West Branch State Park Campground features a dedicated equestrian camping area with 29 primitive sites where horses and tent campers share space. The horse camping section sits in the back of the campground, providing direct access to 20 miles of bridle trails throughout the 5,000-acre park. Each site includes tie-ups for horses, though some campers report that tent campers occasionally book these sites without horses, creating potential safety concerns. The equestrian sites lack electricity and water hookups, contrasting with the full-hookup options available in the main campground. Multiple reviews note that camp hosts in the horse area work diligently to educate non-equestrian campers about horse safety.
The bridle trails at West Branch connect to a larger trail network that accommodates both horses and seasonal snowmobiles. Located approximately 15 miles from Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the campground serves as a convenient base for exploring additional riding opportunities in the region. Jefferson Lake State Park Campground, another equestrian-friendly option near Lakemore, offers 18 miles of multi-use trails suitable for horseback riding. The park maintains a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites in the same camping area. Beaver Creek State Park provides a separate equestrian camp on Sprucevale Road with 59 primitive sites, vault latrines, and tie-ups. Twelve of these sites can be reserved in advance, while the remaining operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
$30 - $52 / 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"
"Took the kids on the horse ride and they loved it. All staff were very friendly. Would def recommend anyone to go."
$27 - $80 / night
"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."
"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. "
$23 - $50 / night
"Portals/parks/PDFs/parks/Maps/Beaver_Creek/beavercreekcampmap.pdf)
- 6 electric sites
- 44 non-electric sites
- Dump station
- No showers; no flush toilets
- Pets are permitted on all sites
Equestrian"
"I live near by to this state park and have spent much time exploring the entirety of it."
$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!
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.
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.
TravelerFamily Campground on Leslie Road [map]
Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road
Group Camp on Sprucevale Road
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.
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.
Equestrian camping near Lakemore, Ohio offers diverse terrain options across several state parks within an hour's drive. The region sits within Ohio's glaciated Allegheny Plateau, featuring rolling hills with elevations between 900-1,200 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide more moderate camping conditions with occasional rainfall.
Trail riding access: At Jefferson Lake State Park Campground, riders can access 18 miles of multi-use trails directly from camp. "Tucked away in southeastern Ohio is a gem of a park for camping, hiking and horse camping... 18 miles of multi use trails!" notes reviewer Theresa.
Fishing opportunities: West Branch State Park provides excellent fishing access from waterfront campsites. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. There are many inlets to explore or fish," says Alisa G. The 5,000-acre park contains numerous coves and quiet areas for bank fishing.
Winter trail use: Trails at several equestrian campgrounds convert to snowmobile routes during winter months. "Direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park," mentions Tracy H. about Beaver Creek State Park Campground, where trails remain open year-round for various activities.
Large, level campsites: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground offers spacious sites for equestrian camping. "The sites are huge. The dog park is amazing. Theres so much to do here," writes Courtney C. The park maintains separate camping areas to accommodate horses.
Clean facilities: West Branch maintains well-kept amenities that riders appreciate after trail time. "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," reports Alisa G. Multiple reviewers mention the campground's attention to cleanliness.
Privacy between sites: West Branch State Park Campground offers good separation between camping areas. "West Branch has private, spacious, shady sites," notes one camper. Another mentions, "There are little hideaway trails everywhere, making for a fun adventure! The campgrounds were a bit crowded, but good grounds, tucked away from the noises of the busy world."
Water access limitations: Some equestrian campgrounds have restricted water supply. At Jefferson Lake, "Only 5 electric sites. Very clean pit toilets... All water full up towers only have those spigots that are not threaded. Had to hold hose over spigot about 20 min to fill 35 gal," reports Eddie.
Site elevation concerns: Many campsites in the region have uneven terrain. At Jefferson Lake State Park, "Some sites are small and very sloped. Others have lots of room to spread out," according to Kellie A. Always check site details when booking for horse trailers.
Seasonal water conditions: Beaver Creek State Park Campground warns about limited water resources. "They are on a well so there is limited water and they don't allow you to fill up your on board tank. Make sure you fill up before you go!" advises one reviewer.
Kid-friendly trails: Several parks offer shorter loop trails suitable for young riders. "The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers," notes a visitor about West Branch. Families can alternate between riding and other activities.
Weekend activities: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground hosts regular events for families. "Will do movie nights on the weekends," mentions Karen D. Another camper adds, "There is an epic playground for kids. If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters."
Nature exploration: Look for parks with educational opportunities. "The best part about the area was the history that surrounds it. There is a pioneer village near the park office that offers some picnicking areas around it," writes Shay D. about Beaver Creek, providing history lessons alongside riding experiences.
Site selection for trailers: When bringing horse trailers to Canton / East Sparta KOA Holiday, check specific site dimensions. "Great family owned KOA. Horseback riding on site," says Lisa D. The campground accommodates both personal horses and offers trail rides.
Hookup considerations: Jefferson Lake has limited electrical options for equestrian sites. "Only 5 electric sites... Only 2 electric eq sites. Electric is a little far behind pad. We almost needed extension cord," notes Eddie. Bring extension cords and water containers for these limited-service areas.
Leveling challenges: Many campsites require significant leveling for RVs and horse trailers. "We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches," reports one camper about site conditions. Pack plenty of leveling blocks when camping with horses in this region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lakemore, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lakemore, 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 Lakemore, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Lakemore, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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