Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area at Promised Land State Park offers specialized accommodations for horse owners in northeastern Pennsylvania. The campground features electric hookups, water connections, and sewer hookups that support extended stays with horses. Sites accommodate tents and RVs with adequate space for horse trailers. Picnic tables are provided at each site, and fires are permitted in designated rings. The campground maintains shower facilities and toilets for campers. Sites can be reserved in advance through the Pennsylvania state park reservation system. The facilities are clean and pet-friendly. Equestrian camping areas are situated within reasonable distance to bridle trails, providing convenient access for daily rides.
Trails connecting to the equestrian camping area provide varied terrain for riders of all skill levels. The campground's location within Promised Land State Park creates direct access to the park's trail system, which includes paths specifically designated for horseback riding. Riders can access both wooded areas and open meadows within the park boundaries. Horse owners must bring their own feed and water containers as on-site water sources are limited to campground hookups. The campground enforces standard quiet hours to ensure a peaceful experience for all visitors. Seasonal availability typically aligns with the general park camping season. Alcohol is prohibited within the park, including the equestrian camping areas. Sanitary dump stations are available for RV campers with horses, allowing for convenient waste disposal during extended stays.
"I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. "
"We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well maintained and flat which were the most important."
"There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network if hiking and horse riding trails."
"The sites were a little close to each other and where we were in the park was a mixed use area. So we had an RV next to us with the Genny running all day."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $90 / night
"3 hour drive from NYC, and a wonderful campsite with good weather in the summer - not too hot during the day and nice and cool overnight."
"We stayed in lower lake beechwood site 323. Was decent site only downside was fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs, otherwise it’s a nice wooded site with privacy."
from $27 - $29 / night
from $25 / night
"We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents."
"* Water and dumpsters are within walking distance, or if you are not up to walking you can just take a short drive to fill up and dispose of your trash
- There are outhouses scattered around, or if"
from $7 - $55 / night
"We stayed at site #T007 is was a short walk from the car to the site, but so worth it for many reasons."
"The caping set up was nice and I enjoyed the proximity to available hikes in the area. The ‘lake’ however, was kind of a disappointment."
"Went here with some friends who had never been outside NYC before. They were absolutely blown away. For me, it was a nice site but not exceptional. Bring or rent a kayak!"
"I drove to NYC for a business trip and ended up driving 1 and a half hour to reach this place. I always carry a tent in the back of my trunk and decided to go camping."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $40 / night
"If you're there in the summer, I'd recommend taking a kayak around the lake and filling it with wild blueberries. Lots of hiking options as well."
"The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also."
from $5 - $75 / night
GuideStayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
TravelerThe state park is beautiful. The site was very nice. The park itself is very big with many activities available such as boat rentals and a swimming pool. There's also an amphitheatre which hosts specials. During our stay the only activity we made it to was the pool. The main reason we didn't do more was the distance. We have a motorhome so we didn't have additional vehicles to get to and from places. We walked to the park which according to my Fitbit was 1.5 miles away. That doesn't seem too bad until you realize it's mostly hills in both directions! We are a fairly active young family who has no problem with a bit of a walk but after that experience we decided to just spend the remainder of our trip hanging out at our site. It's a good thing we only stayed 2 nights because our 10 year old might've lost his mind with boredom if we stayed longer. Overall, the site we had was great and I'd recommend it. My husband and I may come back for a couples date weekend.
RangerI've visited the MOC a bunch of times, and have taken training classes here also. There are campsites for tent camping, cabin stays where you can rent a whole cabin or rent a bunk in a cabin with others. There is a store as well as food options. It's a great place to visit whether you grab a meal, a bunk, or just take a hike. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also.
GuideWe stayed at a tent platform site in Shotwell camping area. The platforms could use a little maintenance as there were a few tie down hooks that were missing or corroded. The campsites are close around this loop that includes lean-tos, but not so close that you are bothered by your neighbors normal sounds. The bathroom is close and clean. There is a bear box at each campsite which gave peace of mind. Firewood is available for sale at the park office. The staff there is very welcoming. Great Jersey getaway with gorgeous hiking trails.
GuideStayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers. Nice play area for kids, water craft rentals, nice lake. Plenty of picnic areas for day trips.
GuideThere are four campgrounds that are all pretty different, we stayed at Shotwell across from the pond. For the most part, each campsite has its own porta potty or it shared with a couple other sites. At the entrance of the campground, there is a bathhouse with running water, bathrooms, and potable water. We stayed in one of the RV areas across the pond. It was peaceful to hear the frogs chirping at night, but definitely didn’t think about how many more bugs the pond would bring, probably wouldn’t stay at that specific spot again even though it’s really pretty. Most of the campsites were very rocky, but you can find some that have a little bit of grass. We came on a Friday night. Everyone was up pretty late, but was not crazy loud. The rest of the weekend it seemed like everyone’s simmered down. The campground was full of mostly families. If you wanted to shower, you would have to head to the group campsite not too far but you need to drive. We don’t typically expect to have a campgrounds with a ton of amenities. Potable water and a toilet is really all we need. Overall, it was a great time gorgeous park. Also took a few pictures of the cabins in Shotwell. I wouldn’t personally rent one, but I guess if your winter camping it has a little fireplace and will keep you dry and somewhat warm.
TravelerStokes is my go-to state park for unplugging and enjoying time with my family. We brought our son (23 months at time of visit) on his first camping trip this past September. He loved every minute of it.
Site T07 in Lake Ocquittunk is gorgeous and one of the few relatively secluded sites in the campground. You need to carry your gear down a narrow, rocky path that's a little steep near the road, but it's manageable. There's also a graded path into the site adjacent to a neighboring site, but you should check with those campers if they are ok with you cutting through to use it. (We opted not to disturb our neighbors and take the slope.)
I thought I would be able to launch my kayak from site 7 since it's waterfront, but there are a lot of huge rocks in the water that prevent you from getting out into the lake. We had to find a different launch spot. That was probably the biggest disappointment for us.
Still, I love site 7 and it's absolutely worth the privacy and the views every morning.
GuideStokes State Forest is a beautiful park with a lot of different trails to check out, though some of them are difficult to access due to parking. The camping areas are split between two different entrances. If you’re in Lake Ocquitunk, like I was, you don’t enter at the main entrance, you have to go past the main entrance about another mile on rt. 15 N. and enter by the YMCA. All the other camping areas are near the main entrance by the forest office. The campsites themselves are a little too close together in some spots with little coverage or privacy. There is a day parking area which is only accessible going through the main entrance by the forest office— if you visit during the week park entrance is free, but on the weekend fees can be a bit steep. I wasn’t super happy with my campsite as I wasn’t able to physically have my car on the site like I thought. I had to park in a small lot above my campsite and carry my belongings down a short slope to the site. I like to car-camp so this was a bit of a let down having my car separate from my actual campsite.
The bathrooms were nice and had flush toilets, but the showers were out of service during my time. Bathrooms are extremely spaced out so you will have to walk a far distance unless you strategically choose a site next to one. I drove through the other campsite and only saw 1 set of bathrooms that had toilets and showers per campground, not including the outhouses I saw for those in the small cabins.
TravelerKeen lake is the most cleanest friendliest family environment campsite you will ever find. Beautiful lake great fishing. Activities all day long for the children. Great general store that has everything in it that is open from sun up to sundown. The nachos and ice cream are the best. Super friendly staff. It's big they have tent sites right along the lake the lake is huge there's so much I could say but I would run out of room. I started coming here when I was four and I am now 46 years old and it is just the best place ever. It will always have a special place in our heart. Look forward every year to coming here no matter what age my kids are they all have a blast. From tent sites to RVs to cottages to glamping you name it they have it highly recommend it. Recently went camping to somewhere a little bit closer to home and it's nothing compared to here. It's like comparing Macy's to Walmart. You will never regret coming here. So pack your family up and have a great time.
Promised Land State Park offers specialized horse camping options approximately 25 miles from Archbald, Pennsylvania. The Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area section has dedicated facilities for horseback riders with connections to trail networks. Temperatures in northeastern Pennsylvania range from winter lows around 15°F to summer highs near 80°F, making spring through fall optimal for equestrian camping.
Trail riding access: The bridle trails at Pickerel Point Campground — Promised Land State Park connect to multiple terrain types. "The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail. The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," shares Kelly F., who appreciated the variety of hiking options that are also suitable for horses.
Lake activities: During summer months, horses can cool off at designated lake access points. At Keen Lake Resort Campground, Shannon C. reports, "We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake." This same water access benefits horse owners who need to cool their mounts.
Winter activities: For cold-weather equestrian camping, some parks maintain winter access. According to Mara S. at Promised Land State Park, "Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers." Winter trail riding requires proper preparation but offers quieter trails and unique views.
Spacious sites: At Lackawanna State Park Campground, sites accommodate larger vehicles needed for horse transport. Michael notes, "We like Lackawanna State Park. This is the place we camped when we moved to PA. It has sites that are very wooded. Some are a little close to each other, but others offer plenty of space, including our site (52) on this trip. One of the biggest spots we have ever had."
Clean facilities: Horse owners appreciate well-maintained bathrooms after trail riding. At Ocquittunk in nearby New Jersey, Catherine S. confirms: "The bathrooms are clean and nicely placed. The sites had a fire ring with a cooking grate and a picnic table and were well spaced out from other sites."
Peaceful environment: Equestrian campers value quiet surroundings for their horses. Maze M. at Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area reports, "Despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. You could only ever hear the wildlife. The RV pads were spaced out perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit."
Equestrian requirements: At Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area, horse owners must follow specific rules. David S. notes, "Always a good trip. We have camped here in tents and with our teardrop trailer. All of our experiences have been good. Clean bathrooms are essential and even when the large campground is full the bathrooms have been clean."
Seasonal considerations: Winter equestrian camping requires preparation for freezing conditions. According to Mara S., winter campers should note that "Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by." Additionally, some campers report limited cell service in the region.
Trail conditions: Bear Spring Mountain — DEC in nearby New York offers additional equestrian facilities. J G. reports, "Highly recommended if you like hiking. Great flowers and nature. There is a hiking loop that goes around the pond." These same trails accommodate horses with varied terrain.
Kid-friendly activities: Families with both children and horses find multiple options. At Stokes State Forest, Trip Over Life shares, "Outdoor activities in the area abound. Go fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and more. There are 21 marked trails that cover over 63 miles within the boundaries of Stokes State Forest."
Safety considerations: Keep children and horses separated unless under supervision. Paula R. at Pickerel Point notes, "Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc." These paved areas provide safe recreation zones away from horses.
Educational opportunities: Many equestrian campgrounds offer learning experiences. Samantha S. reports that Keen Lake Resort has "an overabundance amount of activities scheduled for campers," making it ideal for children to learn about horses and wildlife.
RV site selection: Horse owners with RVs need sites that accommodate both vehicles. Harry L. at Keen Lake Resort recommends, "When we got to our site the sewer pipe was buried and we didn't know where it was, they sent someone out to our site within minutes." Contact campgrounds ahead to verify horse trailer parking availability.
Power requirements: For RV campers with horses, adequate electricity matters. David at Lackawanna State Park cautions, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained." Check power specifications when bringing horse-related equipment.
Winter camping: RVers with horses should prepare for cold weather. Guy M. advises, "We were Motorcycle camping and came in on a Holiday weekend without a reservation. But we were given a terrific tent site." Similarly, horse owners should call ahead about reservation requirements and winter accommodations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Archbald, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Archbald, PA is Keen Lake Resort Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Archbald, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Archbald, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
