Equestrian Camping near Ellwood City, PA

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    Beaver Creek State Park Campground offers equestrian camping at its dedicated horseman's camp located on Sprucevale Road, separate from the family campground area. The equestrian campground features 59 primitive sites without electricity where riders can camp with their horses. Sites include tie-ups for horses, and vault toilets are available for campers. While 12 sites can be reserved in advance, the remaining 47 sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground remains relatively quiet and secluded, with many sites positioned under towering pine trees providing natural shade for both horses and campers. The park's camping areas are notably spacious, giving ample room for horse trailers and camping equipment.

    The North Country National Scenic Trail runs through Beaver Creek State Park, offering direct trail access for horseback riding. Several other trails throughout the park accommodate horses, allowing for rides of varying difficulty and duration. Riders particularly enjoy exploring the creek that runs through the area, with multiple points where horses can access water along the trails. The trails are generally well-maintained but can become overgrown during peak growing seasons, requiring occasional care in navigation. During spring, the Salamander Trail features thousands of blooming trilliums, creating a scenic backdrop for riding excursions. While the campground lacks modern amenities like showers or flush toilets, its location provides easy access to beautiful wooded terrain and flowing water features. The park office is typically closed except on weekends, so weekday campers should plan accordingly.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Ellwood City (8)

      1. Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park

      4.2(9)14mi from Ellwood CityCabins

      "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"

      2. Beaver Creek State Park Campground

      4.3(18)20mi from Ellwood City47 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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."

      from $23 - $50 / night

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      3. West Branch State Park Campground

      4.6(66)48mi from Ellwood City196 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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"

      from $30 - $52 / night

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      4. Mosquito Lake State Park Campground

      4.2(26)41mi from Ellwood City224 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      from $27 - $80 / night

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      5. Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

      4.0(7)39mi from Ellwood City44 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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."

      from $23 - $33 / night

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      6. Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

      4.2(11)44mi from Ellwood CityRVs, Tents

      "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!"

      7. Danner Primitive Campground

      5.0(2)38mi from Ellwood CityTents

      "The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."

      8. Starr Farm

      5.0(1)39mi from Ellwood City3 sitesRVs, Tents

      "This campsite was close to an archery tournament for me. It is a huge campsite that is remote and peaceful. I will try to get this place again next year."

      from $50 / night

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Ellwood City, PA

    2 Photos of 8 Ellwood City Campgrounds


    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Ellwood City, PA

    140 Reviews of 8 Ellwood City Campgrounds


    • K
      Jun. 25, 2021

      Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

      Quiet and Beautiful

      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. You need to be careful when booking, especially if you are trying to pitch a tent, as some sites are quite sloped. Our site was huge and right next to the water spigot.

    • B
      Jun. 1, 2019

      West Branch State Park Campground

      Camper friendly

      You need to make reservations well in advance for the “primo” sites. 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. If you’re into hiking, disc golf, kayaking, fishing, equestrian pursuits, etc, this is the park for you.

    • Theresa Tittle R.
      Sep. 7, 2020

      Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

      Quiet little campground

      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. Dump station and 18 miles of multi use trails! Small lake for wading with the kiddos, fishing near the dam or skip rocks in the creek. But be sure to pack a picnic and relax and enjoy! Only a few electric sites available. Mostly flat shaded sites most perfect for tents or trailers.

    • R
      Sep. 28, 2021

      West Branch State Park Campground

      Quiet park with nice amenities

      3 Immaculate bath houses all with laundry facilities, all sites have electric (no f-ing generators) and many have have water and sewer hook ups. 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 be parked on your camp site Boat launch has a big trailer parking lot, too. There are hiking, equestrian and mountain biking trails in the park and launching off paddle boards is ok at the boat launch or the nearby beach Friendly staff and camp hosts!

    • Tracy H.
      Jul. 14, 2018

      Beaver Creek State Park Campground

      3 different campgrounds, primitive tent/RV, group camp and equestrian camp

      Family Campground on Leslie Road [map]

      • 6 electric sites
      • 44 non-electric sites
      • Dump station
      • No showers; no flush toilets
      • Pets are permitted on all sites

      Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road

      • 59 primitive sites (no electric)
      • Vault latrines
      • Tie-ups
      • 12 sites may be reserved; the remaining are first-come, first-served.

      Group Camp on Sprucevale Road

      • Two group camp sites
      • Can accommodate organized groups up to 30 people
      • Available by reservation
    • Erin H.
      Jul. 31, 2016

      West Branch State Park Campground

      Great Find!

      Here's what's great about this campground situated at an easy drive from major cities like Columbus and Cleveland...its scenic, a fully loaded campground with bathhouses, parks, hiking paths, swimming resivoir with boat rental...we highly recommend renting a pontoon for the day and hanging out in the resivoir for swimming and lounging! It's both relaxing and nice to get away from the beach crowd!

    • Jennifer D.
      Sep. 20, 2021

      West Branch State Park Campground

      Clean, private oasis

      Stayed in two different areas of West Branch State Park while visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Very impressed with large, clean bath houses, including fully private showers. Sites were very large and spread out, visit bing lots of nice privacy. Though we did not take advantage, the park also offered horse bridle trails, mountain biking and water activities on the lake. What a gem!

    • G
      Jul. 21, 2023

      Mosquito Lake State Park Campground

      Great State Park Campground

      We just got back from our first trip to Mosquito Lake State Park Campground. All in all, it was a great experience. 

      We stayed in site 67, which is a waterfront site, with electric. The water is about 25 yards from the pad, but is visible from the entire site. The site was spacious, but not as private as some of the others. There is some woods between this site and the sites on either side, but other sites are visible. The fire pits and picnic tables were staggered, so it created some distance to make it feel more private. 

      The campground as a whole, was very quiet. We stayed from Wednesday to Friday. 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. 

      Most sites seemed pretty level from side to side, but where we were, several had a slope from front to back. Away from the waterfront, most sites looked pretty level. The amount of space between sites varied from site to site. Some sites had woods on both sides, while others were pretty open. Some had nice large grassy areas, others were much smaller. Sites from 214-224 are in a cul de sac and are water front, but they were pretty close together with very little privacy between sites, if any. They are very close to the water though. 

      There are bathrooms and water scatter about, but from what I saw there was only 1 shower house. 

      Wal-mart and other shopping and restaurants were about 3 miles away. Park was easy to get to, only one turn for us off the highway. Lake was great for kayaking and paddleboarding. Very nice dog park in a different part of the park. There is a boat launch accessible from inside the campground. 

      Dump station has 2 lanes which was nice when checking out. Fresh water fill up was also located near the dump station.

    • Zach C.
      Apr. 16, 2020

      West Branch State Park Campground

      It’s great!

      My family has been going to this camp for years! It’s been updated a few times over the years, for the better! It has everything you need. Boat ramps for the lake in the campground, multiple shower houses, large and small campsites with full and primitive options! Tent and pull through RV sites as well. They have a few miles of hiking trails even horse trails! They do events through out the year. Our favorite Halloween! Camper decorate their sites and do trick or treating for the kids. They even do a haunted trail where volunteers set up to scare everyone! We had a spot on the trail for years lol


    Guide to Ellwood City

    Beaver Creek State Park offers equestrian camping that attracts riders from across Ohio and Pennsylvania. The park sits within the foothills of the Appalachian Plateau at approximately 900 feet elevation. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-40°F, while summer months average 70-85°F with moderate humidity levels compared to other Ohio parks.

    What to do

    Hiking with horses: The North Country Trail provides multiple access points for riders at Beaver Creek State Park Campground. "Nice trails and very big sites on the one side," notes Adam S., who appreciates the park's spacious layout perfect for horses and equipment.

    Explore pioneer history: Visit the historic structures near the campground office. "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)," explains Shay D.

    Fishing opportunities: Cast a line in Beaver Creek when water levels permit. "Bass fishing is really fun because we caught a few nice ones!!" reports Mike T., highlighting the recreational fishing available within walking distance of the campgrounds.

    What campers like

    Privacy between sites: Fernwood State Forest's Hidden Hollow Campground offers free camping with good separation. "All paved sites with picnic tables. Most have fire rings. All free but you must fill out a registration card. There are pit toilets and a water pump. The ranger comes by everyday to collect registration cards," explains Karen W.

    Spacious campsites: Campers appreciate sites large enough for horse trailers and gear. "The site was fairly clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe. Site was very clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe," notes Aaron B. about his stay at Beaver Creek.

    Well-maintained facilities: Despite being rustic, the facilities receive regular attention. "This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly every morning," reports Kimberly about Jefferson Lake State Park Campground.

    What you should know

    Limited water access: Plan accordingly for water needs. "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!" cautions Bounding Around about Beaver Creek State Park.

    Seasonal trail conditions: Trails can become overgrown during summer months. "I have enjoyed my time at Moraine and will enjoy it every time I visit," shares Mitchel R. from Moraine State Park, where trails connect directly to the equestrian camping areas.

    Uneven terrain: Some sites require careful selection. "Some sites are small and very sloped. Others have lots of room to spread out. Highly recommend the one we booked!" advises Kellie A. about Jefferson Lake State Park.

    No modern amenities: Facilities are basic but functional. "While the campground lacks modern amenities like showers or flush toilets, its location provides easy access to beautiful wooded terrain," observes a visitor at Beaver Creek.

    Tips for camping with families

    Playgrounds for kids: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. "We chose a site near the playground, which my 3 year old enjoyed. The campground wasn't busy and we had a lot of privacy. The sky was dark enough to see far more stars than you'd see near any larger towns or cities," shares Matt H. about his experience at Beaver Creek State Park.

    Nature exploration opportunities: West Branch State Park Campground offers educational nature programs. "There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch. There is a book exchange shelf at the shower house in case of rainy days. The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers," explains Alisa G.

    Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk provide best opportunities. "To cap it off, we laid in our tent dozing off to the sounds of owls and coyotes!" recalls Matt H. about Beaver Creek, highlighting the natural soundtrack that delights younger campers.

    Tips from RVers

    Site leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks for uneven sites. "We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches. The jack was down as low as it would go and we were still off by 1.5 inches," reports Andrea F. about her experience at Mosquito Lake State Park Campground.

    Route planning for horse trailers: "Make sure you approach this campground from Leslie Road!" advises Bounding Around about Beaver Creek, noting that "there is a road in the park (Echo Dell Road) that RVs/Trailers can't go on."

    Water fill-up logistics: "The water fill is on an incline so when our tank was 'full' pulling away from fill station it was really only 2/3 full," warns Andrea F. about West Branch State Park, a practical consideration for those hauling horses to equestrian campgrounds near Ellwood City.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ellwood City, PA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ellwood City, PA is Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ellwood City, PA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Ellwood City, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.