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Ortonville Equestrian Campground provides dedicated horse facilities within the Ortonville Recreation Area. Horse-friendly campsites accommodate tent and RV camping with adequate space for horse trailers. The campground connects directly to extensive equestrian trail systems throughout the 5,400-acre recreation area. Basic amenities include drinking water, picnic tables, toilets, and trash disposal. The campground maintains a quiet atmosphere with sites spaced for privacy among wooded terrain. Fires are permitted in designated rings at each campsite. The campground features secluded sites that offer an authentic northwoods experience despite being relatively close to the Detroit metro area.
Equestrian trails wind through diverse terrain including forests, meadows, and rolling hills. Trail riders can access multiple loop options ranging from beginner-friendly flat sections to more challenging routes with elevation changes. Trails are well-marked with distance indicators at junction points. Spring and fall offer optimal riding conditions when temperatures are moderate and insects are less prevalent. Horse owners should note that sites do not include electric hookups or water hookups at individual campsites. Advance reservations are recommended during peak season (May through October) as the equestrian-specific sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. Equestrians must follow proper manure management protocols and keep horses secured at campsites when not on trails.
"Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails. Nice big lake. Only drawback is you must drive to the lake or hike 1.8 miles through the woods on a trail to get there. No camp store."
"An extensive horse back riding trail system and MTB trails are easily accessible."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"The park has a beautiful 2.5 mile trail around the lake that makes this campground great. We brought our own kayaks but they do rent boats. We saw deer and rabbit."
"Always a great local retreat away from our hectic daily life. Don’t have to travel far to find some nature. Most sites generously sized, hookups available, clean restrooms."
"Addison Oaks is a campground that features hiking and mountain biking trails, campground, cabins, disc golf course, and a lake for boating."
"The grounds are huge with bike/hike trails, a lake and a disc golf course. Mountain biking seems to be very popular there are dirt trails off the paved hiking loop."
"Great time to unplug and just enjoy our surroundings and begin to learn our own creativity!"
"This is one of our family's favorite close to home sites. Extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around. Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding."
"There are over 20 sites, about half of which are located lake side (not directly on the lake, but there are little paths that lead you there and you can somewhat see the water from these sites.)"
"Wish there was a few additional water filling points and that the dumpsters were all located near the camp entrance/exit. But really nothing to complain about. "
"Campground Review: Bishop Lake is a great campground located in the middle of the Brighton Rec Area. The upper and lower campgrounds are both modern, with every site including electric."
"Great family place with paved and dirt biking/hiking trails. Very nice beach with grass and sand. There are 2 areas of inflatables, one of them is for the little kids 48 in. and under."
from $17 - $90 / night
Check Availability"The campground here is actually a quite popular equestrian campground. There is a campground and a staging area. Rustic vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings."
"This is another great scout ing campground with cabins, rustic camping, tent sites, lakes, horses to ride, this is one HUGE camp ground for scouts to enjoy and learn.."
"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"Nice campgrounds easy to get around and my children loved it"
"As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here"
"Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably."
from $20 - $35 / night
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LegendThe campground here is actually a quite popular equestrian campground. There is a campground and a staging area. Rustic vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground itself isn’t really much to write home about (unless you have horses that is). The lakes and launches are however very nice and there are some great trail systems through the area.
GuideVery nice sites. Wooded and up north feel. Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails. Nice big lake. Only drawback is you must drive to the lake or hike 1.8 miles through the woods on a trail to get there. No camp store. Equestrian trails and I hear they have a remote control airplane field and shooting range.
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutWhat started as a little get away turned into not wanting to leave! A swimming pool and playground with basketball court to keep my kids entertained and clean facilities convinced me I had made the right choice. As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here. Other perks to this campground: Openings to Pinckney State trails right on property and all sorts of lakes, parks and small town downtown areas for food and shopping nearby, H.C.R.C. was a hidden gem.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
GuideThis is another great scout ing campground with cabins, rustic camping, tent sites, lakes, horses to ride, this is one HUGE camp ground for scouts to enjoy and learn..
ScoutA very quiet campground. The sites are spread out and only 2 vehicles per site are allowed. The East campground is more open and had 3 small cabins that can be rented. The West camping is more wooded and isolated. An extensive horse back riding trail system and MTB trails are easily accessible.
TravelerThis was our first time staying here. Great private campground with rustic, elec, water/elec (30 amp), and concrete pad sites. Very clean campground with nice shower house. Owners are very friendly. Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably.
ScoutThis is a fabulous campground! There are over 20 sites, about half of which are located lake side (not directly on the lake, but there are little paths that lead you there and you can somewhat see the water from these sites.) There is a boat launch on one end of campground and the amazing beach on the other. The water is clear and warm (perfect lake for swimming) and there is both sand and grassy areas on the fairly large beach. The beach also offers picnic tables and benches. The only negative aspect I can see about this campground is that the sites are right on top of each other, so if you have a loud group or a generator next to you, it is noisy. But most campgrounds have sites set real close together, so you will find this pretty much everywhere. Def camp here! About an hours drive from a Pictured Rocks National Park. There are no showers or running water. Camp hosts were very nice, helpful, & welcoming.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground sits in Michigan's Lower Peninsula within a 5,400-acre recreation area northwest of Auburn Hills. The campground provides access to diverse terrain across rolling hills and wooded areas with seasonal temperature variations common to the region. Trails through the area frequently cross meadow areas and offer several creek crossings during spring and early summer months.
Hiking trail exploration: At Highland State Recreation Area, visitors access extensive trail networks through varied landscapes. "The natural scenery is STUNNING with fields of flowers and trees. We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail! There's a quiet lake perfect for unwinding after a long day," reports Adrienne C.
Horseback riding trails: The dedicated equestrian facilities near Auburn Hills offer multi-loop trail systems. According to Kate K., who visited Ortonville Equestrian Campground, "There is a campground and a staging area. Rustic vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The lakes and launches are however very nice and there are some great trail systems through the area."
Water recreation options: Multiple lakes provide swimming and boating opportunities. At Brighton Recreation Area, Melissa M. notes, "The lake you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, row boats or paddle boats. They offer all types of camping."
Spacious equestrian sites: Horse campgrounds near Auburn Hills, Michigan feature functional layouts for riders. Unlike crowded camping areas, equestrian-focused sites accommodate trailers and provide staging areas for riders preparing for trail access.
Private camping atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the secluded feeling at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area. Daniel comments, "Camp site was nice with blacktop pad and once parked felt very secluded and could barely see site past truck in parking spot. Great for getting away and seeing the night sky."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural areas around Auburn Hills support diverse wildlife. Jennifer H. from Highland State Recreation Area mentions, "Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Lovely little no wake lake perfect for swimming, fishing or paddling."
Seasonal considerations: Michigan's weather affects camping conditions. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, Kristina J. warns, "There are tons of mosquitoes and ticks, so make sure you bring bug spray. Also make sure that all food and garbage is secure at night, the raccoons have no fear."
Accessibility factors: Some recreation areas require planning for water access. Renee R. points out about Pontiac Lake, "Clean campground and well maintained. Two different loops to choose from for camping. Only drawback is the distance from the lake. The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive."
Campground amenities: Facilities vary between horse-focused campgrounds and standard sites. The equestrian camps typically provide basic amenities focused on rider needs rather than luxury camping features.
Water activities for children: Seven Lakes State Park Campground offers multiple water recreation options. Holly S. notes, "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. Plenty of hiking/biking trails easily accessed from the campground."
Playground access: Several parks include dedicated play areas. Mary O. from Bishop Lake Campground shares, "Nice lakes for swimming and can take your pet as well! Big playground and nice bathrooms."
Trail difficulty levels: Consider trail ratings when planning with children. For horse campgrounds near Auburn Hills, be aware that some trail systems include both beginner-friendly sections and more challenging routes requiring rider experience.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require preparation for uneven terrain. At Seven Lakes State Park, Edward C. advises, "Very pretty park. Sites and facilities are well maintained. Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you."
Hookup considerations: Electric connections may require planning. Mary H. from Pontiac Lake Recreation Area cautions, "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."
Driving access: Access to equestrian campgrounds often includes consideration for vehicles with trailers. Specific parking areas and maneuvering space are typically provided at horse-focused facilities around Auburn Hills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Auburn Hills, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Auburn Hills, MI is Pontiac Lake Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Auburn Hills, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Auburn Hills, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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