Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area provides dedicated camping options for riders in Pennsylvania's Promised Land State Park. The equestrian area features sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups, accommodating both tents and RVs. Equestrian campsites include fire rings, picnic tables, and flat parking areas suitable for horse trailers. The campground allows pets, making it possible for campers to bring both horses and dogs. Sites can be reserved in advance through the Pennsylvania state park reservation system. The equestrian area maintains separate facilities from the standard campground areas, creating a more specialized environment for horse campers. The campground is typically less crowded than other sections of Promised Land State Park.
The Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area connects directly to horse-friendly trails within Promised Land State Park. Riders can access multiple trail options directly from their campsites, with routes suitable for various experience levels. The park trails wind through wooded terrain and offer scenic views of the surrounding landscape. Most trails maintain good footing for horses throughout the camping season. Water access points along some trail routes allow horses to drink during rides. The park requires that riders clean up after their horses in camping areas and observe proper trail etiquette. While the equestrian campground doesn't feature dedicated horse corrals, campers can set up portable corral systems or use highlines at their sites. Trails remain accessible for riding from early spring through late fall, though summer weekends see the highest visitor traffic.
"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."
"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
"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
from $25 / 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."
"There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network if hiking and horse riding trails."
"The sites were a little close to each other and where we were in the park was a mixed use area. So we had an RV next to us with the Genny running all day."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $90 / 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
"Went here with some friends who had never been outside NYC before. They were absolutely blown away. For me, it was a nice site but not exceptional. Bring or rent a kayak!"
"I drove to NYC for a business trip and ended up driving 1 and a half hour to reach this place. I always carry a tent in the back of my trunk and decided to go camping."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $40 / 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
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.
Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area sits at 1,500 feet elevation in the Pocono Mountains, approximately 10 miles from Rowland, Pennsylvania. This dedicated horse camping area features trails connecting to Pennsylvania's larger system of equestrian paths through mature forests. Most sites maintain good distance from other campers, creating a quieter camping experience than other sections of Promised Land State Park.
Trail riding on designated paths: Explore multiple trail systems directly accessible from the equestrian campground. "The Visitor Center is only 3/10 mile away and has wi-fi, bathrooms/showers and a shop with food that is open from 8am to 8pm. The AT runs right through the camp," shares a camper from Mohican Outdoor Center.
Fishing in nearby lakes: Cast a line in multiple lakes within a short drive. "The kids caught multiple sunnies and even a small perch. All in all, we had a great time and plan to go back next year," notes a visitor to Keen Lake Resort Campground.
Winter activities: Some horse campgrounds near Rowland remain open year-round. "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," reports a camper from Pickerel Point Campground.
Privacy between campsites: Many equestrian sites offer good separation from neighbors. "The RV sites are spaced out nicely. There are plenty of things to do; paddle boats, row boats, swimming pool, snack bar/campstore, activities, etc," according to a Keen Lake Resort Campground visitor.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks high among camper priorities at horse camping areas. "The bathrooms were the cleanest we've ever experienced at a campground. The showers are coin operated. The staff were so accommodating and everyone was super nice," reports a camper from Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area.
Lakeside settings: Water access for both humans and horses adds value. "I spent the night in the Promised Land State Park at Pickerel Point and it was so pretty and quiet. There was a bathroom with flush toilets nearby and the campsites were well spaced apart. Mine overlooked the water and had a gorgeous sunset."
Seasonal considerations: Pack for variable conditions depending on your visit timing. "Open year round. 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. The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon."
Reservation requirements: Book equestrian sites well in advance, especially for weekends. "We hopped in the car and drove the 2 mins to get to the beach. There was always parking. If you stay closer to those things it would be easy to walk & ride bikes to the different activities," notes a Keen Lake Resort visitor.
Site terrain variations: Some equestrian camping areas have rocky terrain. "Chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad! Sites have nice sizable fire pits, but they are very tall. It's difficult to cook over them," reports a camper from Pickerel Point Campground.
Look for kid-friendly amenities: Choose campgrounds with activities for children. "We had a great time despite cold wet weather. Our site was probably one of the worst in the place but we were able to scope out others that we would prefer for our next visit," reports a visitor from Keen Lake Resort Campground.
Check proximity to water features: Sites near water keep kids entertained. "Almost every campsite is close to the water. Our site had kayak access and that was a real bonus. It is a spotless facility. Even in August it was not crowded," shares a camper from Pickerel Point.
Plan for educational opportunities: Many Rowland-area horse campgrounds offer nature programs. "This state park is amazing. There is an environmental education center with programs, fishing and boating, and an amazing network of hiking and horse riding trails," notes a visitor to Lackawanna State Park.
Site selection for trailers: Choose sites with adequate room for both horse trailer and RV. "We stayed in the Pickerel Point of the park. 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. All of the sites were spacious."
Level sites matter: Look for sites specifically designed for equestrian campers. "We stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. The sites seemed a little narrow when we first pulled in, but it was plenty," reports a camper from Keen Lake Resort Campground.
Check hookup capabilities: Verify electrical systems meet your needs. "Camped here for a weekend, and probably one of my least favorite sites so far. Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," warns a visitor to Lackawanna State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Rowland, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rowland, PA is Keen Lake Resort Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Rowland, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Rowland, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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