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Two equestrian campgrounds serve horse riders near Afton, Michigan. Big Oaks Equestrian State Forest Campground in Atlanta features rustic campsites with vault toilets and drinking water from May to October. This campground separates horse and non-horse campers, with sites 1-8 designated for those without horses. The campground connects directly to riding trails, making it convenient for trail access with horses. Sites include fire pits and picnic tables, accommodating both tents and RVs. Small trees throughout the area provide some shade for horses during rest periods. The campground is rated 3/5 by visitors, reflecting its basic but functional nature.
Walsh Road Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp in Grayling offers a more secluded experience from April to November. The campground contains approximately six primitive sites plus an open field for equestrian activities. Recent logging has significantly altered the landscape, reducing shade and natural features. Vault toilets are available but no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own water supply for both themselves and their horses. Trail riders should note there is no cell service in this remote location. The campground receives limited use according to visitors, providing solitude but minimal amenities. Access roads accommodate horse trailers but may present challenges during wet conditions.
"The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn’t recommend for 6 and under."
"The shingle mill pathway in Pigeon River State Forest was a nice, quiet trail. Went on a Thursday in June and saw 1 other person over 2 days."
"Island lake/Huron River Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI. Also, Hiawasse River, TN"
"Recommend the on site ATVrental lots of trails to ride"
"Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn’t get too wild."
"While it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls."
"The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location."
from $61 - $95 / night
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GuideIt was logged off and is essentially destroyed. I think there's 6 "sites" and an open field for equestrian activities.
Very secluded. Nothing of interest in the nearby area.
Looks to be seldom used.
No cell service. Verizon is the dominant service up here. 0 signal.
LegendA horse campground located directly on trails. Rustic campground with lots of trees. Non horse campers stay in lots 1-8
TravelerEntire camp is rustic with well pumps throughout, also all restrooms are vault toilets. Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn’t get too wild.
RangerWhile it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls. Full coin laundry was helpful too! They had kids activities over the 4thof July weekend, and our kid loved it. The KOA is about a 5 min drive to Otsego Lake and the state park, where there's a nice beach and easy lake access. There's also a newly paved bike trail right by the lake for you to log some miles on. Nearby towns of Gaylord and Boyne provided us with plenty to do, and only a couple hours to get to Sleeping Bear sand dunes. We thought this place was worth the expense- big, flat, level sites with fire pit and full hook up. Nice pine trees and plenty of space for kids to play. Did not like the additional fee for kid to get wrist band for jump pillow and mini gold, but did it anyways.
GuidePeaceful and quiet and close to the sinkhole pathway. Clean bathrooms and large mostly private sites. You can launch your boat and beach it near the campground and your campsite but no direct access that we saw.
TravelerThe owners were constantly driving around and correcting people. Rules are okay but they were over the top. They would even stop and just stare at our site while we sat outside.. it was very odd. Also not kept up at all. The playground was old and my 30 lb dog slipped out from under the “dog park” fence because it was so high off the ground where they were allowed to be unleashed, luckily we got her and she’s ok.
GuideSmall sites but full hookups. Nice activities and mini golf. Bathrooms soso. Easy access to Otsego state park and Hartwick pines state park
GuideMe and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn’t recommend for 6 and under.
LegendWe have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 107 for 3 days in mid July. This is a relatively large CG, just under 100 wooded sites, which are reasonably spaced for a private CG. The CG is very clean and well maintained, but rather on the pricy side, even with all of the amenities. The roads and sites are gravel. Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site. He said they’d look into it. During the week, the CG was only about 1/3 full, but completely filled up on the weekend. AT&T coverage fair, with 2 Bars of service that fluctuated between 5G and LTE, with speeds up to 4.3 MB/s. The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location. We had marginal views of the southern and northern skies, but we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink was able to get speeds up to 6.5 MB/s. Unfortunately, the CG WiFi wasn’t very usable, less than 1 MB/s, even before the CG filled up.
Equestrian camping opportunities extend beyond the main facilities near Afton, Michigan. The region sits within the northern Michigan forest system at elevations between 850-1,200 feet, creating varied terrain for trail riding. Weather conditions from April through October typically range from 45-80°F with summer nights cooling significantly, requiring appropriate planning for both riders and horses.
Trail riding at Pigeon River State Forest: Access over 80 miles of marked trails through Michigan's elk country at Pigeon River State Forest Campground. "The shingle mill pathway in Pigeon River State Forest was a nice, quiet trail. Went on a Thursday in June and saw 1 other person over 2 days," notes Ian R.
Kayaking nearby rivers: Rivers surrounding equestrian campgrounds provide alternative recreation. "Judy is lovely. River access great. My favorite place to camp and kayak," reports Sue R. about Sturgeon Valley Campground, located 15 minutes from Afton equestrian trails.
Swimming in natural sinkholes: The region features unique geological formations. "Lots of awesome sink holes to swim in, and even elk sightings. If you can manage to find this place, you will love it!" shares Kate K. about dispersed camping options connecting to equestrian trails.
Peaceful isolation: Most equestrian campgrounds offer significant privacy. "This is a relatively large CG, just under 100 wooded sites, which are reasonably spaced for a private CG," reports Ray & Terri F. about Gaylord KOA, an alternative when equestrian facilities are full.
River-adjacent sites: Water access remains popular among campers. "Me and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. The river ran along the edge of our site," shares Paul C., though warning about strong currents for those with small children.
Multi-use trail connections: Many sites offer direct trail access for both horses and hiking. "The Shingle Mill Pathway runs through the campground. Each site comes with fire pit and picnic table," notes Lydia T., highlighting the convenience of accessing trails directly from camp.
Limited cell service: Nearly all equestrian campgrounds have minimal connectivity. "Beware of the bugs! Also, there is no cell service," warns Halie C. Similarly, at Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground, located 20 miles from Afton, campers report spotty service requiring pre-downloaded maps.
Water supply considerations: While some campgrounds offer pump wells, others require bringing all water. "You can launch your boat and beach it near the campground and your campsite but no direct access that we saw," reports Nicole V., indicating limitations in water accessibility.
Campsite selection timing: Non-reservable equestrian sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "Make sure you have all of your supplies before you arrive as the nearest town is 20+ minutes away. Bring a map/gps because there is not cell service," advises Aaron T.
Age-appropriate campgrounds: Not all equestrian sites accommodate young children safely. "We've camped here for two years in a row and we LOVE it! Everyone is so friendly. Camp sites are nicely spread out and our 4 kids have a ball," shares Holly K. about Chandler Hill Campground, which offers family-friendly facilities near equestrian trails.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area provides educational wildlife encounters. "Entire camp is rustic with well pumps throughout, also all restrooms are vault toilets. Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish," notes Vaughn S.
Insect protection essentials: Ticks and mosquitoes pose significant challenges, especially for children. "The only problem with this hike was the insane amount of ticks," warns Ian R., emphasizing the need for thorough tick checks and appropriate repellents.
Site leveling challenges: Many equestrian campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site. He said they'd look into it," shares Ray & Terri F.
Road conditions for trailers: Access roads vary significantly in quality. "Sites not paved and entrance roads not paved!!!" notes Neil, highlighting potential challenges for horse trailers during wet conditions.
Satellite connectivity limitations: Dense tree coverage affects communications. "The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location," explains a reviewer, noting the importance of selecting sites with southern exposure for trailer-based satellite systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Afton, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Afton, MI is Pigeon River State Forest Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Afton, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Afton, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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