Nancy B.
Ranger
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
Equestrian Camping near Duncansville, PA
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North Run Equine Camping Area in Moshannon State Forest provides essential facilities for horse campers near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, approximately 60 miles away. The campground accommodates both riders and their horses with designated camping areas designed specifically for equestrian use. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings with ample space for horse trailers. While the campground does not offer dedicated horse corrals, campers can set up temporary containment systems or highlines for their animals. The sites are reservable in advance through the Pennsylvania state forest reservation system. Some sites feature electric hookups with both 30 and 50-amp service available, though primitive camping options exist as well. Most sites are accessible via drive-in access, making them suitable for horse trailers of various sizes.
The equestrian campground connects directly to the extensive trail network throughout Moshannon State Forest, offering horse camping access to varied terrain suitable for riders of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced equestrians. Water access points for horses are available along certain trail sections. Campers should bring their own water and feed storage containers as these are not provided at the campsites. The camping area remains accessible throughout most of the year, though seasonal road closures may affect access during winter months. Riders appreciate the well-maintained forest roads that connect to bridle paths and wider trail systems. Pet-friendly policies allow campers to bring dogs along with their horses, creating a complete outdoor experience for the whole family, including four-legged companions.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Duncansville (6)
1. Shawnee State Park 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."
100 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
2. Black Moshannon State Park Campground
"Electric motorboats are permitted on Moshannon Lake. Boat rentals are available in season."
"Great hiking and a beautiful lake for kayaking. Site 22 is a full hookup. Utilities worked nicely. However, our picnic table had seen better days. "
40 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $87 / night
3. Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
"This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. North Run Equine Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
5. North Block — Tuscarora State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
6. South Block — Tuscarora State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Drive Time
- 8 min from Altoona, PA
- 39 min from Johnstown, PA
- 44 min from State College, PA
- 1 hr 35 min from Chambersburg, PA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Duncansville, PA
54 Reviews of 6 Duncansville Campgrounds
Graham S.
TravelerBlack Moshannon State Park Campground
Great campground at a beautiful park
Ive camped at Black Moshannon State Park many times both in a tent and our camper. The Park has tent only, electric and full hookup sites. It is well cared for and clean. The bathhouses are nice and well maintained. The Park itself offers a lot to do with fishing. Hiking, the beach, kayak rentals, etc. I've never had a bad time at Black Moshannon and will keep coming back.
- SScott I.Traveler
Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
Nice spot to camp in the mountains
First 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.
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Double check site booked
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. 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.
Lee D.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Huge state park
General: 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.
- SSteve
GuideBlack Moshannon State Park Campground
Beautiful spot
In the middle of the woods vibe. The sites had good privacy and it was just a pretty area. Neighbors were respectful and relatively quiet.. There was zero cell service at this campground. Bathrooms were clean.
- JJennifer R.
ScoutShawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Rick G.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Met our Needs Perfectly
Booked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
Joni P.GuideBlack Moshannon State Park Campground
Beautiful and well appointed park
Getting to the park had some sharp turns and windy roads. Small campground but nicely equipped. 2 bath houses were dated but clean. Nice playground at the campground and also one at the beach. Small camp concessions with a few camping items as well as ice cream cones. Great hiking and a beautiful lake for kayaking. Site 22 is a full hookup. Utilities worked nicely. However, our picnic table had seen better days. The site sat down off the road but once you were backed in the spot it was pretty level. This site also had a separate tent pad located down a few stone steps. Verizon and AT&T cell service were basically non existent. Every once in a while a text would come in or send but very spotty. Sorry I failed to get a pic of the site in the daylight. It was spacious and we had plenty of room for our 30' trailer, truck, and easy up over the table. 6+ chairs around the fire pit, cooking ring could have been better. Grassy area for cornhole or playing.
Guide to Duncansville
Equestrian camping areas near Duncansville, Pennsylvania offer dedicated facilities for trail riders across multiple state forests. The region features a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites with direct access to extensive bridle path networks. Several locations provide trailer parking, picket lines, and water access points specifically designed for horse owners who camp.
What to do
Trail riding through scenic forests: Black Moshannon State Park Campground offers access to miles of designated equestrian trails. "The Park itself offers a lot to do with fishing, hiking, the beach, kayak rentals, etc. I've never had a bad time at Black Moshannon and will keep coming back," notes Graham S., highlighting the diversity of activities beyond horseback riding.
Explore mountain terrain: At Rothrock Roadside Campsites, riders can access varied elevation trails. Scott I. describes one site: "Just behind the upper tent site is the top of the mountain, and the site has their own private overlook to the valley below." These elevation changes provide challenging rides for experienced equestrians.
Bird watching from horseback: The diverse ecosystems around horse campgrounds support excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "Nice campground with quiet 250 acre lake for kayaking. Good birding," mentions Matthew U. about Black Moshannon, where riders frequently spot woodland species along trail edges.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Horse campers appreciate generous spacing between sites. As Sandi G. notes about Black Moshannon, "The sites are situated nicely, your neighbors are not 'right there,'" which is particularly important when camping with horses that need sufficient space.
Clean facilities: Despite the rustic nature of many equestrian camping areas, campers value well-maintained grounds. Lisa L. shares about Black Moshannon State Park Campground: "Spaces are clean and spacious, bath house is very well kept. Very peaceful and well maintained."
Seasonal flexibility: Some horse campgrounds maintain extended seasons. "Pulled in on Friday of Labor Day weekend without a reservation but there were a couple open sites," reports Courtney S., indicating availability even during popular weekends at some locations.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: While North Run Equine Camping Area requires advance reservations, other sites may have different policies. Denise D. advises about popular parks: "Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early."
Road conditions: Access roads to horse camping areas vary seasonally. For Rothrock sites, Scott I. warns, "This road is not safe to access in the winter in my opinion," a crucial consideration for horse trailers.
Water quality considerations: Natural water sources may have unusual characteristics. Travis S. explains an interesting phenomenon: "The Iron Ore mines from the past have left the creek water stained red which is why it's called the Red Mo with the locals." Bringing supplemental water for horses is recommended.
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Some horse campgrounds offer learning experiences. "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc," says Lisa L., making these locations ideal for family trips combining horseback riding with other outdoor skills.
Weather preparation: Mountain camping conditions can change rapidly. Danielle S. notes at Shawnee State Park Campground: "We stayed at Shawnee for 2 nights Memorial Day weekend... The picnic table was saturated and too heavy to move, so we ate sitting in camp chairs," highlighting the importance of bringing versatile equipment.
Site selection strategy: When camping with horses and children, site layout matters. Brittany V. shares: "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites... Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many horse campgrounds have uneven terrain. One camper at Shawnee State Park Campground advises: "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 but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level."
Hookup availability: Horse-friendly campgrounds offer varying levels of RV amenities. Gerard notes, "We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up. We have a 32 foot trailer." Calling ahead to confirm specific site dimensions for larger rigs with horse trailers is recommended.
Seasonal timing: Off-season visits can provide better site selection for RVs with horse trailers. "A Monday in mid-October had many open sites," observes one reviewer, suggesting weekday trips during shoulder seasons offer more flexibility for equestrian campers with RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Duncansville, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Duncansville, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Duncansville, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Duncansville, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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