4 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Jefferson Lake State Park Campground includes equine-specific sites with accommodations for horses and their riders. The campground features both standard and electric sites specifically designed for equestrians traveling with their mounts. Sites are level and primarily shaded, providing comfortable spaces for both horses and humans. Reviews indicate the horse campsites are well-maintained and offer good access to the extensive trail system. The campground maintains clean vault toilets that are thoroughly cleaned each morning, though there are no shower facilities available.
The park provides access to 18 miles of multi-use trails suitable for horseback riding through the southeastern Ohio landscape. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some portions becoming muddy after rainfall. Most equestrian campers appreciate the mix of terrain that includes wooded areas and open fields ideal for riding. The campground's layout offers convenient access to trailheads directly from the camping area, eliminating the need to trailer horses to riding locations. Water spigots are available for watering horses, though they lack threaded connections for filling large tanks. Equestrians should note that the park has limited amenities and services nearby, so bringing all necessary supplies is recommended. The smaller size of the campground creates a quiet environment ideal for horses and riders seeking a peaceful retreat.
"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!"
"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"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"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"
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.
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
ScoutVery 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. Very quiet everytime I've camped there, many times btw. Great, quiet, close to nature experience.
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.
Jefferson Lake State Park offers designated horse campsites with trail access in eastern Ohio, about 70 miles from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. For equestrians seeking camping options near Canonsburg, the park provides both standard and electric sites across its 16-acre campground. The terrain features gentle slopes through woodlands with mixed hardwood forests typical of the region's 1,000-foot elevation.
Trail riding: Access 18 miles of multi-use trails directly from Jefferson Lake State Park Campground without needing to trailer horses to trailheads. "Perfect for our little Scamp trailer. Only 5 big electric sites, no showers or potable water. As a result it was so peaceful! We loved our rainy stay. There are some lovely hiking trails around the lake and spillway," notes Teri A.
Fishing opportunities: Fish in the small lake at Jefferson Lake or explore nearby water access points. One camper at Beaver Creek State Park mentioned, "Had some luck fishing at the Canoe/Kayak area in the South East area of the park close to the Group Camp Sites."
Hiking exploration: Combine horseback riding with hiking on interconnected trail systems. At Beaver Creek, visitors appreciate the "direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park."
Spacious sites: Horse campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites. At Hidden Hollow Campground, one visitor noted, "Self-register with cards located at pit latrine building. 14 days every 30. No problem getting 40' skoolie in and parked in mostly level spots. Camp fire rings and picnic tables at most sites."
Peace and quiet: The smaller, less developed nature of equestrian campgrounds creates a tranquil atmosphere. A Jefferson Lake visitor shared, "Not a huge campground, but as a result it was very quiet. Some sites are small and very sloped. Others have lots of room to spread out."
Seasonal variety: Spring and fall offer optimal trail conditions with moderate temperatures and less mud. A Fernwood State Forest camper wrote, "Here late April through early May. 22 total sites, never more than 4 people camping here, including us."
Limited amenities: Most horse campgrounds near Canonsburg offer basic facilities. At Jefferson Lake, "No working showers or potable water. If you're looking for a place for a camper then it would probably be fine since the parking spaces were pretty flat but for a tent I would look elsewhere."
Water access challenges: Plan for water needs when visiting with horses. At Moraine State Park, a backpacker mentioned, "There is a rustic vault toilet but no water at the site. I asked the lady at the park office if there was water nearby and she said yes, just hike down to the access road and over to the group tenting site to fillup. I'll tell you, this is not close - easily a 2-3 mile round trip."
Site selection importance: Many campgrounds have uneven sites. A Jefferson Lake camper advised, "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."
Playgrounds and recreation: Some equestrian campgrounds offer family-friendly features beyond riding. At Beaver Creek State Park, one camper mentioned, "We got a site near the playground, which my 3 year old enjoyed. The campground wasn't busy and we had a lot of privacy."
Educational opportunities: Historical sites near equestrian campgrounds provide educational experiences for children. Beaver Creek offers "a pioneer village near the park office that offers some picnicking areas around it. It also has original buildings from the pioneer days (church, school, etc)."
Night sky viewing: The remote location of many horse campgrounds offers stargazing opportunities. At Beaver Creek, a family noted, "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!"
Electric site limitations: Electric sites for RVs at horse campgrounds are often limited. At Jefferson Lake State Park, one RVer noted, "Only 5 electric sites. Very clean pit toilets. Well maintained campground. A few equine sites. Only 2 electric eq sites. Electric is a little far behind pad. We almost needed extension cord."
Water fill challenges: Prepare for non-standard water connections. An RVer at Jefferson Lake advised, "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. We were later told by staff the maintenance building had a threaded spigot."
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies at equestrian campgrounds near Canonsburg. At Jefferson Lake, one visitor reported, "AT&T 5g with 3 bars. Not very many restaurants or grocery nearby. Better make sure you have what you need bf you travel."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Canonsburg, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Canonsburg, PA is Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest with a 4.2-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Canonsburg, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Canonsburg, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
