Equestrian Camping near Imperial, PA

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    Beaver Creek State Park Campground accommodates horses in its separate Equestrian Camp located on Sprucevale Road, distinct from the main family campground area. The equestrian section features 59 primitive sites without electricity, vault latrines, and tie-ups for horses. Twelve of these sites can be reserved in advance, while the remaining operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground maintains multiple camping options across its property, with the main family area offering 6 electric and 44 non-electric sites on Leslie Road. The small, quiet setting provides ample space for both horse and rider, with tie-up facilities designed for safe overnight stays.

    The North Country National Scenic Trail connects directly to the campground, offering extensive riding opportunities through wooded terrain. Trail riders access multiple path options from the equestrian camp, with routes that lead through the park's beautiful creek valley. Water access points along Beaver Creek provide natural watering spots for horses during rides. While the campground does not offer full-service amenities like showers, the primitive setting appeals to equestrians seeking natural surroundings for trail riding. The park's location approximately one hour from Pittsburgh makes it accessible for weekend equestrian camping trips. Seasonal considerations include potential trail closures during wet conditions to prevent erosion and damage, particularly during spring and after heavy rainfall.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Imperial (4)

      1. Beaver Creek State Park Campground

      4.3(18)27mi from Imperial47 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

      Check Availability

      2. Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

      4.2(11)28mi from ImperialRVs, 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!"

      3. Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

      4.0(7)29mi from Imperial44 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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      4. Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park

      4.2(9)36mi from ImperialCabins

      "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"

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Imperial, PA

    1 Photos of 4 Imperial Campgrounds


    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Imperial, PA

    45 Reviews of 4 Imperial 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.

    • 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.

    • 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
    • Katie
      Sep. 29, 2020

      Beaver Creek State Park Campground

      Pretty State Park with Small Family Campground and Horseman Campground

      I live near by to this state park and have spent much time exploring the entirety of it.

      The trails are all nice, nothing too strenuous, and each have something unique compared to the others in the park. During the spring the Salamander trail is filled with thousands of Trilliums, a truly majestic experience. Lots of flowing water to enjoy throughout the park, some are off the trails but never hard to reach. A good park to enjoy with family and friends because you can fish, kayak, bike, skate, hike, horseback, and picnic. In addition, there are numerous historical cabins, locks, shelters, and a water run mill to sight-see. Then for those in search of a bit of spookiness, Gretchen’s Lock is notoriously a haunted location with certainly eerie vibes.

      The family campground is small, but the park as a whole is not far from civilization so if any supplies are needed it is not a far endeavor. 

      I do not horseback, so I cannot comment on that campground, but many of the trails are friendly for horses to travel.

      OH! And if you are there on the weekends the Wildlife Center is a must! The staff are so nice, it is by donation to visit so is in everyone’s price range. An astounding display of animals and nature information! You can even hold the snakes and see a bee hive in action.

    • Danielle S.
      Apr. 16, 2021

      Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

      Can't beat free, but caveats abound.

      This tiny gem of a campground is actually quite decent. Each site is furnished with a small fire ring and picnic table. The fire rings do not have a grill grate. The pit toilets in the restroom are "fragrant" when you enter the women's side of the building but not so terribly that they can't be used. My friend did gag upon entering the men's room. There are designated wastewater areas to dump grey water, but you'll have to bring your own water for drinking, washing, etc. There are no electric hookups.

      As others have mentioned, there is a gun range nearby and you can hear occasional firing. Helicopter traffic at night was a slight distraction from the otherwise quiet night I spent here.

      There is an easy orange-blazed trail behind site 10 but as of this writing, a there are several downed trees blocking the trail a good distance in.

      I'd definitely stay again.

      5/3/2021 Edited to add:. Well, our second stay here is decidedly less positive. We are at site 9 this time. No fire ring here. The women's bathroom is filthy and it made me gag (there is feces all over one toilet seat and the other smells so bad that I just peed in the woods). It's turkey season so lots of noise in the woods.

    • M
      Aug. 8, 2019

      Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park

      Beyond the Great Outdoors

      I have been camping at Moraine State Park since I was 5 years old (so about 14 years). While I was in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts we used the 5 Points Group Camping Area a lot. 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.

    • Jim  L.
      Jun. 26, 2020

      Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park

      Great park but no rv sites

      This is a great place just of interstate 79. Been going there since I was a kid. In fact my family used to own property near by. This park has an awesome trail system for walking or biking

    • Aaron B.
      Sep. 20, 2024

      Beaver Creek State Park Campground

      Warm Days, Cool Nights--No Frills Camping

      When you pull into Beaver Creek Family Campground you pretty much have two choices: either you go left into multiple Pine tree sites or right into two cabins and more RV friendly open sites.  A few of the RV sites have electric, but no water for their tanks.  I suggest the pine sites for any tent or hammock campers.  I stayed in one of the first set of 3 pine sites numbered 43, 44, and 45.  There is some brush and cover between these sites, but each has a pull in parking pad.  If 45 was occupied with a RV, 44 would not be as nice as it was.  Backing into 44 and 45 would be tricky as well.  To be fair any larger RV that came in better know how to get through tight quarters.

      The back area of each of those 3 sites looked best to get even ground for a tent.  My buddy hung his hammock between the tree to the left of the picnic bench and to a tree back and left in the picture of site 44.  Site was fairly clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe. 

      Probably the nicest pit toilets I have experienced and while we didn't use, it the sun shower building would give anyone privacy if they had packed a portable shower.  Lots of trails to choose from and the pioneer village in the state park gives you many options to spend the day.  Had some luck fishing at the Canoe/Kayak area in the South East area of the park close to the Group Camp Sites.

    • Joe W.
      May. 23, 2023

      Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

      Close to nature

      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. Very quiet everytime I've camped there, many times btw. Great, quiet, close to nature experience.


    Guide to Imperial

    Beaver Creek State Park offers extensive equestrian camping options for riders exploring the eastern Ohio region. Equestrian sites include designated areas for horses with convenient trail access. Horse campers should prepare for primitive conditions with limited amenities. The North Country National Scenic Trail connects directly to the camping areas, providing long-distance trail riding opportunities through varied terrain. Most equestrian sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limited number available for advance reservation during peak seasons from April through October.

    What to do

    Trail riding opportunities: At Beaver Creek State Park Campground, riders have direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail. As Tracy H. notes, there's "direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park" with "lots of hiking options."

    Fishing excursions: Pack your fishing gear for productive catches in park waters. Mike T. reports, "This is a nice clean state park. There is canoeing but no swimming. Bass fishing is really fun because we caught a few nice ones!!"

    Historical exploration: Jefferson Lake State Park Campground offers sites near historical attractions. One hour from Pittsburgh, this area features pioneer buildings and historical sites. According to Theresa Tittle R., it's a "gem of a park for camping, hiking and horse camping" where you can "skip rocks in the creek" and enjoy a picnic.

    What campers like

    Private, spacious sites: Campers appreciate the generous spacing at many equestrian sites. Matt H. describes his experience at Beaver Creek: "We camped this past weekend in site 50. It is an unbelievably spacious site under towering pine trees. The site sits back off the road and really makes you feel like you have the place to yourself."

    Clean facilities: Despite primitive conditions, Hidden Hollow Campground maintains clean facilities. Justin T. notes it is "a very well maintenance campsite most have fire pits a lot of level ground for tent camping pull in parking spots for RVs and campers a bathroom on site and two different trails to hike fishing minutes away."

    Natural surroundings: The wooded settings provide a peaceful atmosphere. Dan N. shares his experience at Beaver Creek State Park: "We go here for the Civil War Reenactment every couple years. It's a beautiful green forest with some historical buildings so it's a perfect site for that. There are nice hikes around the creek too."

    What you should know

    Limited amenities: Most equestrian camping near Imperial, Pennsylvania offers basic facilities. Kimberly from Jefferson Lake State Park explains, "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."

    Water restrictions: Some parks limit water access for horses. Bounding Around noted at Beaver Creek: "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!"

    Seasonal closures: Trail conditions vary throughout the year. At Beaver Creek, trails may close during wet periods to prevent erosion, particularly after heavy rainfall or during spring thaw. Aaron B. experienced this, noting "Warm Days, Cool Nights--No Frills Camping" and advising to "be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Some equestrian campgrounds include play areas for children. Matt H. shares: "We got a site near the playground, which my 3 year old enjoyed. The campground wasn't busy and we had a lot of privacy."

    Stargazing opportunities: Group Camping at Moraine State Park offers excellent night sky viewing. Matt H. continues, "The sky was dark enough to see far more stars than you'd see near any larger towns or cities. To cap it off, we laid in our tent dozing off to the sounds of owls and coyotes!"

    Educational experiences: Historical sites near equestrian camps provide learning opportunities. Shay D. explains, "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)."

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection: For RV-friendly equestrian camping, choose specific areas. Eddie at Jefferson Lake advises, "Only 5 electric sites. Very clean pit toilets. Well maintained campground. A few equine sites. Only 2 electric eq sites. Electric is a little far behind pad. We almost needed extension cord."

    Water planning: Beaver Creek State Park requires careful water management. Donald F. suggests bringing portable containers: "Self-register with cards located at pit latrine building. 14 days every 30. No problem getting 40' skoolie in and parked in mostly level spots. Camp fire rings and picnic tables at most sites. Hand pump available, grey water pits and trash cans available."

    Road access considerations: Some parks have restricted roads for larger vehicles. Bounding Around notes, "There is a road in the park (Echo Dell Road) that RV's/Trailers can't go on so make sure you approach this campground from Leslie Road!"

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Imperial, PA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Imperial, PA is Beaver Creek State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 18 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Imperial, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.