Ionia State Recreation Area
Great get away
Clean, family friendly, beautiful. Take a walk through the equestrian to check out the horses.
9 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Double RR Ranch RV Resort offers horseback trail rides through the river for beginners and children. Equestrian guests can bring their own horses or participate in guided rides on the resort's horses. The facility accommodates both personal horses and provides trail rides for those without horses. Located on Whites Bridge Road in Belding, the resort combines camping with equestrian activities. Full hookup RV sites are available with electric, sewer and water connections. Amenities include fire pits, picnic tables, restrooms with showers, and a campstore. The riverfront provides fishing and stone-throwing opportunities for campers. Many campers secure riverfront sites for optimal water access.
Horseback riding trails connect to wooded areas around the property with routes suitable for various skill levels. The shallow river crossing provides an easy introduction for inexperienced riders and children. Duke Creek Campground, located approximately 22 miles away in Cedar Springs, also offers on-site horseback riding excursions. Both campgrounds maintain seasonal operations, generally from May through October. Sleepy Hollow State Park, within driving distance, provides more extensive trail systems for serious equestrians. The park features designated bridle trails through varied terrain. Eaton County Fairgrounds offers basic facilities for traveling equestrians needing temporary accommodations. Trail riders should confirm availability during fair events when the grounds may be fully booked.
"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 Availability"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"
"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."
"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!"
"What can I say, I love the Michigan State Parks. I find they are the best, Sleepy Hollow is not different and it has so many things to do. "
"Quietly tucked into Clinton co Michigan. Sleepy is easily accessible. Its close to Lansing. There are shopping centers nearby. Country party store is closer!! Very large lake....Ovid is her name!"
from $20 - $160 / night
Check Availability"Confidently located a mile outside of Charlotte, with all the conviences of restraunts, walmart, Meijer etc."
"Very convenient off highway with easy check-in and very quiet during the weekend when there are no events at the Fairgrounds"
from $20 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $75 / night
Check AvailabilityClean, family friendly, beautiful. Take a walk through the equestrian to check out the horses.
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.
What can I say, I love the Michigan State Parks. I find they are the best, Sleepy Hollow is not different and it has so many things to do. I would advise if you want to camp there on a weekend to make reservations well in advance. We stay here because there are only 2 campgrounds in the Lansing East Lansing Area this being one of them and the other does not have all full hook ups and charges more. When we visit our daughter at Michigan State University this is the place we stay, 20 - 30 minutes into the University depending upon the traffic.
It has large wooded sites only electric but you can fill up the water at the dump station. Each site has a picnic table and Fire ring. Each campsite has a asphalt pad. They sell fire wood at the campground office. Bring what you need or you can go into St. johns to the Kroger or Walmart. they have 2 main camping loops with 2 loops in each of the main loops and a shower restroom in each main loop. The restrooms are very clean and kept up. I love the showers hot water and for me that is hot and great pressure, I could shower all day. Sure beats our shower in the RV.
The State Park is on Ovid Lake and it is a beautiful lake, great for fishing, canoeing, paddle boards, kayak, and swimming. they have a shelter for you if you have a big party.
They also have a group campsite and a picnic area for large groups. d You can also bring your horses go to the Equestrian area and unload and get on the trail.
You can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and paddle boards. They also have a great play ground for the kids and a fishing pier. Bring Bikes or just hike on the trails and head down to the beach.
quiet campground during the day, short drive to the beach, biking and equestrian trails available. loud around the restroom at night, cleaning crew came through at 10 pm.
Quietly tucked into Clinton co Michigan. Sleepy is easily accessible. Its close to Lansing. There are shopping centers nearby. Country party store is closer!! Very large lake....Ovid is her name! Offers many species of fish for catching!! There are fishing docks, ONE IS NOT VERY ACCESSIBLE TO NON AMBULATORY PERSONS !!! THIS ONE'S IN THE CAMP AREA! The path is nicely groomed. The bea h is a long way from the parking lot a d there is no beach access from camp. The park is usually a clean family place...but for really young children or elderly persons it may. Ot be your first choice. I live nearby and have camped there zillions of times. I love it and shower bouses in camp are clean! Friendly staff a d they ate SERIOUS about quiet time! Bug spray required !!
I frequent this park if I am camping or not. decent disc gof course and access to Lake Ovid is great, miles of trails to hike/bike/ride horses. Hosts are very friendly and is always a joy to talk with the rangers
Fun backpacking trails best trails close to state capital
fishing ,boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails,
Geocaching available.
This was our last stop on a trip where we camped in 6 different Michigan State Parks. This may be an older camp or the DNR was trying to save money when it was built. Most electrical posts are designed to accommodate at least 2 adjoining lots, and as many as 4. This in itself is not a concern until you realize the posts are way too far away to reach without an extension. We tried several lots and couldn’t reach any of the outlets. We finally met a couple who saId they had extensions at the office. So, we finally got set up with an extension cord from the camp office and decided to walk to the beach. Our site was adjacent to the path leading to the beach so we figured we could use a little walk. The path led to another path that led to a parking lot for the beach. After crossing the parking lot we still had to cross a large yard/park that finally opened onto the beach on this small lake. It was all very scenic, but we weren’t expecting a major hike to get to the beach. Showers are nice. They also have a neat ice cream vending machine that I had to check out for scientific purposes only. For a Michigan state park we were quite disappointed.
Dispersed camping and camp sites available. There are horse staging areas and hiking trails. The lake is nice, small enough for a kayak/ no motor boat, nice.
Equestrian camping experiences near Belding, Michigan offer multiple trail riding options in the central Michigan region. This rural area 30 miles northeast of Grand Rapids features a mix of woodland and riverside terrain with elevations ranging from 760-820 feet. Local campgrounds typically operate May through October when trail conditions are optimal for horse traffic.
Trail exploration by horseback: Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground features over 10 miles of designated bridle trails through varied terrain including hardwood forests and prairie areas. According to a visitor, the park offers "best hiking trails within 1 hour drive of the state capital" with "horse and bike trails, geocaching available."
Fishing opportunities: Away from equestrian facilities, Scalley Lake Park Campground provides lake access in a motor-free environment. A camper notes it's an "amazing spot away from the city! Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!"
Swimming and beach access: While horse facilities typically don't include swimming areas, some nearby campgrounds offer water recreation. At Sleepy Hollow State Park, visitors can enjoy the beach area, though one camper advises: "Nice beach but you have to walk a short distance to get there. Bathrooms are clean, paved roads and grass sites."
Private wooded settings: Many equestrian-friendly campgrounds feature secluded sites. At Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground, a camper shared: "Our site backed up to trees and I can't recall seeing our neighbors to the left or right."
Kid-friendly activities: Beyond horseback riding, Duke Creek Campground offers additional recreation. One visitor reported: "Your kids will LOVE this place-we had a blast! Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day!"
Clean facilities: Scalley Lake Park Campground maintains well-kept cabins and grounds. A visitor noted: "The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here."
Electrical access considerations: At Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground, electrical hookups can be challenging to reach. One camper warned: "Most electrical posts are designed to accommodate at least 2 adjoining lots, and as many as 4. This in itself is not a concern until you realize the posts are way too far away to reach without an extension."
Seasonal operation: Most equestrian facilities in the area close during winter months. The Eaton County Fairgrounds operates from "May 1 to October 1," while Scalley Lake Park Campground runs from "May 1 to October 1."
Payment procedures: Some smaller facilities have informal payment systems. At Eaton County Fairgrounds, a visitor explained: "No office in park, so find a space and park. The manager will stop by to collect your $20."
Pack for variable weather: Central Michigan experiences significant temperature fluctuations, particularly in spring and fall. One camper at Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground noted: "We stayed during very hot weather at the beginning of July 2020...we had to run the ac which is unusual for us in Michigan."
Consider cabin options: For families new to horse camping, cabins provide comfortable accommodations. At Scalley Lake Park Campground, a visitor reported: "Great campground! Cabins, electric and bath houses!"
Plan for walking distances: Some facilities have spread-out amenities. A Sleepy Hollow visitor cautioned: "There is a beach and playground, but it is quite the walk from the campground. Plan to drive or bike ride if you have trouble walking long distances."
Site selection matters: At Duke Creek Campground, space can be limited. One RVer noted: "The sites were very small at this campground. Our fire pit was so close to our trailer we didn't dare use it."
Utility hook-ups vary: Eaton County Fairgrounds offers reasonable pricing for basic services. A visitor shared: "Only $20 nightly, full hookup, nice wooded sites. Very peaceful when there are no ongoing events. Large bath house with Showers."
Advanced booking required: For popular equestrian campgrounds near Belding during peak times, plan ahead. At Sleepy Hollow State Park, a visitor advised about their Halloween weekend: "Plan to book the day of six months before because otherwise you will not get a site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Belding, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Belding, MI is Ionia State Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Belding, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Belding, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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