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 Lyndonville, VT
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New Discovery State Park Campground contains specialty sites with stalls for equestrian campers. The campground features both electric hookups for RVs and primitive tent sites, with some areas designated specifically for those traveling with horses. The bathhouse facilities include showers and flush toilets, though recent visitors note that maintenance can be inconsistent. Sites are well-separated with good privacy between camping areas. The campground's location within Groton State Forest provides excellent access to the surrounding trail network, making it convenient for horse owners wanting to explore the area.
Trail riding opportunities abound through Groton State Forest, with multiple connected ponds accessible via horseback. Horse owners can access several interconnected trail systems directly from the campground. The sites with horse stalls require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when the campground fills quickly. Water access is available for horses, though campers should bring their own buckets and leads. The rail trail that passes near the campground offers miles of riding without significant elevation changes, making it suitable for riders of various experience levels. Campground fees are $28 per night plus a $5 daily state park fee per adult, with additional considerations for equestrian sites.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Lyndonville (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 27 min from Burlington, VT
- 1 hr 52 min from Manchester, NH
- 2 hrs 39 min from Lewiston, ME
- 3 hrs 1 min from Portland, ME
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Lyndonville, VT
44 Reviews of 4 Lyndonville 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 Lyndonville
New Discovery State Park Campground offers specialized equestrian camping facilities near Lyndonville, Vermont. Located in Groton State Forest at 1,100 feet elevation, the area experiences cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands, with summer highs typically in the 70s. The campground operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, serving as one of the region's primary destinations for visitors traveling with horses.
What to do
Trail riding exploration: Access multiple connected trail systems directly from New Discovery State Park Campground, with routes suitable for various experience levels. "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," notes Miccal M.
Swimming and boating options: Multiple ponds within Groton State Forest provide water recreation opportunities within short distances. "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," reports Rick S.
Hiking trail access: Explore the extensive trail network surrounding Hancock Campground with options for day hikes at various difficulty levels. "Great place to set up camp to get some 4Ks in the whites. Some lovely spots by the water. Open year round!! I have stayed here many times, three times in the winter and a few times in the summer," shares Kim O.
What campers like
Well-spaced sites: The campground layout offers good separation between sites in certain areas, providing privacy for campers. "We camped at Groton Forest Road Campground 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," reports Reid B.
Lean-to options: Several campers appreciate the rustic shelter options around Osmore Pond. "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," explains Sarah C.
Peaceful water access: Sites near water features receive consistently positive feedback for their ambiance. "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!" writes Sambath T.
What you should know
Variable site conditions: Site quality and accessibility vary significantly throughout the campground. "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," advises Laura M.
Bathroom facility limitations: Facility maintenance can be inconsistent, especially during busy 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. At a time like this hand washing is more important than ever! It was very disappointing!" reports Robin B.
Water access considerations: RVers should note water availability challenges. "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," explains Laura M.
Tips for camping with families
Book early for equestrian sites: Horse camping areas near Lyndonville require advance planning, particularly for summer weekends when sites fill quickly. "Reservations are def a plus. Can be difficult to get into on the weekend," advises Saige V. from Groton Forest Road Campground.
Consider walk-in tent sites for more space: Families with children may prefer the walk-in tent areas for additional room to spread out. "Hancock Campground is one of 6 national forest campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community," shares Tara S.
Pack accordingly for remote sites: When selecting more distant sites, consider equipment transport logistics. "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 be sure you are heading to a site closer to the parking area," notes Sarah C.
Tips from RVers
Plan for variable hookup options: RV camping at equestrian facilities near Lyndonville requires research on available utilities. "This state park has a little bit of everything. There are sites with electric hookups as well as some without. Site size various pretty vastly as you travel through the campground," explains Sarah C.
Prepare for moderate-sized rigs only: Most equestrian campgrounds in the area accommodate small to medium RVs rather than large rigs. "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," notes Robin B.
Check shower facilities before arrival: Coin-operated showers are available but require quarters. "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," mentions Laura M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Lyndonville, VT?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lyndonville, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lyndonville, VT is New Discovery State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Lyndonville, VT?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lyndonville, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Lyndonville, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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