Mohican State Park Campground offers miles of well-groomed horse trails with creek crossings, steep hills, and pine trees. The primitive horse camp accommodates equestrians with high lines at the entrance for tying horses. Dogs are welcome on the trails alongside horses. West Branch State Park features equestrian camping in a designated horse camp area with access to bridle trails throughout the park. The park provides immaculate bath houses with laundry facilities, and many campsites have electric hookups. Some tent campers have been permitted in the horse camping area, which horse owners note can create safety concerns with children running around animals that may spook. Campground hosts work to educate non-equestrian campers about horse safety.
The bridle trails at Mohican State Park connect to a network of hiking and mountain biking paths throughout the 1,110-acre park. Riders can access the trails directly from the primitive horse camping area, with no need to trailer horses to trailheads. West Branch State Park maintains separate equestrian trails that wind through wooded areas and along portions of the reservoir. The park includes hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking trails with boat access available for campers who bring watercraft. Pleasant Hill Lake Park also offers horse camp areas with access to bridle trails for day rides. Reservations are recommended for all equestrian camping, especially during summer and fall weekends when the parks experience peak visitation. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some areas becoming muddy after rainfall.
$24 - $33 / night
"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"
$27 / 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"
"Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it. All staff were very friendly. Would def recommend anyone to go."
$20 - $35 / 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."
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!
ScoutI loved to camp in the Horse camping area but this year they are allowing tent campers to camp there and it is just not safe. There are multiple tents, sometimes in between horse campers. There are children running around and since this in the back of the campground with no supervision, the campers are leaving garbage at the sites and in the fire pits.
There are two camp hosts in that area and they do the best they can to educate people on horses but most do not understand they were even booked in the horse camp nor do they understand that horses can spook.
The hosts are trying to clean up after these bad campers and reporting them but there does not seem to be anything they can do. They would never allow this kind of thing to happen in the main campground.
If the campers are allowed to camp in the horse camp then the horse campers should be allowed in the main camp. I sure would like a full hook up with electricity and water for my horse trailer.
Whats fair is fair. Why even designate a section just for Horse campers if you are going to allow primitive campers to camp there.
Last year there may have been one or two tents here and there through out the season but this year the tent campers outnumber the horse campers.
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!
GuideTook the family there and loved it. It’s clean and quiet. Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it. All staff were very friendly. Would def recommend anyone to go.
LegendWe arrived Friday late afternoon and set up in the rain. 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. They also have playgrounds that are open and some food trucks in case you don’t want to cook.
This is the second park we have stayed at that is part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and so far I am impressed. Large landscape sites that are full hookup with large concrete pads. Each with its own picnic table and fire pit. They also have a boat dock for the campers to use. The lightning bugs even put on a nightly show.
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.
Equestrian camping near Brunswick, Ohio offers access to several trail systems traversing forested hills and crossing multiple creeks. The region features a mix of hardwood forests and pine stands with elevation changes ranging from 900 to 1,200 feet above sea level. Campgrounds maintain both primitive and developed equestrian sites with varying degrees of amenities throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.
Trail riding at multiple parks: West Branch State Park provides direct lake access with numerous bridle trails. "We also took the inflatable kayaks out on the lake twice and it was so smooth and clear," notes Andrea F. from West Branch State Park Campground.
Hiking combined with horseback riding: Trails at various difficulty levels intersect throughout the area. "There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch. Bridal trails are located on Esworthy Rd," reports Alisa G., highlighting the dual-use trail system.
Water activities after riding: Swimming beaches provide cooling options after trail rides. At Pleasant Hill Lake Park, a camper notes "The lake is an all sport lake so there is fishing, tubing, jet skis and kayaking. The marina has boat rentals available."
Horseback riding for novices: Canton / East Sparta KOA Holiday offers guided rides for those without their own horses. "Horseback riding on site," confirms Lisa D., making it accessible for families wanting to experience riding without bringing horses.
Direct trail access: Mohican State Park Campground offers immediate access to trail systems. "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," explains John H.
Clean facilities: Shower houses are well-maintained at most equestrian campgrounds. "The shower house and bathrooms are large and clean. There is even a book exchange shelf at the shower house in case of rainy days," notes a camper at West Branch State Park.
Spacious sites: Horse-friendly campsites provide ample room. "Large landscape sites that are full hookup with large concrete pads. Each with its own picnic table and fire pit. They also have a boat dock for the campers to use," reports Andrea F. about Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground.
Equestrian amenities: Specialized facilities for horses are available. "Lots of hiking trails and waterfalls. Free hike-in camping available here too," shares Nicole K. about trails accessible from the horse camping areas.
Seasonal considerations: Many bridle trails become muddy after rain. "We went for a Bluegrass Festival and spent most of the time in the campground because it rained a lot... The lake was high this weekend and the beach was a bit under water, but still fun," reports Tina D.
Reservation timing: Canton-East Sparta KOA and other equestrian camps fill quickly during peak season. "Good place. Camped here several times growing up. Staff were great and helpful," notes Bradley B.
Trail conditions: Terrain varies significantly between parks. At Mohican State Park, a camper notes "Super super big place as far as campsites go and quantity... They do have a suspension bridge which is pretty cool some trails to hike on and Camp spots right on the river which is pretty cool."
Site leveling challenges: Many sites require equipment for leveling. "We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches. The jack was down as low as it would go and we were still off by 1.5 inches," warns Andrea F. about certain sites.
Kid-friendly amenities: Ashland Fairgrounds offers basic accommodations near recreational opportunities. "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," shares Charles K.
Safety around horses: Teach children proper behavior around equestrian areas. "I have 4 kids and return at least 1x per year. Great family owned KOA. Horseback riding on site," recommends Lisa D. about visiting with children.
Activity options: Parks provide alternatives when weather impacts riding. "The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers. Washers and dryers are also at the shower house. There is an outside sink to wash up dishes," mentions a West Branch camper.
Social events: Many campgrounds host regular gatherings. "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," notes Alisa G. about family activities at West Branch State Park.
Site selection: Bear Creek Resort Ranch KOA Holiday offers various options for RVs. "Took the family there and loved it. It's clean and quiet. Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it. All staff were very friendly," shares Bradley B.
Hook-up availability: Equestrian sites often have limited utilities. "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. Beach is right next door too!" notes Rino S. about lakefront sites.
Tank filling logistics: Some parks have challenging 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. This was okay for a short weekend but not good planning from who ever designed the park," cautions an RVer.
Off-season advantages: Winter camping offers quieter equestrian experiences. "First come first serve in the winter. One heated bathroom with a shower is open in the winter. Absolutely beautiful & great trails," shares Renée C. about winter trail access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Brunswick, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Brunswick, OH is West Branch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 67 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Brunswick, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Brunswick, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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