6 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Beaver Creek State Park Campground offers equestrian camping facilities at its dedicated Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road. The equestrian area contains 59 primitive non-electric sites with tie-ups for horses and vault latrines. Twelve of these sites can be reserved in advance, while the remaining sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground accommodates organized groups with horses at two separate group camp sites that can host up to 30 people each. Visitors find the campground very quiet with limited amenities - no showers or flush toilets are available. The park provides potable water from a well system, though RV tanks cannot be filled on-site. Pets are permitted at all sites. The campground remains small but delivers essential equestrian accommodations in a rustic setting.
The campground provides direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail with multiple connecting paths through beautiful wooded terrain. Riders appreciate the variety of trails that wind through the main park area and along Beaver Creek. The trail system features scenic views of flowing water throughout the park, though some sections may become overgrown during peak growing seasons. Horse owners can enjoy multi-hour rides without encountering other visitors on less busy weekdays. The creek that runs through the area makes a popular destination point for trail rides, though water levels fluctuate seasonally. Trail conditions vary throughout the year, with some routes becoming difficult to follow during periods of heavy vegetation growth. The state park's location approximately an hour from Pittsburgh makes it accessible for weekend equestrian camping trips while maintaining its quiet, natural atmosphere.
"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"
"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"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!"
"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
Check Availability"The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."
"This campsite was close to an archery tournament for me. It is a huge campsite that is remote and peaceful. I will try to get this place again next year."
from $50 / night
Check Availability
GuideThis 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.
TravelerTucked 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.
TravelerFamily Campground on Leslie Road [map]
Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road
Group Camp on Sprucevale Road
GuideI 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.
RangerThis 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.
ScoutI 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.
RangerI have not yet camped here but passed it on my hike the other day and knew I hadn’t seen it in the Dyrt yet, so I wanted to add it for others. This is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also. This is meant more to be a stop along a paddling or hiking trip than a destination camping trip - you must get a permit to stay more than one night. They are first come first serve. There are 8 sites spread out along the edge of the river, some being closer together than others. They are level and clear, each with a new picnic table and nice fire rings with adjustable grates. A few of the sites had stairs to the water for paddler access. The first 2 sites had wheelchair friendly picnic tables, so I'm not sure if you can arrange to be able to drive back for that situation or what other reason they would put them there. That's nice if the case, I'm just not sure as there is a gate locked at the trailhead that's only opened during hunting season. Plus there's no pavement or gravel down at the sites so I imagine it could be difficult to access. But something to investigate. There are vault toilets that were clean and well maintained, with hand sanitizer. There is a spring for water which says to boil before drinking. There is also a big display board with state forest info and maps. Another thing to note, while the travel in makes it feel very remote, there are cabins all along the opposite site of the river, including directly across from the campsites. This could be a positive or negative depending on your thoughts, I personally would like it because it would make me feel a little safer. All in all, it’s a nice little campground, in better shape than some of the regular bigger campgrounds I’ve seen.
RangerThis 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
GuideWhen 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.
Beaver Creek State Park Campground maintains a horse-friendly designation with facilities specifically designed for equine enthusiasts. Located about an hour from Pittsburgh, this 59-site equestrian camp operates on both reservation and first-come systems. The terrain consists mostly of wooded hills with elevation changes between 800-1000 feet, creating varied trail conditions throughout different seasons.
Trail exploration: Visitors can access over 18 miles of multi-use paths at Jefferson Lake State Park Campground, combining hiking with horseback riding options. "Only a few electric sites available. Mostly flat shaded sites most perfect for tents or trailers," notes reviewer Theresa Tittle R., who adds there's a "small lake for wading with the kiddos, fishing near the dam or skip rocks in the creek."
Historical attractions: The area features pioneer-era structures within short riding distance. "The 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). Really historical area to check out and hike around," writes Shay D. about Beaver Creek State Park Campground.
Seasonal fishing: Anglers can cast lines along creek sections where water levels vary by season. Mike T. reports, "There is canoeing but no swimming. Bass fishing is really fun because we caught a few nice ones!!" The creek provides good fishing spots throughout warmer months when not experiencing drought conditions.
Pine tree settings: At Beaver Creek, the wooded sites provide natural shade and privacy for horse trailers. Aaron B. suggests "the pine sites for any tent or hammock campers" and notes "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."
Spacious sites: Horse campers appreciate the room to maneuver and set up. "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," Matt H. shares about his experience at Beaver Creek.
Night sky views: Hidden Hollow Campground offers darker skies than nearby urban areas. Joe W. describes it as a "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."
Water limitations: Most equestrian camping areas restrict water usage. "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!" warns reviewer Bounding Around about Beaver Creek. Plan to bring additional water containers during dry periods.
Trail conditions: Vegetation growth affects trail visibility seasonally. Ken M. describes Beaver Creek as a "Small park, only a few sites with hookups, but very nice. Rustic, with trails to the main park that take you through beautiful woods." However, some paths require maintenance during peak growing seasons.
Noise factors: Fernwood State Forest visitors should expect sounds from the adjacent shooting range. Justin T. notes "the gun rage is also near (the gunshots don't bother me)" and jaysha L. adds "Gun range 5 mins away or so... you can hear gunshots all day until 11pm" which could startle horses unaccustomed to such noises.
Playground proximity: Request sites near recreational facilities when traveling with children. Matt H. recommends Beaver Creek, saying "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."
Wildlife observation: Evening hours bring animal sightings and sounds. "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!" Matt H. continues about his Beaver Creek experience with his family.
Recreational mix: Moraine State Park offers diverse activities beyond riding. Mitchel R. lists "* Group Tenting * Cabins * Kayaking/Canoeing * Motor boating 15hp or less * Sailboats * Bike Trail * Great Fishing Spots * Swimming Area * Snowmobile Trail" making it suitable for families with varied interests.
Site selection: Choose carefully when bringing horse trailers or RVs. Eddie advises at Jefferson Lake: "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."
Road considerations: Some park roads have RV restrictions. Bounding Around warns about Beaver Creek: "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!"
Level parking: Danner Primitive Campground offers sites suitable for smaller camping units. Casey L. reports "There are 8 sites spread out along the edge of the river, some being closer together than others. They are level and clear, each with a new picnic table and nice fire rings with adjustable grates."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mars, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mars, PA is Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mars, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Mars, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
