Ferryboat Campsites provides horse-friendly camping along the Susquehanna River, 15 miles north of Selinsgrove in Liverpool, Pennsylvania. The region features rolling hills with elevation ranging from 400-800 feet and humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Seasonal sites can be reserved from April through October with both riverside and wooded options available for equestrian guests.
What to do
Hiking trails: Little Buffalo State Park offers multiple well-maintained trails for various skill levels, from easy lakeside paths to more challenging terrain. "There are nice trails to hike. There is a large lake for fishing! You can rent boats there!" mentions Amanda H.
Horse riding: While dedicated equestrian facilities are limited, Colonel Denning State Park provides access to forested paths suitable for day rides. "Trail head close to site and was a very difficult hike with amazing views!!" notes Casey L.
Swimming: The state parks in the region maintain swimming facilities during summer months. At Tuscarora State Park, "Beautiful lake surrounded by trails and includes beach area and playground," as Mandy F. describes.
Fishing and boating: Multiple water access points along the Susquehanna River and nearby lakes allow for fishing. At Little Buffalo State Park, "the lake is awesome to relax on, fishing, boating, swimming in the pool, tons of hiking trails, lots of history, never fails to be a great time!!" shares Lisa L.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Colonel Denning State Park, site spacing allows for comfortable camping experiences. "The sites were super spacious and private. There was enough room for a full overlanding setup, three vehicles, a hammock, two dogs and a two person tent with plenty of room to spare," reports Paige H.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and shower buildings. Casey L. writes about Colonel Denning: "Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites."
Natural water features: Access to streams, rivers, and lakes enhances the camping experience. "If you stay in lower sites you are near the water and will have to walk up a large hill to get to bathrooms," notes Casey L. about the creek-side sites at Colonel Denning.
Dark skies: Ferryboat Campsites and surrounding areas offer minimal light pollution for stargazing. Zoltan P. describes a nearby forest camping experience: "No noise pollution. No light pollution. No large towns anywhere near here all towns with very minimal population."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds in the region have limited availability during winter months. Dawn T. notes about Little Buffalo: "This is a small campground but worth going to. Very nice park and clean bath house."
Reservation requirements: Ferryboat Campsites fills quickly on weekends according to seasonal campers. Robin shares: "We stayed at a Susquehanna river view site with full hookups for 2 nights. Site was level and shaded, but very close to neighbors. Most sites were occupied by permanent or seasonal residents."
Wildlife awareness: The forests surrounding Selinsgrove have diverse wildlife including snakes. "Found a couple of large black rat snakes near our campsite. There are rattle snakes in the region I've been told too," warns Zoltan P. about forest camping.
Cell service limitations: Some areas have poor connectivity. "If you want to be disconnected, literally because there is no cell service, then this is the place for you," explains Jen R. about Tuscarora.
Tips for camping with families
Pool facilities: Little Buffalo State Park offers excellent swimming options. Paula R. shares: "Pool was great once you got there. Bathrooms are clean."
Accessibility concerns: Consider distance between attractions and campsites. "Only downfall is we have smaller children and we could not bike from the campground to the pool, it was too far and the hill to get back was too big for them to ride up," notes Paula R.
Educational opportunities: Rangers often provide family-friendly programs. Nate & Erika L. report: "The park rangers had an owl program on Friday night and ended up calling in several screech owls. Very cool to hear their eerie cries in the woods."
Fishing with kids: Multiple locations offer shoreline fishing access. Brandon C. says Little Buffalo has "tons of fishing" and is "an amazing little quite camping ground."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For equestrian camping near Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, carefully review site maps before booking. "We have a small 19" travel trailer which was almost impossible to park due to very tight sites," warns Shirley M. about Colonel Denning.
Hookup locations: Check the orientation of utilities when booking. Nate & Erika L. note: "We stayed in site 42, which was not the greatest layout (electric was on the wrong side of the site for our door and canopy to open to the fire ring)."
Seasonal rates: Camping costs vary significantly by season. Mandy F. advises: "We reserved 3 of 4 yurts for first weekend in June...non peak season. Peak season requires minimum 5 day reservation, I believe."
Firewood costs: Budget for on-site purchases or bring your own where permitted. Melissa from Ferryboat Campsites reports: "Wood at the camp store is incredibly expensive — they don't sell to nightly campers by anything more than the small bundle ($8)."
