3 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Shawnee State Park Campground permits horses throughout its extensive grounds, with camping options for horse owners across 300+ sites. The campground accommodates tent camping, RVs with electric hookups (including 30 and 50-amp service), and several cabins and yurts. The smell of horse manure permeates parts of the campground according to several campers, indicating regular equestrian use. Sites vary considerably in levelness and privacy, with some situated too close together for comfortable horse camping. The campground provides fire rings, picnic tables, and clean restroom facilities. Most areas allow pets, though designated pet-free loops exist for those with horses that may be disturbed by dogs.
The trail system surrounding Shawnee State Park offers several riding opportunities with a scenic lake trail particularly suitable for horses. Located just 10 minutes from Highway 76, the park provides convenient access for horse trailers. Trailer parking is available in designated areas, though specific horse facilities like corrals or wash stations are not mentioned in visitor reports. The park operates year-round with peak equestrian usage during summer months when the lake and beach are most active. Most sites lack water hookups directly at campsites, so horse owners should prepare to transport water for their animals. When selecting a site, Loop D receives consistently positive reviews for spaciousness and privacy, making it potentially better suited for camping with horses than other more crowded areas of the campground.
"Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."
"The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride."
from $20 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Lots of activities, tons of nearby attractions, fishing, hunting, and hiking. Great store and owners, a nice place to visit."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "
from $10 / night
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TravelerCampground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private. Has wood vending machine at entrance for firewood. Hiking loop around lake is beautiful. Jean bonnet tavern nearby recommended for a great meal in a historic setting.
TravelerI had made plans to stay at SSP-PA as my first stopover spot, post leaving my beach friends on the East Coast. The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride. Shawnee is a lovely state park and I was really pleased with my brief stay. 'Though we were only sleeping the one night, I found the staff to be pleasant and the site spacious. It might have helped that the doggo and I were about the only ones in our campground loop, aside from the campground hosts but the area felt well-maintained and well-proportioned. We had a good night's rest, after enjoying a post-dinner campfire and getting to breathe in the fresh, woodsy air. While sitting fireside, I got to enjoy the local wildlife, from birds to young deer, around the edges of my campsite. The campground restroom was clean and a fair size. I would definitely recommend it and I will certainly look into another reservation, the next time I roadtrip through Pennsylvania.
GuideShawnee State Park is about 2.5 hours east of Pittsburgh, and it has pretty much everything: swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and fairly decent hiking. It's close to some really great hiking--just outside the park--and that's how I ended up there. I was trekking on the very wild Mid-State Trail, nearby, when I opted for a night at the conventional campground in Shawnee. No regrets. I usually avoid car-camping because I don't want to listen to other people's classic rock in the woods. But this place was great. I came midweek, so I had the campground mostly to myself. The showers are hot and clean. The lake is beautiful with a nice swimming beach. The area around the park has all the scenic and historic attractions of central PA: covered bridges, big stone farmhouses, quaint towns. My only complaint is that the PA Turnpike screams a little too close by. Also, the sites are pretty close together, so be sure to look at a campground map beforehand to reserve one of the more isolated ones.
LegendGeneral: 300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do.
Site Quality: Varies by type and location within the park. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20’ to 115’ Most of the non-electric sites had no definable pads at all and as mentioned, were not level. Some roads in the campground were paved but a few were not.
Bath/Shower House: was clean. Did not use the shower.
Activities: A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season.
As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise. This was just an overnight stay for us. We’ve been to many stellar Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but this one was not as good as many others.
RangerWe stayed at Shawnee for 2 nights Memorial Day weekend just after Covid19 restrictions had been partially lifted. Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site. The fire ring is at an angle so cooking on it proved to be a challenge (we bring a grill grate with us just in case, and had to use it). Bathroom and showers were clean, bright, and there is a dish washing sink outside. Showers were push button but pressure was great and the water was hot (make sure you push the button once before you get in so its warm if no one else is showering at that time). Bring shower shoes. We were able to hear a small bit of traffic from the highway, but nothing that disturbed us. There are several stores within a 20 minute drive (Walmart, etc) and a mall an hour away. Camp wood at the entrance is $5 and is tiny; our biggest piece was a foot long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick! It was okay to start a fire, but we went into the woods and picked up dead wood that we cut into manageable logs. There weren't any roadside stacks of seasoned wood, so be prepared if it rains. The picnic table was saturated and too heavy to move, so we ate sitting in camp chairs. We would stay again.
LegendWe absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35’ TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.
TravelerFirst I'll just say that the Rothrock campsites should probably each be listed separately, rather than as a group; they are very spread out throughout the State Forest and each is a different experience. This review will be for site 002 Colerain Road.
This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. It's easy enough during the summer, though the road is narrow and you've got some sharp bends depending on which way you come from. This road is not safe to access in the winter in my opinion.
The parking is just right off the road, and there's a picnic table and large stone fire ring near the parking. There's a small path further up the hill into the woods where there is a tent pad, another fire ring and another picnic table. There are also a lot of flat spots nearby for additional tents to be set up.
Just behind the upper tent site is the top of the mountain, and the site has their own private overlook to the valley below. The site is pretty remote, though there were vehicles and the occasional biker coming up the road. Traffic may have been busier than usual the weekend we went because there was the Mid Atlantic Overland festival nearby at the same time. At one point a family parked in the campsite's parking to start a walk... (there's a better trailhead up closer to Indian Lookout they should have used).
No hookups, water, bathrooms, etc; its fully primitive camping here. Cell coverage was fine on Xfinity Mobile (Verizon).
These sites used to be totally free but they're now $10 a night. You still need to book a while out if you want to be here on a weekend, especially during the fall when Penn State is playing.
ScoutThis is a nice park, close to home with a lake. We like to picnic and go fishing. There are nice trails, volleyball areas, and playgrounds.
GuideShawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Shawnee State Park Campground provides extensive equestrian accommodations across its 300+ sites. Located near Schellsburg, Pennsylvania, the campground sits in the scenic Appalachian foothills at approximately 1,200 feet elevation. Trail riders can access several dedicated horse trails that connect to the lake circuit, offering varying terrain suitable for both novice and experienced riders. Seasonal considerations affect trail conditions, with spring often bringing muddy sections while fall provides optimal footing and visibility.
Trail riding around the lake: The trail circling Shawnee Lake offers excellent terrain for horses with several access points from the campground. "The trail around the lake was incredible for biking - highly recommend! Everything in this park and campground are extremely well marked and maintained," notes Kaley R. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Anglers can access multiple shoreline spots around Shawnee Lake. "Nice fishing lake and can be remote," reports Dustin R. Many equestrian campers combine trail riding with fishing excursions, particularly in early morning hours when fish are most active.
Historical site exploration: The surrounding area contains numerous historical points of interest accessible by car or horseback on designated trails. "Foggy mornings are the best in the beautiful forest near Schellsburg historical sites. Nice lake too. Easy access from the PA Turnpike," mentions Melanie Z.
Spacious sites in Loop D: This section of the campground receives consistent praise for accommodating horses. "Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site," shares Danielle S. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: The shower and restroom buildings are regularly maintained, important for riders after dusty trail days. "Bathroom and showers were clean, bright, and there is a dish washing sink outside. Showers were push button but pressure was great and the water was hot," notes Danielle S.
Lake activities: The nearby lake provides additional recreation after trail riding. "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating," says Casey S., highlighting complementary activities for horse camping families.
Site selection challenges: Many campsites have limitations for equestrian setups. "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked," reports Brittany V. from Shawnee State Park Campground. Horse trailers require even more space consideration.
Uneven terrain: Site levelness varies significantly, affecting horse trailer parking and setup. "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level," warns Lee D.
Seasonal considerations: Fall weekends fill quickly with visitors. "A Monday in mid-October had many open sites," mentions Lee D., suggesting midweek visits offer better availability for equestrian campers requiring specific site configurations.
Beach access after riding: The lake provides family-friendly swimming opportunities. "The lake is gorgeous and has a large, sandy beach. Would love to spend more time there to explore the park further," shares Gerard about Rothrock Roadside Campsites, which offers similar amenities to Shawnee.
Playground availability: Children can alternate between trail riding and playground time. "A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground," notes Lee D.
Memorial site proximity: Educational opportunities exist nearby. "If you stay here, make sure to travel down the road to see the Flight 93 Memorial," recommends Rachel L., highlighting cultural sites accessible from Shawnee.
Full hookup considerations: RVers bringing horses should target specific sites. "We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hookup. We have a 32 foot trailer," mentions Gerard about Big Country Campground, which offers similar equestrian camping options near Clymer.
Difficult back-in approaches: Horse trailer combinations require careful site selection. "Many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them," warns Gerard about site accessibility challenges.
Road noise awareness: Despite natural setting, some traffic sounds reach campsites. "As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise," notes Lee D., suggesting horse owners consider this for nervous animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Clymer, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Clymer, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Clymer, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Clymer, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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