4 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
West Branch State Park Campground offers primitive equestrian campsites in a dedicated horse camping area. The horse camp section accommodates both trailer camping and tent setups with space for horses. Campers report issues with non-equestrian campers being placed in the horse camping area, which creates safety concerns when horses and inexperienced visitors mix. The horse camping area is located in the back section of the campground with less supervision than the main camping loops. Horse owners must provide their own containment systems as the campground does not offer permanent corrals or stalls. Bathrooms, drinking water, and trash facilities serve the equestrian section, though hookups are not available in this primitive camping area.
Trail access directly from the campground connects riders to several miles of designated bridle paths through wooded terrain. The park maintains multiple trail options ranging from beginner-friendly flat routes to more challenging paths with varied terrain. Some trails provide scenic views of the 2,650-acre reservoir that forms the centerpiece of the park. Riders should be prepared for occasionally muddy conditions, especially during spring and after rainfall. The campground's location provides good access to surrounding public lands with additional riding opportunities. Horse campers seeking more amenities can find full hookup options in the main campground area, though horses are not permitted there. During peak season and Halloween events, the campground fills quickly, making advance reservations essential for equestrians planning weekend visits.
"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!)
-----------------
**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.
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.
West Branch State Park offers horseback riders a dedicated equestrian camping experience 40 miles southeast of Independence, Ohio. The park maintains several miles of bridle trails through wooded terrain surrounding a 2,650-acre reservoir. Campground facilities include primitive equestrian sites that accommodate both trailer camping and tent setups where riders can bring their own horses and containment systems.
Trail riding at Mosquito Lake State Park: Riders can explore bridle paths near this 7,850-acre lake, offering different terrain than West Branch. "There are many trails and even a dog park next to the lake," notes Jim L., who considers it "one of my favorites in Ohio at this time."
Visit nearby horse facilities: Canton/East Sparta KOA Holiday (Bear Creek Ranch) offers on-site horseback riding opportunities for campers without their own horses. "Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it. All staff were very friendly," reports Bradley B. This makes it accessible for families wanting to experience horseback riding without owning horses.
Explore waterways: West Branch State Park campground offers waterfront sites where riders can combine equestrian activities with water recreation. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite," shares Alisa G., highlighting the park's versatility for mixed-activity camping trips.
Clean facilities: West Branch maintains well-kept restroom facilities that consistently receive positive feedback. Teresa B. notes, "Very clean bathrooms! Beautiful sites with lake views," while Dan M. specifically appreciates the "clean individual showers."
Spacious sites: Mosquito Lake State Park offers generous camping spaces that accommodate horse trailers and equipment. Joe F. mentions, "Great atmosphere and nicely wooded lots. Decent size too," making it suitable for equestrian campers requiring extra space.
Family-friendly amenities: West Branch provides unexpected conveniences for families. "There is even a book exchange shelf at the shower house in case of rainy days. The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers," mentions Alisa G., showing thoughtful touches for rainy-day activities.
Site leveling challenges: Some sites at West Branch require significant leveling equipment. Andrea F. warns, "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."
Water considerations: The water fill station at West Branch has design issues affecting tank filling. "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.
Reservations essential: Popular equestrian sites book quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" advises Alisa G. regarding West Branch camping.
Take advantage of organized activities: West Branch offers regular family events throughout camping season. "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," shares Alisa G., highlighting organized programming that enhances family camping experiences.
Visit playgrounds and beaches: Mosquito Lake offers exceptional play facilities for children. Joe F. notes, "Beach was great and there an epic playground for kids. If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters."
Bring bikes for campground exploration: Level terrain at Mosquito Lake makes it ideal for family cycling. Heidi B. mentions, "Campground is flat and great for bike riding. Nice playground for kids."
Check hookup availability: West Branch offers varied site options with different amenity levels. Rino S. shares, "No electricity, no hookups, but a HUGE lakefront site. We're in a self-contained RV so it's not a problem for us."
Site selection matters: Due to terrain variations, research specific sites before booking. Andrea F. advises about West Branch: "I will definitely come back but not to site 190. Too much hassle," after experiencing significant leveling difficulties.
Consider seasonal timing: Late summer camping at Mosquito Lake may present challenges. Rose S. notes, "The algae was kind of thick, which made fishing impossible, so we stopped bringing the kayak," indicating late-season water conditions affect recreational opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Independence, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Independence, 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 Independence, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Independence, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
