Promised Land State Park offers specialized equestrian facilities for horse enthusiasts within 30 miles of Kingsley, Pennsylvania. The park's Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area provides dedicated camping accommodations with electric hookups and direct access to bridle trails. Beyond Hemlock Hill, additional equestrian camping options exist at World's End Equestrian Campground in Loyalsock State Forest. These facilities serve as prime basecamp locations for riders exploring the region's extensive trail networks.
What to do
Kayaking on Keen Lake: Launch directly from lakeside sites at Keen Lake Resort Campground where campers enjoy paddling to the designated swimming areas. "We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake. It was awesome," notes Shannon C.
Hiking woodland trails: Explore multiple hiking paths at Lackawanna State Park Campground where trails offer varying difficulty levels. "Nice hiking trails!" reports Annette M., while other visitors mention the well-maintained trail system with scenic lake views and wooded paths suitable for day hikes.
Horseback riding: Access designated bridle trails directly from Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area where specialized trailer parking and equestrian-friendly campsite layouts accommodate riders and their horses. The area connects to an extensive network of horse trails throughout Promised Land State Park.
What campers like
Lakeside camping access: Sites at Pickerel Point Campground offer direct water access. "My favorite site does allow pets, plus I can launch my kayak right from there!" shares Nancy L., while Debbie W. adds, "The lake is crystal clear and the beach is spotless. You absolutely have to bring a kayak/inflatable boat."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms at the state parks. "This state park is a great way to get away and enjoy the forests," notes Maggie A. about Lackawanna State Park, while at Pickerel Point, visitors appreciate the "beautiful new bathrooms" and "heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers" available even during colder months.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple ponds and lakes provide fishing access. At Keen Lake, Shannon C. reports, "The kids caught multiple sunnies and even a small perch," while other campers mention bringing fishing rods to enjoy casting while children play nearby.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most equestrian facilities operate during standard camping seasons from April through October. Beechwood Area at Lower Lake Campground offers some exceptions. "First trip of the season and we were amazed. Not crowded this time of year, serene, and perfect weather," reports Angie G. about early-season camping.
Campsite terrain: Some sites have challenging terrain. At Pickerel Point, Alaina Z. mentions "chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad!" while at Lower Lake Campground, one camper notes "fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs."
Limited services: Pack all supplies before arrival as store options are limited. "Firewood was available in the area. But not much for stores so pack everything in before," advises Siobhan D. about camping at Lower Lake Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Beach and swimming options: Bear Spring Mountain offers water activities for children. "There is an area for day use where you can rent a paddle boat or kayak to go out on the water," notes J G. At Keen Lake, Emily Z. mentions, "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake."
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with recreational facilities. "Small playground was nice for the kids," reports Becky S. about Bear Spring Mountain, while at Keen Lake, Mike H. shares, "They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day!"
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds feature paved roads ideal for children's bikes. At Promised Land State Park, Paula R. says, "Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Equestrian sites at Hemlock Hill provide both 30-amp and 50-amp service. At Pickerel Point, Debbie W. reports, "We had full hookups (20/30/50 amp, water & sewer). There's no cable but we were able to pickup about 6 channels with our digital antenna."
Site spacing considerations: RV sites vary in privacy levels between campgrounds. At Keen Lake, Emily Z. notes, "You won't have a ton of privacy but you'll have space for your stuff," while at Lackawanna, David reports, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
Camp layout navigation: Horse-friendly campgrounds offer specialized design elements. At Hemlock Hill, trailer parking areas include adequate turning radius at campsite entrances for horse trailers, while Maze M. notes about Beechwood, "The RV pads were spaced out perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit."
Ranger
