3 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Three horse-friendly campgrounds serve equestrians near Claysville, Pennsylvania, with Jefferson Lake State Park Campground offering the most developed facilities. The park features a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites, including two dedicated electric equestrian sites. Horse campers should note that electric hookups are positioned somewhat far behind the pads, potentially requiring extension cords. Beaver Creek State Park provides 59 primitive equestrian sites on Sprucevale Road with vault latrines and tie-ups for horses. Twelve sites may be reserved in advance while the remaining operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground maintains clean vault toilets that are thoroughly cleaned each morning.
The equestrian campground at Beaver Creek connects directly to 18 miles of multi-use trails suitable for horseback riding. Jefferson Lake State Park similarly offers extensive trail access with riders enjoying both wooded paths and open areas. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some routes becoming muddy after rainfall. Water access for horses includes non-potable water from spigots at Jefferson Lake, though these lack threading for hose connections. Horse owners typically fill containers at the maintenance building where threaded spigots are available. Both parks accommodate organized groups, with Beaver Creek offering two group camp sites that can host up to 30 people. The primitive nature of these facilities appeals to riders seeking a more natural camping experience with their horses.
"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
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- 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
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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.
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.
Travelerdirect access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park
ScoutWasn't very primitive and the gun range is so close all,you hear all day aware guns but beautiful site 22 is at the end and away from others more than the other sites
Equestrian camping near Claysville, Pennsylvania offers riders access to extensive trail systems across several state parks and forests. The region features a mix of terrain including wooded paths, open meadows, and creek crossings with elevations ranging from 900-1,300 feet. Fall brings cooler temperatures averaging 45-65°F, making it an ideal season for horseback riding adventures when trails are less muddy than spring months.
Trail riding at Fernwood State Forest: Visitors can access multiple connecting trails through dense woodland with moderate elevation changes. "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," notes Danielle S. from Hidden Hollow Campground, who also mentions an "easy orange-blazed trail behind site 10."
Fishing opportunities: Cast for bass at creek access points throughout the region. "Bass fishing is really fun because we caught a few nice ones!!" reports Mike T. about Beaver Creek State Park Campground, which offers multiple fishing spots along its waterways.
Historical exploration: Visit pioneer villages and historical structures during your stay. "The best part about the area was the history that surrounds it. There is 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)," writes Shay D. about the historical features at Beaver Creek.
Pine tree camping areas: Sites nestled among towering pines create a peaceful atmosphere. "We camped this past weekend in site 50. It is an unbelievably spacious site under towering pine trees. The site sits back off the road and really makes you feel like you have the place to yourself," shares Matt H. about his experience at Beaver Creek State Park Campground.
Stargazing opportunities: Rural locations provide exceptional night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. "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!" explains another Matt H. review from Beaver Creek State Park.
Level campsites: Several parks offer flat areas suitable for both tent and trailer camping. "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," writes Teri A. about Jefferson Lake State Park.
Water limitations: Many campgrounds have restricted water access or non-potable supplies. "They are on a well so there is limited water and they don't allow you to fill up your on board tank. Make sure you fill up before you go!" warns Bounding Around about Jefferson Lake State Park Campground.
Terrain challenges: Campsite slope varies significantly between locations. "The majority of the campsites are also so hilly that you can't put a tent up on a flat spot. We ended up sliding downhill all night because the space we rented was on a hill," cautions Alex S. about Jefferson Lake.
Road access restrictions: Some parks have limitations on which roads can accommodate larger vehicles. "There is a road in the park (Echo Dell Road) that RVs/Trailers can't go on so make sure you approach this campground from Leslie Road!" advises Bounding Around about navigation to Beaver Creek State Park.
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas for easier supervision. "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," recommends Matt H. from Beaver Creek.
Wading opportunities: Shallow creek areas provide kid-friendly water activities. "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!" suggests Theresa Tittle R. from Jefferson Lake State Park.
Recreation facilities: Some parks offer additional activities beyond trails. "Clean water, restrooms, playground, sand volleyball and basketball court. Dump station and 18 miles of multi use trails!" notes Theresa Tittle R. about the family amenities at Jefferson Lake.
Electric hookup placement: Be prepared for potential distance issues from parking pads to electrical connections. "Electric is a little far behind pad. We almost needed extension cord. 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," explains Eddie from Jefferson Lake State Park Campground.
Site selection strategy: Research campsite topography before booking, especially for larger rigs. "When 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," advises Aaron B. from Beaver Creek State Park, adding that "backing into 44 and 45 would be tricky as well."
Cell service considerations: Coverage varies across parks but is surprisingly good in some areas. "We chose this park because it was the closest one we could find that was still open with electric this time of year to downtown Pittsburgh. Also, because it had great cell/internet service on our hotspots," notes Bounding Around about connectivity at Beaver Creek State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Claysville, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Claysville, 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 Claysville, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Claysville, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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