors may not understand that horses can spook easily. The equestrian section is located in the back of the campground with limited supervision compared to the main camping areas.
The park offers approximately 20 miles of trails open to horses and riders. These trails are shared with snowmobiles during winter months. Horse campers should be aware that the equestrian camping area does not offer the same amenities as the main campground, lacking full hookups with electricity and water that are available in other sections. Some equestrians have noted that allowing primitive campers in the horse camping area creates an inequity, as horse campers cannot access the full-service sites in the main campground. The park's bridle trails connect to various sections of the 5,000-acre property, providing extensive riding opportunities throughout the natural setting.
"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
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 dedicated horse camping facilities for equestrian visitors near Beachwood, Ohio. The campground includes non-electric sites specifically designed to accommodate horse trailers, with access to approximately 20 miles of shared-use bridle trails throughout the 5,000-acre property. Trail riders can explore forested terrain across diverse landscape features including the shoreline of Kirwan Reservoir.
Lakefront camping: Many waterside sites at West Branch State Park Campground provide direct water access. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. There are many inlets to explore or fish," notes Alisa G., who particularly recommends reserving these popular spots well in advance.
Trail exploration: Beyond the equestrian trails, West Branch offers numerous hiking paths suitable for all skill levels. "There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch," according to Alisa G. The park maintains several short trails that connect various campground sections to natural areas and waterfront views.
Dog-friendly amenities: For campers traveling with pets, Mosquito Lake State Park Campground provides exceptional canine facilities. "The dog park is amazing," reports Courtney C. The lakeside dog park offers a safe space for pets to exercise while owners enjoy water views.
Clean facilities: West Branch State Park maintains exceptionally well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. "Best bathrooms around! Showers great. Bathrooms great," states Kim B. The shower houses include additional amenities like book exchange shelves for rainy days and outdoor sinks for washing dishes.
Private campsites: West Branch State Park Campground offers spacious sites with good separation between neighbors. "West Branch has private, spacious, shady sites," explains Alisa G. Dan M. echoes this sentiment, noting the park features "very private sites" with "clean individual showers."
Community activities: The park hosts regular social events for campers during peak season. "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," mentions Alisa G. These activities complement other recreational opportunities like disc golf, geocaching, and seasonal boat rentals.
Terrain challenges: Some campsites at West Branch feature significant slopes that can complicate setup. "Our site was labeled slight slope. That was a joke... front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches," reports Andrea F. While the campground maps note slope severity, campers should bring adequate leveling equipment.
Limited amenities: Mosquito Lake offers rustic camping options with fewer facilities in certain areas. "No real bathrooms except at the front of the park. No place to wash dishes. Rough if you're tent camping," warns Courtney C., though she notes the spacious sites make up for these limitations.
Seasonal water conditions: Water quality and accessibility can vary by season. At Mosquito Lake State Park, Rose S. found that during certain periods "the algae was kind of thick, which made fishing impossible, so we stopped bringing the kayak."
Playground options: West Branch provides multiple play areas for children. "Nice playground with toy stocked sandpit, volleyball net," observes Lee D. The park also loans games and sports equipment to campers from the park office, offering entertainment options for various weather conditions.
Beach access: Multiple swimming areas accommodate different preferences. "There is a small beach at the campground but a larger one on the other side of the lake," explains Alisa G. This allows families flexibility to choose between the convenience of campground proximity or the expanded facilities at the main beach.
Kid-friendly exploration: Mosquito Lake offers specialized nature activities for younger visitors. "If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters," notes Joe F., highlighting educational opportunities for children to interact with local wildlife.
Water fill considerations: RV campers at West Branch should plan for potential water supply challenges. "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," warns Andrea F. Larger rigs may need to adjust their water management strategy accordingly.
Self-contained options: For those with fully-equipped RVs, the non-serviced waterfront sites offer premium locations. "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," reports Rino S. about site 160, noting the adjacent beach access as an additional benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Beachwood, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Beachwood, OH is West Branch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 66 reviews.
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