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Best Equestrian Camping near Cuyahoga Valley National Park

97 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

West Branch State Park Campground supports equestrian activities with 20 miles of trails open to horses. The park comprises more than 5,000 acres with extensive trail networks that accommodate horseback riding alongside hiking and snowmobiling. Individual campsites provide standard amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, while the campground features clean bathroom facilities and shower houses with laundry options. The bridle trails connect throughout the park's wooded areas, offering riders varied terrain and scenic views of Kirwan Reservoir. Water access points allow horses to drink during trail rides.

Located approximately 15 miles from Cuyahoga Valley National Park, West Branch serves as a convenient base for exploring both park systems. The bridle trails remain accessible year-round, though conditions vary seasonally with some trails becoming muddy after rainfall. Canton/East Sparta KOA Holiday (also known as Bear Creek Ranch) offers another option for horse enthusiasts visiting the region. Trail riders frequently note the well-maintained paths through the park's forest sections. Horse owners should bring their own containment systems as dedicated corrals are not provided at most sites. The campground's large, wooded sites accommodate horse trailers, though reservation planning is essential, especially for lakeside spots which typically book six months in advance during peak season.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Cuyahoga Valley National Park (4)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Cuyahoga Valley National Park

97 Reviews of 4 Cuyahoga Valley National Park Campgrounds

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2017

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Love the Lake!

    This state park has a lot to offer with the highlight being a large 2,650-lake that appeals to fishermen, boaters, and swimmers. The park is over 5,000 acres and not only has camping but hiking, volleyball, fishing, playgrounds, picnicking, hunting, horseback riding, and more.

    The campground is divided into three loops with nearly 200 sites. Campsites include those with full hook-up (50 amp), electric only (50 amp), and some with no electric. This campground is suitable for everything from large RVs to tents. Sites and roads are paved and each site has a picnic table and fire pit. In loops where there is no water directly at the site, water spigots are scattered throughout. The restroom/bathhouses in our loop were really nice, modern, clean, and had laundry facilities which is a real plus at a state park campground. Campsites can be reserved online up to six months in advance. Since we were here in April, the campground was practically empty and getting a site was no problem. But, if you want one of the 29 full hook-up sites in the summer, you better book early.

    We really enjoyed the hiking trails and being able to leave our campsite and be right on the trails. There are approximately 12 miles of hiking trails and an additional 20 miles that are open to horses and snowmobiles. (Be aware that hunting is permitted in certain areas.)

    The park is about 15 miles from Cuyahoga Valley National Park which is a fantastic place to explore with a lot going on for the whole family! If you are interested in football, the National Football Hall of Fame is just down the road in Canton. The town of Hudson has a pretty, historic downtown with a fun old soda fountain.

    We would definitely stay at this campground again. It was a perfect place to stay while visiting family in the nearby town of Hudson. Loved having a paved site with full hook-ups especially since there was a lot of rain while we were there. The lake was perfect for kayaking and had we been able to stay longer we would have spent more time on the water.

  • Jennifer D.
    Sep. 20, 2021

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Clean, private oasis

    Stayed 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!

  • B
    Jun. 1, 2019

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Camper friendly

    You 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.

  • R
    Sep. 28, 2021

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Quiet park with nice amenities

    3 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!

  • S
    Jun. 29, 2020

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Equine Camping

    I 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.

  • Jim L.
    May. 22, 2020

    Mosquito Lake State Park Campground

    Dog Friendly

    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.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2019

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Awesome state park with many amenities

    Ranger 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!)

    -----------------

    **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.

  • Erin H.
    Jul. 31, 2016

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Great Find!

    Here'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!

  • G
    Jul. 21, 2023

    Mosquito Lake State Park Campground

    Great State Park Campground

    We 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.

Guide to Cuyahoga Valley National Park

West Branch State Park Campground features over 5,000 acres of terrain with more than 20 miles of bridle trails connecting throughout the wooded areas surrounding Kirwan Reservoir. The trails accommodate multiple seasonal activities, with conditions varying according to weather patterns. Several water access points allow horses to hydrate during rides, though riders should note that dedicated corrals aren't available at most sites.

What to do

Trail riding year-round: Equestrian trails remain accessible during all seasons, though West Branch State Park has specific conditions to consider. According to rider Jim L., "There are many trails and even a dog park next to the lake," making it versatile for visitors with both horses and pets.

Boating from campsites: Many lakefront sites at West Branch State Park Campground allow direct water access. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite," notes Alisa G., highlighting the convenience for campers with personal watercraft.

Explore multiple waterways: The extensive lake system offers numerous areas for recreation. At Mosquito Lake State Park Campground, camper Karen D. explains, "Some sites have access to the lake for kayaking/swimming/fishing. We like to bring our bows and use the archery range."

What campers like

Private, spacious sites: West Branch offers substantial separation between camping areas. According to Dan M., the park has "clean individual showers" that complement the "private sites." This privacy extends to the waterfront locations.

Large waterfront campsites: The lake access points receive consistent praise from campers. Rino S. at West Branch State Park Campground notes: "We're at site 160. No electricity, no hook ups, but a HUGE lakefront site. Beach is right next door too!"

Recreational amenities: Beyond horseback riding, the parks offer additional facilities. Heidi B. from Mosquito Lake mentions, "Campground is flat and great for bike riding. Nice playground for kids. Dog park nearby. Camp is near beach & marina."

What you should know

Site leveling challenges: Many sites require preparation for level setup. Andrea F. notes about West Branch: "Our site was labeled slight slope. That was a joke. We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches."

Reservation timing: Securing preferred sites requires advance planning. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" advises Alisa G., particularly for lakeside spots during peak season.

Primitive facilities at some locations: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground has specific infrastructure limitations. Courtney C. points out: "No real bathrooms except at the front of the park. No place to wash dishes. Rough if you're tent camping."

Tips for camping with families

Playground options: Several campgrounds feature child-friendly recreational areas. Joe F. from Mosquito Lake shares: "Beach was great and there's an epic playground for kids. If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters."

Weekend activities: Canton / East Sparta KOA Holiday - Bear Creek Ranch offers regular programming for families. Lisa D. mentions, "This is our favorite KOA! I have 4 kids and return at least 1x per year. Great family owned KOA. Horseback riding on site."

Beach access considerations: Different swimming areas have varying conditions. Jill T. from West Branch notes: "Swimming area is alright, a little muddy in areas, but the beach is kept clean. There are little hideaway trails everywhere, making for a fun adventure!"

Tips from RVers

Water fill station design: Some infrastructure elements present challenges for larger vehicles. Andrea F. comments about West Branch: "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."

Site selection for trailers: Canton-East Sparta KOA offers variable site quality. Rick K. observes: "Mostly gravel site...Stepped up hill gravel sites. Very difficult to ride bikes on loose gravel." Consider site location when hauling horse trailers.

Full hookup availability: While many sites are primitive, some campgrounds offer complete services. Heidi B. from Mosquito Lake explains: "Sites are spacious and level. Very clean park. There are several full hook-up sites. Electric sites near the lake."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cuyahoga Valley National Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cuyahoga Valley National Park 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 Cuyahoga Valley National Park?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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