Mohican State Park Campground provides equestrian-friendly camping opportunities near Wellington, Ohio. The park features miles of well-groomed horse trails with creek crossings, steep hills, and beautiful pine trees accessible to camping guests. Primitive horse camping areas accommodate riders and their mounts with highlines available for securing horses. The trails connect to the extensive Mohican-Memorial State Forest network, offering varied terrain suitable for riders of different experience levels. Dogs are also welcome to accompany horses and their owners on the trails. The campground maintains multiple accommodation options including tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, and cabin rentals, though specific horse corrals are not available at the main campground area.
The Mohican Wilderness area, located approximately 40 miles from Wellington, offers additional horse-friendly camping options with access to the region's extensive bridle trail system. Riders can access trails directly from the campground, connecting to routes that wind through the scenic Mohican Valley region. Pleasant Hill Lake Park, another equestrian-friendly option, features designated horse camping areas with larger sites to accommodate trailers. The park provides access to both water recreation and trail riding opportunities. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some routes becoming muddy after rainfall, particularly in spring and fall. Camping reservations are recommended during peak summer months when equestrian sites fill quickly. Water access points for horses are available at strategic locations throughout the trail systems.
$27 - $220 / night
"Miles of well groomed horse trails available with creek crossings, steep hills and beautiful pine tree."
"As part of a nearly 200-mile bikepacking ride, this was our last stop! We spent 2 nights in their "Class B" area down in the Mohican River Valley and loved it."
$20 - $35 / night
"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."
$27 / night
"Didn’t see much of the park on Friday, but Saturday we went exploring and saw the marina, beach, horse camp area, and walked some of the bridle trails."
"Positives: Lots are spacious
- Lots of activities: WhoaZone, boating, fishing, horseback riding, near Mohican Adventures for rafting, hiking
- Quiet and with friendly staff and seasonal campers
- Large"
$25 - $44 / night
"They are full of amenities like: horse back riding, shooting sports, canoeing, playground, swimming lake, putt putt and more."
"Trails to hike. Lots of summer activities scheduled for the year."
$23 - $180 / night
"Not your typical going hiking kinda campground (there are trails but they are not “major”) you come here to step away from city life and tour a working farm. Ohio countryside at its best."
"Lots of hiking trails and a few sites boasting the filming locations for scenes from the movie Shawshank Redemption."
GuideMiles of well groomed horse trails available with creek crossings, steep hills and beautiful pine tree. There’s a primitive horse camp as well, and places to tie horses at the entrance with high lines. Dogs are welcome to.
LegendAs part of a nearly 200-mile bikepacking ride, this was our last stop! We spent 2 nights in their "Class B" area down in the Mohican River Valley and loved it.
The oddly named “Class A” camping area offers everything from full-hook up camping slots for campers large and small, as well as just electric sites and 10 “walk-in” primitive sites, and cabins -- all of which are reservable. This area has all the bells and whistles of a modern campground with an environmental learning center, a nice outdoor pool, clean showers and bathrooms, an extensive playground and hiking and mountain biking trails right out the front door.
The “Class B” area offers 25 primitive sites on a first-come, first-served basis. It is almost 6 miles by road from the “A” services, but only a 2-mile flatish hike along the river trail. At these sites, there are only pit toilets and a water pump. Each site has a picnic table and a small fire ring. There is also a large group camping area just a few miles away from the primitive “Class B” area.
Tubing and canoeing are available within the park, but there are also several canoe outfitters in the area which provide rental / pick up services. The sheer number of these businesses makes me think that summer time can be crowded!!
Beautiful shaded trails meander all throughout the park and they boast some of the most challenging mountain biking in the mid-west, so read your trail maps. Hiking, equestrian and winter snowmobile trails also offer some great opportunities to get out and stretch your legs throughout the year. There is also a safe and convenient, bike lane / bike path into nearby Loudonville, which has a small grocery story and the usual fast-food restaurants.
Note: The only reason why this park didn't get a 5 star was due to their customer service. It was absolutely lousy, confusing, and the young folks working behind the counter acted as if they didn't want to be there and/or hadn't been trained. We almost left, but since we had cycled 42 miles to get there that day, we chose to stay and enjoyed our time in their Class B sites.
GuideNear the bridal trails you'll find Park and Pack site #4. It's a great spot if your legs are tired after a long day of hiking or if you did too many hills that day. Or if you're a beginner camper, or family that want to try something new, it's easy to walk into and out of. You'll find campsite #4 near the horse pavilion and a large wood barn where it looks that wood is provided. The trail itself is flat, wide and conditions depend on recent rainfall and horse use. It was mostly dry with some muddy areas to navigate around. You'll need to transport it back to camp somehow by pack or a cart/wheelbarrow... It has creative man made benches from logs/branches, a great view for sunset. Per paper maps it looks like it's among the other campsites but actually it's on its own and the opposite side of the multiple bridal trailhead.
LegendI found Malabar Farm in Lucas, OH on my way home from Mom’s house. Never heard of it before and I have been this way for over 20 years now. Louis Bromfield was a conservationist and among many other things (including winning a Pulitzer) he was in the forefront of organic and self-sustaining gardening. This place is amazing! ( and would be an excellent home schoolers camping trip!) Not your typical going hiking kinda campground (there are trails but they are not “major”) you come here to step away from city life and tour a working farm. Ohio countryside at its best. Primitive camping with a gravel parking pad and water, fire ring, picnic table and hitching post. No reservations, this is a first come campground. There’s also a small rentable cabin open year round. Definitely worth a visit and very family oriented events. ( your teenager will roll their eyes at you but probably secretly enjoy the visit)
TravelerMohican offers great accommodations and clean facilities. It’s not the most secluded spots but if you are looking for something tucked away there a few sites. The ability to tube down the river and walk back to your camp site was so much fun. Trailheads are located right of the grounds and the surrounding area is full of great things to do. If swimming is your thing the pool is clean and well maintained and situated between two ridgelines so you float and stare around at wooded hillsides. Great after a day of hiking or crushing the mountain biking trails. Grab a walk-in site or one by the river. No problems with hammocks in sites we chose but not all sites have enough mature trees.
ScoutThis is a family friendly campground with lots to do. They offer on river and off river sites. Open grassy or wooded sites The sites are spacious and with the option to park your trailer where you want (grass sites). They are full of amenities like: horse back riding, shooting sports, canoeing, playground, swimming lake, putt putt and more. They also have little shops that allows visitors to watch loom and black smith demonstrations and the little ones can participate in candle and leather making. If you are able to survive without technology and take a little step back into a simpler life style, this is the campground for you!
LegendThis trip was memorable for so many reasons but the Chestnuts really make this park stand out. The park has several Chestnut trees which is usually a rare find these days. Later on, I found a sign explaining why the park had so many Chestnut trees. They are working to bring them back. We used our grubstick to roast them over the open fire. Many of us fondly think of the Christmas song but how often have you roasted your own Chestnuts while camping?
The tent sites (short walk from parking lot) and one car per tent site. Our site was not the traditional walk up/park camp site. It was a nice change of pace. More space and great neighbors.
The camp store at this park had a lot of great things such as corn hole outside, a mining activity for the family, trikes you could rent, and most importantly ice cream.
The camp store is right across from the pool. The pool is currently closed but not many state parks in Ohio have a pool right in the camp ground area. This is a rare treat. The pool had the traditional pool, kiddo pool, and small splash pad. You could also see where they had installed a curb cut for those in wheel chairs or needing ramps. No pool lift that I could see to help someone lower in and out of the pool. This may be put away for the season so call to find out. They also had a ramp installed that led up to the pool. One side the old steps and the other side a new ADA ramp.
The fire wood was in a white bag and that made it easy to move and kept the car clean which I appreciated. They also had bait so if you wanted to walk behind the pool and continue to the river it wouldn't be far to go fishing.
The shower house by us did not have an ADA bathroom and I didn't get a chance to look for the ADA shower.
Behind the campsites (our section) you could grab a short trail to the river. This was a lovely surprise as I followed a foot path. We opted not to do the overlook hike to the gorge as we had fellow campers with us that couldn't do a long hike for safety reasons. It as a nice surprise to learn that one could also drive to the overlook if they need to and all parties could enjoy the view together. Two different ways to get to the same place which means if you need to split up your campers based on physical skills then you could do so and then eat at the shelter together.
The camp ground has been FULL several times this season so make sure you make your reservations. This park also has a way for you to put on and take out of the river. You will see folks walking around with their inner tubes as they will float down the small section.
We also drove 10 miles away to the Mohican Lodge to treat ourselves to some food and an OSU Football game at the bar downstairs. The bar has a great back patio and view of the lake. It too has a variety of games in the back patio. They were awesome and turned on the closed caption feature for us. Those of us that wanted to watched the game and others were able to play various games at the lodge (Ping pong, pool, read a book by the fire, go see the owls on site, and more).
The pool at the lodge is being redone at the moment. I may try to upload that information later. So look for it to be new and improved. The pool also has a sauna for those that need some help to warm up/relax tight muscles. Usually, you can get a day pass for the lodge pool even when you are staying at the camp sites. This is a small fee but well worth it.
While we were at the lodge an outside non-profit group was there with 2 owls. We hope to drive up to Mansfield sometime to explore their property (90 acres) with birds they have rescued or are helping. https://www.ohiobirdsanctuary.com/ they come to the lodge usually on Sat evening at 7 PM.
For those who are a fan of Shawshank Redemption the movie you are an easy day trip away from the Mansfield Reformatory. https://www.mrps.org/explore/tours
ScoutThere are 10 free camp sites for backpackers in Mohican, each is about a mile hike in, no vehicles can reach these sites. There are 4 on the mountain bike trail and 6 on the horse trails, first come first serve, no reservations. love them!
LegendTook me some miles but I figured it out. Highly suggest a map from the info center or other office. Nice , snug camping that's well maintained and connected to the trail system once you figure it out...This is a beautiful, hilly, scenic area, loved it. Horse, Bike and foot traffic.
Camping options near Wellington, Ohio include equestrian-friendly sites within a 40-mile radius. The region features varied terrain with woodlands, rolling hills, and river valleys at elevations ranging between 900-1,200 feet. Weather conditions tend toward humid summers with temperatures in the 80s and cold winters, making late spring through early fall the prime camping season for this area.
Trail riding and hiking: Mohican State Park Campground offers numerous hiking options for non-equestrian visitors. According to Nicole K., there are "lots of hiking trails and waterfalls. Free hike-in camping available here too." The park maintains over 13 miles of hiking trails with varying difficulty levels.
Water activities: Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground features multiple water recreation options. "The lake is an all sport lake so there is fishing, tubing, jet skis and kayaking. The marina has boat rentals available," notes Michelle H. The beach area provides swimming access during summer months with newly renovated facilities.
Kayaking and canoeing: Mohican Wilderness offers river access for paddling enthusiasts. Lexi K. recommends their "20 mile kayaking trip, such a nice little spot along the river." Canoe and kayak rentals are available on-site with shuttle service for various trip lengths ranging from 7 to 20 miles.
Spacious sites: Campers appreciate the generous camping areas at Mohican Wilderness. Andrea F. notes the park has "large sites and right on the river" and that "even though it's a large park the sites are huge so you still feel like you can kick back and relax."
Wooded camping areas: Malabar Farm State Park Campground offers rustic camping in a forested setting. Shelly S. describes it as "primitive camping with a gravel parking pad and water, fire ring, picnic table and hitching post" where you can "step away from city life."
Clean facilities: Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground maintains well-kept grounds and facilities. Tina D. reports, "The shower houses are clean as well as the grounds" and notes that "sites were decent size and the new section has very little shade."
Seasonal considerations: Mohican State Park Campground experiences variable weather. Andrea F. shares that "camping in the off season is our favorite time of year. This particular park has potable water on by the dump station and the dump station is open. The water at the full hook up sites are turned off."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity can be challenging at some campgrounds. Andrea F. mentions "no cell service with Verizon" at Mohican State Park, while Heidi L. notes about Mohican Wilderness that "we didn't have any cell service but I was not expecting it. It was great to be screen free for a couple days."
First-come camping options: For last-minute trips, several parks offer non-reservable sites. John H. notes that Mohican State Park has "10 free camp sites for backpackers in Mohican, each is about a mile hike in, no vehicles can reach these sites. There are 4 on the mountain bike trail and 6 on the horse trails, first come first serve, no reservations."
Activity options: Ashland Fairgrounds provides convenient camping with family-friendly accommodations. Charles K. reports it has "$20 tent sites or $35 full hookups. You may need an extension cord. All back in sites. Bathrooms are open and close by."
Kid-friendly amenities: Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground includes facilities for children. Tina D. mentions "the bike/walking paths for kids/adults is a great addition for campers with young kids" and describes "the boats and sounds of summer with children laughing and splashing while adults sit on the sand."
Educational opportunities: Malabar Farm State Park Campground offers learning experiences alongside camping. According to Shelly S., it "would be an excellent home schoolers camping trip" as you can "tour a working farm" with "family oriented events."
Site selection considerations: When camping at Mohican State Park Campground, RVers should be aware of different camping areas. Jared H. notes "the B class campground features first come availability, 'walk up' spots. Quotes, because each site has a parking spot and is easily accessed by car. No level ground to be found, but far fewer neighbors than the A class, main campground."
Full hookup availability: Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground offers varying hookup options. Joseph E. recommends that "when we return we will opt for full hook up since those sites look brand new" and notes that while they enjoyed their electric-only site, the full hookup areas appear recently renovated.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require careful positioning for larger rigs. Malabar Farm State Park Campground has sites with varying grades. Andrea F. cautions that "only 15 sites and most are very sloped but we had site 3 and it was okay."
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Wellington, OH is Mohican State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 48 reviews.
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