Jami M.
Guide
GuideIonia State Recreation Area
Great get away
Clean, family friendly, beautiful. Take a walk through the equestrian to check out the horses.
Equestrian Camping near Allendale, MI
9 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Ely Lake Campground in Fennville offers rustic camping with designated equestrian sites and extensive horse trails throughout the Allegan State Forest. The campground features vault toilets and water access through pitcher pumps but no electrical hookups or running water. Horse owners frequent this location for its natural setting and network of riding paths. The primitive nature of the facilities attracts riders seeking an unplugged experience with direct trail access from campsites. Campers regularly observe other equestrians enjoying the trails throughout the property, particularly on weekends when the campground tends to be busier.
Trail access remains the primary draw for equestrians camping at Ely Lake, with miles of designated horseback riding routes winding through the forest. The trails provide varying terrain suitable for different riding skill levels, allowing both novice and experienced riders to enjoy the landscape. Trailer parking accommodates various sizes, though the interior campground roads can be tight for larger rigs. The lake offers a natural water source after rides, though no formal horse washing stations exist. Most riders report bringing portable corrals or high-lines as there are no permanent stall facilities. The campground stays open year-round, making it suitable for multi-season riding trips, though spring and fall visits typically offer more comfortable riding conditions with fewer insects than summer months.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Allendale (9)
1. Duke Creek Campground
"Right across the road from Michigan's Adventure amusement park"
"Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day! We should have reserved an entire week!"
2. Ely Lake Campground
"No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails."
"All rustic sites, horses welcomed, vault toilets, and water pumps. Pay for site by money drop in tube so bring your check book. The lake is great for kayaking. Miles of trails to wander and discover."
from $17 / night
Check Availability3. Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins
"Amazing spot away from the city! The owner of the place is very accommodating and pleasant to be around. Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!"
"The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here"
4. Ionia State Recreation Area
"Take a walk through the equestrian to check out the horses."
"There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. "
from $20 - $160 / night
Check Availability5. Double RR Ranch RV Resort
"We enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids. It is close to a town to get take out food if it rains."
6. White River Campsite #1
"We explored the area while camping at nearby Pines Point campground."
7. Timbers Edge Campground
"We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!"
"A lot of horses and hunters. Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking. Friendly managers. No cell service"
8. Double JJ Resort
9. Equestrian Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
from $20 / night
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Drive Time
- 19 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 26 min from Muskegon, MI
- 1 hr 4 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 1 hr 23 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Allendale, MI
2 Photos of 9 Allendale Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Allendale, MI
46 Reviews of 9 Allendale Campgrounds
- JJames K.
TravelerEly Lake Campground
Beautiful rustic sites with loud parties at night
Ely Lake Campground is a County campground in Allegan Michigan. All of the sites are rustic. Here are the bullet points:
- There are no bathrooms, just pit toilets.
- There is no electricity.
- There is a hand pump for water, although I would recommend bringing your own drinking water because the water from the hand pump is very discolored.
- Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table.
- They don't sell firewood, but you can by some in town on your way in.
- There is a beach.
- You can make reservations online ahead of time, or show up and find an empty site (but bring cash or check to pay because its a drop box).
- They have equestrian trails and sites.
First the positives: It is a beautiful rustic campground. We stayed on the side with sites 49-73 (specifically site 50) which has larger more secluded sites than the other side of the Lake. The Lake is for non-motorized recreational use so it is mostly used for kayaking and canoeing and fishing. There is about a 1 mile trail that you can walk around the exterior of the Lake, however it is ill defined in some places so just keep your eyes peeled for yellow markers on the trees (which are everywhere so you wont get lost).
This place also attracts a lot of equestrian campers and they have trails specifically for horseback riding. So if you have kids that love horses, you may see some on the weekends.
The negatives: It is a wonderful experience until about 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday night. This place attracts a rowdy crowd and in the evenings (apparently there is no where else for the locals to have a rager). There is loud music , people yelling, fireworks going off and… not very much sleep. And I am not just talking about a few people with their music on -- it was someone blasting their sub-woofer with electronic dance music until 4:45 AM. It was really disappointing because otherwise the experience was positive. Luckily my kids are all deep sleepers so I was the only one who had to sit up all night.
They clean the bathrooms daily from what I can tell, but otherwise the campground is not maintained. There was trash around our site, and when you walk the trail about the lake you will see cigarette packets and beer bottles occasionally. Also along the trail were two massive hornet nests that really should have been removed by park management - but it's clear they don't ever maintain the trail.
If you're willing to overlook some garbage, and if the party people stay away you could have a wonderful camping trip. Allegan County has a beautiful natural resource here, but sadly it seems like it is being squandered, and wont last.
- Joshua E.Traveler
Ionia State Recreation Area
Great activities for outdoors lovers
Ionia has so many great outdoor activities for almost anyone. There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. The beach is fantastic especially for little kids who might not be the best swimmers ready for Lake Michigan or lakes with lots of boats and waves to deal with. Nice and sandy and a nice store and ice cream shop at the beach.
The campground itself is very nice, but you may find the activities are a short drive away from your site to get there. The sites are all a little bit shallow especially if you have a larger travel trailer you may find it a bit tight. There is a great variety of shaded and sunny sites. There is only one bathroom for the campground so it can be a bit busy and it could probably use an update.
Suzi K.
ScoutEly Lake Campground
Words Can't Describe
This is always my go to campground! All natural camping with plenty of nice people! One word of advise is to bring your own tp though lol they seem to always run out on Sunday mornings lol but are back up and running by mid afternoon. No showers and just outhouses but that's REAL camping right!!!? No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails. Walking trails around the lake that offer nature at it's purest! I have been coming to this lake to camp for over 40 years and I hope I have 40 more years left!!!
- Becky P.
RangerTimbers Edge Campground
Quiet Getaway!
We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!
- SSharon S.Scout
Timbers Edge Campground
Nice for horses and hunting
I went in November. Most campers were there on the weekend. Pit toilets, a pond, hot showers but shower room unheated, no dump station,nice size lots. A lot of horses and hunters. Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking. Friendly managers. No cell service
- EEllen S.Traveler
Ely Lake Campground
Great Rustic Campground
I have been camping here a couple years. It is open year round. All rustic sites, horses welcomed, vault toilets, and water pumps. Pay for site by money drop in tube so bring your check book. The lake is great for kayaking. Miles of trails to wander and discover.
- Joanie C.Scout
Double RR Ranch RV Resort
Lots to do
There is a river to explore and we always get a riverfront site. Rivers are just fun for fishing, throwing stones, canoeing. There is a campstore, Firepits, large trees, they do hayrides for kids, too. We enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids. It is close to a town to get take out food if it rains. There are some larger vacation lodges to rent that ars nestled away in the woods, and a bunkhouse with rentals. My husband liked the golf course that came with renting spot. Seen lots of wildlife. Very relaxing time in our pop up not too far from Grand Rapids.
Becky J.TravelerEly Lake Campground
Great Primitive Camping
Lived in Michigan for most of my life and frequently visited and camped here as a youth. This is primarily a primitive campground with porto- pottys. Usually pretty clean. Located in the Allegan forest. Very quiet and nice that it has a lake for swimming in the summer.
Guide to Allendale
Ely Lake Campground in Fennville features equestrian trails and dedicated horse camping areas within Allegan County's rustic outdoor setting. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with spacious sites designed for horse trailers. Campers bring their own horses to enjoy miles of marked riding paths throughout the Allegan State Forest. Sites remain open year-round, allowing seasonal trail access with changing foliage views. The equestrian section has separate camping zones for riders who prefer proximity to their animals. The natural lake provides a peaceful backdrop for campers while horses can cool off at designated water access points along the trails. This rustic campground maintains vault toilets but lacks electricity or running water, maintaining its natural appeal for equestrian enthusiasts seeking an unplugged experience.
Miles of forest trails connect directly to the campground, offering extensive riding opportunities through varied terrain and woodland settings. Horse owners access these trails directly from their campsites, eliminating the need for additional transportation once set up. Trailer parking accommodates various sizes with pull-through options available for larger rigs. The campground operates on a first-come basis with self-registration, though busy weekends can fill equestrian sites quickly. The surrounding trail system links to broader regional bridle paths, creating opportunities for both short rides and full-day excursions. Regular trail maintenance ensures safe passage while the forest setting provides natural shade for horse areas. Riders frequently encounter wildlife including deer and various bird species along the wooded paths. Winter camping remains available for cold-weather trail riding, though facilities become more limited during off-season months.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Allendale, MI?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Allendale, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Allendale, MI is Duke Creek Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Allendale, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Allendale, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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