Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park accommodates horse campers with specialized camping facilities. Located at 100 Lower Lake Rd in Greentown, this equestrian area offers electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp service for RVs and tent campers. The campground maintains reservable sites with picnic tables and fire rings where fires are permitted. While the park does not provide dedicated horse corrals, the equestrian area is designed specifically for visitors bringing horses, with adequate space for trailers. Bathroom facilities include showers and flush toilets. The campground has earned excellent reviews for cleanliness and maintenance, with campsites described as comfortable even when the larger campground area reaches capacity.
Trail access from the equestrian area connects riders to the extensive network of trails throughout Promised Land State Park. Hemlock Hill area sits near Lower Lake, providing water access for both campers and horses during rides. The trails accommodate riders of various experience levels, with mostly flat terrain making for easy riding conditions. Campers should note there is no drinking water directly at the sites, though water hookups are available. Campsites remain relatively clean with proper maintenance throughout the busy season. While the sites are somewhat close together, the layout works well for groups traveling with multiple horses. Most riders appreciate the convenient location and access to the surrounding Pocono Mountain trails, making this a practical base camp for equestrians exploring the region.
"I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. "
"We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well maintained and flat which were the most important."
"3 hour drive from NYC, and a wonderful campsite with good weather in the summer - not too hot during the day and nice and cool overnight."
"We stayed in lower lake beechwood site 323. Was decent site only downside was fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs, otherwise it’s a nice wooded site with privacy."
from $31 - $33 / night
from $29 / night
"We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents."
"* Water and dumpsters are within walking distance, or if you are not up to walking you can just take a short drive to fill up and dispose of your trash
- There are outhouses scattered around, or if"
from $7 - $55 / night
"There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network if hiking and horse riding trails."
"The sites were a little close to each other and where we were in the park was a mixed use area. So we had an RV next to us with the Genny running all day."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $90 / night
"If you're there in the summer, I'd recommend taking a kayak around the lake and filling it with wild blueberries. Lots of hiking options as well."
"The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also."
from $5 - $75 / night
"We stayed at site #T007 is was a short walk from the car to the site, but so worth it for many reasons."
"The caping set up was nice and I enjoyed the proximity to available hikes in the area. The ‘lake’ however, was kind of a disappointment."
"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."
GuideStayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
TravelerThe state park is beautiful. The site was very nice. The park itself is very big with many activities available such as boat rentals and a swimming pool. There's also an amphitheatre which hosts specials. During our stay the only activity we made it to was the pool. The main reason we didn't do more was the distance. We have a motorhome so we didn't have additional vehicles to get to and from places. We walked to the park which according to my Fitbit was 1.5 miles away. That doesn't seem too bad until you realize it's mostly hills in both directions! We are a fairly active young family who has no problem with a bit of a walk but after that experience we decided to just spend the remainder of our trip hanging out at our site. It's a good thing we only stayed 2 nights because our 10 year old might've lost his mind with boredom if we stayed longer. Overall, the site we had was great and I'd recommend it. My husband and I may come back for a couples date weekend.
RangerI've visited the MOC a bunch of times, and have taken training classes here also. There are campsites for tent camping, cabin stays where you can rent a whole cabin or rent a bunk in a cabin with others. There is a store as well as food options. It's a great place to visit whether you grab a meal, a bunk, or just take a hike. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also.
TravelerWe’re here for the Rock, Ribs, and Ridges festival and what a great experience! Make sure to bring a 50’ power cord as the hook ups are grouped together on telephone poles rather than at each individual site. As far as I know camping is only available during select events.
GuideWe stayed at a tent platform site in Shotwell camping area. The platforms could use a little maintenance as there were a few tie down hooks that were missing or corroded. The campsites are close around this loop that includes lean-tos, but not so close that you are bothered by your neighbors normal sounds. The bathroom is close and clean. There is a bear box at each campsite which gave peace of mind. Firewood is available for sale at the park office. The staff there is very welcoming. Great Jersey getaway with gorgeous hiking trails.
GuideStayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers. Nice play area for kids, water craft rentals, nice lake. Plenty of picnic areas for day trips.
GuideThere are four campgrounds that are all pretty different, we stayed at Shotwell across from the pond. For the most part, each campsite has its own porta potty or it shared with a couple other sites. At the entrance of the campground, there is a bathhouse with running water, bathrooms, and potable water. We stayed in one of the RV areas across the pond. It was peaceful to hear the frogs chirping at night, but definitely didn’t think about how many more bugs the pond would bring, probably wouldn’t stay at that specific spot again even though it’s really pretty. Most of the campsites were very rocky, but you can find some that have a little bit of grass. We came on a Friday night. Everyone was up pretty late, but was not crazy loud. The rest of the weekend it seemed like everyone’s simmered down. The campground was full of mostly families. If you wanted to shower, you would have to head to the group campsite not too far but you need to drive. We don’t typically expect to have a campgrounds with a ton of amenities. Potable water and a toilet is really all we need. Overall, it was a great time gorgeous park. Also took a few pictures of the cabins in Shotwell. I wouldn’t personally rent one, but I guess if your winter camping it has a little fireplace and will keep you dry and somewhat warm.
TravelerStokes is my go-to state park for unplugging and enjoying time with my family. We brought our son (23 months at time of visit) on his first camping trip this past September. He loved every minute of it.
Site T07 in Lake Ocquittunk is gorgeous and one of the few relatively secluded sites in the campground. You need to carry your gear down a narrow, rocky path that's a little steep near the road, but it's manageable. There's also a graded path into the site adjacent to a neighboring site, but you should check with those campers if they are ok with you cutting through to use it. (We opted not to disturb our neighbors and take the slope.)
I thought I would be able to launch my kayak from site 7 since it's waterfront, but there are a lot of huge rocks in the water that prevent you from getting out into the lake. We had to find a different launch spot. That was probably the biggest disappointment for us.
Still, I love site 7 and it's absolutely worth the privacy and the views every morning.
GuideStokes State Forest is a beautiful park with a lot of different trails to check out, though some of them are difficult to access due to parking. The camping areas are split between two different entrances. If you’re in Lake Ocquitunk, like I was, you don’t enter at the main entrance, you have to go past the main entrance about another mile on rt. 15 N. and enter by the YMCA. All the other camping areas are near the main entrance by the forest office. The campsites themselves are a little too close together in some spots with little coverage or privacy. There is a day parking area which is only accessible going through the main entrance by the forest office— if you visit during the week park entrance is free, but on the weekend fees can be a bit steep. I wasn’t super happy with my campsite as I wasn’t able to physically have my car on the site like I thought. I had to park in a small lot above my campsite and carry my belongings down a short slope to the site. I like to car-camp so this was a bit of a let down having my car separate from my actual campsite.
The bathrooms were nice and had flush toilets, but the showers were out of service during my time. Bathrooms are extremely spaced out so you will have to walk a far distance unless you strategically choose a site next to one. I drove through the other campsite and only saw 1 set of bathrooms that had toilets and showers per campground, not including the outhouses I saw for those in the small cabins.
Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area offers dedicated facilities for horse camping within Promised Land State Park. Located alongside Lower Lake, this specialized campground provides both fifty-amp and thirty-amp electric service for camping vehicles. The park's trail network connects directly to the campground, allowing riders immediate access to riding paths throughout the surrounding Pocono Mountain region. The area accommodates horse trailers with adequate space for camping equipment.
Trail riding throughout the park: Access miles of riding trails directly from Pickerel Point Campground. The park maintains riding paths with mostly flat terrain suitable for various experience levels. "The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail," notes Kelly F., who appreciated the trail access from the campground.
Kayaking on Lower Lake: Launch watercraft from campsites for exploring the water. "My favorite site does, plus I can launch my kayak right from there!" shares Nancy L. The clear water makes paddling especially enjoyable during summer months.
Wildlife observation: Watch for native Pocono wildlife including deer, beavers, and various bird species. "Beavers! Far away but exciting nonetheless," reports Alaina Z., highlighting unexpected wildlife viewing opportunities even from lakeside sites.
Lakefront camping opportunities: Many sites at Keen Lake Resort Campground provide direct lake access for campers seeking water views. "It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch," explains Shannon C. The clear water makes both swimming and fishing enjoyable.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Horse campers appreciate reliable amenities after trail riding. "Bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," states Kelly F. about facilities at Promised Land State Park. Most equestrian campers note the importance of accessible shower facilities after long days of riding.
Quiet camping atmosphere: Despite accommodating horses and trailers, the campgrounds maintain peaceful surroundings. "Went camping in late October, when a lot of the other parks are closed. Only one section of their camping was still open," shares Tiffany K. about Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area, noting the seasonal tranquility.
Limited drinking water access: Many horse campsites lack direct water hookups at the site. "No drinking water directly at the sites, though water hookups are available," notes a visitor. Bring containers to transport water from central spigots to your campsite.
Reservation requirements: Horse camping areas fill quickly during peak seasons. "We stayed in lower lake beechwood site 323. Was decent site only downside was fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs," reports Dawn R. Reservations are recommended, especially for specialized equestrian sites.
Variable terrain for camping: Lackawanna State Park Campground offers diverse sites for both horse campers and regular visitors. "Some are a little close to each other, but others offer plenty of space, including our site (52) on this trip. One of the biggest spots we have ever had," explains Michael, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate sites for horses and equipment.
Paved roads for recreation: Some campgrounds feature improved surfaces for additional activities. "Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc..." shares Paula R. This provides alternative activities when not riding horses.
Educational opportunities: Stokes State Forest offers nature programs alongside horse trails. "Can never go wrong here. Was pleasantly surprised they have programs for kids," states John R. These programs complement equestrian activities for families.
Beach access for cooling off: After trail riding, swimming areas provide relief during hot weather. "The lake is crystal clear and the beach is spotless. You absolutely have to bring a kayak/inflatable boat, but if you don't own one, don't worry, you can rent one," recommends Debbie W. Horse camping families appreciate water access for both humans and animals.
Site selection for horse trailers: Choose sites with adequate parking for both living quarters and trailer storage. "The RV sites are spaced out nicely," notes Charlotte D. about Ocquittunk, though referring to standard RV camping. Horse campers should confirm trailer space when booking.
Electric reliability for horse campers: "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," warns David about electrical systems at some campgrounds. Check with park staff about power capacities, especially when running horse-related equipment.
Seasonal considerations: "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by," explains Mara S. Winter horse camping requires additional planning for both human comfort and animal care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Greentown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Greentown, PA is Keen Lake Resort Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Greentown, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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