Equestrian Camping near Island Pond, VT

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    New Discovery State Park Campground in Marshfield offers equestrian camping facilities complete with dedicated horse stalls for overnight stays. The campground provides water access, fire rings, picnic tables, and toilet facilities for campers traveling with horses. Sites vary in privacy levels, with some nestled among trees while others are situated in open fields. Horse owners can choose from drive-in sites that accommodate trailers and provide adequate space for both camping equipment and equine needs. The bathhouse facilities are maintained regularly, though some visitors note occasional issues with soap and toilet paper supplies during peak season.

    The campground connects directly to the extensive trail network within Groton State Forest, providing ample riding opportunities for equestrians. Multiple ponds are accessible within a short riding distance, including Osmore Pond, Kettle Pond, and Ricker Pond, allowing for varied trail experiences and water access for horses. A rail trail near the campground enables riders to cover substantial distances through the scenic Vermont landscape. The campground operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, with reservations strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays. Sites with electric hookups are available for RV campers traveling with horses, though availability varies. Trail access directly from the campsite makes this location particularly convenient for daily rides without needing to trailer horses to trailheads.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Island Pond (2)

      1. New Discovery State Park Campground

      4.0(6)39mi from Island PondRVs, Tents

      "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 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."

      from $20 - $38 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Groton Forest Road Campground

      4.0(4)38mi from Island PondRVs, Tents

      "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

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Island Pond, VT

    10 Reviews of 2 Island Pond Campgrounds


    • Miccal  M.
      Aug. 25, 2024

      New 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.

    • jonathan M.
      May. 18, 2022

      Groton Forest Road Campground

      Horrible

      If I could leave a no star rating, I would. To anyone who is looking to park there camper for the season, I recommend going elsewhere. The previous owner was a more reasonable guy and well respected. Save yourself the time and energy and do not sign a contract here, unless you want to later be told you have to leave for a reason that will not be discussed. The current owner is a dictator who likes to show favoritism. Please save yourself the trouble and try a different campground, there are plenty in the state of Vermont.

    • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 1, 2021

      New Discovery State Park Campground

      Interesting State Park

      This state park has a little bit of everything. There are sites with electric hookups as well as some without. Some sites are in the middle of a grassy field while others are tucked in the trees. Site size various pretty vastly as you travel through the campground. There are two main loops, one is more secluded and spaced out than the other. The campground loops have bath houses, complete with coin operated showers. Park staff were attentive and restrooms were being cleaned with frequency. 

      There are more remote walk-in shelters on the Osmore Pond, located within New Discovery State Park. The shelters are rustic, have shared outhouses between a few sites, fire pits and small picnic tables. 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. 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.

    • R
      Jul. 19, 2020

      New Discovery State Park Campground

      Great site, poorly maintained facilities

      I camped at New Discovery this weekend, the sites are well separated and private. The grounds are beautiful and well situated to enjoy Groton State Forest. My complaint is in regards to the maintenance of the facilities. The Women’s bathroom ran out of toilet paper and was never replaced. More upsetting was that the soap container was empty all weekend. At a time like this hand washing is more important than ever! It was very disappointing!

    • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Dec. 14, 2023

      New 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.

    • Reid B.
      Apr. 15, 2019

      Groton Forest Road Campground

      Amazing Campground!

      My girlfriend and I visited last year for a nice getaway and absolutely loved the park. The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites. 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.

    • R
      Aug. 22, 2020

      New Discovery State Park Campground

      Great area

      Awesome state park. Right along a long rail trail where you can put in many miles and not even know it. Swimming and boating is a short ride in a couple different directions, Osmore pond, Kettle pond, or Ricker pond. We stayed at the Eagle leanto and is perfect for hanging multiple hammocks. Close enough to the bathrooms too. 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.

    • Saige V.
      Aug. 4, 2018

      Groton Forest Road Campground

      Beautiful area, great hosts.

      Reservations are def a plus. Can be difficult to get into on the weekend.


    Guide to Island Pond

    New Discovery State Park Campground in Marshfield offers equestrian sites with stalls for horses, allowing riders to camp with their mounts in Groton State Forest. The campground provides both drive-in and walk-in access with tent and RV camping options. Bathroom facilities include showers and toilets, though recent visitors note inconsistent maintenance of restroom supplies. The campground features picnic tables, drinking water, and fire rings at sites. Sites vary considerably in size and privacy, with some located in wooded areas and others in open fields. Horse-specific sites include dedicated stalls for overnight equine accommodations.

    The campground connects to multiple trail systems suitable for horseback riding through Groton State Forest. Several ponds are accessible within short riding distance, including Osmore Pond, Kettle Pond, and Ricker Pond. The rail trail provides extensive riding opportunities where horses can cover substantial mileage on relatively flat terrain. Camping fees run $28 per night plus $5 per day per adult for state park fees. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend visits when the campground fills quickly. Water access points for horses exist at various locations throughout the property. The campground operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, making it suitable for summer and early fall equestrian camping trips.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Island Pond, VT?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Island Pond, VT is New Discovery State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.