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Best Equestrian Camping near Mentor, OH

90 Reviews

West Branch State Park Campground features a dedicated horse camping area with bridle trails and equestrian-specific sites. The campground offers both primitive camping and electric hookups for horse owners, with space for horse trailers at designated sites. Tent campers are sometimes permitted in the horse camping section, though this has caused safety concerns due to children running around horses that may spook. The equestrian area is located in a quieter section of the campground, providing some separation from the main camping loops. The horse camping area lacks the full hookups (water and electric) available in the main campground.

Extensive bridle trails wind through West Branch State Park, connecting to a larger trail network suitable for day rides. The trails accommodate various skill levels and provide scenic views of Kirwan Reservoir and surrounding woodlands. Mosquito Lake State Park Campground also offers horse-friendly camping options with access to riding trails. Both parks maintain clean facilities with bathhouses, laundry facilities, and outdoor sinks for washing dishes. Campers should make reservations well in advance for prime equestrian sites, especially during summer months and Halloween events when the campgrounds are particularly busy. The parks enforce quiet hours and have camp hosts who provide assistance and information about local riding opportunities.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Mentor, Ohio (2)

    1. West Branch State Park Campground

    67 Reviews
    Ravenna, OH
    40 miles
    Website

    "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"

    2. Mosquito Lake State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Cortland, OH
    38 miles
    Website

    "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. "

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Mentor, OH

90 Reviews of 2 Mentor Campgrounds

  • B
    Jun. 1, 2019

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Camper friendly

    You 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.

  • R
    Sep. 28, 2021

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Quiet park with nice amenities

    3 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!

  • S
    Jun. 29, 2020

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Equine Camping

    I loved to camp in the Horse camping area but this year they are allowing tent campers to camp there and it is just not safe.  There are multiple tents, sometimes in between horse campers.  There are children running around and since this in the back of the campground with no supervision, the campers are leaving garbage at the sites and in the fire pits. 

    There are two camp hosts in that area and they do the best they can to educate people on horses but most do not understand they were even booked in the horse camp nor do they understand that horses can spook.

    The hosts are trying to clean up after these bad campers and reporting them but there does not seem to be anything they can do. They would never allow this kind of thing to happen in the main campground.

    If the campers are allowed to camp in the horse camp then the horse campers should be allowed in the main camp.  I sure would  like a full hook up with electricity and water for my horse trailer. 

    Whats fair is fair.  Why even designate a section just for Horse campers if you are going to allow primitive campers to camp there. 

    Last year there may have been one or two tents here and there through out the season but this year the tent campers outnumber the horse campers.

  • Jim L.
    May. 22, 2020

    Mosquito Lake State Park Campground

    Dog Friendly

    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.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2019

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Awesome state park with many amenities

    Ranger 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.

  • Erin H.
    Jul. 31, 2016

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Great Find!

    Here'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!

  • Jennifer D.
    Sep. 20, 2021

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Clean, private oasis

    Stayed 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!

  • G
    Jul. 21, 2023

    Mosquito Lake State Park Campground

    Great State Park Campground

    We 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.

  • Liv L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2018

    West Branch State Park Campground

    A little Secret in Ohio

    Beautiful area for a get away in Ohio. The beach is never too packed. You can take kayaks out and venture off around the shores.

Guide to Mentor

West Branch State Park offers equestrian camping options within its 2,650-acre grounds surrounding Kirwan Reservoir. Dedicated horse camping sites accommodate equestrian visitors with trailer parking and access to bridle trails. Mosquito Lake State Park also provides facilities for horse camping near Mentor, Ohio. These equestrian campgrounds connect to trail systems suitable for various riding abilities, with most trails spanning between 2-5 miles through wooded terrain.

What to do

Lakefront camping: At West Branch State Park, waterside sites provide direct lake access. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. There are many inlets to explore or fish," notes Alisa G., who recommends booking these premium sites six months in advance.

Beach activities: The park maintains multiple swimming areas for campers. "There is a small beach at the campground but a larger one on the other side of the lake," explains Alisa G. from West Branch. At Mosquito Lake State Park Campground, Joe F. reports, "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."

Trail exploration: Beyond equestrian routes, both parks offer hiking paths through varied terrain. "There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch," says Alisa G., while Jim L. notes that Mosquito Lake State Park has "many trails and even a fog park next to the lake," making it particularly dog-friendly.

What campers like

Private, spacious sites: Many sites offer separation from neighbors. Dan M. appreciates that West Branch has "very private sites," while Courtney C. notes that at Mosquito Lake, "the sites are huge."

Clean facilities: West Branch State Park Campground maintains high standards for bathrooms and showers. Teresa B. comments on the "very clean bathrooms" and "beautiful sites with lake views," while Lee D. notes thoughtful details: "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."

Recreational amenities: Both parks offer extras beyond basic camping. Karen D. mentions that Mosquito Lake "will do movie nights on the weekends," while Alisa G. notes that West Branch has "an ice cream social held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend."

What you should know

Site leveling challenges: Some sites require significant adjustment. Andrea F. from West Branch cautions: "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." Similarly, Joe F. notes that at Mosquito Lake, "some of lots are pretty uneven."

Bathroom locations: Facilities vary between parks. Courtney C. points out a limitation at Mosquito Lake: "No real bathrooms except at the front of the park. No place to wash dishes. Rough if you're tent camping."

Reservation requirements: Prime sites book quickly. Alisa G. advises, "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" The most desirable equestrian sites also require advance planning, especially during summer weekends.

Tips for camping with families

Playground options: Both parks offer recreational areas for children. Joe F. recommends Mosquito Lake for younger children: "If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters."

Equipment loans: West Branch State Park offers complimentary recreation equipment. Alisa G. shares that "the park office loans games and sports equipment to campers," providing options for rainy days.

Beach proximity: Select sites near swimming areas for convenience. Rino S. recommends site 160 at West Branch, noting "a HUGE lakefront site" with "Beach right next door too!"

Tips from RVers

Water fill considerations: Watch for infrastructure design issues. 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."

Full hookup availability: Different sites offer varied amenities. Heidi B. notes that Mosquito Lake has "several full hook-up sites" and "electric sites near the lake," making it suitable for various RV needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mentor, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mentor, OH is West Branch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 67 reviews.

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