12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
North Run Equine Camping Area in Moshannon State Forest offers primitive camping for horse riders near Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Located about 30 miles from Tyrone, this designated equestrian camping area provides space for trailers and camping alongside horses. The camping area features basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables. Unlike standard campgrounds, North Run caters specifically to those traveling with horses, with designated areas for animals. The sites are reservable through the Pennsylvania DCNR reservation system, making advance planning possible for weekend trail rides.
Connected to forest trail systems, North Run serves as a basecamp for exploring miles of bridle paths through Moshannon State Forest. Riders access forest roads and designated horse trails directly from the camping area, eliminating the need to trailer horses between rides. Trail riders should note that the primitive nature of the campground means no showers or flush toilets are available, and potable water must be brought in. Most equestrians visiting the area bring high-line systems or portable corrals as permanent horse containment facilities are not provided. The forest setting offers natural water sources for horses along many trails, though riders should carry water on longer excursions. Group horse camping is permitted with advance reservations, making it suitable for riding clubs and family gatherings with multiple horses.
"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. "
from $20 - $87 / night
Check Availability"This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "
from $10 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $110 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availability
TravelerCampground 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. Has wood vending machine at entrance for firewood. Hiking loop around lake is beautiful. Jean bonnet tavern nearby recommended for a great meal in a historic setting.
TravelerI had made plans to stay at SSP-PA as my first stopover spot, post leaving my beach friends on the East Coast. 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. Shawnee is a lovely state park and I was really pleased with my brief stay. 'Though we were only sleeping the one night, I found the staff to be pleasant and the site spacious. It might have helped that the doggo and I were about the only ones in our campground loop, aside from the campground hosts but the area felt well-maintained and well-proportioned. We had a good night's rest, after enjoying a post-dinner campfire and getting to breathe in the fresh, woodsy air. While sitting fireside, I got to enjoy the local wildlife, from birds to young deer, around the edges of my campsite. The campground restroom was clean and a fair size. I would definitely recommend it and I will certainly look into another reservation, the next time I roadtrip through Pennsylvania.
GuideShawnee State Park is about 2.5 hours east of Pittsburgh, and it has pretty much everything: swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and fairly decent hiking. It's close to some really great hiking--just outside the park--and that's how I ended up there. I was trekking on the very wild Mid-State Trail, nearby, when I opted for a night at the conventional campground in Shawnee. No regrets. I usually avoid car-camping because I don't want to listen to other people's classic rock in the woods. But this place was great. I came midweek, so I had the campground mostly to myself. The showers are hot and clean. The lake is beautiful with a nice swimming beach. The area around the park has all the scenic and historic attractions of central PA: covered bridges, big stone farmhouses, quaint towns. My only complaint is that the PA Turnpike screams a little too close by. Also, the sites are pretty close together, so be sure to look at a campground map beforehand to reserve one of the more isolated ones.
GuideSite 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.
LegendGeneral: 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.
RangerWe stayed at Shawnee for 2 nights Memorial Day weekend just after Covid19 restrictions had been partially lifted. Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site. The fire ring is at an angle so cooking on it proved to be a challenge (we bring a grill grate with us just in case, and had to use it). Bathroom and showers were clean, bright, and there is a dish washing sink outside. Showers were push button but pressure was great and the water was hot (make sure you push the button once before you get in so its warm if no one else is showering at that time). Bring shower shoes. We were able to hear a small bit of traffic from the highway, but nothing that disturbed us. There are several stores within a 20 minute drive (Walmart, etc) and a mall an hour away. 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 that we cut into manageable logs. There weren't any roadside stacks of seasoned wood, so be prepared if it rains. The picnic table was saturated and too heavy to move, so we ate sitting in camp chairs. We would stay again.
LegendGeneral: 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.
LegendWe 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.
TravelerFirst 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.
North Run Equine Camping Area serves as the primary designated horse camping facility in Moshannon State Forest. Located 30 miles from Tyrone at an elevation of approximately 1,800 feet, this camping area connects to over 40 miles of bridle trails through the forest. Equestrians can access multiple water crossings and ridge-top trails directly from the campground without trailering between rides.
Trail riding excursions: Directly access forest roads and dedicated horse trails from Yellowsnake Camping Area within Moshannon State Forest, offering varied terrain for day-long rides.
Lake activities: Visit Black Moshannon State Park Campground for water recreation between trail rides. "Nice campground, wooded sites and most were okay for tent camping... 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," notes Travis S.
Wildlife viewing: The forest setting provides opportunities for bird watching and animal tracking. Matthew U. comments about Black Moshannon: "Nice campground with quiet 250 acre lake for kayaking. Good birding."
Forest surroundings: The dense woods provide natural shade and privacy at many equestrian camping areas. Campers at Rothrock Roadside Campsites appreciate the mountain setting. Scott I. mentions: "The site is pretty remote, though there were vehicles and the occasional biker coming up the road... No hookups, water, bathrooms, etc; its fully primitive camping here."
Multiple water sources: Streams throughout Moshannon and surrounding forests provide natural water for horses on trails. Creeks with distinct coloration add interest to rides, as Travis S. notes about Black Moshannon: "The Iron Ore mines from the past have left the creek water stained red."
Group camping options: Several horse camping areas accommodate multiple trailers, making them suitable for club events. Shawnee State Park Campground offers varied camping experiences. Casey S. reports: "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating. The campground was nice, quiet and clean."
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian sites require advance booking through Pennsylvania DCNR. According to campers at Snow Shoe Sites, weekends fill quickly, particularly during fall riding season.
Trail conditions: Forest roads may become rutted after heavy rain. Bring maps as some trail intersections lack signage. Be aware of seasonal hunting restrictions that may limit trail access.
Limited facilities: Most horse camping areas provide minimal amenities. Gerard from Shawnee State Park notes: "My wife and I stayed for two nights at this campground and enjoyed it greatly... The lake is gorgeous and has a large, sandy beach. Would love to spend more time there to explore the park further."
Bring entertainment: Pack games for evening campsite activities since many horse campgrounds lack dedicated children's facilities. Danielle W. from Black Moshannon recommends: "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 we were able to have a campfire out front and sit at a picnic table."
Pack all supplies: Most equestrian camping areas have no stores nearby. Plan meals that can be prepared over a fire ring as many sites provide them.
Combined experiences: Schedule stays that mix riding with swimming or fishing opportunities. Lisa L. says about Black Moshannon: "This campground is so beautiful with plenty to do for everyone, tons of hiking along the whole park. Spaces are clean and spacious, bath house is very well kept. The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc."
Trailer positioning: At North Block and similar horse camping areas, position trailers carefully to maximize space for portable corrals. Sites with stock trailers need extra room for safe horse containment.
Access routes: Some forest roads to horse camps have sharp turns. Brittany V. warns about Shawnee: "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."
Check water availability: While most horse campgrounds near Tyrone require bringing potable water, some offer natural water sources for horses. Lee D. notes about Shawnee: "Select loops allow pets but not all do. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Tyrone, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Tyrone, 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 Tyrone, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Tyrone, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
