Matt T.
Guide
GuideNew Discovery State Park Campground
Great state park
Most sites are secluded. There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!
Equestrian Camping near Greensboro Bend, VT
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New Discovery State Park Campground includes specialized sites with horse stalls, offering equestrians dedicated facilities within Groton State Forest. The campground features two main loops with varying site configurations, some deep in the woods with tree coverage and others in open fields. Sites with horse stalls accommodate riders traveling with their animals. The campground provides drinking water, fire pits, picnic tables, and access to showers and flush toilets. Visitors note that some sites are tucked in the trees providing good privacy between camping areas. Bath houses receive regular maintenance, though occasional facility issues have been reported during busy periods.
Trail access directly from the campground connects riders to the surrounding Groton State Forest trail system. The campground serves as an excellent base for exploring multiple ponds in the vicinity, including Osmore Pond, Kettle Pond, and Ricker Pond, all accessible via short rides. A long rail trail near the campground allows for extended riding opportunities through the forest. Water access for horses is available at several locations. Site reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend visits when the campground typically reaches capacity. The park charges $28 per night plus a $5 daily state park fee per adult. While some bathrooms feature running water, others are basic outhouses, and the availability of amenities varies by season.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Greensboro Bend (4)
1. New Discovery State Park Campground
"There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses. The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion."
"There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!"
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $38 / night
2. Groton Forest Road Campground
"The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use. The bathrooms were well maintained along with the showers."
from $35 / night
3. Hancock Campground
"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
4. Haystack Road
"It is next to the Highway on a paved fire road. So you can hear traffic. And it is paved (which is good if it’s wet and muddy elsewhere). The other spots looked amazing."
"They have a fire pit, plenty of woods around, and are free."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 19 min from Burlington, VT
- 2 hrs 16 min from Manchester, NH
- 2 hrs 52 min from Glens Falls, NY
- 3 hrs 5 min from Lewiston, ME
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Greensboro Bend, VT
44 Reviews of 4 Greensboro Bend Campgrounds
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.
LegendHancock Campground
Fall Camping
This is our go to spot for late Fall and Winter camping. Just a few hard core cold weather lovers. Close to the slopes and snow shoe/snow mobile trails. Bathrooms are closed during this time. The porta potties are clean.
- TTaylor C.
TravelerHaystack Road
Site 11
Amazing spot, great area! Plentyyy of room. Between sites 10 & 11 is the longest distance out the bunch and enjoyed that because it was easy to run a generator at any hour of the day with no one able to be disturbed by it. Loved Haystack Road overall. Had strong AT&T reception even with 1 - 2 bars.
Miccal M.LegendNew Discovery State Park Campground
Drove through on my way past
This easy-to-access campground has made it on my list of places to stay.
There are two loops of sites, some deep in the woods with great-looking trees, others in a field, and some in between. There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses.
The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion.
Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at.
- SSean F.Guide
Hancock Campground
A little cramped, great location though
Open year round. Most sites are close together with very little privacy
A few sites are pretty much right on the river which is awesome. There's a nearby swimming hole. Campground is only short drive away from an endless amount of hiking options
- Miccal M.Legend
Hancock Campground
Small but nice
I just spent a cold rainy, snowy weekend camping here in January, and had a blast. The campground is plowed, sites have their access plowed with various widths depending on the site. The sites are a little close together, and for winter there was a number of them being used.
The campground is close to Lincoln, NH so if you need supplies you can easily run into town for food and drink. It's even closer to Loon Mtn and the Pemigewasset wilderness allowing for some amazing outdoor activities.
There are many dumpsters and bear boxes throughout the campground, the walk-in sites all have bear boxes. Every site has a fire pit. The campground is easily accessible by pavement.
Laura M.LegendNew Discovery State Park Campground
Lovely, friendly campground.
There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers. Camp fees are $28/night, plus $5/day per adult for state park fees.
There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. (Apparently you can’t use those if the other end of the hose is pressurized.) Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water.
Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don’t even know how a car would camp there. Some sites are out in the open grass where you just find a spot within the site that works for you. We saw fresh moose poop on a hike but sadly no moose or other wildlife. There are bears around the area though so please be bear smart when camping here.
Showers are something like $1 for 8 minutes, quarters only. The lean-to sites are really cool, and if I was tent camping I think they’d be so fun to sleep in. They have food compost bins here, but the rangers keep forgetting to unlock the bin, so you just have to ask them. There’s also a book exchange library and adorable little gnome habitats set up in the campground. We had a pleasant stay here.
Ann P.
RangerHancock Campground
Pretty but not clean
Some pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
- DDrew
ScoutHaystack Road
Quiet, small, flat spots
There are 11 options, each completely separated from the others. We were in spot #1 which is nothing at all like the others. It is next to the Highway on a paved fire road. So you can hear traffic. And it is paved (which is good if it’s wet and muddy elsewhere). The other spots looked amazing.
Guide to Greensboro Bend
New Discovery State Park Campground provides specialized equestrian facilities in Vermont's Groton State Forest region. Located near Greensboro Bend, the campground features dedicated sites with horse stalls that connect directly to forest trail systems. The region offers varied terrain at approximately 1,000-1,500 feet elevation with moderate temperatures that typically range from 45-75°F during the main camping season from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Trail riding excursions: The campground connects to extensive trail networks throughout Groton State Forest. "This easy-to-access campground has made it on my list of places to stay... Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion," notes Miccal M. about New Discovery State Park Campground.
Water activities: Multiple ponds provide swimming and boating opportunities. "My girlfriend and I visited last year for a nice getaway and absolutely loved the park. The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use," reports Reid B. about Groton Forest Road Campground.
Winter exploration: Some nearby campgrounds remain open year-round. "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites," shares Heather B. about winter camping options.
What campers like
Diverse site configurations: Campers appreciate the variety of site layouts available. "There are two loops of sites, some deep in the woods with great-looking trees, others in a field, and some in between. There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses," describes Miccal M.
Water proximity: Sites near ponds and rivers are particularly popular. "We had the most perfect spot in a private site on osmore pond that was accessible only by canoe! quiet, serene. beautiful! can't wait to go back!" reports Sambath T. about Hancock Campground.
Natural wildlife: Opportunities for wildlife viewing enhance the camping experience. "There were squirrels that would spend lots of time throughout the day sending loose the green pine cones and then come down and chew them up. Pretty entertaining except for when they drop them on your tarps," describes Rick S.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Services change throughout the operating season. "Showers are something like $1 for 8 minutes, quarters only. They have food compost bins here, but the rangers keep forgetting to unlock the bin, so you just have to ask them," explains Laura M. about New Discovery State Park Campground.
Facility maintenance issues: Occasional maintenance problems can occur during peak periods. "The Women's bathroom ran out of toilet paper and was never replaced. More upsetting was that the soap container was empty all weekend," notes Robin B.
Varied bathroom options: Bathroom facilities differ throughout the campgrounds. "The campground loops have bath houses, complete with coin operated showers. Park staff were attentive and restrooms were being cleaned with frequency," reports Sarah C.
Tips for camping with families
Consider remote shelter options: Remote pond-side shelters offer unique experiences. "The remote sites are spaced nicely around the pond along a hiking trail that skirts the perimeter. The walk from the parking area to the shelters varies, depending what side of the pond you are camping on," advises Sarah C.
Pack-in preparation: Some sites require carrying equipment from parking areas. "If bringing a full-sized cooler (or other large/luxury car camping items) be sure you are heading to a site closer to the parking area. It would be a challenge to get some of those larger, heavier items to sites across the pond from the parking lot," warns Sarah C.
Special amenities: Look for family-friendly features. "There's also a book exchange library and adorable little gnome habitats set up in the campground. We had a pleasant stay here," shares Laura M.
Tips from RVers
Water connection challenges: RVers should note specific water access limitations. "There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water," advises Laura M. about Groton Forest Road Campground.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs. "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there. Some sites are out in the open grass where you just find a spot within the site that works for you," notes Laura M.
Bear safety measures: Bear presence requires proper precautions. "We saw fresh moose poop on a hike but sadly no moose or other wildlife. There are bears around the area though so please be bear smart when camping here," cautions Laura M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Greensboro Bend, VT?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Greensboro Bend, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Greensboro Bend, VT is New Discovery State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 7 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Greensboro Bend, VT?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Greensboro Bend, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Greensboro Bend, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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