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Christopher P.
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TravelerBig Run State Park Campground
Generous sized sites, quiet, beautiful area.
Equestrian Camping near Hollsopple, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Shawnee State Park Campground accommodates equestrians with spacious sites suitable for horse trailers. Located near Schellsburg, PA, this campground features both tent and RV camping options with electric hookups available at most sites. Horse owners should note the campground offers accessible trails for riding, though no dedicated horse corrals are listed among the amenities. The smell of horse manure occasionally permeates certain areas of the campground, indicating regular equestrian use despite the lack of formal horse facilities.
Trails around Shawnee Lake provide riding opportunities with connections to local bridle paths. Riders appreciate the relatively level terrain and scenic wooded areas surrounding the campground. The park maintains clean facilities with bathhouses and toilets accessible to all campers. Trailer parking is available throughout the campground, though some sites have awkward approaches that may challenge larger horse trailers. Water access for horses is available, but equestrians should check with park staff regarding specific watering locations and any seasonal restrictions. Most horseback riders find the park's location convenient, positioned approximately 2.5 hours east of Pittsburgh with good access from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. For those searching for horse camping near Hollsopple, the surrounding area offers bridle trail access and trailer-friendly sites that serve as a practical base for multi-day rides.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Hollsopple (2)
1. 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
2. Big Run State Park Campground
"The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $55 / night
Drive Time
- 12 min from Johnstown, PA
- 43 min from Altoona, PA
- 1 hr 19 min from Pittsburgh, PA
- 1 hr 23 min from Morgantown, WV
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Hollsopple, PA
35 Reviews of 2 Hollsopple Campgrounds
Nancy B.
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
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.
- 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.
- KKatie H.Scout
Big Run State Park Campground
Great primitive campsite
This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals
Christina V.
GuideShawnee State Park Campground
Large, accompdating campground- Quiet on the weekdays!
Shawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Gina I.RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Beautiful
Nice campground. Some of the campsites are a little bit too close together with no privacy. Our site/47 was too sunny. No shade, no privacy. But during the week was not too crowded, nice and quiet. The bathrooms were nice and kept clean. We had to ride our bikes or walk to get to the beach, that was more then a mile away or just felt like it was more, because it wasn’t mostly flat and for the kids was hard to ride they’re bikes . But when we got there we were pleased. Large,clean beach with sand , no rocks or aquatic plants in the water. I will do more day trips to the beach in the future.
Guide to Hollsopple
Shawnee State Park encompasses 3,983 acres of wooded terrain in Pennsylvania's Bedford County, with 293 campsites and 16 modern cabins available for visitors. The park surrounds the 451-acre Shawnee Lake at an elevation of approximately 1,200 feet. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-35°F, while summer temperatures average 70-85°F with higher humidity levels that can affect camping conditions.
What to do
Lake activities: Shawnee Lake provides multiple recreation options including a 400-foot sand beach for swimming, boat rentals, and fishing opportunities. "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating," notes Casey S. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Trail exploration: Visitors can hike or bike the well-maintained paths circling the lake. "The trail around the lake was incredible for biking - highly recommend! Everything in this park and campground are extremely well marked and maintained," according to Kaley R.
Historical sites: The nearby town of Schellsburg offers historical attractions within a short drive. As Melanie Z. mentions, "Foggy mornings are the best in the beautiful forest near Schellsburg historical sites. Nice lake too. Easy access from the PA Turnpike."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many sites at Shawnee offer good separation and ample room. "The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit," reports Brittany V. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Waterside camping: Sites near creeks and water features are particularly popular. At Big Run State Park, Katie H. notes, "The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
Quiet atmosphere: Peaceful settings with natural white noise enhance the experience. "Beautiful campsite and loved the sound of the river as white noise!" comments Zoe H. about Big Run State Park Campground.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Many campgrounds have uneven sites that require careful selection. "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," reports Lee D. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Seasonal considerations: The region experiences distinct seasons with varying camping conditions. Water access may be limited during colder months, and some amenities close seasonally. "We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season," notes Lee D.
Facilities vary widely: Campgrounds range from primitive to full-service. At Big Run, Nathan S. explains, "Pit toilets were pretty clean. Water and dump station is 10 minutes up the road at New Germany State Park."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer play areas for children. "A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground," mentions Lee D. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Stream exploration: Shallow creeks provide safe water play for children. Andy C. shares about Big Run: "It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. The kids loved playing in the water."
Wildlife viewing: The streams and lakes support diverse aquatic life for children to observe. "Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish," notes Nathan S. about Big Run State Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site length verification: Double-check that your site can accommodate your RV length before booking. "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!" advises Brittany V.
Approach angles: Some sites have challenging access for larger rigs. Gerard notes about Shawnee: "Many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them."
Hookup availability: Full-hookup sites are limited but available at some campgrounds. "We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up. We have a 32 foot trailer," shares Gerard about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Hollsopple, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Hollsopple, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Hollsopple, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
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