3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Beaver Creek State Park Campground offers specialized equestrian camping on Sprucevale Road with 59 primitive sites without electricity. The equestrian area features tie-ups for horses and a vault toilet system. Only 12 of these sites can be reserved in advance, while the remaining 47 operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The separate family campground on Leslie Road includes 6 electric and 44 non-electric sites but doesn't have designated horse facilities. The terrain surrounding the park provides scenic forest riding opportunities with moderate elevation changes. The campground maintains year-round accessibility for riders seeking winter trail experiences.
The North Country National Scenic Trail passes directly through the park, offering riders extensive trail access with connections to regional riding networks. Beaver Creek's trail system features multiple creek crossings and valley views, particularly appealing for day riders and overnight equestrians. Water access points along Beaver Creek allow horses to drink and cool off during summer months. Most equestrian campers bring portable corrals or use the tie-up areas, as there are no permanent stalls available. The park prohibits filling RV water tanks from the limited well water supply, so riders should bring sufficient water for themselves and their horses. The natural creek that runs behind sites on the northern campground loop creates ideal conditions for summer rides but contributes to increased insects at night.
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $19 - $50 / night
"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"
"The bathrooms are clean and include a laundry and sinks outside to wash your dishes. Campground hosts and staff are friendly and helpful. Sites are roomy and clean. Lots of variety."
"There is no WiFi and barely one bar of cell service; your best internet access is at the nice public library 7 miles away in Ravenna Sand beach is an easy walk from all camp sites and boat trailers can"
Available this weekend
from $29 - $40 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $19 - $29 / night
"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!"
"The group next to us seemed a little rowdy when we first pulled in, but by 10:00 there was no noise anywhere near us. "
"Wood is dry and cheap right outside the park entrance. Bass fishing is top notch on the lake. I would definitely come back here again and again."
Available this weekend
from $23 - $80 / night
ScoutI struggled making a reservation online, you need an account and it wouldn’t let me make one but i was able to call in and reserve a spot same day. I’m traveling to the east coast and just needed a place to pitch a tent for the night. worked perfect.
ScoutThere’s no electricity and no where in walking distance and the internet isn’t great, and at night u hear raccoons in the trash cans. If you come here bring a portable phone charger. There’s really nothing here, and the bathrooms are disgusting
GuideWe were passing through on a weeknight in mid September. Many open sites. Sites are paved and many are sloped. Most are shaded. Our site #41 was fairly level with electricity. Close to huge bathhouse with flush toilets, showers and laundry. High above the lake with views through the trees. Appeared there were many long term campers but just as good for our short overnight stay. Online registration. $45 for electric only site.
GuideMosquito Lake gets a bad rap because of its name. We had such a great time launching our kayak from our campsite! I’ve attached a highlighted map marked with the sights on or very close to the water to launch a kayak. Additional kayak launch sites available around the park if you can’t get one of these. It’s great campground if you have kids or a dog. Plenty of great playgrounds and a dog park/dog beach. The camp host was very nice and welcoming. The wash house has laundry and showers. Everything was clean.
GuideI've heard there are campgrounds that discriminate against car camping, first time experiencing it. There are many sites where people have a LARGE camper, a car, and multiple tents spread out over a large area. We have 2 SUV's with tents that attach to the backs. We followed all the rules and are taking up about HALF of our site. We were told that is not allowed. When asked for reasoning and comparing to what we've seen around the park, we get no clear answer that makes sense. We are here with a group that rented about 20 sites. After spending 4 hours setting everything up, she says one may have to leave; she's waiting to hear from her boss. I will definitely never return here!
ScoutWhen we arrived, we checked in at the camp office. The ladies there were very kind. The roads through the campground are wide enough for two-way traffic and nicely paved.
This is a beautiful, heavily treed campground. Even on Memorial Day weekend with lots of people, the park was very peaceful. The sounds of birds permeate the air round the clock. Chipmunks run amok. They’re just so cute.
We booked site 56 for our 39’ fifth wheel. As soon as we pulled up, we knew there was no way we’d fit even though the reservation site said it would accommodate a 40’ rig. The camp hosts happened to be passing by as we were surveying the site. They were very helpful redirecting us to a nearby site that would be more suitable. FYI, sites 55 and 56 have deep culverts on either side. One wrong turn and you’re going to have a problem. The majority of sites along our road were just wide enough to keep the tires out of the dirt, but not wide enough for the stairs to land on asphalt. If you have a motorhome or other wide-bodied rig, like an Alliance Paradigm, I would recommend choosing one of the sites on the loop around the playground. Those are better suited for newer big rigs.
TIP…the line at the dump station is long on the holiday weekends. Plan accordingly.
GuideFirst time here. They told me Ohio State Parks were voted #1 in the US. Well there is a reason for that. Beautiful, clean, great spots, not a bad site in the entire park. Wood is dry and cheap right outside the park entrance. Bass fishing is top notch on the lake. I would definitely come back here again and again.
ScoutWe live really close so we stay at mosquito for our first stay every year. This year we were disappointed. They had no staff there to check us in, the signs says closed Monday through Wednesday. Bathrooms were supposed to be open because we stayed April 16th, but only some of them were. (Even though online states April 1st they reopen). Some sites are more wet than others. We stayed at site 54 this time. The pad was very narrow and it was wet around it (it has been raining a lot). The person before us must have purchased a $12 bale of hay that they were selling up front because there was hay everywhere. Wish they would just put gravel down.
Otherwise, it's quiet. We love the nature play area for the kids. We love the playgrounds.
When they are open, the bathrooms are very clean. The shower house is dated but clean. Far walk from every site basically as they put it on the main road between both loops.
ScoutSimple site, gravel park pad, fire pit with swinging arm grill. Plenty of free firewood. Great place would stay again
Beaver Creek State Park offers horse-friendly camping options located 36 miles from Dawson, Pennsylvania. The park sits in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,100 feet. Trail riders often experience moderate temperature variations between valleys and ridges, with creek-side areas typically 5-10 degrees cooler than upland trails during summer months.
Trail riding on North Country Trail: Access extensive trail networks directly from Beaver Creek State Park Campground where "direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park" creates multiple route options for riders of all skill levels.
Fishing in stocked waters: Cast a line in Beaver Creek where "Bass fishing is really fun because we caught a few nice ones!!" according to visitors at Beaver Creek State Park Campground.
Visiting historic Pioneer Village: Explore original structures near the camp office as "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)."
Geocaching adventures: Several hidden caches can be found throughout the trail system at West Branch State Park Campground where campers report "We also played some disc golf and went geocaching."
Pine-covered campsites: Find natural shade at tent-friendly areas where "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."
Dark night skies for stargazing: Away from urban light pollution, campsites at Jefferson Lake provide exceptional star viewing as "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!"
Spacious waterfront sites: Reserve early for premium locations at West Branch State Park Campground where "Waterside sites fill up quickly! West Branch has private, spacious, shady sites. We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite."
Limited water availability: Several campgrounds restrict water usage as "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!"
Access road limitations: Some parks have route restrictions for larger vehicles as "Also, 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!"
Reservation requirements vary: At Hidden Hollow Campground, sites operate on a different system where "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."
Seasonal maintenance issues: Trail conditions fluctuate with weather as "Unfortunately, it had been raining a lot so we weren't able to explore the trails. The campground is nice– the toilets are just pit toilets and they do have a sun shower."
Playground-adjacent sites: Strategic site selection enhances family camping as "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."
Kid-friendly amenities: Facilities at Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park accommodate various activities where "It offers many camping styles including Group Tenting, Adirondack shelters for backpacking, and Cabins" and "Kayaking/Canoeing, Motor boating 15hp or less, Sailboats, Bike Trail, Great Fishing Spots, Swimming Area."
Educational opportunities: Historical features provide learning experiences as "The camp ground was nice except there is no running water. We took advantage of some of the hiking trails around and they were good in some areas, but definitely needed to be kept up on more often."
Wildlife viewing chances: Children can observe native species as campers report "we laid in our tent dozing off to the sounds of owls and coyotes!"
Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at Jefferson Lake where "Perfect for our little Scamp trailer. Only 5 big electric sites, no showers or potable water."
Limited hookup options: Electricity availability varies significantly between parks as "We're at site 160. No electricity, no hookups, but a HUGE lakefront site. We're in a self contained RV so it's not a problem for us."
Water fill precautions: Water systems present challenges at Jefferson Lake State Park Campground where "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."
Dump station locations: Not all facilities offer sanitary dumping, so plan accordingly as "Electric is a little far behind pad. We almost needed extension cord."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Dawson, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Dawson, PA is Beaver Creek State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Dawson, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Dawson, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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