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 Augusta, MI
8 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Fort Custer Recreation Area offers equestrian-focused accommodations near Augusta, Michigan with designated trails for horseback riding. The campground features electric-hookup sites in a wooded setting with good spacing between campsites. Large sites provide ample room for horse trailers and camping equipment. The park maintains sections specifically designed for equestrian use where riders can access dedicated horse trails. The campground's spacious layout accommodates both horses and riders with sites large enough for multiple tents and equipment.
Miles of well-maintained equestrian trails wind through Fort Custer's extensive grounds, connecting to various lakes and natural areas. Riders have access to diverse terrain including wooded paths and open areas suitable for different skill levels. The trails provide good footing for horses with marked routes that prevent riders from getting lost. Fort Custer remains open year-round, allowing equestrians to enjoy seasonal riding opportunities through changing landscapes. Horse owners should note that while trails accommodate equestrian use, the campground does not offer dedicated corrals or stables, so portable containment systems are necessary. Trail access points connect directly to camping areas, minimizing travel distance between horse accommodations and riding opportunities.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Augusta (8)
1. Fort Custer Recreation Area
"Three lakes, hiking, biking and horse trails, showers, camp host and super quiet this past week while there. Not many campers, but everyone there seemed pleasant and were quiet."
"The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶"
from $21 - $108 / night
Check Availability2. Pokagon State Park Campground
"Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric)."
"This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it."
from $20 - $480 / night
Check Availability3. 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 Availability4. Eaton County Fairgrounds
"Confidently located a mile outside of Charlotte, with all the conviences of restraunts, walmart, Meijer etc."
5. 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 Availability6. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday
"Nice very busy pool and slide, play areas, walking trail, camp store with hot food. Not far from Lake Michigan and places to buy fresh fruit and veggies. Check it out you'll be happy you did."
"This is a great place to camp with young children, as there are many activities around the camp. It is family owned and operated and you can tell- warm and friendly."
7. Equestrian Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
from $20 / night
Check Availability8. 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."
Drive Time
- 8 min from Battle Creek, MI
- 21 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 54 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 1 hr from Lansing, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Augusta, MI
1 Photos of 8 Augusta Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Augusta, MI
147 Reviews of 8 Augusta Campgrounds
- KKaren O.
TravelerFort Custer Recreation Area
Huge and has so much to offer
Wow! Three lakes, hiking, biking and horse trails, showers, camp host and super quiet this past week while there. Not many campers, but everyone there seemed pleasant and were quiet. Deep sites, electric if you so desire, firepit and tables. I use a tent. Driving from the west through Augusta is a treat...so pretty. Civilization not far at all. Fishing, beach, play areas and an amusement park for mountain bikers! No alcohol. Will return!
Whitley K.GuidePokagon State Park Campground
Visit in Winter for Tobagganing
Equestrian trails and campgrounds are popular here. Horse rides sold on site. There is a nice hotel that sometimes hosts events actually located in the park. Come tobagginging and ice fishing in the winter and then pamper yourself in the hotel, or visit in the summer and have a beach day or easy hike with the family. Great spot for Pokémon Go because of the available cell service.
- JJames K.Traveler
Ely 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!!!
- DDaniel S.Traveler
Pokagon State Park Campground
Pokagon State Park
Pokagon State Park has an excellent state park campground. Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric). Many sites are flat (good for tent camping) while others are slightly rolling hills (helps breakup the sites a bit). There is a lot to do in the park including many trails, horse riding (horse stable on site), and lake swimming on a nicely improved beach. Only cons are no full hook up and the fire rings/grills could be improved.
- Diana M.Traveler
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Perfect for families
The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶
T S.TravelerPokagon State Park Campground
Extensive Campground
This is an extremely large campground. About seventy-five percent of the sites are electric. We stayed in Site 255, which was not electric (booked last minute). This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it. However, Site 269 (next to Site 277) afforded great privacy and was large; among the non-electric sites this was the best I saw. I did not survey the electric sites, but I’m sure the site matters a lot. Non-electric sites are $20.00, plus a $9.00 park entrance fee.
There are numerous walking trails, along with horse and bike trails. Additionally, there are boat rentals, horseback rides, pony rentals, swimming, nature center, and a restaurant at the inn.
This is a family oriented park. Extended family groupings are very common. Nevertheless, people and their children are well behaved.
I would recommend this campground for two days or more. A one day stay will mean you probably won’t see much of this wonderful park. The only reason I gave it a four was that even in mid-September it was packed.
Guide to Augusta
Fort Custer Recreation Area provides equestrian camping options near Augusta, Michigan, situated on 3,000 acres of diverse terrain. The campground sits at approximately 800 feet elevation with a continental climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Several lakes dot the landscape, connected by over 25 miles of trails through woodland and open fields.
What to do
Hiking opportunities: Fort Custer maintains multiple marked trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "We hiked on a multi-use trail that the ranger suggested. The blue trail goes around a couple lakes and was wonderful," notes Art S. about Fort Custer Recreation Area.
Lake activities: Multiple no-wake lakes provide quiet water recreation. "Endless hiking trails and two lakes where you can fish, swim, and boat," shares Bob B. about his experiences at Fort Custer. The lakes remain open for fishing throughout most seasons.
Mountain biking: The recreation area maintains dedicated mountain bike trails separated from horse trails. Joel K. mentions, "We camped and rode (again) at Fort Custer. We've been here 2x before (once in a cabin and once in tents) and this has now officially become a favorite." Bikers can access trails directly from camping areas.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The campground layout provides natural separation. "We found a campsite that was large with vegetation separating us from neighbors," shares Art S. about Fort Custer Recreation Area. Site 51 offers particularly good seclusion according to camper reports.
Night sky viewing: The absence of excessive artificial lighting makes for excellent stargazing. Janet N. appreciates that there's a "lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky" at Fort Custer.
Multi-day adventures: The extensive trail system supports extended stays. "Michigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes," notes Janet N.
What you should know
Reservation considerations: Many sites fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. "We found our original campground full, we were directed over to Fort Custer," explains Art S., highlighting the need to book early.
Utility limitations: Hookups are limited to electric only. VB S. notes at Fort Custer Recreation Area: "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station."
Weather variability: Be prepared for sudden weather changes. One camper reports: "We had some rain and storms moving in so this proved useful in helping us sneak out of camp really early to avoid the downpour that was looming."
Insect activity: Bug populations increase in certain areas. "Lots need mowing so lots of bugs, bring insect repellent," advises Cathy Y., suggesting campers come prepared with protection.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: The swimming beach provides family recreation. "Don't miss out on the great finishing and hiking. A great plus is still seeing kids rise actual bikes!" mentions Bob B. about Pokagon State Park Campground, another option for equestrian camping in the region.
Open spaces for activities: Some areas offer room for games and gatherings. "Lots of open space," mentions Cathy Y. about Fort Custer, providing areas where children can play safely.
Nearby attractions: Day trips are possible to local points of interest. "We even visited Belle's brewery on our way home," mentions Joel K., indicating options for family outings beyond the campground.
Tips from RVers
Dump station planning: Plan for potential wait times at facilities. Bob B. warns about Fort Custer: "Since there are no water or sewer hook ups, lines at the dump/fill station can get long."
Site selection for shade: Consider sun exposure when choosing sites. Art S. shares this experience at Fort Custer Recreation Area: "It was overcast upon arrival only to have the sun shine down the next day. We soon found out that there was enough clearing in the treetops to give our camp full sun for most of the day. If you camp here, I suggest one of the other sites that would give you a break from the sunny heat."
Site accessibility: Most horse campgrounds near Augusta offer reasonable access. "Sites are easy to get in and out of with RV/TT," notes Bob B. about Fort Custer, though larger rigs may need to select specific sites.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Augusta, MI is Fort Custer Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 45 reviews.
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