The Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area sits in the Pocono Mountains region at an elevation of approximately 1,800 feet. This specialized equestrian camping section offers dedicated facilities for horses and riders within the larger Promised Land State Park system. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures typically ranging 70-85°F and winter lows frequently below freezing.
What to do
Trail riding access: The Delaware State Forest connects directly to the equestrian camping area with over 25 miles of bridle trails. As reviewer E.M.V. notes at Stokes State Forest: "There are trail heads near the campsites and longer trails, including access to the Appalachian Trail within a short 10-15 minute drive."
Water activities: Multiple lakes within Promised Land State Park provide boating and fishing opportunities. At Pickerel Point Campground, one camper shared: "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper. The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail."
Winter recreation: The park maintains select equestrian camping sites year-round with limited facilities. One winter visitor at Promised Land State Park commented: "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers. The park is large with many hiking trails and ice fishing."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Equestrian camping areas typically feature larger sites than standard campgrounds. A visitor to Ocquittunk noted: "The bathrooms are clean and nicely placed. The sites had a fire ring with a cooking grate and a picnic table and were well spaced out from other sites."
Clean facilities: Horse campgrounds often include specialized washing stations and waste management systems. At Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area, a camper mentioned: "Bathrooms were clean and water was hot in the shower. We collected our own firewood as there is none for sale in the state park."
Electric hookups: The equestrian sites include 20/30/50 amp service. A reviewer at Pickerel Point stated: "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."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Book equestrian sites well in advance during peak season (May-October). A visitor to Keen Lake Resort Campground advised: "I'll start with our arrival: well marked with signs directing you to office for checkin. They were very organized in the office."
Limited cell service: Several campgrounds near Matamoras experience spotty connectivity. One camper mentioned: "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon."
Manure disposal rules: Horse owners must clean up after their animals and use designated manure disposal areas. Expect daily inspections during busy periods to ensure compliance with waste management protocols.
Weather considerations: The area experiences frequent afternoon thunderstorms in summer. A camper reported: "We went in November when there was a light rain that turned into a thunderstorm with hail and sleet! It was certainly an adventure."
Tips for camping with families
Activity programs: Many horse campgrounds offer youth riding programs during summer. A visitor to Keen Lake Resort Campground shared: "My boys 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!"
Safety precautions: Keep young children supervised around horse areas. A visitor noted: "The security is great and patrol to make sure quiet hours are quiet to be courtiers to other campers that want quiet time."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The park features abundant wildlife viewing. One Camp Mohican Outdoor Center camper mentioned: "You can rent kayaks and canoes and swimming is allowed on Catfish Pond -- plenty of fish, snapping turtles, and other wildlife."
Cabin alternatives: For non-horse owners, nearby cabins offer accommodations close to equestrian areas. A visitor wrote: "The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The interior features are just what you'd expect for getting away for the weekend."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RV sites with horse accommodations require advance planning. A visitor recommended: "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs."
Waste management: Equestrian camping areas maintain specialized dump stations. One camper noted: "They had it fixed by 10 am. We were there over 4th of July so the pool was pretty full during the weekend so we decided to utilize the lake for those days."
Parking considerations: Larger horse trailers with living quarters require specific sites. A review mentioned: "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."
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