Best Equestrian Camping near New Kensington, PA

Beaver Creek State Park Campground features an Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road with 59 primitive sites for horse camping. The equestrian camping area includes tie-ups for horses but no electrical hookups. The sites have uneven terrain with narrow pads that can make maneuvering horse trailers challenging. Twelve sites may be reserved in advance, while the remaining are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground provides vault latrines but no shower facilities. The small, wooded campsites offer limited privacy between neighboring sites, and pets are permitted throughout the camping areas.

The North Country National Scenic Trail connects directly to the campground, providing extensive riding opportunities for equestrians. Beaver Creek runs through the park, offering water access for horses during rides, though water levels vary seasonally and may be too low for optimal use during dry periods. The surrounding trail system features wooded paths through towering pine trees that provide natural shade for riders and horses. Trailer parking is available but requires careful navigation on park roads—RVs and trailers must approach from Leslie Road, as Echo Dell Road cannot accommodate larger vehicles. The primitive nature of the facilities means limited water access from the park's well system, with restrictions on filling large tanks or containers for horses.

Best Equestrian Sites Near New Kensington, Pennsylvania (3)

    1. Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park

    9 Reviews
    Prospect, PA
    31 miles
    Website

    "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"

    2. Beaver Creek State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Negley, OH
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (330) 385-3091

    $18 - $50 / night

    "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."

    3. Danner Primitive Campground

    1 Review
    Kennerdell, PA
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 226-1901

    "The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near New Kensington, PA

1 Photos of 3 New Kensington Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near New Kensington, PA

27 Reviews of 3 New Kensington Campgrounds


  • Tracy H.
    Jul. 14, 2018

    Beaver Creek State Park Campground

    3 different campgrounds, primitive tent/RV, group camp and equestrian camp

    Family Campground on Leslie Road [map]

    • 6 electric sites
    • 44 non-electric sites
    • Dump station
    • No showers; no flush toilets
    • Pets are permitted on all sites

    Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road

    • 59 primitive sites (no electric)
    • Vault latrines
    • Tie-ups
    • 12 sites may be reserved; the remaining are first-come, first-served.

    Group Camp on Sprucevale Road

    • Two group camp sites
    • Can accommodate organized groups up to 30 people
    • Available by reservation
  • Katie
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Beaver Creek State Park Campground

    Pretty State Park with Small Family Campground and Horseman Campground

    I 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.

  • M
    Aug. 8, 2019

    Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park

    Beyond the Great Outdoors

    I 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.

  • Casey L.
    Apr. 11, 2022

    Danner Primitive Campground

    Nice Primitive Campground

    I 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.

  • Jim  L.
    Jun. 26, 2020

    Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park

    Great park but no rv sites

    This 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

  • Aaron B.
    Sep. 20, 2024

    Beaver Creek State Park Campground

    Warm Days, Cool Nights--No Frills Camping

    When 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.

  • Tracy H.
    Jul. 14, 2018

    Beaver Creek State Park Campground

    very quiet, lots of hiking options

    direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park

  • S
    Jun. 29, 2016

    Beaver Creek State Park Campground

    Great history!

    The camp ground was nice except there is no running water. We took advantage of some of the hiking trails around and they were good in some areas, but definitely needed to be kept up on more often. Very over grown and difficult to follow the trails, but overall we were able to hike for about 3 hours without running into anyone else. The creek that runs through the area is beautiful and there were many people fishing along the way. Kayaking is also very popular among the creek, but the water was too low this time. If I were to go back I would definitely kayaking if the water is at the right level. The best part about the area was the history that surrounds it. There is a 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.

  • T
    Aug. 19, 2022

    Beaver Creek State Park Campground

    A perfect one night trip

    The sites that were around us had a perfect view of the Beaver Creek Valley. Our site was more in the corner with trees and brush blocking the view but we still enjoyed our site. Check in was easy since you can go right to your site and they have your trip details already pin to you campsite post. We stayed during the week so we didn’t share the campground with that many people. The campground was mixture of large sites and some small sites. The smaller sites were near the playground. We were thoroughly impressed by this campground, even if it was a smaller state park. We only stayed a night but we had a really nice and relaxing time at the state park. We were able to check out two of there trails but they have a quite a few trails. They had the pioneer village which was cute and interesting to walk through. Overall, a perfect low stress one night trip.


Guide to New Kensington

Beaver Creek State Park offers equestrian camping on Sprucevale Road with 59 primitive sites specifically designed for horse owners. Each site includes tie-ups for horses with uneven terrain and narrow pads that require careful navigation with horse trailers. The campground connects directly to the North Country National Scenic Trail system, creating extensive riding opportunities through wooded terrain. Seasonal water access in Beaver Creek provides hydration for horses, though levels fluctuate depending on rainfall amounts. The campground operates with limited facilities, offering vault toilets but no shower facilities.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Beaver Creek State Park provides quality bass fishing in multiple locations. According to Mike T., "Bass fishing is really fun because we caught a few nice ones!!" at Beaver Creek State Park Campground.

Hiking trail exploration: The park connects to extensive trail networks including the North Country National Scenic Trail. Tracy H. notes there is "direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park" which creates numerous hiking options for campers of all skill levels.

Historical exploration: The pioneer village near the park office provides educational opportunities. Shay D. explains, "The best part about the area was the history that surrounds it. There is a 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)."

Paddling activities: When water levels permit, Beaver Creek supports kayaking and canoeing. Aaron B. reports, "Had some luck fishing at the Canoe/Kayak area in the South East area of the park close to the Group Camp Sites."

What campers like

Spacious campsites: The pine tree sites offer substantial room and privacy. Matt H. described site 50 as "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."

Stargazing opportunities: Beaver Creek State Park Campground offers dark skies for astronomy enthusiasts. Matt H. explains, "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!"

Clean facilities: Despite limited amenities, the facilities receive regular maintenance. Aaron B. notes they have "Probably the nicest pit toilets I have experienced" while explaining the sun shower building provides privacy for campers with portable showers.

Natural quietude: The campground provides peaceful surroundings away from urban noise. Adam S. describes it as a "Small quiet state park" with "very big sites on the one side," making it ideal for campers seeking tranquility.

What you should know

Water limitations: The campground operates on a well system with restricted usage. Bounding Around advises, "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!"

Access restrictions: Larger vehicles face route constraints when approaching the campground. Bounding Around cautions, "Also, 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!"

Primitive accommodations: Facilities are basic with vault toilets and no showers. Ken M. describes it 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."

Trail maintenance varies: Some hiking paths require careful navigation. Shay D. reports, "Very over grown and difficult to follow the trails, but overall we were able to hike for about 3 hours without running into anyone else."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Request campsites near the play area for convenience with small children. Matt H. recommends, "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."

Educational opportunities: Moraine State Park nearby offers additional activities for families. Mitchel R. lists family-friendly options: "Kayaking/Canoeing, Motor boating 15hp or less, Sailboats, Bike Trail, Great Fishing Spots, Swimming Area."

Fire safety precautions: When camping in pine-filled areas, take extra care with campfires. Aaron B. advises, "Site was fairly clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe."

Multi-generational activities: The historical areas provide engagement for various age groups. Shay D. notes, "Really historical area to check out and hike around" which offers educational opportunities alongside outdoor recreation.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: Choose campsites carefully based on rig size and parking requirements. Aaron B. observes, "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."

Electric availability: Limited hookup options exist for RVers requiring power. Ken M. notes there are "only a few sites with hookups" so early reservations are essential during peak seasons.

Alternative accommodations: For RVers seeking more amenities, consider nearby cabin options. Mitchel R. mentions that Moraine State Park "offers many camping styles including Group Tenting, Adirondack shelters for backpacking, and Cabins" which may better suit some equipment needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near New Kensington, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near New Kensington, 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 New Kensington, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near New Kensington, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.