Nancy B.
Ranger
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
Equestrian Camping near Newburg, PA
6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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North Run Equine Camping Area in Moshannon State Forest offers primitive horse camping spaces that accommodate both horse trailers and tent setups. Located in Penfield, Pennsylvania, approximately 90 miles northwest of Newburg, this dedicated equestrian camping area provides direct access to forest trails without requiring separate permits for horse use. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with ample space for both camping equipment and horse trailers. The campground permits pets alongside horses, allowing riders to bring canine companions. Reservations are required for all equestrian campsites, which can be secured through the Pennsylvania DCNR reservation system.
Located within riding distance of multiple trail systems, North Run serves as a basecamp for exploring the extensive Moshannon State Forest trail network. While the campground lacks amenities like showers and flush toilets, the primitive setting appeals to riders seeking direct trail access. Water for horses must be carried in or sourced from natural water features along trails. Fires are permitted at designated fire rings, and most sites accommodate standard-sized horse trailers with adequate clearance for turning and parking. The forest roads providing access remain open throughout the regular camping season but may close during winter months or severe weather. Riders should plan to pack in all necessary supplies as no stores or services exist within immediate proximity of the camping area.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Newburg (7)
1. Black Moshannon State Park Campground
"Electric motorboats are permitted on Moshannon Lake. Boat rentals are available in season."
"Great hiking and a beautiful lake for kayaking. Site 22 is a full hookup. Utilities worked nicely. However, our picnic table had seen better days. "
40 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $87 / night
2. Shawnee State Park Campground
"Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."
"The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride."
100 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
3. Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
"This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. Snow Shoe Sites — Sproul State Forest
"A standard Ford Explorer handled the drive without trouble, though bringing a trailer would likely only be practical if it is set up for overlanding conditions."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
5. North Run Equine Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
6. North Block — Tuscarora State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
7. Yellowsnake Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Drive Time
- 5 min from Altoona, PA
- 41 min from State College, PA
- 48 min from Johnstown, PA
- 1 hr 43 min from Chambersburg, PA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Newburg, PA
55 Reviews of 7 Newburg Campgrounds
michael R.
GuideSnow Shoe Sites — Sproul State Forest
SS007
Site SS007 sits roughly two miles off pavement along a fairly rough access road. A standard Ford Explorer handled the drive without trouble, though bringing a trailer would likely only be practical if it is set up for overlanding conditions.
The location offers excellent views of the Susquehanna River and exceptionally clear night skies with strong stargazing opportunities. There was no existing fire ring on site, so we built one using nearby stones. The site does not include a picnic table or other amenities, making it a primative experience.
Cell service was limited but usable, averaging about one bar with AT&T and two bars with T-Mobile.
Overall, it is a quiet, scenic roadside site best suited for campers comfortable with minimal facilities and no other people around.
Graham S.
TravelerBlack Moshannon State Park Campground
Great campground at a beautiful park
Ive camped at Black Moshannon State Park many times both in a tent and our camper. The Park has tent only, electric and full hookup sites. It is well cared for and clean. The bathhouses are nice and well maintained. The Park itself offers a lot to do with fishing. Hiking, the beach, kayak rentals, etc. I've never had a bad time at Black Moshannon and will keep coming back.
- SScott I.Traveler
Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
Nice spot to camp in the mountains
First I'll just say that the Rothrock campsites should probably each be listed separately, rather than as a group; they are very spread out throughout the State Forest and each is a different experience. This review will be for site 002 Colerain Road.
This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. It's easy enough during the summer, though the road is narrow and you've got some sharp bends depending on which way you come from. This road is not safe to access in the winter in my opinion.
The parking is just right off the road, and there's a picnic table and large stone fire ring near the parking. There's a small path further up the hill into the woods where there is a tent pad, another fire ring and another picnic table. There are also a lot of flat spots nearby for additional tents to be set up.
Just behind the upper tent site is the top of the mountain, and the site has their own private overlook to the valley below. The site is pretty remote, though there were vehicles and the occasional biker coming up the road. Traffic may have been busier than usual the weekend we went because there was the Mid Atlantic Overland festival nearby at the same time. At one point a family parked in the campsite's parking to start a walk... (there's a better trailhead up closer to Indian Lookout they should have used).
No hookups, water, bathrooms, etc; its fully primitive camping here. Cell coverage was fine on Xfinity Mobile (Verizon).
These sites used to be totally free but they're now $10 a night. You still need to book a while out if you want to be here on a weekend, especially during the fall when Penn State is playing.
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Double check site booked
We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35’ TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.
Lee D.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Huge state park
General: 300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do.
Site Quality: Varies by type and location within the park. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20’ to 115’ Most of the non-electric sites had no definable pads at all and as mentioned, were not level. Some roads in the campground were paved but a few were not.
Bath/Shower House: was clean. Did not use the shower.
Activities: A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season.
As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise. This was just an overnight stay for us. We’ve been to many stellar Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but this one was not as good as many others.
- SSteveGuide
Black Moshannon State Park Campground
Beautiful spot
In the middle of the woods vibe. The sites had good privacy and it was just a pretty area. Neighbors were respectful and relatively quiet.. There was zero cell service at this campground. Bathrooms were clean.
- JJennifer R.
ScoutShawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Rick G.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Met our Needs Perfectly
Booked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
Guide to Newburg
North Run Equine Camping Area provides designated spaces for horse enthusiasts within Pennsylvania's extensive state forest system. Located approximately 90 miles northwest of Newburg in Penfield, this specialized camping area connects directly to forest trail systems throughout Moshannon State Forest. Trail riders must bring all necessary water supplies for horses as no on-site water facilities exist. The primitive campground accommodates both camping equipment and horse trailers while maintaining standard forest camping regulations.
What to do
Explore extensive trail networks: Black Moshannon State Park Campground offers multiple trail systems for hikers and mountain bikers. "Nice campground with quiet 250 acre lake for kayaking. Good birding," notes Matthew U., highlighting activities beyond horseback riding.
Enjoy water recreation: The lakes in the region provide alternatives to trail riding. At Shawnee State Park Campground, visitors find diverse water options. "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating," reports Casey S.
Wildlife observation: The forests surrounding North Run contain diverse wildlife habitats. Clay P. from Black Moshannon State Park Campground notes: "Great camping area stop a mountain...nice unique lake that is incredibly dark in color. Lilly pads abound with great flowers," indicating excellent opportunities for nature photography.
What campers like
Natural features: The state forests near Newburg offer distinctive ecological characteristics. "The Iron Ore mines from the past have left the creek water stained red which is why its called the Red Mo with the locals," explains Travis S. about Black Moshannon, describing a geological feature riders encounter on trails.
Spacious campsites: Most equestrian-friendly campgrounds provide adequate room for trailers and gear. At Rothrock Roadside Campsites, Scott I. found: "There's a picnic table and large stone fire ring near the parking. There's a small path further up the hill into the woods where there is a tent pad, another fire ring and another picnic table."
Privacy between sites: The camping areas maintain natural spacing between campers. Sandi G. mentions at Shawnee State Park: "The sites are situated nicely, your neighbors are not 'right there'. Our only trouble was our GPS brought us in the most difficult way."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most state forest campsites require advance booking. For North Block — Tuscarora State Forest, like North Run, reservations must be secured through the Pennsylvania DCNR reservation system.
Limited amenities: Primitive camping is standard at most horse-friendly sites. Gerard from Shawnee State Park notes: "The site we were assigned was easily accessed and had a nice view of the campground. However, as we drove through the rest of the RV park area we noted that many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches."
Seasonal considerations: Forest roads may close during winter months. At Rothrock State Forest, Scott I. warns: "It's easy enough during the summer, though the road is narrow and you've got some sharp bends depending on which way you come from. This road is not safe to access in the winter in my opinion."
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: State parks offer programs suitable for children and adults. Lisa L. from Black Moshannon explains: "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc," providing structured activities for family members not riding.
Safety precautions: Trail systems require proper supervision for younger riders. "Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early," advises Denise D., highlighting the need for advance planning when bringing families to Snow Shoe Sites — Sproul State Forest or similar horse campgrounds near Newburg.
Pack sufficient supplies: No stores exist near most equestrian camping areas. Danielle S. recommends: "Camp wood at the entrance is $5 and is tiny; our biggest piece was a foot long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick! It was okay to start a fire, but we went into the woods and picked up dead wood."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: RV sites at horse campgrounds vary in size and access. Lee D. observes: "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level."
Access road challenges: Forest roads present navigation difficulties for larger rigs. Brittany V. cautions: "We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating!"
Verify trailer accommodations: Confirm that equestrian sites can handle your specific trailer configuration. At Yellowsnake Camping Area, like most primitive horse campgrounds, there are no dedicated corrals, so trailer configurations need consideration for both camping and securing horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Newburg, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Newburg, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Newburg, PA is Black Moshannon State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Newburg, PA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Newburg, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Newburg, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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