Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park provides horse-friendly camping in Greentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 30 miles from Damascus. The campground offers electric hookups with fifty-amp and thirty-amp service for RV campers traveling with horses. Sites are reservable and include picnic tables and fire rings. The campground maintains clean, modern shower facilities and toilets for campers, along with sanitary dump stations and sewer hookups. Pets are permitted throughout the campground, making it suitable for visitors bringing both horses and dogs. Water hookups are available at campsites, eliminating the need to haul water for basic needs. The campground's equestrian-focused design accommodates both tent and RV camping options, though the sites are not configured for big rigs.
Promised Land State Park encompasses 3,000 acres of woodland and lakes in the Pocono Mountains, providing extensive trail riding opportunities directly accessible from the campground. Riders enjoy connecting to multiple trail networks that wind through forests and around the park's two lakes. The campground's location offers direct access to bridle paths that extend throughout the state park system. Hemlock Hill's equestrian-specific layout ensures adequate space for horse trailers and proper separation from non-equestrian campers. The trails feature varying terrain suitable for different riding experience levels, from novice to advanced. Seasonal considerations include limited winter access when some facilities close. Campground reservation policies require advance booking, especially during peak summer and fall foliage seasons when equestrian sites fill quickly.
"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 $24 - $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
"Went here with some friends who had never been outside NYC before. They were absolutely blown away. For me, it was a nice site but not exceptional. Bring or rent a kayak!"
"I drove to NYC for a business trip and ended up driving 1 and a half hour to reach this place. I always carry a tent in the back of my trunk and decided to go camping."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $40 / night
"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
from $25 / 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."
"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.
Promised Land State Park encompasses 3,000 acres in the Pocono Mountains with multiple camping options for equestrian enthusiasts. The park sits at an elevation of approximately 1,800 feet above sea level, creating cool evenings even during summer months. Campers can access multiple trail networks directly from camping areas, with both Lower Lake and Upper Lake providing recreation opportunities.
Kayaking on Keen Lake: Keen Lake Resort Campground offers boating opportunities on a substantial private lake. "We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake," reports Shannon C., who stayed for five nights.
Hiking around Promised Land: Pickerel Point Campground features marked trails with varying difficulty levels. "The Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked," notes Alaina Z., who stayed in site 157. The nearby Little Falls Trail provides another option for easy day hiking from camp.
Fishing opportunities: Lakefront camping sites at Promised Land State Park allow direct fishing access. "The kids caught multiple sunnies and even a small perch," shares Shannon C. about fishing at Keen Lake. Other nearby lakes and ponds offer similar fishing opportunities with Pennsylvania fishing licenses required.
Lake views: Many campers appreciate waterfront sites at Pickerel Point Campground. "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper," writes Kelly F. Sites on Pickerel Point offer particularly scenic vistas across the lake.
Clean facilities: The maintained bathroom facilities receive consistent positive mentions. "Bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," notes Kelly F. about Pickerel Point facilities. The more recently renovated areas feature modern amenities with regular maintenance.
Serene environment: Despite proximity to developed areas, the parks maintain a peaceful atmosphere. "Not crowded this time of year, serene, and perfect weather," reports Angie G. about the Beechwood Area at Lower Lake Campground, who collected their own firewood during their stay.
Seasonal considerations: Some facilities operate on limited schedules. "This park is open year round. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," explains Mara S. about winter camping at Pickerel Point, also noting limited cell reception with Verizon.
Site selection matters: Campsite characteristics vary significantly across the parks. "Get a site on the lake. You won't have a ton of privacy but you'll have space for your stuff," advises Emily Z. about Keen Lake Resort Campground. At Pickerel Point, "chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad!" warns Alaina Z.
Alternative equestrian options: Beyond Hemlock Hill, riders may consider Stokes State Forest across the border in New Jersey, approximately 40 miles from Damascus. The park offers extensive trail networks with varied terrain and separate camping areas.
Activity planning: Families appreciate the organized recreation options. "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake," shares Emily Z. about Keen Lake Resort. During peak season, check with campground offices for scheduled events and children's programs.
Site proximity: Consider location within larger campgrounds. "If you don't want to drive during your stay, camp on the side with the beach and pool," suggests Emily Z. about Lackawanna State Park Campground, located approximately 20 miles from Damascus.
Wildlife viewing: Children often enjoy spotting local fauna. One camper at Stokes State Forest mentions, "We stayed on a beautiful mossy bank, next to a river and a lake... areas with waterfalls and great views were easily accessible." These natural features provide educational opportunities for young campers.
Site accessibility: RV campers should verify site dimensions before booking. "We were on the far side of the lake which is not really within walking distance of the beach, pool and store. We knew this going in and were totally OK with it," explains Emily Z. about Keen Lake Resort, noting they simply drove to amenities.
Hookup reliability: Some older campgrounds may have electrical limitations. At Lackawanna State Park, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," cautions David.
RV-friendly horse camping: For equestrian campers with larger rigs, Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park offers designated spaces for horse trailers with appropriate separation from standard camping areas. "I stayed at the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park... The RV pads were spaced out perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit," reports Maze M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Damascus, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Damascus, PA is Keen Lake Resort Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Damascus, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Damascus, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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