New Discovery State Park Campground stands out as a premier destination for equestrian camping near Lincoln, Vermont. Located within the vast 26,000-acre Groton State Forest, the campground sits at approximately 1,100 feet elevation. The region experiences cool summer nights, even in July and August, with temperatures often dropping into the 50s after sunset.
What to do
Trail riding access points: New Discovery State Park offers equestrian campers direct connections to extensive bridle paths. As one visitor noted, "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."
Swimming options: Branbury State Park Campground provides lake access just 22 miles from Lincoln. A visitor mentioned, "Across the street from the campground was access to the lake with plenty of grassy areas to hang out. And beautiful sunsets at night! A five minute hike—though it is quite a rocky, boulder-y hike—from the sites leads to a small river and swimming hole."
Day hikes: Multiple hiking trails of varying difficulty levels connect through the state forest system. According to one camper, "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."
What campers like
Private sites: Frontier Town Campground specializes in equestrian-friendly camping with generous site dimensions. One visitor explained, "We stayed in site 33 which is in the equestrian camping area. It's really open with little tree cover which is perfect for those who work remote using Starlink. The sites in the equestrian camping area are huge and so clean."
Clean facilities: Many equestrian camping locations prioritize bathroom maintenance. A camper at Frontier Town noted, "The bathrooms are the cleanest I've seen so far and we do this full time." However, they cautioned about shower temperatures: "The only disappointment was that the hot water doesn't get very hot in the shower so you better do some jumping jacks to get pumped before showering during colder temps!"
Waterfront options: Ausable Chasm Campground offers unique waterfront camping about 2 hours from Lincoln. As one visitor described their experience: "Upon arrival, the front desk clerk was very nice and helpful. We found our way to the tent sites, nestled in the very back corner which for us was exactly what we like. Sites were a medium distance apart but still spacious enough to not be close to neighbors."
What you should know
Limited supplies: When planning horse camping trips near Lincoln, stock up before arrival. A Frontier Town camper advised, "Get your supplies before you arrive! Not many places around to quickly grab charcoal if you need it."
Seasonal considerations: Vermont horse camping generally runs from late May through mid-October. According to one visitor at Groton Forest Road Campground: "Reservations are def a plus. Can be difficult to get into on the weekend."
Wildlife awareness: Bear activity requires proper food storage at equestrian campsites. A Branbury State Park visitor cautioned: "Just make sure you put your food and trash away—there are black bears in the area!"
Tips for camping with families
Lake activities: Families particularly enjoy the water access at many Vermont campgrounds. A Groton Forest Road Campground camper shared, "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."
Playground access: AuSable Chasm Campground offers family-friendly amenities within 90 minutes of Lincoln. A visitor mentioned, "Pool was clean, playground kids loved it. And facilities were clean, with hot showers."
Nature programs: Several state parks offer educational programs for children. At Branbury State Park, a camper reported, "Theres a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground. Volleyball and horseshoe pits."
Tips from RVers
Site configurations: RV sites in equestrian camping areas near Lincoln often have unusual layouts. One Frontier Town visitor noted, "Sites are built wrong so it is hard to get you camper into your site correct. It is definitely catered to the equestrian part of the camping."
Water connections: Some campgrounds have non-standard water connections. A New Discovery visitor explained, "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."
Site selection strategies: When booking horse camping with an RV, carefully review site descriptions. At Frontier Town, a camper observed, "I was in site 43, it was long enough it could have fit two of the biggest RVs I have ever seen. My 75 foot starling cable did not even reach all the way back out to the road."
Ranger
