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Equestrian Camping near Philipsburg, PA

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    North Run Equestrian Camping Area in Moshannon State Forest offers primitive camping specifically designed for those traveling with horses. Located at 3372 State Park Road in Penfield, the drive-in camping area features picnic tables and fire rings with pets allowed at all sites. The camping area connects to extensive trail networks through the state forest system. Sites are reservable but lack modern amenities like drinking water, showers, or toilet facilities.

    Dark Hollow and Gaswell Equestrian Campgrounds in Elk State Forest provide additional horse camping options within driving distance of Philipsburg. Both campgrounds include basic toilet facilities not typically found at other equestrian campsites in the region. Trail access from these locations leads directly to forest riding paths with varied terrain suitable for different experience levels. Horse owners must bring their own water for animals as drinking water is not provided at any of the equestrian-specific sites. These primitive camping options accommodate both overnight and extended stays, with ample parking for horse trailers. The surrounding state forests offer miles of interconnected trails through Pennsylvania's mountain terrain.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Philipsburg (12)

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      1. Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      4.7(25)8mi from Philipsburg97 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "The Moss Hanne is still a thrilling trail even in the winter months and there's been a lot of beaver activity since we last visited including a very impressive dam. "

      "Electric motorboats are permitted on Moshannon Lake. Boat rentals are available in season."

      from $20 - $87 / night

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      2. Snow Shoe Sites — Sproul State Forest

      5.0(1)21mi from Philipsburg26 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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."

      from $10 / night

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      3. North Run Equine Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest

      Be the first to review10mi from Philipsburg4 sites

      from $10 / night

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      4. Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest

      4.0(1)21mi from Philipsburg8 sitesRVs, Tents

      "This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "

      from $10 / night

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      5. Yellowsnake Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest

      Be the first to review21mi from Philipsburg6 sitesRVs, Tents

      from $10 / night

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      6. Cooks Run Rd Sites — Sproul State Forest

      Be the first to review32mi from Philipsburg32 sitesRVs, Tents

      from $10 / night

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      7. Dark Hollow Equestrian Campground — Elk State Forest

      Be the first to review35mi from Philipsburg10 sites

      from $10 / night

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      8. Gaswell Equestrian Campground — Elk State Forest

      Be the first to review35mi from Philipsburg5 sites

      from $10 / night

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      9. New Lancaster Valley Roadside Campsites — Bald Eagle State Forest

      Be the first to review39mi from Philipsburg10 sitesTents

      from $10 / night

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      10. North Block — Tuscarora State Forest

      Be the first to review42mi from Philipsburg16 sitesRVs, Tents

      from $10 / night

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Philipsburg, PA

    27 Reviews of 12 Philipsburg Campgrounds

    • Ann P.
      Jul. 25, 2019

      Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      Black Mo is a unique treasure

      UPDATED reviews for rustic and modern cabins.

      March 2020, Modern Cabins: Before COVID-19 hit PA we stayed in one of the modern cabins. Wow...everything was seemingly quite new and it was extremely comfortable. Nice bathrooms, nice kitchen, etc. One of the best things about Black Mo is how isolated it feels and it's never crowded in the off-months. The Moss Hanne is still a thrilling trail even in the winter months and there's been a lot of beaver activity since we last visited including a very impressive dam. 

      October 2019, Rustic Cabins: We stayed in one of the rustic cabins on a cold October weekend. Very charming small cabins with robust woodstoves. Although we probably could have been more careful, there were unfortunately some very bothersome mice who kept us awake each night...and were seemingly not very afraid of us! The construction of the rustic cabins is such that there probably isn't much you can do about mice getting in. If this doesn't bother you, these cabins are really cute and cozy.

      July 2019, Tent Camping: As far as camping goes, the loop area is a bit cramped for my taste, but if that doesn't bother you it's fine. Clean bathhouse and convenient outdoor sink for washing up after dinner. Overall one of the best PA parks and well maintained.

      I really have to address some of these other reviews, though:

      "Water was thick with weeds& lilies but ok nonetheless." Wow! Pitcher plants, sundews and water lilies are not "weeds." They are unique to bog environments and don't grow in other places. The vegetation in the lake is what makes Black Mo black, so picturesque and unlike other PA parks!

      "The overall area has nothing to do. And I mean NOTHING. We drove 45 minutes to Altoona to see the famous Horseshoe Curve but there’s literally nothing else around for miles and miles. Not even an ice cream stand, or not one we could find. And, since there’s no cell service, we couldn’t figure out any options either." Like many state parks in this part of the world there is no cell service, so you need to bring a real map (Purple Lizard) and look a few things up on the internet ahead of time. Black Mo is literally ten minutes from Philipsburg where there is surely an ice cream stand, 25 minutes from State College, which has tons of touristy offerings…I could go on but really this is laughable.

    • michael R.
      Apr. 5, 2026

      Snow 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.

    • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Mar. 15, 2023

      Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      No cell, no problem!

      General: 73-site campground; most have electric hookups, and some are FHU. Pets are only permitted at selected sites. There are also 20 (13 rustic and 6 modern) cabins. Cell service is extremely limited to non-existent (Verizon). 

      Site Quality: Pads are gravel and most appeared to be level. Site 70 was at the end of the loop which is why we picked it. A picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook complete each site. 

      Bathhouse: As has been our experience in all PA state parks, the bathhouse was pristine, and the shower (for no additional cost) was clean with plentiful hot water and was very much appreciated. 

      Activities/Amenities: Coin-operated laundry. A playground is in the campground and there is an additional one at the swimming beach. The swimming beach is open from mid-May to mid-September, from 8 am– sunset. Electric motorboats are permitted on Moshannon Lake. Boat rentals are available in season. Permits are required. 24 miles of hiking trails, including two trails directly from the campground to the lake. In the summer, there is a camper store/concession stand. Hunting is allowed in season. There are 4.3 miles of mountain biking trails. 

      I used to think Oregon State Parks were the best, but Pennsylvania State Parks have them beat by a mile. We have yet to be disappointed by the amenities(especially the clean bathrooms) offered at the half-dozen state parks we have visited so far.

    • S
      Sep. 3, 2025

      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.

    • Joni P.
      Sep. 5, 2023

      Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      Beautiful and well appointed park

      Getting to the park had some sharp turns and windy roads.  Small campground but nicely equipped.  2 bath houses were dated but clean.  Nice playground at the campground and also one at the beach.  Small camp concessions with a few camping items as well as ice cream cones.  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.  The site sat down off the road but once you were backed in the spot it was pretty level.  This site also had a separate tent pad located down a few stone steps.  Verizon and AT&T cell service were basically non existent.  Every once in a while a text would come in or send but very spotty.  Sorry I failed to get a pic of the site in the daylight.  It was spacious and we had plenty of room for our 30' trailer, truck, and easy up over the table.  6+ chairs around the fire pit, cooking ring could have been better.  Grassy area for cornhole or playing.

    • Rebecca E.
      Aug. 17, 2017

      Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      Totally Acceptable

      Beautiful facility- typical Pa mountains, abundant green trees, water...nice Campground AND cabin rentals are really nicely situated. Water was thick with weeds & lilies but ok nonetheless. Great day trip spot.

    • Amber W.
      Jun. 16, 2021

      Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      Family fun!

      Nice clean and quiet campground. The address online took us to the ranger station. Turn left BEFORE bridge. Couldn’t see sign from the road. The section we were in was “no pets allowed”. My kids loved the beach, swimming was not deep. Beach was big with adjacent playground. Lots of pavilions all over. The area was a little crowded for my liking.

    • S
      Apr. 24, 2018

      Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      Fantastic trip

      Very pretty campground with a nice clean wash house.. The sites are situated nicely, your neighbors are not “right there”. Our only trouble was our GPS brought us in the most difficult way. We suggest avoiding heading south from I80 on Casanova road. Overall, a great trip!

    • Travis S.
      Jul. 27, 2017

      Black Moshannon State Park Campground

      Red Mo

      Nice campground, wooded sites and most were okay for tent camping however some required your tent to be set up a small distance from the fire ring. Clean showerhouses and bathrooms. Big Lake and a few miles of hiking and biking trails right from the campground.

      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.

    Guide to Philipsburg

    Equestrian campgrounds near Philipsburg, Pennsylvania provide direct access to extensive trail systems through the Moshannon, Elk, and Sproul State Forests. The region sits at elevations between 1,700-2,300 feet with predominantly mixed hardwood forests. Winter seasons typically close most primitive sites from December through March due to snow accumulation and difficult access conditions.

    What to do

    Trail riding connections: The Rothrock Roadside Campsites offer multiple access points to mountain riding trails. According to camper Scott I., "These sites are 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."

    Wildlife viewing: Riders at Black Moshannon State Park Campground can observe diverse wetland habitats while accessing forest trails. Clay P. notes the "incredibly dark color" lake with "lily pads abound with great flowers," making this a unique ecosystem to explore from horseback or on foot.

    Seasonal considerations: Fall foliage season (late September through mid-October) represents peak visitation for horse camping facilities. Matthew U. recommends the "quiet 250 acre lake for kayaking" and mentions "good birding" opportunities that complement trail riding activities.

    What campers like

    Private trail access: Most equestrian sites allow riders to mount up directly from camp without trailering. Travis S. explains that at Black Moshannon, you'll find "wooded sites" with "a few miles of hiking and biking trails right from the campground."

    Scenic viewpoints: Yellowsnake Camping Area provides riders access to ridge trails with valley views. At nearby Rothrock, Scott I. describes "their own private overlook to the valley below" from many campsite locations.

    Forest immersion: Lisa L. from Black Moshannon emphasizes the nature-focused experience: "This campground is so beautiful with plenty to do for everyone, tons of hiking along the whole park. Spaces are clean and spacious... Very peaceful and well maintained."

    What you should know

    Water availability: No equestrian campsites near Philipsburg provide water for horses. Campers must bring sufficient water for their animals. At Snow Shoe Sites, riders need 2-3 gallons per horse per day during summer months.

    Reservation requirements: Many primitive sites now require advance booking. Scott I. reports that Rothrock 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."

    Navigational challenges: Forest roads accessing horse camps can be confusing with limited signage. Sandi G. warns, "Our only trouble was our GPS brought us in the most difficult way. We suggest avoiding heading south from I80 on Casanova road."

    Tips for camping with families

    Cabin alternatives: Cooks Run Rd Sites offer primitive camping for families not comfortable with tent camping alongside horses. At Black Moshannon, Danielle W. describes how "my family and I stayed here one night during a motorcycle trip. We rented 1 of the cabins they have on the property and it was great all of us fit comfortably."

    Educational opportunities: Denise D. recommends Black Moshannon for children: "The lake has lots to offer. Swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife watching and a big sky view for star gazing."

    Programming options: Some parks offer structured activities for younger visitors. Lisa L. notes, "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc."

    Tips from RVers

    Trailer parking: New Lancaster Valley Roadside Campsites have wider pull-offs suitable for rigs up to 30 feet, making them preferable for larger horse trailers with living quarters.

    Site selection: Many primitive horse camps have limited level parking. Courtney S. recommends checking availability: "Pulled in on Friday of Labor Day weekend without a reservation but there were a couple open sites. Stayed one night before moving on in our travels."

    Weather considerations: Forest service roads may become impassable during wet seasons. Scott I. cautions about the access road to Rothrock sites: "This road is not safe to access in the winter in my opinion."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Philipsburg, PA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Philipsburg, PA is Black Moshannon State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Philipsburg, PA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Philipsburg, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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