2 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Mosquito Lake State Park Campground and West Branch State Park Campground offer camping opportunities near Perry, Ohio with limited horse accommodations. While neither campground features dedicated horse corrals according to available data, both accommodate various camping styles including tent, RV, cabin, and yurt options. Mosquito Lake State Park provides sites with thirty-amp hookups and some waterfront locations, particularly in the 214-224 site range where campers can access the lake for recreational activities. Sites vary in size and privacy, with some offering wooded separation between neighboring campsites.
The trail systems around these campgrounds provide potential riding opportunities, though specific bridle trails are not detailed in the available information. Both parks operate year-round and maintain toilet facilities, drinking water, and trash service. West Branch State Park features clean individual showers that campers have rated positively. Mosquito Lake includes an archery range and multiple playgrounds that appeal to families. Some campsites at Mosquito Lake can experience flooding during heavy rain periods, with low-lying areas occasionally becoming saturated. Cell phone service varies throughout the campgrounds, with some wooded areas having limited connectivity.
"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
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 and Mosquito Lake State Park provide equestrian-friendly camping options near Perry, Ohio. The campgrounds offer varied terrain with waterfront sites and wooded areas. Trail systems accommodate riders with connections to larger networks throughout the region.
Explore waterways by kayak: West Branch State Park Campground features numerous inlets for paddling exploration directly from lakefront campsites. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. There are many inlets to explore or fish," notes Alisa G., who visits West Branch State Park Campground annually.
Practice archery skills: The archery range at Mosquito Lake State Park Campground provides target practice facilities for visitors bringing their own equipment. "We like to bring our bows and use the archery range," says Karen D., who travels approximately two hours to camp at Mosquito Lake multiple times yearly.
Discover hidden pathways: Smaller unmarked trails offer secluded hiking opportunities throughout the parks. "There are little hideaway trails everywhere, making for a fun adventure," explains Jill T., who appreciates the quiet atmosphere at West Branch away from urban noise.
Spacious waterfront sites: Sites along Kirwan Reservoir at West Branch provide direct water access. "We're at site 160. No electricity, no hook ups, but a HUGE lakefront site. Beach is right next door too!" reports Rino S., who appreciates the proximity to shoreline amenities.
Clean, modern facilities: The shower buildings receive consistent praise for maintenance standards. "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," shares a camper who appreciates these amenities at West Branch State Park Campground.
Dog-friendly amenities: Both parks feature designated canine exercise areas near water features. "The dog park is amazing. There's so much to do here. Swimming, boating, fishing," states Courtney C., who returns to Mosquito Lake despite limited dish washing facilities.
Terrain challenges: Campsite leveling can require significant equipment at certain sites. "We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches. The jack was down as low as it would go and we were still off by 1.5 inches," warns Andrea F. about site 190 at West Branch State Park Campground.
Water conditions: Algae growth can impact fishing and water activities during summer months. "The algae was kind of thick, which made fishing impossible, so we stopped bringing the kayak," notes Rose S., who visited Mosquito Lake multiple times in 2020.
Facility distribution: Restroom access varies throughout campground areas. "Only bad are no real bathrooms except at the front of the park. No place to wash dishes. Rough if you're tent camping," cautions a Mosquito Lake visitor who continues camping there despite these limitations.
Playground options: Multiple play areas cater to different age groups across the parks. "If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters," recommends Joe F., who visited Mosquito Lake State Park Campground for his family's first trip with a camper.
Weekend activities: Scheduled events provide structured entertainment options. "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," shares Alisa G., noting that the park office also loans games and sports equipment to campers.
Bring bicycles: The flat terrain makes cycling suitable for all skill levels. "Campground is flat and great for bike riding. Nice playground for kids," comments Heidi B., who stayed at site #96 at Mosquito Lake.
Water fill considerations: The water fill station design affects tank capacity. "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 whoever designed the park," advises Andrea F. from her experience at West Branch State Park Campground.
Site selection strategy: Research site layouts before booking to avoid drainage issues. "Unfortunately our campsite was under water due to 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," explains Samantha J., who appreciated the accommodation at Mosquito Lake.
Advance booking essential: Reservations open six months ahead and lakefront sites fill quickly. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly! Check in is very easy as you pass the camp store on your way in," recommends a regular visitor to the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Perry, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Perry, OH is West Branch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 66 reviews.
Keep Exploring
