Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park accommodates horses with specific equestrian camping facilities. The campground offers electric hookups, water hookups, and facilities for both tent and RV camping on pet-friendly sites. Each campsite includes a fire ring and picnic table, with showers and clean restrooms within walking distance. The campground provides easy access to the lake and surrounding forest areas. The peaceful, wooded environment creates natural separation between sites, though some visitors note campsites can be close together during peak season.
Trail riding opportunities connect directly to Hemlock Hill, with multiple hiking and bridle paths accessible from the campground. The surrounding Promised Land State Park encompasses extensive forested areas with interconnected trail systems suitable for horseback riding. Restrooms remain clean even when the large campground reaches capacity. Camping is available in multiple areas of the park, with the equestrian area specifically designed to accommodate horses and their owners. Located approximately 30 minutes from Blakeslee, the park offers year-round camping options with seasonal considerations for trail conditions. The surrounding area has limited shopping options, so campers should pack necessary supplies before arrival.
"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
"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
"Good hiking trails were just a short walk away from our campsite. Would definitely go back again."
"No water but directly across from facilities with basin sinks outside for cleaning dishes, etc. Each yurt has a huge deck, 2 picnic tables and fire pit."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $49 - $90 / 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
from $25 / night
"We were kindly escorted to our site (a nice refreshing change from having to wander around to find the sites ourselves), which was the one farthest away from the entrance."
"Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day! Sweet little spot, we'll definitely be back!"
"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.
Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area offers dedicated facilities for equestrian camping near Blakeslee, Pennsylvania. Located in Promised Land State Park at 1,500 feet elevation, this specialized campground provides horse-friendly amenities in a forested setting. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, while summer averages 75-85°F with moderate humidity—creating variable conditions for riders throughout the seasons.
Trail riding opportunities: Access multiple bridle paths from Stokes State Forest where visitors can explore diverse terrain. "We stayed at site 11 on Lake Ocquittunk... After packing up we drove down the road and were able to get in a nice 5 mile hike up to the fire tower," notes Josh S.
Fishing access: The lakes at Tuscarora State Park Campground offer fishing opportunities within a short drive. One visitor mentioned, "The main attraction for this park is their lake, which you can swim in, fish, kayak or drop in a boat."
Wildlife observation: The forested areas around Promised Land State Park provide habitat for diverse wildlife. At Mountain View Campground, a camper reported, "Shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!"
Spacious campsites: Keen Lake Resort Campground receives praise for its well-designed sites. One reviewer noted, "The RV sites are spaced out nicely. There are plenty of things to do; paddle boats, row boats, swimming pool, snack bar/campstore, activities, etc."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness remains consistent across campgrounds in the region. At Mountainview Campground, a visitor reported, "The bathrooms were clean. Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day!"
Natural separation between sites: Many campsites feature wooded surroundings providing privacy. A camper at Mountain View described their experience: "Our site was fully private (could not see or hear neighbors). Beautifully secluded and quiet. Pretty rare for campgrounds in NJ."
Weather preparation: The mountain elevation brings variable conditions. At Lackawanna State Park Campground, one camper noted, "This is an amazing state park that has something for everyone. There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network of hiking and horse riding trails."
Limited shopping options: Pack necessary supplies before arrival. A reviewer at Beechwood Area mentioned, "Went tent camping for 3 nights, easy to get to, bathrooms were clean and so was the site. Sites were a good size and not on top of each other. Firewood was available in the area. But not much for stores so pack everything in before."
Reservation requirements: Campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Keen Lake, one visitor advised: "Plenty of open field as well as wooded areas. I would mostly recommend it for primitive camping, however, campsites with running water and electricity are available."
Kid-friendly activities: Pickerel Point Campground offers engaging programs. "Loved camping on Pickerel Point. Kids had a great time! Bathrooms could be cleaned more often but relatively clean. The museum and crafts were closed due to Covid so that was a bummer but we found other things to do," shared Paula R.
Swimming options: Lake access provides recreational opportunities. A camper at Keen Lake Resort explained, "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake. The store has a huge selection of necessities, so no need to worry about forgetting things."
Educational programs: State parks offer learning experiences for children. At Lackawanna State Park, one visitor described, "There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network of hiking and horse riding trails."
Site selection: Look for level sites with adequate space. At Beechwood Area, one RVer noted, "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. The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit."
Full hookup availability: Not all campgrounds offer complete services. A camper at Pickerel Point stated, "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."
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain. At Mountain View, a reviewer cautioned, "The drive to our site had some inclines and was relatively rocky and some vehicles would surely struggle."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Blakeslee, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Blakeslee, PA is Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area — Promised Land State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Blakeslee, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Blakeslee, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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