Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area at Promised Land State Park provides horse-friendly camping near Jessup, Pennsylvania. The dedicated equestrian section accommodates both tent and RV campers with electric hookups, fifty-amp and thirty-amp service. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings where fires are permitted. The campground offers full amenities including showers, toilets, water hookups, sanitary dump station, and sewer connections. Pets are allowed alongside horses. Sites are reservable through the park reservation system. The campground rates highly among visitors, with perfect 5-star ratings from equestrians who appreciate the well-maintained facilities.
Promised Land State Park's trail system connects riders to various scenic routes through Pennsylvania woodland. The equestrian area provides convenient access to bridle paths and horse trails, allowing campers to ride directly from their sites. Water access is available for horses throughout the park. While the campground doesn't feature dedicated horse corrals, equestrians can set up temporary containment systems at their sites. Horse trailer parking is available with sites designed to accommodate rigs of various sizes. The park maintains seasonal operation, typically closing for winter months. Riders should check trail conditions before arrival, especially after heavy rainfall, as some routes may become temporarily restricted.
"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."
"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 this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $90 / night
"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 $27 - $29 / night
from $25 / 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
"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
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.
Equestrian camping near Jessup, Pennsylvania offers access to woodland trails and lake views across the Pocono region. The area maintains a moderate climate with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Trail conditions vary seasonally with spring often bringing muddy paths following snowmelt, requiring appropriate footwear and equipment.
Kayaking on Keen Lake: Visitors can rent kayaks and paddle boats at Keen Lake Resort Campground for exploring the water. "Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake. It was awesome. The kids had fun riding bikes on the road, which was off the main road," shares Shannon C.
Fishing for local species: The lakes support various fish species for anglers to catch. "The kids caught multiple sunnies and even a small perch," notes a Keen Lake visitor. Elsewhere, fishing enthusiasts find opportunities in both still and moving water.
Hiking to scenic viewpoints: The trail network includes routes to elevated viewpoints. At Stokes State Forest, "areas with waterfalls and great views were easily accessible," according to Kiya N. Consider the hike to Sunset Mountain Scenic Overlook for views of High Point Monument.
Horseback riding on dedicated trails: Connect directly to bridle paths from your campsite at equestrian camping areas. The trail systems accommodate various riding skill levels and connect to longer routes throughout the forest.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms. At Lackawanna State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the upkeep: "The state park is always clean and well maintained. Great pool, lake, hiking etc.," notes William R.
Lakeside camping spots: Sites with water access rank highly among visitors. "We stayed at site #T007... The site itself is huge and we were able to position our tent facing the lake, it was beautiful!" reports Kara L. about her stay at Ocquittunk.
Multi-use recreation options: Parks offering diverse activities receive positive feedback. "The park and surrounding forest have lots of hiking and multiple lakes," shares Tiffany K. about her stay at Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area.
Winter accessibility: Some campgrounds maintain year-round operations. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," reports Mara S. about winter camping at Pickerel Point.
Seasonal variations in access: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. "Park maintains seasonal operation, typically closing for winter months," though some areas remain accessible with reduced services.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies by location. "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon," notes Mara S. about her experience at Promised Land State Park.
Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "We came in on a Holiday weekend without a reservation. But we were given a terrific tent site," shares Guy M. about Lackawanna State Park, though this experience may be uncommon.
Site characteristics: Terrain varies across campgrounds. "Most of the sites seem to be on the smaller size when compared to other campgrounds we've been too. That said we had plenty of space, it was just very close to the next site," explains Emily Z. about camping at Keen Lake.
Activity planning: Scheduled programs keep children engaged. At Keen Lake, "My step son enjoyed the crafts and organized activities," reports Harry L. Another camper notes, "They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day!"
Beach and pool access: Water features provide recreational options. "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake," shares Emily Z. about her family's experience.
Biking opportunities: Many campgrounds have paved roads suitable for children's bikes. "Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc..." mentions Paula R. about her experience at Pickerel Point Campground.
Wildlife observation: Local wildlife provides educational opportunities. "Beavers! Far away but exciting nonetheless," shares Alaina Z. about her camping experience with children.
Site selection guidance: RV campers suggest researching specific sites. At Keen Lake, "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," advises Emily Z.
Hookup reliability: Electrical systems vary in quality and capacity. "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," cautions David about his experience at Lackawanna State Park.
Space considerations: Some campgrounds offer more room than others. "The RV sites are spaced out nicely," shares Charlotte D. about Keen Lake, while another camper notes the new Ledges loop at Lackawanna has "nice large sites" with full hookups.
Weather preparedness: Terrain conditions can affect RV parking. "Our campsite turned into a complete mud pit" after rain, warns Lou R., suggesting proper stabilization equipment and checking weather forecasts before arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Jessup, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Jessup, 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 Jessup, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Jessup, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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