Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park accommodates horses with full-service campsites and specialized facilities for equestrians. Located near Thornhurst, Pennsylvania, the campground offers electric hookups, water access, and trailer parking suitable for horse owners traveling with their animals. The campground features tent and RV sites with picnic tables and fire rings, all designed to accommodate equestrian needs. The sites include standard amenities like showers, toilets, and sanitary dump stations. Despite being in a state park setting with other camping loops nearby, the equestrian area maintains clean facilities and offers a peaceful camping experience even when the main campground is at capacity.
The equestrian area connects directly to riding trails within Promised Land State Park, providing riders convenient access to woodland paths without hauling horses to distant trailheads. The trail system winds through the park's forests and around its lakes, offering varied terrain for different riding abilities. Hemlock Hill requires reservations for all equestrian sites, particularly during peak summer months when availability becomes limited. The campground maintains accessibility for horse trailers with adequate parking space and turnaround areas. The surrounding Pocono Mountains region offers additional riding opportunities beyond the park boundaries, making the location appealing for extended equestrian camping trips. Even during busy periods, the bathrooms remain clean and hot water is reliable in the shower facilities.
"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."
"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 next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $90 / 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 $31 - $33 / night
from $29 / night
"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
"Good hiking trails were just a short walk away from our campsite. Would definitely go back again."
"No water but directly across from facilities with basin sinks outside for cleaning dishes, etc. Each yurt has a huge deck, 2 picnic tables and fire pit."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $49 - $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
"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!"
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.
Thornhurst, Pennsylvania sits at approximately 1,700 feet elevation in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, where the climate features cold winters with significant snowfall and mild summers with temperatures rarely exceeding 85°F. The surrounding area offers multiple state parks with varied camping opportunities, including specialized facilities for equestrian campers seeking access to woodland trails. The region's forests consist primarily of oak, maple, and hemlock trees, creating a dense canopy during summer months.
Lakeside activities: Promised Land State Park features multiple lakes accessible to campers. At Pickerel Point Campground, visitors can launch kayaks from lakefront sites. "Certain sites allow pets. My favorite site does, plus I can launch my kayak right from there!" notes Nancy L. about Pickerel Point Campground.
Trail riding: Equestrian camping near Thornhurst provides direct access to forested riding paths. Keen Lake Resort Campground offers areas where "the sites were a good distance from each other. Plenty of open field as well as wooded areas," according to Mario M., making it suitable for those traveling with horses.
Winter activities: Unlike many regional campgrounds, some facilities near Thornhurst 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," explains Mara S. about Pickerel Point Campground.
Privacy between sites: Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area offers well-spaced campsites. Maze M. notes, "The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit. 10/10 would visit again."
Clean facilities: Keen Lake Resort Campground maintains exceptional bathrooms. "The bathrooms were the cleanest we've ever experienced at a campground," reports Emily Z., adding that "the showers are coin operated."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Lackawanna State Park Campground provides recreation options for all ages. Michael notes, "The trails are fun for relaxing hikes, we especially like the one right along the lake. Also their is a huge lakefront area along a different stretch of the lake that offers people a lot of ways to enjoy themselves."
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the area operate from April through October, with limited winter facilities. "Open year round" mentions Mara S. about Pickerel Point, noting that "sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly throughout the region. "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon," reports a camper about Pickerel Point Campground.
Wildlife precautions: The Thornhurst area is home to black bears, requiring proper food storage. At Stokes State Forest, Trip Over Life reminds that "this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes."
Off-peak timing: For a quieter experience with children, visit on weekdays or shoulder seasons. "We stayed in the Pickerel Point of the park... This place is absolutely stunning. The lake is crystal clear and the beach is spotless," says Debbie W., adding "Pickerel point is the most action packed part of the park. LOTS of kids and people enjoying themselves."
Educational programs: Look for organized activities for children. John R. mentions Pickerel Point and Deerfield, saying he "was pleasantly surprised they have programs for kids. Can never go wrong here."
Bike-friendly areas: Some campgrounds feature paved roads ideal for children's activities. Paula R. notes about Pickerel Point: "Love that the road is paved, it makes it easy for the kids to ride bikes, skate etc..."
Site selection: For horse camping near Thornhurst, David S. offers this about Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area: "We have camped here in tents and with our teardrop trailer. All of our experiences have been good. Clean bathrooms are essential and even when the large campground is full the bathrooms have been clean."
Hookup reliability: Electric service quality varies by campground. David from Mountainview Campground notes, "The power station was well intact with 15/20, 30, and 50amp."
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds can present challenges for larger rigs. Alaina Z. warns about Pickerel Point Campground: "The cabins look very nice inside," which may be an alternative for RVers concerned about site conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Thornhurst, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Thornhurst, 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 Thornhurst, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Thornhurst, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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