Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Maryland offers recreational horse camping near Norristown, with approximately 80 miles of maintained trails for equestrian use. The park provides both drinking water and electric hookups for campers with horses, though specific horse corrals are not available on-site. The campground accommodates both tent and RV campers bringing their own horses, with sites featuring picnic tables and fire rings. Campers should bring their own containment systems as the facilities do not include dedicated horse pens or stalls. The camping area is designed for easy trailer access with sufficient parking for horse trailers adjacent to campsites.
Located about 35 miles from Norristown, Fair Hill's extensive trail system connects riders to various scenic routes through hardwood forests and open meadows. The trail network includes water crossings and varying terrain suitable for riders of all experience levels. Horse owners must follow park regulations regarding manure management and overnight horse containment. The equestrian trails offer excellent riding opportunities during all seasons, though some sections may close after heavy rainfall. Riders appreciate the well-marked trail system and ample space between campsites for horse management. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during peak season weekends as the equestrian-friendly sites fill quickly.
"We were looking for someplace close to the city but away from the hustle and bustle of our city life, this was the perfect little steal-away; relatively close by, great car camping spots, nice easy hikes"
"Campground Review: French Creek State Park Campground is located in Elverson, Pennsylvania and sits adjacent to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $75 / night
"There are some equestrian and tent sites as well. Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking."
"I took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $45 / night
"This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the “sites” are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters."
"Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites."
from $15 - $50 / night
"We were kindly escorted to our site (a nice refreshing change from having to wander around to find the sites ourselves), which was the one farthest away from the entrance."
"Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day! Sweet little spot, we'll definitely be back!"
"Campsite decent size, but some don't have clear boundaries to neighbors, and sometimes not optimally configured (e.g., the site next door's fire pit was placed on the edge of its site/right next to my"
"First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed!"
from $3 - $60 / night
"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
"Starlight is a nice campground to relax or explore central Pennsylvania."
"The campground is in a great location with easy access to Lancaster, Hershey and many other places to explore."
ScoutRestrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
GuideBeautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
ScoutFirst time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
LegendWe spent a weekend at French Creek State Park as our home base for the Chester County Balloon Festival. We stayed for 2 nights at a full-hookup paved site, which ran us $55.25 per night.
WHAT I LIKED:
Peace& Quiet: The state park itself was lovely, serene, and felt nice and spacious.
Prime Location: At just 30 minutes away from the balloon festival, this is the closest campground.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
The"Leveling" Challenge: We were at site#C-241, which had a pretty significant slope. It took a few boards under the rear wheels and fully extended jacks just to get us anywhere near level.
Tight Fit for Big Rigs: Even though there was plenty of open space behind our site, the actual driveway pad was too short to comfortably fit our motorhome and Jeep together. Compared to other state parks we’ve visited, the interior roads and layouts felt a bit on the tight side.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
LegendOverall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
ScoutBathrooms are clean and staff is nice
TravelerThe camp site was amazing. Everything is neat and clean and really beautiful place so quiet.
GuideThis campground has everything. Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle. Plenty of site hookups, areas for tents. There is a camp store, several washer and dryers. The best private, individual shower booths and even a pond to go fishing in.
ScoutThis is our 3rd time at this park, it is one of our favorites. Well maintained, very quiet. We stay in Loop A (full hookup) pet friendly. Sites are spacious, generally large but they are all back-in sites.
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers recreational camping for equestrians about 35 miles from Norristown, Pennsylvania. Located in Maryland's Cecil County, the 5,600-acre park sits at elevations between 220 and 575 feet above sea level. The park features rolling hills with mixed hardwood forests and open meadows through which trail riders can explore during spring through fall seasons when temperatures typically range from 50-85°F.
Trail riding excursions: From French Creek State Park, riders can access approximately 20 miles of designated bridle trails through forests and meadows. "Lots of nice trails. There are also two lakes, Scotts Run Lake and Hopewell Lake that you can fish at, kayak, canoe or just relax by," notes Angel L.
Equestrian competitions: Fair Hill hosts sanctioned horse events throughout the year including competitive trail rides, dressage shows, and steeplechase races. Riders should check the official event calendar for scheduling details.
Outdoor activities beyond riding: Spruce Run Recreation Area provides options for when you need a break from the saddle. "You can bring a camper, tent, or use one of the cabins. Many sites have a lovely water view of the reservoir. Several playgrounds, boat launches, and life guarded swimming area," says Jocelyn G.
Private wooded sites: At Hibernia County Park, horse campers appreciate the natural setting. "This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the 'sites' are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters," explains Jennifer S.
Clean facilities: French Creek State Park maintains good bathroom facilities. "Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean," writes Jen R., which is important after a day of riding and horse care.
Peaceful atmosphere: Many equestrian campers value the quiet environment at Mountainview Campground. "This place was actually fantastic, I don't really have anything negative to say about it. The whole scene was exactly what I love about camping, a nice little remote campground in the mountains," states Christina H.
Reservation requirements: Most horse camping areas fill quickly during peak season. "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park, which has similar booking patterns to other equestrian campgrounds in the region.
Trail conditions: Trails can become muddy after rainfall, so check conditions before your trip. "The equestrian trails offer excellent riding opportunities during all seasons, though some sections may close after heavy rainfall."
Containment requirements: Horse owners must bring their own containment systems as most campgrounds don't provide corrals. "Campers should bring their own containment systems as the facilities do not include dedicated horse pens or stalls."
Water access: Water availability varies by campground. "There is one spigot at the bathroom, which brings me to… There are only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop, however there is a bathroom with running water, flush toilets and electric outlets (no shower) within walking distance of the loop," notes Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park.
Multiple activities for non-riders: Brendan Byrne State Forest offers options for family members who don't ride. "Great place for a weekend getaway. Very well maintained campsites and facilities," reports Marcus N.
Kid-friendly trail options: Select shorter loop trails for young riders. "There are so many wonderful activities. There really is something for everyone here and if you can't find it you aren't looking very hard," shares a French Creek camper.
Pack extra supplies: When camping with horses and children, bring additional clothing changes. "Let me just say I went one time and didn't go back. Luckily, we have a cassette toilet in our camper," mentions a reviewer about bathroom facilities at one park.
Site selection for trailers: At Starlite Camping Resort, RVers with horse trailers should request specific areas. "Overall the sites were large, with trees between, providing additional privacy. Except for the Plateau sites, which have the amazing view, the rest of the campground had a great tree cover!" reports Craig F.
Power requirements: Equestrian campers with living quarters trailers should verify amperage. "We had two sites this trip with water and electric, but they do have quite a few full hook-up sites," notes a Starlite camper.
Leveling challenges: Some horse camping areas have uneven terrain. "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus," shares a Lums Pond visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Norristown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Norristown, PA is French Creek State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 84 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Norristown, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Norristown, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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