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 Underhill, VT
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New Discovery State Park Campground features specialized horse stalls for equestrians camping in Vermont's Groton State Forest. The campground offers two distinct camping loops with sites that vary from deep wooded areas to open fields, with several sites specifically designed with horse stalls. Bathroom facilities include coin-operated showers and regularly maintained restrooms. The campground provides direct access to multiple hiking trails within the forest system. Sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, with some electric hookups available. The campground operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. The Dyrt provides user ratings for locations near Underhill, Vermont.
Trails from New Discovery connect to the extensive network within Groton State Forest, offering varied terrain for riders. Osmore Pond, located within the park boundaries, provides water access and additional recreation opportunities for campers and their horses. The park maintains multiple water sources suitable for horses throughout the camping areas. Reservations are recommended, especially for equestrian sites which tend to fill quickly during peak season. The campground includes amenities such as drinking water, firewood for purchase, picnic tables, and trash disposal. Bathroom facilities are generally well-maintained, though some visitors note occasional supply issues. The campground's location provides excellent access to the surrounding forest's natural features while maintaining reasonable proximity to services in nearby communities.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Underhill (4)
1. AuSable Chasm Campground
"This camp ground is a short drive to Lake Placid, Plattsburgh, Vermont State and so much more. The Chasm has their own store and cafe"
"Sites were a medium distance apart but still spacious enough to not be close to neighbors."
2. 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
3. Branbury State Park Campground
"The site was so scenic with a little waterfall and stream nearby. The camp staff was so nice. They kept the the bathrooms and areas so clean."
"Love to lake access, secluded camping, the hiking and remote area. Planning on revisiting next summer, even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time."
4. 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
Drive Time
- 26 min from Burlington, VT
- 2 hrs 20 min from Glens Falls, NY
- 2 hrs 29 min from Manchester, NH
- 3 hrs 4 min from Albany, NY
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Underhill, VT
33 Reviews of 4 Underhill Campgrounds
- RRebecca Y.
TravelerAuSable Chasm Campground
Beautiful/Fun Campground
I wish I had my bike!!! I didn’t know that this was a biking campground and there were SO MANY trails. Made the most of them with running, but overall, a fantastic campground. Showers were clean, staff was very friendly. Sites and attractions within walking distance (but busy roads to cross).
J L.
RangerBranbury State Park Campground
Gorgeous views! Family friendly!
Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds. Fishing, kayak, canoe, paddle boat and paddle board rentals. Theres a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground. Volleyball and horseshoe pits. Definitely will be returning! Also, bathrooms were always clean and well maintained. Park staff very friendly!
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.
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.
Brian P.
ScoutAuSable Chasm Campground
Don't waste your time here
The"road" into the campground is more like a goat trail, with numerous washoutsand uneven rocks and dirt. RV site 8 is so out of level that we couldn't get our Airstream level unless we put 10" of blocking under both axles. And the whole idea of paying a"lock fee" is total BS, especially when we paid for our site, in full, 2 months in advance. The ladies at the front desk and the maintenance guy went out of their way to try and make things right, but the manager, his boss and Campspot are completely incompetent and only care about making money.
- YYM C.Traveler
AuSable Chasm Campground
So fun!
Terrific location to hike the different trails of ausable chasm. Good sized site with electric and water. Shady but also had sun to dry our shoes from the raft tour. Bathrooms and showers weren’t too bad, the doors are always kept open which means bugs but not too buggy as they are cleaned daily. Did wish more than once that they had those “occupied/vacant” airplane locks.
M.A.D. P.LegendBranbury State Park Campground
One of the more popular Vt State parks
We showed up on a busy Memorial Day weekend without reservations and the staff was kind enough to give us their last leanto. This place has access to some of the best hiking and paddling in the state.
Victor R.ScoutAuSable Chasm Campground
First time camping
Excellent campground for the family. Great staff, great facilities.
Guide to Underhill
New Discovery State Park Campground provides specialized accommodations for horse enthusiasts within Groton State Forest. The campground operates two distinct camping areas including sites with dedicated horse stalls. Sites range from $28/night plus a $5/day per adult state park fee. During peak season, equestrian sites fill quickly, requiring advance planning for those traveling with horses. The temperature drops significantly at night even during summer months, requiring appropriate gear for comfortable camping.
What to do
Trail riding access: Direct connections to Groton State Forest's extensive trail network make New Discovery State Park Campground ideal for equestrian camping. "Awesome state park. Right along a long rail trail where you can put in many miles and not even know it," notes Rick S.
Swimming options: Multiple water bodies within 5-10 minutes of the campground provide cooling relief. "Swimming and boating is a short ride in a couple different directions, Osmore pond, Kettle pond, or Ricker pond," shares Rick S.
Hiking from campsites: Several trail options begin directly from the 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," notes Laura M.
What campers like
Private, well-separated sites: Branbury State Park Campground offers generous spacing between campsites. "I couldn't believe how large the lots were. While they aren't super far from one another, they are large enough that they seem further than they are," reports Catherine M.
Varied terrain options: New Discovery offers both wooded seclusion and open field camping. "There are two main loops, one is more secluded and spaced out than the other," explains Sarah C. about the campground layout.
Remote water access sites: For those seeking privacy, "we had the most perfect spot in a private site on osmore pond that was accessible only by canoe! quiet, serene, beautiful!" shares Sambath T. about their New Discovery experience.
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Proper food storage is essential in this region. "Just make sure you put your food and trash away - there are black bears in the area!" warns Nicole E. about AuSable Chasm Campground.
Bathroom facilities: Cleanliness varies by location and timing. "The Women's bathroom ran out of toilet paper and was never replaced. More upsetting was that the soap container was empty all weekend," reports Robin B. from New Discovery.
Water access challenges: RV owners should note potential filling difficulties. "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results," explains Laura M., though they found a solution at the dump station.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Groton Forest Road Campground provides family-friendly recreation areas. "The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use," notes Reid B.
Book lean-tos early: These popular shelters provide weather protection for families. "Book early if you want to get a site with a lean-to!" advises Nicole E., as these sites are particularly sought after.
Trail difficulty considerations: Not all trails are suitable for young children. "A five minute hike - though it is quite a rocky, boulder-y hike - from the sites leads to a small river and swimming hole," explains Nicole E.
Tips from RVers
Site selection importance: Many campgrounds have significant variations in site quality. "RV site 8 is so out of level that we couldn't get our Airstream level unless we put 10" of blocking under both axles," warns Brian P. at AuSable Chasm.
Road conditions: Access roads may challenge larger rigs. "The 'road' into the campground is more like a goat trail, with numerous washouts and uneven rocks and dirt," reports Brian P., highlighting the importance of researching access routes.
Seasonal considerations: Most Vermont campgrounds close after Columbus Day weekend. Vermont weather becomes unpredictable in fall, with freezing temperatures possible from late September onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Underhill, VT?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Underhill, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Underhill, VT is AuSable Chasm Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Underhill, VT?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Underhill, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Underhill, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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