Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area serves horses and riders within Promised Land State Park. The equestrian loop specifically accommodates both tent camping and RVs with direct access to riding trails. Sites offer electric hookups with 30 and 50-amp service, though the area is not suitable for larger rigs. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with access to showers, toilets, and sanitary dump stations. Trash collection is not available at the sites, requiring campers to pack out waste. Campground facilities remain clean and well-maintained throughout the season. Recent visitors rate this horse-friendly camping area highly, noting the peaceful setting and direct trail connections.
Located near Greentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 25 miles from Lake Ariel, the equestrian area provides trail access to the park's extensive network. Water hookups are available at individual sites, creating convenient options for watering horses. The park permits pets alongside equine companions, though specific horse containment systems are not documented in the facilities list. Reservations are required for all equestrian sites and can be made through the Pennsylvania state park reservation system. The campground operates seasonally, typically closing during winter months when trails become snow-covered. Horse owners should bring their own portable corrals or tie-out systems as permanent corral structures are not listed among the campground amenities. Trail riders connect directly to park pathways from the camping area without needing to trailer horses to trailheads.
"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 $24 - $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
"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 this 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.
Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area provides direct trail access for horse campers within Promised Land State Park. Located at the southern edge of the Poconos, the area sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation where summer temperatures average 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. The equestrian loop features sites designed for both horses and riders with fire rings and picnic tables at each location. Winter camping remains available at select sites when many other regional facilities close for the season.
Lake activities at Keen Lake: Keen Lake Resort Campground offers water recreation opportunities with kayak and canoe access. "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," notes Shannon C., who visited in August. The lake also provides fishing opportunities for various species, including sunfish and perch.
Hiking trails throughout Promised Land: Pickerel Point Campground connects to multiple hiking paths. "The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail," suggests Kelly F. The Conservation Walk on the nearby island offers an accessible nature experience that one camper describes as "short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked."
Horseback riding networks: The trail system accessible from Hemlock Hill provides direct connections to the broader Promised Land State Park path network. While most reviewers note the convenience of the trail access, riders should be prepared for changing trail conditions based on recent weather. The equestrian area serves as a strategic starting point for exploring the park's extensive trails without needing to trailer horses to separate trailheads.
Quiet forest settings: Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area receives praise for its peaceful environment. "Despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. You could only ever hear the wildlife," reports Maze M. The wooded campsites provide natural separation between sites for increased privacy.
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower facilities throughout the Promised Land State Park campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. "Bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," mentions Kelly F. about Pickerel Point facilities. Another camper at Beechwood notes, "Bathrooms were clean and so was the site. Sites were a good size and not on top of each other."
Lake views from select sites: Lackawanna State Park Campground offers waterfront camping options. "We like Lackawanna State Park. This is the place we camped when we moved to PA. It has sites that are very wooded," notes Michael, who enjoyed site 52. The campground combines lake access with forest settings approximately 30 miles from Lake Ariel.
Limited services near Promised Land: Campers should arrive prepared as store options are limited. "Not much for stores so pack everything in before," advises Siobhan D. about the Beechwood Area. The park itself does not offer extensive on-site purchasing options for supplies or firewood.
Site selection considerations: When booking at Stokes State Forest, approximately 40 miles from Lake Ariel, choose carefully based on needs. "Each campsite has a pit toilet 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," explains Adeline M. Site terrain varies significantly throughout the region.
Weather preparedness essential: The higher elevation creates variable conditions. "We had a great time despite cold wet weather," reports one camper at Keen Lake. Another visitor at Ocquittunk camping area mentions that despite the beauty, "worst part though was when i did go and camp out for a week near the small pond part it rained and our campsite turned into a complete mud pit."
Educational programs: Mohican Outdoor Center offers organized activities for youth. "Lots of hiking options as well. Tent sites are either on the ground have wooden platforms," notes Dan X. The center provides structured programming during peak season months.
Swimming options: Multiple beaches provide swimming access for children. "The kids had a great time! Bathrooms could be cleaned more often but relatively clean," shares Paula R. about Pickerel Point. "Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc."
Campsite selection for families: Larger family groups should target specific sites. "The site has one potential drawback for some, no electric hookup, however most of the loop we were in and the other pet friendly loop was also electric capable," explains a camper at Lackawanna State Park. Sites vary in size and amenities, with some better suited for larger family groups than others.
Site dimensions matter: Keen Lake Resort Campground offers varied RV sites but with specific limitations. "The RV sites are spaced out nicely," notes Charlotte D., but another camper adds that "Most of the sites seem to be on the smaller size when compared to other campgrounds we've been too."
Full-hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete services for RVs. "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," reports Debbie W. about facilities at Pickerel Point. Electrical service varies between campgrounds, with Hemlock Hill specifically offering 30 and 50-amp service.
Winter camping considerations: For off-season RV camping near Lake Ariel, note that many facilities winterize bathrooms. "Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," explains Mara S. about winter conditions. Horse campgrounds near Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania typically maintain limited winter operations with reduced services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lake Ariel, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lake Ariel, 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 Lake Ariel, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Lake Ariel, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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