5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
West Branch State Park Campground offers equestrian-specific camping areas for horse owners near Richfield, Ohio. The designated horse camping section provides separate facilities from the main campground. Horse campers should note that primitive tent campers occasionally share this area, which may affect the camping experience. Campers report that horses can spook with increased foot traffic, so vigilance is advised. The equestrian area includes basic amenities while lacking full hookups that are available in the main campground section. Park staff and camp hosts work to educate non-equestrian campers about proper behavior around horses, though some visitors mention this arrangement creates challenges for serious horse enthusiasts.
Bridle trails throughout West Branch State Park connect directly to the horse camping area, providing convenient access for daily rides. The park maintains several miles of horse-specific trails that wind through wooded areas and near the lake shoreline. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some muddy sections possible after rainfall. Horse owners need to bring their own water containers, feed storage, and waste management supplies as these are not provided at individual sites. Campers appreciate the spacious sites that accommodate horse trailers with adequate room for tying and handling horses. Reservations are strongly recommended for equestrian sites, particularly during peak summer weekends and the popular Halloween camping event when the park offers special activities.
"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."
"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."
from $20 - $35 / night
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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!)
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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.
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 equestrian camping facilities 20 miles southeast of Richfield, Ohio. The park spans 5,379 acres with 2,650 acres of water surface on Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir. Elevation ranges from 951 to 1,100 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain for both riders and hikers. The horse campground stays open year-round with seasonal facilities available from April through November.
Trail riding with water views: West Branch State Park maintains over 20 miles of bridle trails that connect to adjacent riding areas. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. 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," notes Alisa G. from West Branch State Park Campground.
Dog-friendly activities: Many equestrian campers bring their dogs along for the adventure. "The dog park is amazing. There's so much to do here. Swimming, boating, fishing. We love it," shares Courtney C. about Mosquito Lake State Park Campground, located 45 minutes northeast of Richfield.
Explore nearby attractions: The horse campgrounds serve as a convenient base for visiting regional parks. "Great spot to camp for Cuyahoga Falls National Park," mentions Kim B., highlighting West Branch's strategic location for accessing other natural areas within 30-45 minutes of driving.
Spacious sites for horse trailers: Equestrian camping areas typically provide extra space compared to standard sites. "The sites are huge... We love the sites so much that we keep coming back," reports Courtney about Mosquito Lake State Park, where horse owners appreciate the room to maneuver.
Clean facilities: "Best bathrooms around! Showers great. Bathrooms great. Lots of 'lakefront' spots," says Kim B., reflecting the maintenance standards at West Branch State Park Campground, which receives regular cleaning despite heavy use from both horse and standard campers.
Family activities: Canton / East Sparta KOA Holiday - Bear Creek Ranch offers additional equestrian experiences for families. "This is our favorite KOA! I have 4 kids and return at least 1x per year. Great family owned KOA. Horseback riding on site," explains Lisa D. about this facility located 50 minutes south of Richfield.
Site selection considerations: Not all sites at horse-friendly campgrounds are created equal. "On first impression we were not impressed with this park... 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," advises Andrea F. from West Branch State Park Campground.
Seasonal conditions affect trails: Weather impacts trail quality throughout the year. "It was ok! Unfortunately our campsite was under water due to the extensive rains recently this past week and spring overall," reports Samantha J. at Mosquito Lake State Park, indicating seasonal planning is necessary.
Reservation requirements: Demand for equestrian sites can be high, especially during peak seasons. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" warns Alisa G., emphasizing the importance of planning ahead for equestrian camping trips.
Kid-friendly amenities: Horse campgrounds often offer additional recreational options for children. "The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers. An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," shares Alisa G., highlighting family programming at West Branch.
Educational opportunities: Ashland Fairgrounds provides educational experiences for children interested in horses and agricultural activities. "Very clean and quiet," notes Charles K. about this alternative camping option 45 minutes southwest of Richfield that regularly hosts equestrian events.
Safety considerations: Families should establish clear rules around horses. "The campground is flat and great for bike riding. Nice playground for kids. Dog park nearby," mentions Heidi B., describing amenities at Mosquito Lake State Park that complement equestrian camping.
Utility access limitations: RVers should verify hookup availability when booking equestrian sites. "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," explains Rino S. about West Branch State Park, noting that self-sufficiency may be required.
Leveling requirements: Come prepared for uneven terrain at horse campgrounds. "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., emphasizing the need for adequate leveling equipment at West Branch State Park.
Water fill considerations: Plan water usage carefully. "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. This was okay for a short weekend but not good planning from whoever designed the park," cautions Andrea F., providing practical advice for RVers at equestrian camping areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Richfield, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Richfield, 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 Richfield, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Richfield, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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