Nancy B.
Ranger
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
Equestrian Camping near Wells Tannery, PA
7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Michaux State Forest provides camping options near Wells Tannery for equestrians seeking trail access and accommodations for their horses. The forest maintains primitive campsites that permit horses, though specific corrals or dedicated equestrian facilities are limited. Campers can secure their horses with temporary highlines or picket lines that they bring themselves. The forest requires camping permits, which are free but must be obtained before setting up camp. Sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, though the rugged terrain may challenge larger rigs. The campground areas tend to smell of horse manure throughout the day, indicating regular equestrian use despite the lack of permanent horse infrastructure.
Bridle trails wind throughout Michaux State Forest, connecting to broader trail networks that offer varied terrain for riders of all experience levels. Trail access points are positioned near camping areas, allowing riders to start their journeys directly from their campsites without trailering horses to separate locations. Water access for horses is available at various streams within the forest, though riders should bring portable water containers during drier periods. The forest maintains several parking areas large enough to accommodate horse trailers, including the Teaberry Parking Area which serves as a popular staging point for trail rides. Rothrock State Forest, located approximately one hour northwest, offers similar horse-friendly camping with roadside sites that permit overnight horse stays, creating additional options for riders exploring the central Pennsylvania region.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Wells Tannery (9)
1. Shawnee State Park Campground
"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."
100 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
2. Colonel Denning State Park Campground
"Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites."
"We stayed in site 28 which was a walk-in site, this was perfect for us since we wanted to be further away from people and the light from the bathroom/shower facility."
26 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $24 - $38 / night
3. Michaux State Forest
"Some reviewers have confused nearby State Parks with the actual State Forest, resulting in inaccurate information."
"Every January for the last few years some friends and I have gone and camped along the Appalachian Trail."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
"This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
5. Vagabond Isle
Check Availabilityfrom $100 - $150 / night
6. Teaberry Parking Area Campsites — Michaux State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
7. South Block — Tuscarora State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
8. Peggy's Hill Parking Area Campsites — Michaux State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
9. North Block — Tuscarora State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Drive Time
- 47 min from Altoona, PA
- 52 min from Chambersburg, PA
- 59 min from Hagerstown, MD
- 1 hr 12 min from Johnstown, PA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Wells Tannery, PA
45 Reviews of 9 Wells Tannery Campgrounds
MsTrailBlazerRangerColonel Denning State Park Campground
Snakes! 🐍 🥰
Great park, alittle close together than I like. I wish I had picked 1-12 sites by the creek, but I don’t think I had much choice when I booked anyway. Bathrooms were clean. My site was more of an rv and I felt like I was at the neighbors for supper.
Etzer D.
GuideColonel Denning State Park Campground
Great creekside spot
The weather wasn’t too great, but the campaign joy could not be hampered. We had a great spot along the creek, which was also a short walk from the lake. The bathroom facilities are fantastic nice and clean couldn’t be happier.
- SScott I.
TravelerRothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
Nice spot to camp in the mountains
First 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.
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Double check site booked
We 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.
Lee D.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Huge state park
General: 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.
Tiff T.
ScoutColonel Denning State Park Campground
Awesome!
We had a great time visiting the park! We stayed in site 28 which was a walk-in site, this was perfect for us since we wanted to be further away from people and the light from the bathroom/shower facility. The site was not far from our parking spot, maybe a hundred yards but there was a slight hill. There are even more isolated campsites further up the hill.
The park itself is definitely on the smaller side but packs in a lot. Lots of great trails and the beach would be great( close due to bacteria overgrowth) the michaux forest is 30 minutes away and has a lot more outdoor activities.
Will stay here again in the future.
- JJennifer R.Scout
Shawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
- jj A.Scout
Teaberry Parking Area Campsites — Michaux State Forest
Insane Lanternflies (temporarily)
Relates to Teaberry Site Only. The first 3.5 days there were lantern flies actively trying to get into our rig, digging themselves behind the window screens, etc. and then day 4 they were gone. It was traumatic. Still trying to de-louse our rig and possessions so we can leave the area. Other than that is might be a better site for rent camping than an RV. It was a very large gravel lot with 5 sites along one side, pretty well spaced. The campsites were pretty, parking on the edge of the sites in the parking lot felt a lot like just being in a parking lot with a view of trees on one side. Also some traffic from people turning around etc. Wouldn’t want to have Site A.
Guide to Wells Tannery
Equestrian camping options near Wells Tannery, Pennsylvania extend beyond the Michaux State Forest sites. This region sits at the northern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains within the Appalachian chain, with elevations ranging from 700 to 2,100 feet. Fall temperatures drop to near freezing at night while summer thunderstorms are common in these forested mountains.
What to do
Hike the Appalachian Trail: Access the legendary trail through nearby Michaux State Forest where campers report rewarding winter adventures. "Every January for the last few years some friends and I have gone and camped along the Appalachian Trail. You can park at Pine Grove State Park and then hike your way into locations or park at other trail heads. Water is easily found and views like Sunset Rocks are simply gorgeous," explains John S.
Swim at nearby lakes: Take a break from the trails with a refreshing swim at Colonel Denning State Park Campground, which offers a clean swimming area. "Wide open area to swim that was very clean and well kept. Hope to revisit soon!" shares Casey L. The park also features "a lake and beach are a short distance from the campground," according to Lee D.
Bike around lake trails: Several parks within driving distance offer excellent biking paths. "The trail around the lake was incredible for biking - highly recommend!" notes Kaley R. from Shawnee State Park. Many forest roads throughout the region are also suitable for mountain biking with varying difficulty levels.
What campers like
Large sites with creek access: Horse camping areas often feature spacious sites near water. "We love the dog friendly sites near the water, the kids and pups play all day! We love how large site 15 is and that it is near the trail head," says Casey L. about Colonel Denning State Park.
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained bathhouses in the region's state parks. "Bathhouse is very nice and clean," notes Casey L. at Colonel Denning. Another camper at Shawnee State Park Campground reports: "Bath/Shower House was clean. Did not use the shower."
Private scenic lookouts: Some campsites offer exclusive views. At Rothrock Roadside Campsites, Scott I. describes, "Just behind the upper tent site is the top of the mountain, and the site has their own private overlook to the valley below." These viewpoints provide excellent resting spots for riders and horses alike.
What you should know
Permits required: State forest camping requires free permits in designated areas. "Michaux State Forest sites fall into 4 categories: Designated motorized sites, which require a free online permit and are open April 2 until the 3rd Sunday after Thanksgiving; Designated motorized parking lot sites, which require the same free online permit but are open year-round," explains Bridget D.
Limited amenities: Most horse camping areas are primitive with few facilities. Bridget D. clarifies, "None of the sites available in Michaux have electric or water hookups. If you used/saw one, you were in a State Park, not Forest. No drinking water available at sites (some have a creek or springhouse, which must be treated first). No restrooms."
Seasonal pests: Be prepared for insects, especially in certain seasons. At Teaberry Parking Area Campsites, one camper reported, "The first 3.5 days there were lantern flies actively trying to get into our rig, digging themselves behind the window screens, etc. and then day 4 they were gone. It was traumatic."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with kid-friendly features: Look for campgrounds with play areas. "A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground," notes Lee D. about Shawnee State Park.
Plan for weather changes: Mountain weather can shift quickly. "We were planning a breakfast on the lake but the fog hid the lake view," shares Tiffany K. about morning conditions at Shawnee State Park.
Consider walk-in sites for privacy: At Colonel Denning State Park, one camper recommends, "We stayed in site 28 which was a walk-in site, this was perfect for us since we wanted to be further away from people and the light from the bathroom/shower facility. The site was not far from our parking spot, maybe a hundred yards but there was a slight hill."
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions carefully: Many horse-friendly sites near Wells Tannery have challenging layouts for RVs. "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," shares Brittany V. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Prepare for uneven terrain: RV campers should expect challenging sites. "Many 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," reports Lee D.
Arrive early for better site selection: Weekends fill quickly at popular equestrian campgrounds. "A Monday in mid-October had many open sites," notes one camper, suggesting that weekday arrivals offer more options for selecting level and spacious sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Wells Tannery, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Wells Tannery, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Wells Tannery, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Wells Tannery, PA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Wells Tannery, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Wells Tannery, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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