Camping/riding the Moshannon State Forest (PA)?

[cnvh]

Has anyone gone riding/camping in the Moshannon State Forest in northern PA? I understand they have equestrian camping facilities, although I suspect they’re rather primitive. I haven’t been able to find a whole lot of info online and am wondering if anyone here has any personal experience.

We live about 2 1/2 hours south of there and drive right through the MSF on our way to visit my folks. The next time we make the drive in the daylight, I think I may scope the place out… I recently acquired a trailer, but so far our adventures have been limited to about an hour’s drive from the barn; the MSF would be a pretty significant trip.

[lawndart]

[QUOTE=cnvh;7242725]
Has anyone gone riding/camping in the Moshannon State Forest in northern PA? I understand they have equestrian camping facilities, although I suspect they’re rather primitive. I haven’t been able to find a whole lot of info online and am wondering if anyone here has any personal experience.

We live about 2 1/2 hours south of there and drive right through the MSF on our way to visit my folks. The next time we make the drive in the daylight, I think I may scope the place out… I recently acquired a trailer, but so far our adventures have been limited to about an hour’s drive from the barn; the MSF would be a pretty significant trip.[/QUOTE]

I’ve ridden in Moshannon, and have not gone back for several reasons. reason #1 is I have access to much better trails. #2 Moshannon is very busy on thew weekends, at least in the summer. #3 You have to haul a pretty big hill for either access roads, which was a problem for me years ago, not so much now, but refer back to #1.

If you want to PM me your route, I can probably give you better riding suggestions.

[cnvh]

Thanks! I will definitely check out the access road with my car first. I’m also considering the Thunder Mountain Trail, which is a bit closer to my folks’ place and would be a decent haul-there-and-back distance next summer when I bring the Horse along to farm-sit for the week. Any experience with that one?

[lawndart]

[QUOTE=cnvh;7247515]
Thanks! I will definitely check out the access road with my car first. I’m also considering the Thunder Mountain Trail, which is a bit closer to my folks’ place and would be a decent haul-there-and-back distance next summer when I bring the Horse along to farm-sit for the week. Any experience with that one?[/QUOTE]

No, I’ve yet to ride in Elk County. I think kasjordan from this bb goes there quite frequently tho.

[kasjordan]

[QUOTE=lawndart;7247583]
No, I’ve yet to ride in Elk County. I think kasjordan from this bb goes there quite frequently tho.[/QUOTE]

Yep, I’m the Benezette aficionado! If you go there with your horse, the best place to camp is Big Elk Lick Campground. (They have a facebook page) The owner is WONDERFUL and you can leave right from camp and hit the trails…tons and tons of riding. You can swim your horse in the deep holes at a nearby creek. Some easy, some not so easy. If you go in the summer ,it won’t be too hard to get a camping spot from her but if you go when the elk are bugling, which I highly recommend at least once, you will need to make reservations for next Sept now.
Benezette pics-
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/kasjordan/3e8403af-20e1-4591-92ad-4adba8da290c_zpsb70faf6a.jpg

See if the album is viewable, (if you have FB). It’s just so much fun to ride there and it’s a neat little town.
https://www.facebook.com/kerri.jordan.58/media_set?set=a.4162018971768.173295.1322886432&type=3

[cnvh]

Awesome pics, thanks!

[copper1]

My husband and I have driven up to Benezette the past two falls to see the elk and it has been a wonderful experience. I think riding up there would be really great and obviously many others do since both times we have been the campgrounds in town have been full of horses!