Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park features accommodations designed specifically for horse owners. Horse camping near Canadensis includes sites with electrical hookups — 30-amp and 50-amp service — water connections, and full sewer hookups for RV campers traveling with horses. The sites are suitable for both tent and RV camping, with picnic tables and fire rings at each location. The campground maintains clean shower facilities and modern restrooms. While the campground does not have dedicated horse corrals, it provides areas where horses can be secured and accommodated during overnight stays. The campsites are accessible via drive-in access, making it convenient for horse trailers.
Horse trailer parking is available at the designated equestrian area, allowing campers to keep their trailers near their camping sites. Trails in Promised Land State Park connect riders to scenic woodland routes and lake views, with paths suitable for various riding skill levels. The park encompasses over 3,000 acres of forests and lakes, providing ample riding opportunities. Hemlock Hill's location offers direct access to the park's trail system without having to transport horses to separate trailheads. Water access for horses is available at several points throughout the riding areas. Reservations are required for the equestrian camping areas, and the campground maintains strict policies regarding cleanup of horse areas. The facilities receive regular maintenance, ensuring that horse owners find clean, well-kept areas for their animals during their stay. Visitors consistently note the peaceful surroundings and accessibility of the trails from the campground.
"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
"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
"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."
"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
"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."
"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
"This location was about an hour and a half away from our home so it was far enough to feel like we were getting away but close enough that we could be home quickly in case of an emergency since we decided"
from $125 / night
"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
"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!"
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 provides specialized camping for horse owners exploring the Poconos. Located in Promised Land State Park, this dedicated equestrian area features electrical and water hookups with trails connecting to over 3,000 acres of rideable terrain. Campsites accommodate both horses and riders with drive-in access for trailers.
Trail riding from camp: At Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area, riders can access park trails directly from their campsites. "Always a good trip. We have camped here in tents and with our teardrop trailer. All of our experiences have been good," notes David S., who appreciates the clean facilities even when the campground is at capacity.
Lakeside activities: Pickerel Point Campground offers water access from many sites. "Almost every campsite is close to the water. Our site had kayak access and that was a real bonus," explains Aida K. The campground features both swimming areas and fishing opportunities, with many visitors reporting catching sunfish and perch.
Hiking nearby trails: The region offers multiple trail networks ranging from easy lakeside paths to more challenging forest routes. "The park is large with many hiking trails and ice fishing. The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon," reports Mara S., highlighting that outdoor activities continue year-round at campgrounds like Pickerel Point.
Scenic water views: Campers consistently mention the lake visibility as a major draw at Keen Lake Resort Campground. "I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch," shares Shannon C., who enjoyed paddling to the swimming area daily.
Peaceful atmosphere: Many equestrian campers appreciate the quiet setting of horse-friendly campgrounds. Charlotte D. describes Keen Lake as "beautiful and clean. 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: "The bathrooms were the cleanest we've ever experienced at a campground," Emily Z. notes about Keen Lake Resort. This sentiment appears in reviews across several horse campgrounds near Canadensis, with maintenance standards generally high at established equestrian camping areas.
Weather considerations: The Poconos experience significant seasonal variations, with winter camping requiring preparation. At Lackawanna State Park, "We stayed in early spring midweek, it was very quiet and exactly the get away we wanted," reports David G., who appreciated the cabins and yurts available as alternatives to tent camping during colder months.
Reservation requirements: Horse campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. Most require advance bookings, especially for equestrian sites with hookups. Weekends typically reach capacity first, while midweek stays offer more availability.
Trail conditions: Rain can affect trail quality significantly, particularly for horseback riding. Many trails in the region feature rocky sections that may become slippery after precipitation. Proper footwear for both humans and horses is recommended when using trails after wet weather.
Kid-friendly activities: Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area provides family-oriented camping with easy access to children's activities. "Hiked 2 short easy trails (Little Falls and the Conservation Nature Loop- which we drove to). Absolutely beautiful! Bathrooms were clean and water was hot in the shower," reports Angie G.
Site selection: For families with young children, proximity to bathrooms may be important. Dawn R. shares insights about Lower Lake Beechwood Area: "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. Short walk to bathrooms, showers and lake."
Evening temperature drops: Even in summer, Pocono evenings can be cool. "Not too hot during the day and nice and cool overnight," Daniel G. mentions about Lower Lake campgrounds. Pack additional layers for children, especially for campfire activities after sunset when temperatures can drop 15-20 degrees from daytime highs.
Hookup availability: Many equestrian campgrounds offer various hookup options. At Stokes State Forest, RVers should note the differences between campground sections. "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs," advises Douglas P.
Site sizing: RV campers should check site dimensions when booking. "I stayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers," reports Cheryl M. about Lackawanna State Park, highlighting the importance of researching specific campground loops for RV compatibility.
Electrical capacity: Some equestrian sites provide 50-amp service while others are limited to 30-amp. Bring appropriate adapters if your horse trailer or RV requires specific power configurations. Older campgrounds may have more limited electrical capacity than newer or recently renovated facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Canadensis, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Canadensis, 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 Canadensis, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Canadensis, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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