Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area is the primary horse-friendly campground in Promised Land State Park near Long Pond. The campground features electric hookups with both 30-amp and 50-amp service available for RV campers, as well as accommodations for tent camping. Pet-friendly sites allow campers to bring their dogs alongside their horses. The equestrian area includes dedicated space for horse trailers with easy drive-in access. While specific horse corrals are not provided, the campground layout accommodates equestrians with room for portable corrals or highlines. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with clean shower facilities and toilets nearby. The spacious sites remain comfortable even when the large campground is full.
Promised Land State Park offers multiple trail systems accessible from the Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area. Riders can access several hiking trails that permit horseback riding, including connections to conservation areas within the park's extensive acreage. The park features two lakes, providing water access for horses after trail rides. Campers should note that reservation requirements apply for the equestrian sites, with full hookups available including water, sewer, and electric. The paved roads throughout the park make navigation easy with horse trailers. The surrounding Pocono region offers additional riding opportunities beyond the park boundaries. Bathrooms remain consistently clean even during peak season, an essential amenity for longer stays with horses. The park's location provides a convenient base for exploring the broader Delaware Water Gap region on horseback.
"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 $31 - $33 / 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
"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."
"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
from $29 / night
"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 next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $90 / night
"We were kindly escorted to our site (a nice refreshing change from having to wander around to find the sites ourselves), which was the one farthest away from the entrance."
"Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day! Sweet little spot, we'll definitely be back!"
"This location was about an hour and a half away from our home so it was far enough to feel like we were getting away but close enough that we could be home quickly in case of an emergency since we decided"
from $125 / night
"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
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.
Promised Land State Park hosts multiple equestrian camping areas near Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The Pocono Mountain region sits at approximately 1,800 feet above sea level, creating moderate summer temperatures that typically range from 70-85°F during peak camping season. Winter conditions can be harsh with temperatures routinely dropping below freezing between November and March, making the equestrian camping areas seasonal operations.
Trail riding access: Horseback riders at Pickerel Point Campground appreciate the mix of terrain. "The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail. The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," notes Kelly F. The park's 50 miles of trails connect to larger conservation networks.
Lake activities with horses: Many sites at Keen Lake Resort Campground allow horses to cool off after rides. "My kids absolutely love it and always have something to do. They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day," reports Mike H. The separate swimming areas for horses prevent contamination of recreational waters.
Wildlife observation: Riders frequently spot deer, foxes, and birds from horseback throughout the wooded areas. Christina H. mentions, "We heard foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!" Many trails feature designated wildlife viewing clearings where horses can be safely secured.
Paved roads for trailers: The park system maintains paved access roads suitable for large horse trailers. "The road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc..." notes Paula R., though she's referring to regular bikes, the same paths work well for moving horses between areas.
Highline options: While permanent corrals aren't available, Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area provides ample space for setting up portable containment. "The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit," mentions Maze M., highlighting the generous spacing that accommodates horse equipment.
Off-season availability: Some equestrian areas remain accessible during quieter months. "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. Horse owners appreciate less crowded conditions for skittish animals.
Reservation requirements: All equestrian sites at Lackawanna State Park Campground require advance booking. Michael notes, "We like Lackawanna State Park. This is the place we camped when we moved to PA. It has sites that are very wooded. Some are a little close to each other, but others offer plenty of space."
Feed storage regulations: Park rules require all grain and feed to be stored in sealed containers due to wildlife. Bear-proof storage is recommended at all locations.
Manure management: Riders must collect and dispose of manure in designated areas only. No spreading allowed on trails or campsites to prevent introducing invasive plant species.
Limited cell service: Coverage can be spotty throughout horse camping areas. "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon," mentions one camper about nearby facilities.
Kid-friendly horse activities: Stokes State Forest offers supervised horse programs for children. "Sussex county is beautiful. Stokes is such a peaceful campground! We stay in the cabins. It's great to have the small kitchen when camping with the family," says Amy B.
Safety boundaries: Establish clear rules for children around horses. Designate specific "horse-free" play areas where running and louder activities won't spook animals.
Pack extra clothing: Temperature fluctuations require layering options. "Went camping in late October, when a lot of the other parks are closed. Only one section of their camping was still open but the bathrooms and showers had been winterized," reports Tiffany K., highlighting seasonal considerations.
Schedule flexibility: Plan morning rides when horses are freshest and temperatures lower, reserving afternoons for swimming or quieter family activities.
Trailer parking dimensions: Mohican Outdoor Center offers wider sites suitable for both living quarters and horse trailers. Dan X. observes, "The tent sites are either on the ground have wooden platforms. Cabins come in various sizes." This same spatial arrangement applies to the horse-friendly areas.
Electric considerations: Sites with 30/50 amp service should be reserved early as they're limited. Many equestrian sites require extension cords of 25+ feet to reach hookups while allowing proper trailer positioning.
Water access planning: Most horse-friendly sites have spigots within 100 feet, but not at individual sites. Bring multiple hoses or portable tanks for horse water.
Site leveling: Many equestrian sites have slight grades. Pack extra blocking materials for trailers and designate flat areas for portable corrals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Long Pond, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Long Pond, PA is Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area — Promised Land State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Long Pond, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Long Pond, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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