New Discovery State Park Campground equestrian sites feature more than just horse stalls. Located in the Vermont's 26,000-acre Groton State Forest, these specialized camping areas include extra-wide parking spaces for trailers and tack storage areas. The equestrian campsites remain open from late May through mid-October, with all horse facilities closing completely during winter months. Water access points for horses are available near most equestrian sites.
What to do
Trail riding: Ride directly from New Discovery State Park Campground onto multiple forest trails. "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," notes Rick S.
Swimming spots: Access multiple ponds within a 10-minute ride. "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," adds a camper describing the natural surroundings.
Wildlife viewing: Watch for moose, deer, and smaller wildlife throughout the forest. "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," advises Laura M. when describing the local wildlife.
What campers like
Private sites: Many campers appreciate the separation between sites. "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," says Robin B.
Accessible water recreation: Branbury State Park Campground offers equestrian-friendly facilities with water access. "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds. Fishing, kayak, canoe, paddle boat and paddle board rentals. There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities," reports J L.
Diverse site options: Horse-friendly campgrounds provide varied terrain options. "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," explains Sarah C. about the layout options for camping with horses.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Expect clean but sometimes understocked bathrooms. "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," notes one camper about temporary maintenance issues.
Water access for RVs: Groton Forest Road Campground provides essential hookups for horse trailers with living quarters. "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 a recent visitor.
Reservation requirements: Book well ahead for equestrian sites, especially during summer months. "Reservations are def a plus. Can be difficult to get into on the weekend," mentions Saige V. about planning ahead for horse camping trips.
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