Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park accommodates horses with specialized facilities and trail access. Located in Greentown, Pennsylvania, this established campground features electric hookups, water hookups, and sanitary dump stations for equestrians traveling with RVs or tents. The campground maintains a 5-star rating from visitors who appreciate the horse-friendly amenities. Trailer parking spaces accommodate various sizes, allowing easy access to the equestrian camping area. Picnic tables and fire rings at each site provide comfortable spaces for riders to relax after trail excursions. The campground enforces reservation requirements for all equestrian sites to ensure availability during peak riding seasons.
Trail connections from Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area lead riders through the diverse terrain of Promised Land State Park. The network of bridle paths winds through wooded areas and along scenic waterways, offering varied riding experiences for all skill levels. Bear Spring Mountain in nearby New York provides additional horse camping options with dedicated equine facilities. The campground area sometimes smells like a barn due to regular horse activity. Riders should follow proper manure management protocols during their stay to maintain clean camping conditions. Winter camping remains available at some locations in the region, though water access becomes limited during colder months. Proper food storage is essential as this is bear country, particularly important when storing horse feed and supplies.
"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
"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
from $29 / 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
"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."
"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
"Went here with some friends who had never been outside NYC before. They were absolutely blown away. For me, it was a nice site but not exceptional. Bring or rent a kayak!"
"I drove to NYC for a business trip and ended up driving 1 and a half hour to reach this place. I always carry a tent in the back of my trunk and decided to go camping."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $40 / night
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.
Promised Land State Park offers various equestrian camping options near Hawley, Pennsylvania. The park encompasses 3,000 acres of woodland terrain at 1,800 feet elevation in the Pocono Mountains. Winter temperatures drop below freezing from December through February, requiring visitors to prepare for cold-weather camping if traveling during these months.
Paddle on crystal clear lakes: At Pickerel Point Campground, visitors enjoy pristine water recreation. "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," notes Debbie W.
Hike to viewpoints: Trails near Stokes State Forest offer varied terrain options. "There are 21 marked trails that cover over 63 miles within the boundaries of Stokes State Forest. Twelve miles are part of the Appalachian Trail," according to Trip Over Life.
Winter recreation: The region provides year-round outdoor activities. Mara S. reports that Pickerel Point Campground remains "open year round. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers. The park is large with many hiking trails and ice fishing."
Private lakeside sites: Many campers value water access for morning views. At Camp Mohican Outdoor Center, "You can rent kayaks and canoes and swimming is allowed on Catfish Pond -- plenty of fish, snapping turtles, and other wildlife," explains Dan X.
Clean facilities: Consistent maintenance makes stays comfortable. "The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," writes Kelly F. about Pickerel Point Campground, while another visitor noted the "beautiful new bathrooms" as a key advantage.
Family-friendly atmosphere: Keen Lake Resort Campground provides structured activities for children. "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake," shares Emily Z. Another camper notes, "There is a lot for younger kids to do and the grounds are pet friendly which was a huge plus for us."
Equestrian alternatives: Beyond Hemlock Hill, Bear Spring Mountain offers additional horse camping. "There is horses so you will smell them," Kevin T. mentions, confirming the active equestrian use.
Site selection tips: Choose carefully based on your needs. At Pickerel Point Campground, "Site 174 by the road and less private, but prettily overhung by evergreens. All sites have little trails down to the water," according to Alaina Z.
Alcohol restrictions: State parks have varied rules. Nancy L. notes, "The only drawback is no alcohol allowed, but most State Parks are like that I think," regarding Pickerel Point Campground.
Look for activity programs: Lackawanna State Park Campground provides structured children's programming. "There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network of hiking and horse riding trails," describes Janet R.
Consider water proximity: Sites near lakes offer built-in entertainment. "We stayed at site #T007 is was a short walk from the car to the site, but so worth it for many reasons. The site itself is huge and we were able to position our tent facing the lake, it was beautiful!" reports Kara L. about Lake Ocquittunk.
Pack for varied weather: The Poconos experience significant temperature changes. Emily Z. shares, "We had a great time despite cold wet weather. Our site was probably one of the worst in the place but we were able to scope out others that we would prefer for our next visit."
Check hookup quality: Inspect electrical connections upon arrival. At Lackawanna State Park, one camper noted that "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
Choose site location strategically: At Keen Lake Resort, "We were on the far side of the lake which is not really within walking distance of the beach, pool and store. We knew this going in and were totally OK with it. I seemed less busy where we were as far as cars and people which is what we were looking for."
Accessibility concerns: Some horse campgrounds have size limitations. For equestrian sites in the region, trailer parking accommodates various sizes but not all areas can handle the largest rigs. Call ahead to confirm your specific vehicle can be accommodated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Hawley, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Hawley, PA is Keen Lake Resort Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Hawley, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Hawley, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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