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West Branch State Park Campground features horse-friendly camping with dedicated trails for equestrians. The park encompasses over 5,000 acres with approximately 20 miles of trails open to horses and snowmobiles. Horse camping areas are separate from the main campground, though recent visitors note that tent campers are sometimes allowed in the equestrian section, which can create safety concerns as horses may spook around unfamiliar people. The campground provides primitive campsites in the horse camping section without electricity or water hookups directly at sites.
Located near Wayland, Ohio, West Branch offers year-round access to bridle trails that connect throughout the park's extensive acreage. Trail riders can access multiple routes directly from the horse camping area without having to trailer to trailheads. The horse trails traverse varied terrain with moderate difficulty levels suitable for most experience levels. Horse owners need to bring their own water buckets and feed storage as amenities in the equestrian section are limited compared to the main campground. Campers must clean up after their horses and properly dispose of manure. The park requires advance reservations for horse camping, especially during summer months when the campground experiences high occupancy rates.
"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!)
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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 Campground provides horse-friendly camping facilities near Solon, Ohio. The campground spans over 5,000 acres and features 20+ miles of bridle trails throughout the park. Horse camping areas include separate sections from the main campground with specialized amenities for equestrians. Winter access continues for equestrians as many trails remain open for horseback riding during snow season, with some trails dual-purposed for horses and snowmobiles depending on conditions.
Lake activities: Visitors can launch kayaks directly from lakefront sites at West Branch State Park Campground. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. There are many inlets to explore or fish," notes Alisa G., who appreciates the water access options.
Explore trails: The park offers numerous hiking opportunities beyond the equestrian trails. "There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch," shares Alisa G., highlighting the diversity of trail options for visitors not traveling with horses.
Visit dog park: For campers traveling with canine companions, West Branch offers dedicated pet facilities. According to Alisa G., "There is a newer dog park near the intersection of Rock Spring and Esworthy roads," making this campground particularly appealing to those camping with dogs.
Clean facilities: West Branch State Park Campground maintains high cleanliness standards that receive consistent praise. "Best bathrooms around! Showers great. Bathrooms great," reports Kim B., while Dan M. simply states "clean individual showers," highlighting this key amenity.
Spacious waterfront sites: Lakeside camping spots are particularly popular among visitors. Rino S. shares, "We're at site 160. No electricity, no hook ups, but a HUGE lakefront site," while Katelyn P. describes her experience as "Great site! Shaded lots of space semi private area. Right off the water with area to tie boat for easy water access."
Quiet atmosphere: The campground provides a peaceful environment away from urban noise. Jill T. notes that the campgrounds are "tucked away from the noises of the busy world," making it an ideal retreat for those seeking tranquility.
Site elevation challenges: Some campsites have significant grading issues that require preparation. Andrea F. warns, "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. The jack was down as low as it would go and we were still off by 1.5 inches."
Reservation timing: For prime spots, especially waterfront sites, plan well ahead. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" advises Alisa G. from West Branch State Park Campground.
Water fill station design: RV campers should note potential issues with the water fill area. According to Andrea F., "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."
Playground access: West Branch offers family-friendly recreational facilities. Lee D. mentions, "Nice playground with toy stocked sandpit, volleyball net," providing entertainment options for younger campers.
Weekend activities: The campground hosts regular social events that appeal to families. Alisa G. shares, "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend," highlighting organized community activities.
Equipment borrowing: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground offers unique resources for younger visitors. Joe F. notes, "If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters," making it a good alternative for family-oriented horse camping near Solon.
Self-contained camping: Lakefront sites often lack hookups, requiring self-sufficiency. Rino S. explains, "We're in a self-contained RV so it's not a problem for us," regarding the non-serviced lakefront sites at West Branch State Park Campground.
Leveling equipment: Due to uneven terrain at many sites, proper leveling gear is essential. Andrea F. recommends, "We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches," indicating the need for substantial leveling equipment.
Site selection research: For equestrian camping near Solon, carefully research specific site conditions before booking. Joe I. advises, "It seems like the sites are good sized but some are on slopes even the pads so make sure to bring stuff to level," highlighting the importance of preparation for the terrain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Solon, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Solon, 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 Solon, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Solon, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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