Ortonville Equestrian Campground accommodates horses with rustic facilities in a wooded setting approximately 35 miles northwest of Clinton Township. The site features vault toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings with direct access to horseback riding trails. The 5,400-acre recreation area provides year-round access to bridle trails through diverse terrain including hills, forests, and meadows suitable for horse exploration.
What to do
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: Highland State Recreation Area offers extensive trail systems for biking enthusiasts. "The camp area itself is sparse and small, but clean. There is only one site with a tree so don't expect shade on a sunny day. It's a good park setting however, with nice beaches and great fishing," notes Marcy D. about Highland State Recreation Area.
Kayaking on multiple lakes: Seven Lakes State Park provides clear waters perfect for paddling. "Sand Lake was our spot and the water was breath taking - it's a small pond really, but great for kayaking. Crystal clear, clean water, a good public beach," shares Andy B. about Seven Lakes State Park Campground.
Fishing in stocked waters: Multiple recreation areas offer fishing opportunities within 40 miles of Clinton Township. "The campground has a private lake that's good for swimming and fishing. The sites are decently sized with most being easily gotten into with an RV," explains Holly S. about Seven Lakes State Park Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, the natural vegetation creates separation. "The campground is nice with good access to bikes, trails, water, beach. Unfortunately the sites are on top of each other and very loud," reports John K. about Bishop Lake Campground.
Clean facilities: Addison Oaks County Park maintains well-kept amenities. "Cement pads, water, and electric. Loop C is spacious with some trees," notes Ron E. about Addison Oaks County Park.
Trail connectivity: Multiple campgrounds offer direct access to trail systems. "Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Lovely little no wake lake perfect for swimming, fishing or paddling," says Jennifer H. about Highland State Recreation Area.
What you should know
Seasonal bug activity: Mosquitoes can be prevalent, especially near marshy areas. "The biggest problem was mosquito activity. The camping area sits on an inaccessible lake with a marsh area. When we rolled in the first thing we noticed was that everyone had screen houses set up," warns Ryan F. about Brighton Recreation Area.
Limited shade at some sites: Several campgrounds have young trees or open areas. "Trees and covered areas were skimpy - trees were still young," mentions Andy B. about Seven Lakes State Park.
Accessibility concerns: Some rustic areas can be challenging to reach. "If it's rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area. We have a 4Runner, so it was no problem but a few little cars did slide around and have trouble on the hill by our site," advises Ryan F. about Brighton Recreation Area.
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Family-oriented campgrounds often have play structures. "Tons of trails for hiking and biking. They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean," shares Wendy K. about Addison Oaks County Park.
Consider organized activities: Some parks offer scheduled events. "It was a Boo Fest weekend. Lots of socially distanced activities for the kids and a scavenger hunt (finding clues on signs in park to solve a mystery)," mentions Tim & Nancy C. about Addison Oaks County Park.
Plan for water recreation: Lakes provide entertainment for children. "The beach is nice, a little small, but clean and fun (would be nice if your pets were allowed to swim also)," notes Jennifer O. about Pontiac Lake State Rec Area.
Tips from RVers
Check hookup locations: Some sites have distant electrical connections. "If you are hoping to hook up to electrical, bring extension cords; some hook ups are exceptionally far away from the designated RV parking pad," advises Mary H. about Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Note site terrain: Many campgrounds have uneven sites. "Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you," recommends Edward C. about Seven Lakes State Park Campground.
Plan for dump stations: Not all equestrian campgrounds have full facilities. "The bathrooms are clean and the showers were warm," reports Mike B. about Bishop Lake Campground, which offers more amenities than rustic equestrian sites.
