Palmerosa Horse & Hike Campground is one of several equestrian-friendly camping options within a day's drive of Hilliard, Ohio. Located in the hilly terrain of southeast Ohio, this area offers trails ranging from beginner-friendly paths to challenging routes with elevation changes. Most horse campgrounds near Hilliard maintain seasonal operations from April through October, with limited winter availability depending on weather conditions.
What to do
Trail riding adventures: Palmerosa Horse & Hike Campground offers access to scenic routes including Airplane Rock with exceptional views. A visitor noted, "the horseback riding is awesome, airplane rock has a view second to none. the box canyon with waterfall is gorgeous but seriously it was fantastic."
Lakeside activities: Alum Creek State Park Campground features multiple water recreation options including a campground beach and boat launch. According to one camper, "There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups."
Mountain biking opportunities: The region offers dedicated cycling trails for various skill levels. At Delaware State Park Campground, one visitor mentioned, "I also noticed that the6 had a nice storm shelter on the property that was well marked and easy to get to from any of the campground areas."
What campers like
Private camping spaces: Campers appreciate sites with good separation between neighbors. At Delaware State Park, a reviewer commented, "what I liked most about this campground is the fact that all the sites have privacy. There are nice trails to walk and the bathrooms are the best I've seen at a campground."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses rank high on campers' priority lists. Recent improvements at Palmerosa include completely renovated facilities, as one camper explained: "The new shower house at the office is great! You have your own shower, toilet and vanity in a locked room!"
Spacious sites: Buck Creek State Park Campground offers level, generously-sized campsites. A recent visitor shared, "Our space was nice and level. Nice hiking trails in the area. Showers were very nice and clean. Several water spickets throughout the park if you needed to access them."
What you should know
Campground layout considerations: Some campgrounds feature specific layouts that affect site selection. At Kiser Lake State Park Campground, a camper advised, "The campground itself has 20 electric sites, 56 primitive sites and 4 camper cabins. All the electric sites are pull through and all sites have a fire pit but only the electric sites come with picnic tables."
Reservation systems vary: Many parks now use online reservation systems exclusively. One visitor to Great Seal State Park noted, "Simple and safe... Fifteen reservable sites via online or phone. Equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers seem to use this park often."
Weather impacts: Trail conditions can change rapidly with weather. A Buck Creek visitor warned, "Sites are nice with some sites able to boat up to them. Be careful with rainy weather, some sites have flooded in poor weather."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When camping with children, sites near play areas provide convenience. A Delaware camper shared, "Has wouldful hunting areas. My daughter had tons of fun exploring the woods connected to our site."
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds offer organized events for children. At Kiser Lake, a visitor mentioned, "I like that they have activities throughout the day for kids on the weekends. Also have a nice camp store/marina with canoe and kayak rentals at a reasonable price."
Beach options: Korbel Campgrounds at Ohio Expo Center provides a more urban camping experience with access to Columbus attractions. One family noted, "Stayed here for a concert next door at Historic Crew Stadium. We practically had the place to ourselves and the sites were pretty decent."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric service varies between campgrounds. At Buck Creek, "The campground is clean and overall a good value. It was a busy weekend but not as loud as I figured it would be."
Site selection strategy: Look for specific site features when booking. A Delaware visitor recommended, "The 'pod' layout of the campground made for large campsites (some sites are over 90 feet in length and well suited for large RV's) with good separation between sites."
Parking considerations: At horse-oriented facilities like Palmerosa, there's improved infrastructure for larger vehicles. A recent visitor observed, "The old horse stalls have been torn down and 28 new covered stalls have been built! They are amazing and plenty if room for larger horses."
