2 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
West Branch State Park Campground in Wayland, Ohio offers horseback riding trails approximately 15 miles from Shaker Heights, making it one of the closest horse camping options to the city. The park features 20 miles of horse trails that remain open to both horses and snowmobiles in designated seasons. Bridle trails are located specifically on Esworthy Road, providing dedicated spaces for equestrians. The campground accommodates tents, RVs, and cabins in a year-round facility. Some campsites are situated along Kirwan Reservoir with water access, allowing equestrians to combine trail riding with other outdoor activities. The horse camping area is separate from the main campground with dedicated space for equine visitors.
Located approximately 30 miles from Shaker Heights, the horse camping section at West Branch has experienced changes in recent seasons, with some tent campers now permitted in the equestrian camping area. Horse campers should be aware that primitive camping is available in the equestrian section, but hookups are limited compared to the main campground. Trail riders seeking longer excursions can access multiple interconnected trail systems throughout the 5,000-acre park. The equestrian camping area includes space for horse trailers and is managed by camp hosts who help educate visitors about horse safety and proper campground etiquette. West Branch provides access to numerous trails where riders can explore wooded terrain while enjoying the natural lake setting that characterizes this northeastern Ohio destination.
"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 Campground in Wayland offers diverse equestrian facilities approximately 15 miles from Shaker Heights, Ohio. The main campground area contains waterfront sites along Kirwan Reservoir with separate facilities from the equestrian camping section. Individual sites at West Branch feature varying terrain characteristics, with some campsites requiring significant leveling for recreational vehicles.
Kayaking from campsites: At West Branch State Park Campground, waterfront sites allow direct water access. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. There are many inlets to explore or fish," notes Alisa G., who visits annually.
Swimming options: The park offers two beach areas for campers. "There is a small beach at the campground but a larger one on the other side of the lake," according to regular visitors. The swimming areas are maintained regularly, though some campers note the natural lake bottom can be muddy in spots.
Disc golf and geocaching: Beyond horseback riding, the park provides additional recreational activities. "We played some disc golf and went geocaching. The camper beach was small but nice and clean," reports Andrea F., highlighting activities beyond typical trail usage.
Clean shower facilities: Multiple reviewers specifically praise the shower buildings at Mosquito Lake State Park Campground. "Newer showers were nice. They are doing some improvements around the campgrounds," notes Samantha J. The facilities provide comfortable amenities for tent campers without self-contained facilities.
Family-friendly amenities: The campground hosts regular community activities for visitors. "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," writes Alisa G. about West Branch State Park, mentioning additional family programming beyond typical outdoor recreation.
Book exchange service: The shower house facilities at West Branch include unexpected visitor services. Campers appreciate "a book exchange shelf at the shower house in case of rainy days," providing indoor entertainment options during inclement weather.
Site elevation variations: Campsites at West Branch have significant topographic differences affecting setup. "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," reports Andrea F. about site 190.
Water fill station design: RV campers should note infrastructure limitations. "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," according to one reviewer, impacting water supply calculations for longer stays.
Reservation timing: Competition for premium sites requires advance planning. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" advises Alisa G., particularly important for equestrian campers seeking specific trailer accommodations.
Equipment lending service: The park office at Mosquito Lake State Park provides unexpected resources for families. "If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters," explains Joe F., highlighting park-provided equipment many visitors overlook.
Playground facilities: Multiple play areas accommodate different age groups throughout the parks. "Nice playground for kids. Dog park nearby. Camp is near beach & marina," notes Heidi B., mentioning the convenient proximity to other amenities.
Biking opportunities: The topography supports family cycling activities. "Campground is flat and great for bike riding," explains one regular visitor, providing alternative recreation beyond horse trails for families with children of varying ages.
Site selection for larger rigs: When booking at West Branch, investigate site dimensions carefully. "It seems like the sites are good sized but some are on slopes even the pads so make sure to bring stuff to level," advises Joe I., emphasizing the importance of leveling equipment.
Non-electric waterfront options: Some premium waterfront sites trade hookups for location. "We're at site 160. No electricity, no hookups, but a HUGE lakefront site. We're in a self-contained RV so it's not a problem for us," notes Rino S., highlighting the tradeoff between service connections and water proximity.
Utility limitations: Facilities for tent campers may be limited at some parks near Shaker Heights. At Mosquito Lake, campers report "no real bathrooms except at the front of the park. No place to wash dishes. Rough if you're tent camping," requiring self-contained systems for comfortable stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Shaker Heights, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Shaker Heights, OH is West Branch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 66 reviews.
Keep Exploring
