5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Beaver Creek State Park Campground includes a dedicated equestrian camp along Sprucevale Road with 59 primitive sites for horse campers. The equestrian campsites feature tie-ups for horses but no electric hookups. Most campsites are spacious enough to accommodate both horse trailers and camping equipment. The campground provides vault latrines for campers but lacks showers or running water facilities. Twelve sites can be reserved in advance while the remaining 47 operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The equestrian campground remains separate from the family campground, offering a quieter environment specifically for those camping with horses. Sites have remained clean and well-maintained according to regular visitors.
The park connects to an extensive trail system ideal for horseback riding, including direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail. Riders particularly enjoy the wooded terrain and creek crossings that provide natural watering opportunities for horses. The trails offer varying difficulty levels suitable for both beginner and experienced riders. Trail conditions remain well-maintained throughout most seasons, though spring can bring muddier sections after rainfall. The park's location approximately one hour from Pittsburgh makes it accessible for weekend equestrian camping trips. During peak summer weekends, horse owners should consider reservations for the limited number of reservable sites. The surrounding Beaver Creek Valley provides scenic views during rides, with trails winding through forests and alongside creek beds that horses can access for drinking.
"Portals/parks/PDFs/parks/Maps/Beaver_Creek/beavercreekcampmap.pdf)
- 6 electric sites
- 44 non-electric sites
- Dump station
- No showers; no flush toilets
- Pets are permitted on all sites
Equestrian"
"I live near by to this state park and have spent much time exploring the entirety of it."
from $23 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It is right next to the bike trail and has access to the lake. I have enjoyed my time at Moraine and will enjoy it every time I visit."
"In fact my family used to own property near by. This park has an awesome trail system for walking or biking"
"Very well kept, completely free 1st come campground just outside the very small town of Bloomingdale, OH. Pit toilets and no source of safe, clean water anymore."
"The campground is situated near shooting ranges so the gunfire lasts late into the evening and begins early in the morning disrupting the serenity a bit. The best part - it's free!"
"This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning."
"Tucked away in southeastern Ohio is a gem of a park for camping, hiking and horse camping. Clean water, restrooms, playground, sand volleyball and basketball court."
from $23 - $33 / night
Check Availability"The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."
GuideThis smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning. You need to be careful when booking, especially if you are trying to pitch a tent, as some sites are quite sloped. Our site was huge and right next to the water spigot.
TravelerTucked away in southeastern Ohio is a gem of a park for camping, hiking and horse camping. Clean water, restrooms, playground, sand volleyball and basketball court. Dump station and 18 miles of multi use trails! Small lake for wading with the kiddos, fishing near the dam or skip rocks in the creek. But be sure to pack a picnic and relax and enjoy! Only a few electric sites available. Mostly flat shaded sites most perfect for tents or trailers.
TravelerFamily Campground on Leslie Road [map]
Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road
Group Camp on Sprucevale Road
GuideI live near by to this state park and have spent much time exploring the entirety of it.
The trails are all nice, nothing too strenuous, and each have something unique compared to the others in the park. During the spring the Salamander trail is filled with thousands of Trilliums, a truly majestic experience. Lots of flowing water to enjoy throughout the park, some are off the trails but never hard to reach. A good park to enjoy with family and friends because you can fish, kayak, bike, skate, hike, horseback, and picnic. In addition, there are numerous historical cabins, locks, shelters, and a water run mill to sight-see. Then for those in search of a bit of spookiness, Gretchen’s Lock is notoriously a haunted location with certainly eerie vibes.
The family campground is small, but the park as a whole is not far from civilization so if any supplies are needed it is not a far endeavor.
I do not horseback, so I cannot comment on that campground, but many of the trails are friendly for horses to travel.
OH! And if you are there on the weekends the Wildlife Center is a must! The staff are so nice, it is by donation to visit so is in everyone’s price range. An astounding display of animals and nature information! You can even hold the snakes and see a bee hive in action.
RangerThis tiny gem of a campground is actually quite decent. Each site is furnished with a small fire ring and picnic table. The fire rings do not have a grill grate. The pit toilets in the restroom are "fragrant" when you enter the women's side of the building but not so terribly that they can't be used. My friend did gag upon entering the men's room. There are designated wastewater areas to dump grey water, but you'll have to bring your own water for drinking, washing, etc. There are no electric hookups.
As others have mentioned, there is a gun range nearby and you can hear occasional firing. Helicopter traffic at night was a slight distraction from the otherwise quiet night I spent here.
There is an easy orange-blazed trail behind site 10 but as of this writing, a there are several downed trees blocking the trail a good distance in.
I'd definitely stay again.
5/3/2021 Edited to add:. Well, our second stay here is decidedly less positive. We are at site 9 this time. No fire ring here. The women's bathroom is filthy and it made me gag (there is feces all over one toilet seat and the other smells so bad that I just peed in the woods). It's turkey season so lots of noise in the woods.
ScoutI have been camping at Moraine State Park since I was 5 years old (so about 14 years). While I was in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts we used the 5 Points Group Camping Area a lot. It is right next to the bike trail and has access to the lake. I have enjoyed my time at Moraine and will enjoy it every time I visit.
RangerI have not yet camped here but passed it on my hike the other day and knew I hadn’t seen it in the Dyrt yet, so I wanted to add it for others. This is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also. This is meant more to be a stop along a paddling or hiking trip than a destination camping trip - you must get a permit to stay more than one night. They are first come first serve. There are 8 sites spread out along the edge of the river, some being closer together than others. They are level and clear, each with a new picnic table and nice fire rings with adjustable grates. A few of the sites had stairs to the water for paddler access. The first 2 sites had wheelchair friendly picnic tables, so I'm not sure if you can arrange to be able to drive back for that situation or what other reason they would put them there. That's nice if the case, I'm just not sure as there is a gate locked at the trailhead that's only opened during hunting season. Plus there's no pavement or gravel down at the sites so I imagine it could be difficult to access. But something to investigate. There are vault toilets that were clean and well maintained, with hand sanitizer. There is a spring for water which says to boil before drinking. There is also a big display board with state forest info and maps. Another thing to note, while the travel in makes it feel very remote, there are cabins all along the opposite site of the river, including directly across from the campsites. This could be a positive or negative depending on your thoughts, I personally would like it because it would make me feel a little safer. All in all, it’s a nice little campground, in better shape than some of the regular bigger campgrounds I’ve seen.
RangerThis is a great place just of interstate 79. Been going there since I was a kid. In fact my family used to own property near by. This park has an awesome trail system for walking or biking
GuideWhen you pull into Beaver Creek Family Campground you pretty much have two choices: either you go left into multiple Pine tree sites or right into two cabins and more RV friendly open sites. A few of the RV sites have electric, but no water for their tanks. I suggest the pine sites for any tent or hammock campers. I stayed in one of the first set of 3 pine sites numbered 43, 44, and 45. There is some brush and cover between these sites, but each has a pull in parking pad. If 45 was occupied with a RV, 44 would not be as nice as it was. Backing into 44 and 45 would be tricky as well. To be fair any larger RV that came in better know how to get through tight quarters.
The back area of each of those 3 sites looked best to get even ground for a tent. My buddy hung his hammock between the tree to the left of the picnic bench and to a tree back and left in the picture of site 44. Site was fairly clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe.
Probably the nicest pit toilets I have experienced and while we didn't use, it the sun shower building would give anyone privacy if they had packed a portable shower. Lots of trails to choose from and the pioneer village in the state park gives you many options to spend the day. Had some luck fishing at the Canoe/Kayak area in the South East area of the park close to the Group Camp Sites.
Beaver Creek State Park's equestrian campground offers 59 primitive sites along Sprucevale Road. Located one hour east of Pittsburgh, this horseback riding facility maintains dedicated tie-ups for horses and trails connecting to the North Country National Scenic Trail. Sites don't have electric hookups, running water or showers, but include vault latrines. Campers can reserve 12 sites in advance while 47 operate first-come, first-served.
Trail riding access: Hidden Hollow Campground at Fernwood State Forest connects to surrounding trails suitable for day rides. "There are two different trails to hike," notes Justin T., who also mentions that "fishing minutes away" provides an alternative activity.
Fishing opportunities: Jefferson Lake State Park Campground features a small lake for anglers seeking a quiet fishing spot. Kimberly confirms the campground has "a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites" making it suitable for horse owners looking to combine riding with fishing. "Nice hiking trails around the lake and spillway," adds Teri A.
Multi-use trail networks: Several horse campgrounds near Baden, Pennsylvania connect to established trail systems. "Direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park," explains Tracy H. about Beaver Creek State Park, while William Y. notes that Jefferson Lake offers "beautiful grounds and walking trails" suitable for both hikers and riders.
Spacious equestrian sites: Horse campers appreciate the ample room at Beaver Creek State Park Campground. "We camped this past weekend in site 50. It is an unbelievably spacious site under towering pine trees," shares Matt H. Sites accommodate horse trailers while providing a natural setting.
Quiet atmosphere: Equestrian campers value peaceful surroundings at smaller horse camps. "Very quiet state park. Nice trails and very big sites on the one side," notes Adam S. about Beaver Creek. Similarly, Eddie describes Jefferson Lake as having a "well maintained campground" with specific "equine sites" including "only 2 electric eq sites."
Cost-effective options: Free camping at Fernwood State Forest appeals to budget-conscious horse campers. "Great 🆓 camping! Self-register with cards located at pit latrine building. 14 days every 30," explains Donald F., adding there are "22 total sites, never more than 4 people camping here."
Water availability: Limited water access affects several horse campgrounds in the area. At Jefferson Lake State Park, Eddie notes "all water full up towers only have those spigots that are not threaded. Had to hold hose over spigot about 20 min to fill 35 gal." Plan accordingly for both human and equine water needs.
Terrain challenges: Campsite slope varies widely between facilities. At Danner Primitive Campground, Casey L. reports sites are "level and clear, each with a new picnic table and nice fire rings with adjustable grates," while Kellie A. warns some sites at Jefferson Lake "are small and very sloped."
Facility limitations: Most horse campgrounds near Baden offer basic amenities. Theresa Tittle R. describes Jefferson Lake as a "quiet little campground" with "only a few electric sites available. Mostly flat shaded sites most perfect for tents or trailers." Similarly, Justin T. notes Hidden Hollow has "a bathroom on site" but limited facilities.
Playgrounds and activities: Families camping with both children and horses find certain parks more accommodating. "We got a site near the playground, which my 3 year old enjoyed," mentions Matt H. about Beaver Creek State Park. The campground wasn't busy and we had a lot of privacy."
Swimming options: Water recreation varies across horse camping facilities. At Jefferson Lake, Teri A. notes "lately there has been no swimming because of blue green algae," while Shay D. reports that at Beaver Creek "kayaking is also very popular among the creek, but the water was too low this time."
Evening sounds: Natural surroundings provide memorable experiences. "The sky was dark enough to see far more stars than you'd see near any larger towns or cities. To cap it off, we laid in our tent dozing off to the sounds of owls and coyotes!" shares Matt H. about camping at Beaver Creek.
Site selection: RV campers with horse trailers should research site specifics. At Moraine State Park, Matt D. warns "camping is prohibited in the park" for general camping, though Greg K. clarifies there are "2 rustic shelters that must be reserved through the park office."
Electric access: Limited electrical hookups exist at equestrian campgrounds. Eddie reports that at Jefferson Lake, "electric is a little far behind pad. We almost needed extension cord," so bring extension cords if staying at sites with electric.
Level site availability: Many RVers note challenges finding level spots at horse campgrounds. Aaron B. describes Beaver Creek as having "a few of the RV sites have electric, but no water for their tanks. I suggest the pine sites for any tent or hammock campers," indicating the terrain variations important for trailer parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Baden, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Baden, PA is Beaver Creek State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Baden, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Baden, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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