Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area provides the primary horse camping destination near Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. The equestrian sites accommodate both tents and RVs with electric hookups, fifty-amp service, and water connections available. Each campsite includes a picnic table and fire ring with fires permitted throughout the camping season. The bathrooms and shower facilities remain well-maintained even when the campground reaches full capacity. Trailer parking is available directly at the campsites, eliminating the need for separate parking areas. The campground does not offer dedicated horse corrals, so campers should bring portable corrals or plan for appropriate containment systems. Sites must be reserved in advance through the Pennsylvania state park reservation system.
Located within Promised Land State Park, the equestrian camping area connects to multiple trail systems suitable for horseback riding. The park encompasses both Upper and Lower lakes, offering scenic water views along many riding routes. The campground maintains clean facilities, including bathrooms and showers that remain accessible year-round. For supplies, visitors should pack everything needed before arrival as shopping options within the park are limited. Pets are permitted at the equestrian sites, allowing campers to bring dogs alongside their horses. The state park has multiple camping areas, but the Hemlock Hill section specifically accommodates equestrian visitors with appropriately sized sites and trailer access. Trails throughout the park vary in difficulty, providing options for both novice and experienced riders.
"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
"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."
from $25 / 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
"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
"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."
"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.
Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area provides dedicated horse camping in Promised Land State Park near Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. The area sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation in the Pocono Mountains, where summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F. Fall camping brings vibrant foliage colors but requires additional layers for comfort as overnight temperatures can drop below 40°F.
Trail riding routes: Horses are permitted on designated trails throughout Promised Land State Park, with routes varying from beginner-friendly flat terrain to more challenging hillside paths. "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper. The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail," notes Kelly F. from Pickerel Point Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Cast a line in either the Upper or Lower Lake for bass, pickerel, and panfish. "I spent the night in the Promised Land State Park at Pickerel Point and it was so pretty and quiet... Mine overlooked the water and had a gorgeous sunset. There was a beach nearby that was an excellent place to gaze at the stars," shares Carolyn M.
Hiking with non-riders: Family members without horses can explore hiking options while others ride. "The park encompasses both Upper and Lower lakes, offering scenic water views along many riding routes," with "The Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked," according to Alaina Z.
Year-round accessibility: Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area remains open during colder months for off-season equestrian camping. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," notes Mara S., though she mentions "the only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon."
Site privacy: Campers appreciate the separation between sites in some areas. "I stayed in the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park and despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. You could only ever hear the wildlife. The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit," shares Maze M.
Lake access: Many equestrian campers value the proximity to water features. At Keen Lake Resort Campground, "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," writes Shannon C.
Reservation requirements: All equestrian sites must be booked in advance through the Pennsylvania state park reservation system, with peak season weekends filling quickly. Sites in Lackawanna State Park Campground offer varying levels of privacy: "Some are a little close to each other, but others offer plenty of space, including our site (52) on this trip. One of the biggest spots we have ever had," reports Michael.
Limited cell service: Mobile coverage can be spotty throughout the region. Bring printed maps and necessary information as backup. "I had almost no cell reception with Verizon," noted one camper at Promised Land State Park.
Weather preparation: The Pocono Mountain region experiences significant temperature fluctuations, particularly in spring and fall. "Went camping in late October, when a lot of the other parks are closed. Only one section of their camping was still open but the bathrooms and showers had been winterized," reports Tiffany K. about the seasonal changes at Beechwood Area.
Multiple camping loops: Stokes State Forest offers family-friendly options within driving distance of Tobyhanna. "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. Site came with bear proof bin for garbage and fire ring," notes E.M.V.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with organized activities for children. "We have always had a great time. The people who do summer seasonal rental have always been wonderful. There is a lot to do in the area and plenty of kids for my daughter to meet," shares Will D. about Keen Lake Resort Campground.
Bathroom facilities: Choose sites with convenient access to restrooms when camping with younger children. "Very comfortable site, quiet but still with plenty of amenities. Bathrooms and shower were all single stall and very clean, only a 5 min walk from our site," reports a camper about the facilities at Stokes State Forest.
Electrical service reliability: Pickerel Point Campground provides reliable hookups for equestrian camping with RVs. "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," notes Debbie W., although she mentioned "the grass needed cutting as it was pretty long and uncomfortable to walk through."
Site selection: When booking RV sites for equestrian camping, consider the turning radius needed for horse trailers. "We stayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers," says Cheryl M. about Lackawanna State Park.
Supply availability: Stock up before arrival as shopping options are limited. "Firewood was available in the area. But not much for stores so pack everything in before," advises Siobhan D. from Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Tobyhanna, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Tobyhanna, PA is Lower Lake Campground Beechwood Area — Promised Land State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Tobyhanna, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Tobyhanna, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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