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 Flinton, PA
7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Several equestrian campgrounds are available near Flinton, Pennsylvania, with North Run Equine Camping Area in Moshannon State Forest offering dedicated facilities for riders and their horses. The primitive camping area provides basic amenities with access to surrounding forest trails. Dark Hollow Equestrian Campground and Gaswell Equestrian Campground in Elk State Forest feature toilet facilities and picnic tables at each site, though neither has running water or electricity. Sites are reservable with ample space for horse trailers and camping equipment. Fire rings are available at all locations with fires permitted at designated sites.
Trail networks throughout the state forests provide extensive riding opportunities, connecting these equestrian campgrounds to miles of backcountry terrain. The camping areas allow pets alongside horses, making them suitable for families traveling with multiple animals. Most equestrian sites in Pennsylvania state forests require advance reservations, particularly during peak seasons from spring through fall. The sites accommodate both tent camping and smaller RVs, though none offer horse corrals—riders must bring portable containment systems or use tie-outs. Horse trailer parking is available directly at campsites, with sufficient room for standard-sized horse trailers. Water for horses must be carried in or collected from natural sources when available.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Flinton (9)
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. Snow Shoe Sites — Sproul State Forest
"A standard Ford Explorer handled the drive without trouble, though bringing a trailer would likely only be practical if it is set up for overlanding conditions."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
5. North Run Equine Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
6. Big Country Campground
"Lots of activities, tons of nearby attractions, fishing, hunting, and hiking. Great store and owners, a nice place to visit."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $30 / night
7. Yellowsnake Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
8. Dark Hollow Equestrian Campground — Elk State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
9. Gaswell Equestrian Campground — Elk State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Drive Time
- 28 min from Altoona, PA
- 50 min from State College, PA
- 52 min from Johnstown, PA
- 2 hrs 4 min from Chambersburg, PA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Flinton, PA
56 Reviews of 9 Flinton Campgrounds
michael R.
GuideSnow Shoe Sites — Sproul State Forest
SS007
Site SS007 sits roughly two miles off pavement along a fairly rough access road. A standard Ford Explorer handled the drive without trouble, though bringing a trailer would likely only be practical if it is set up for overlanding conditions.
The location offers excellent views of the Susquehanna River and exceptionally clear night skies with strong stargazing opportunities. There was no existing fire ring on site, so we built one using nearby stones. The site does not include a picnic table or other amenities, making it a primative experience.
Cell service was limited but usable, averaging about one bar with AT&T and two bars with T-Mobile.
Overall, it is a quiet, scenic roadside site best suited for campers comfortable with minimal facilities and no other people around.
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.
- SSteveGuide
Black 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.
Guide to Flinton
Equestrian camping near Flinton, Pennsylvania features a mix of forested terrain at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,300 feet. Most designated horse camping areas remain open from mid-April through early December, with seasonal closures during winter months due to difficult road access conditions. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F with higher humidity levels than western Pennsylvania regions.
What to do
Trail riding through state forests: Both Moshannon and Elk State Forest offer interconnected trail networks with terrain varying from gentle valleys to steeper ridge climbs. "There are a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc" notes Lisa L. about nearby recreation options.
Fishing at Black Moshannon Lake: The 250-acre lake located near Black Moshannon State Park Campground provides unique fishing opportunities. "Nice quiet 250 acre lake for kayaking. Good birding," reports Matthew U. The lake's dark-colored water creates a distinctive fishing environment.
Seasonal wildlife viewing: Fall camping coincides with increased elk movement throughout the region. Several roadside pull-offs on forest roads provide observation points. "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc," mentions Lisa L., highlighting organized activities available seasonally.
What campers like
Lake access for horses: The water access points near camping areas allow horses to cool off during summer months. At Black Moshannon State Park, "The lake has lots to offer. Swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife watching and a big sky view for star gazing," reports Denise D.
Spacious trailer parking: Most equestrian sites accommodate standard horse trailers with room for tacking up. "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!" shares Brittany V. about her experience at Shawnee State Park.
Evening campfires: Fire rings at all equestrian sites accommodate standard campfires with local regulations permitting fires unless drought conditions exist. "We were able to have a campfire out front and sit at a picnic table," notes Danielle W. about her family's stay in a cabin.
What you should know
Reservations required: Most state forest camping sites must be booked through the Pennsylvania DCNR reservation system, especially during peak season. "Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early," advises Denise D.
Weather preparedness: Mountain elevations experience rapid temperature changes and fog conditions frequently occur in valleys. "We stayed here on a brisk night and the fog had rolled in overnight. We were planning a breakfast on the lake but the fog hid the lake view," reports Tiffany K. about her Rothrock State Forest experience.
Road access challenges: Many equestrian sites require navigating narrow forest roads not suitable for larger rigs. "The 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," explains Scott I.
Tips for camping with families
Pack extra entertainment: Limited cell service means bringing offline activities for children during downtime. "My family and I stayed here one night during a motorcycle trip. We rented 1 of the cabins they have on the property and it was great all of us fit comfortably," says Danielle W.
Safety around water: Lakes near camping areas lack lifeguards and have limited visibility due to natural tannins in the water. "Great camping area stop a mountain...nice unique lake that is incredibly dark in color. Lilly pads abound with great flowers," Clay P. mentions about Big Country Campground.
Wildlife awareness: Teaching children about local wildlife enhances the experience while maintaining safety. "Lots of activities, tons of nearby attractions, fishing, hunting, and hiking. Great store and owners, a nice place to visit," notes Michael L. about family-friendly amenities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Many equestrian sites have uneven terrain requiring leveling equipment. "The campground is okay, there are a fair amount of awkwardly-placed sites that sit on a hill and are difficult to place a tent, equipment or gear," cautions Kaley R.
Water management: No direct hookups exist at equestrian sites requiring self-contained water supplies. "The picnic table was saturated and too heavy to move, so we ate sitting in camp chairs. We would stay again," shares Danielle S. about managing without full amenities at Snow Shoe Sites.
Generator restrictions: Most equestrian sites prohibit generator use to maintain the natural soundscape. "Despite the cold wet weather this trip, we had a wonderful weekend!" James B. comments, highlighting the importance of preparing for conditions without relying on powered equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Flinton, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Flinton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Flinton, PA is Black Moshannon State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Flinton, PA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Flinton, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Flinton, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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