Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park stands among limited horse camping options near Minisink Hills, Pennsylvania. The campground provides electric hookups with 30/50 amp service for equestrians traveling with RVs or trailers. Water hookups and sewer connections accommodate extended stays with horses. The campground layout features accessible sites for horse trailers with adequate parking space. Equestrians access trails directly from their campsites, connecting to the park's broader trail network. Primitive camping areas allow for more secluded horse camping experiences. Sites receive consistently high ratings from equestrian campers, with reviewers noting the campground's exceptional cleanliness and well-maintained facilities.
Trail access represents the primary attraction for horse campers at Promised Land State Park. Multiple bridle trails wind through the 3,000-acre park, offering varied terrain for riders of all experience levels. Horse trailer parking accommodates rigs of various sizes, though reservations are strongly recommended during peak summer months. Water access points throughout the trail system provide natural drinking spots for horses. The park maintains several miles of designated equestrian trails separate from hiking paths, reducing user conflicts. Riders particularly appreciate the well-marked trail intersections and moderate terrain suitable for less experienced horses. State park regulations require proof of negative Coggins test for all horses, and campers must properly dispose of manure in designated areas.
"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
"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
"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."
"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!"
"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
"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."
from $25 / 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."
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 offers several equestrian camping options beyond the Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area. Located in the Pocono Mountains region at elevations reaching 1,800 feet, the area maintains cooler temperatures year-round compared to surrounding lowlands. Most equestrian sites require advance reservations during the peak May-September season due to limited availability.
Trail riding at Stokes State Forest: Equestrians access over 63 miles of marked trails including sections of the Appalachian Trail. "We stayed on a beautiful mossy bank, next to a river and a lake. The area was quiet and peaceful, and areas with waterfalls and great views were easily accessible," shares Kiya N. from Stokes State Forest.
Water recreation with horses: Several lakes permit horses to access designated watering areas during daylight hours. At Pickerel Point Campground, "This place is absolutely stunning. The lake is crystal clear and the beach is spotless. You absolutely have to bring a kayak/inflatable boat, but if you don't own one, don't worry, you can rent one," explains Debbie W. from Pickerel Point Campground — Promised Land State Park.
Seasonal equestrian events: Local farms host competitions and group rides from April through October. Spruce Run Recreation Area offers additional options where "The campsites were well spaced apart. Some sites located around the opposite side of the ring back up to a babbling brook. The rushing water will soothe you to sleep," notes Trip Over Life.
Secluded equestrian sites: Many horse camping locations provide sufficient distance between sites for animal comfort. At Mountainview Campground, "This place was actually fantastic, I don't really have anything negative to say about it. The whole scene was exactly what I love about camping, a nice little remote campground in the mountains," writes Christina H. from Mountainview Campground.
Accessible trail connections: Direct access to multiple trail systems without trailering horses between rides. One camper at Camp Mohican Outdoor Center notes, "The Group Campsite was really big. It had 5-6 platforms, privys, big fire ring, a grill, a beatbox, a large pavilion w/picnic tables and a real full sized bathroom only 100 yards away... The AT runs right through the camp."
Clean facilities for extended stays: Bathhouses and water access points receive regular maintenance. At Spruce Run, "Clean bathrooms with very hot water and flushable toilet. The grounds are full of grass which makes my tent easy to pitch. Most campsite has a view of the Reservoir when sundown has amazing sunsets," explains Yolanda T.
Coggins test requirements: All horses must have current negative Coggins certificates available for inspection during check-in. State parks enforce this rule strictly year-round.
Limited water hookups: Many equestrian sites lack direct water connections. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, "Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," explains Mara S.
Manure disposal protocols: Designated disposal areas must be used rather than spreading manure on-site. Failure to comply can result in fines or being asked to leave.
Reservation deadlines: Horse camping sites often book 6-9 months in advance, particularly for holiday weekends and fall foliage season. Some areas close completely during hunting seasons.
Kid-friendly horse programs: Several campgrounds offer supervised riding activities for children. At Keen Lake, "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!" shares Mike H. from Keen Lake Resort Campground.
Combined water/horse activities: Sites near lakes allow families to enjoy both riding and water recreation. "We stayed at Pickerel Point and Deerfield depending on season. No complaints and was pleasantly surprised they have programs for kids. Can never go wrong here," says John R.
Beginner-friendly trail options: Several shorter loop trails accommodate younger or less experienced riders. Beechwood Area campground offers "Short walk to bathrooms, showers and lake. Though had to drive to park and beaches. Would go back again and might try to stay in Pickerel point campground instead," notes Dawn R.
Electric requirements for horse trailers: Most equestrian sites offer 30/50 amp service, but may require additional adapters. At Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area, "We stayed in the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park and despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. You could only ever hear the wildlife. The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit," says Maze M.
Trailer parking configurations: Some sites require specific positioning to accommodate both living quarters and horse areas. Assess your rig dimensions when booking.
Off-season considerations: Several equestrian campgrounds remain open year-round with limited services. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," notes Mara S. about winter camping options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Minisink Hills, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Minisink Hills, PA is Stokes State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Minisink Hills, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Minisink Hills, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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