Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area serves horse campers in northeastern Pennsylvania's Promised Land State Park. Located at 100 Lower Lake Road in Greentown, this campground caters specifically to those camping with horses, providing electric hookups and water access for equestrian sites. The campground features 50-amp and 30-amp electrical connections suitable for RV camping alongside horses. Tent camping is also permitted in the equestrian area. The campground includes reservable sites with picnic tables and fire rings where fires are allowed. Bathrooms with showers, toilets, and sanitary dump stations accommodate longer stays. Equestrian campers note the clean facilities and well-maintained grounds throughout their visits.
The bridle trails connecting to Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area offer excellent riding opportunities through the forests of Promised Land State Park. Riders can access multiple trail systems directly from their campsites without needing to trailer horses to separate trailheads. The campground maintains a 5-star rating among equestrians who appreciate the direct trail access and convenient amenities. Pets are allowed at the campground, making it possible to bring dogs along with horses. The camping season typically runs through warmer months, though specific dates vary annually based on weather conditions and park management decisions. Horse owners should make reservations well in advance, especially during summer weekends when the equestrian camping area frequently reaches capacity.
"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 $24 - $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 $31 - $33 / night
from $29 / 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
"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
"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."
"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.
TravelerWe’re here for the Rock, Ribs, and Ridges festival and what a great experience! Make sure to bring a 50’ power cord as the hook ups are grouped together on telephone poles rather than at each individual site. As far as I know camping is only available during select events.
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.
Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area sits at 1,500 feet elevation in northeastern Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, approximately 30 miles from Bethany. The region receives about 47 inches of precipitation annually, creating lush forest conditions ideal for horseback riding trails. Equestrian campers access multiple bridle paths directly from their campsites during the May through October season.
Lake activities at Keen Lake: Visitors enjoy paddling and fishing at Keen Lake Resort Campground, where water-based recreation forms the centerpiece of the experience. "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," notes Shannon C., who appreciated the easy water access from lakeside sites.
Hiking on conservation trails: Pickerel Point Campground offers several well-maintained paths through protected forest areas. According to Alaina Z., "The Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked." Trails range from beginner-friendly loops under 1 mile to interconnected systems spanning several miles.
Horseback riding in Hemlock Hill: Equestrians find extensive bridle trails connecting directly to campsites at Lower Lake Campground. The horse-friendly campground serves as an ideal base for day rides through the surrounding hills, with most routes taking between 1-3 hours to complete, depending on pace and chosen trail segments.
Clean facilities: Lackawanna State Park receives consistent praise for its well-maintained grounds and restrooms. Camper cheryl M. confirms the high standards, noting "Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers" in the newer full-hookup loop called Ledges.
Lakeside camping options: Many visitors highlight the water proximity at Promised Land State Park. Camper Kelly F. shares, "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper. The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail. The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers."
Privacy between sites: The Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area earns positive reviews for spacious camping areas. "Sites were a good size and not on top of each other. Firewood was available in the area," according to Siobhan D., who found the setting peaceful during a three-night tent stay.
Reservation timing: Horse campgrounds near Bethany, Pennsylvania fill quickly during peak summer months, particularly on weekends. Book equestrian sites at least 3-4 months in advance when planning weekend trips between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Weather considerations: The Pocono region experiences significant temperature variations, with overnight lows sometimes dropping below 50°F even during summer. "Not too hot during the day and nice and cool overnight," notes Daniel G. about his experience at Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area.
Limited nearby services: Stock up on supplies before arriving at most camps. Maze M. comments on the isolation factor: "I stayed at the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park and despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. You could only ever hear the wildlife."
Kid-friendly activities: Stokes State Forest organizes supervised programs during summer months. "They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day!" reports Mike H., highlighting the structured recreation options.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas with varying amenities. "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake," shares Emily Z., detailing how Keen Lake Resort provides both lake and pool swimming options for different preferences.
Site selection for convenience: When camping with children, consider proximity to bathrooms and recreation areas. Dawn R. advises based on her Lower Lake Beechwood experience: "Short walk to bathrooms, showers and lake. Though had to drive to park and beaches."
Full hookup availability: Campers with larger RVs should target the newer camping sections. At Bear Spring Mountain, RVers find spacious sites with electric, water and sewer connections. Kimberly S. notes the remote setting: "Nothing but woods all around! Endless hiking and beautiful streams - you can drink straight from the pipes!"
Site layout considerations: Some campgrounds feature uneven terrain that affects RV setup. Debbie W. reports from Pickerel Point: "We had full hookups (20/30/50 amp, water & sewer). There's no cable but we were able to pickup about 6 channels with our digital antenna."
Seasonal facilities: Most equestrian campgrounds near Bethany close water systems during colder months. Harry L. recounts his summer stay: "All facilities were clean and in working order. Jones dale was a short drive and they had a nice community celebration capped off with a great fireworks show."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bethany, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bethany, 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 Bethany, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Bethany, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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