4 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
West Branch State Park Campground offers an equestrian camping section where horseback riders can access over 20 miles of bridle trails. The campground maintains separate horse camping areas that accommodate both horses and tent campers, though some regular campers have reported being placed in the equestrian section without awareness of horse-specific considerations. Horse campers have direct trail access from their sites, with trails winding through the 5,000-acre park's woodland areas. While the horse camping area doesn't provide electric or water hookups at individual sites, it does feature basic amenities including restroom facilities and fire rings.
Located approximately 40 miles from Northfield, West Branch's horse trails connect with the park's extensive trail system that permits both equestrian use and seasonal snowmobiling. Some horse campers note the growing practice of allowing non-equestrian tent campers in the horse camping section can create safety concerns with children running between horse trailers. Trail riders seeking longer excursions can access multiple connecting paths throughout the park. The park offers boat access and fishing opportunities for campers who want to combine water recreation with horseback riding. Campers should make reservations well in advance, particularly during summer months and holiday weekends when the equestrian sites fill quickly. Horse owners must bring their own containment systems as the park does not provide corrals or stalls.
"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.
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.
West Branch State Park offers equestrian camping facilities 40 miles from Northfield, Ohio. The park contains a dedicated horse camping area with trail access into over 5,000 acres of woodland terrain. While these sites lack hookups, the park provides restroom facilities and fire rings for equestrian campers, who should bring their own horse containment systems as corrals aren't provided.
Trail riding exploration: West Branch State Park features over 20 miles of bridle trails that wind through woodland areas. According to camper Teresa B., "I love this campground. Nice people and very clean! Lots of nice sites." The trails connect to a larger system that allows for longer excursions throughout the park.
Water recreation: Canton / East Sparta KOA Holiday - Bear Creek Ranch provides alternative activities when not on horseback. A camper notes, "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."
Archery practice: Mosquito Lake State Park offers activities beyond horseback riding. Karen D. reports, "We come here at least once, sometimes twice per year. We like to bring our bows and use the archery range." The park also features fishing opportunities and kayaking access.
Spacious sites: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground receives positive feedback for its generous campsites. Courtney C. comments, "The sites are huge. The dog park is amazing. Theres so much to do here. Swimming, boating, fishing. We love it." The spaciousness provides ample room for horse trailers and camping equipment.
Family-friendly amenities: The equestrian campgrounds near Northfield provide facilities suitable for family camping trips. At West Branch State Park Campground, Alisa G. appreciates that "There is an outside sink to wash up dishes. Bring your boat or kayak. There are many inlets to explore or fish. There is a small beach at the campground but a larger one on the other side of the lake."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained facilities at horse-friendly campgrounds. Joe I. observed at West Branch, "Bathrooms were clean separate showers verizon works well here." This attention to cleanliness extends to the camping areas and common spaces.
Site terrain considerations: When selecting a horse camping site, be aware of the terrain. Andrea F. warns 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." Bring leveling equipment for your trailer.
Reservation requirements: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground can accommodate walk-ins, but availability varies. Darren R. shares, "Went with my father in law on a spur of the moment fishing trip. Didn't have much for walk in sites but we were able to find a great site." For equestrian sites, advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Seasonal conditions: Weather affects trail conditions near Northfield. Samantha J. notes, "Unfortunately our campsite was under water due the extensive rains recently this past week and spring overall. But the staff at the camp office gave us a list of all of the open sites that we could choose from." Call ahead during wet seasons to confirm trail accessibility.
Kid-friendly activities: Canton-East Sparta KOA offers attractions for children beyond horse activities. Lisa D. shares, "This is our favorite KOA! I have 4 kids and return at least 1x per year. Great family owned KOA. Horseback riding on site." The combination of horses and traditional camping activities keeps children engaged.
Safety awareness: Maintain vigilance around horse areas when camping with children. Some equestrian campgrounds place non-horse campers in horse sections, which requires extra supervision of children around trailers and horses.
Beach access: When selecting horse campgrounds near Northfield with families, consider water recreation options. Rino S. mentions about West Branch, "We're at site 160. 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!" These dual-activity sites allow families to combine horseback riding with swimming.
Hookup availability: West Branch State Park Campground offers varied site types, but horse camping areas generally lack hookups. Lee D. advises, "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." Self-contained RVs work best for these sites.
Water fill considerations: RVers should plan water management carefully at horse-friendly campgrounds. Andrea F. cautions about West Branch, "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."
Site selection for large rigs: When bringing an RV and horse trailer, prioritize site selection. Heidi B. recommends at Mosquito Lake, "Sites are spacious and level. Very clean park. There are several full hook-up sites. Electric sites near the lake." Request sites with adequate space for both your living quarters and horse equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Northfield, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Northfield, 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 Northfield, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Northfield, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
