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Ortonville Equestrian Campground offers rustic camping facilities specifically designed for horse owners within the Ortonville Recreation Area. The campground features designated sites with picnic tables and fire rings where riders can set up camp near their horses. Vault toilets provide basic sanitation, while drinking water is available on-site for both campers and their animals. The campground connects directly to an extensive network of bridle trails that wind through the 5,400-acre recreation area. Trailer parking accommodates various sizes with ample room for unloading horses. The equestrian staging area provides additional space for day-use visitors who bring their horses for trail riding without overnight stays. The campground remains open year-round, allowing for seasonal riding opportunities through diverse terrain and woodland settings.
Trail access from the equestrian campground leads riders through wooded areas and around lakes within the recreation area. The trail system accommodates various riding abilities with paths ranging from beginner-friendly flat terrain to more challenging routes with hills and natural obstacles. Horse owners frequently note the well-maintained trails and the peaceful woodland setting as highlights of their camping experience. Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, located approximately 20 miles southwest, offers additional horse-friendly camping options with more modern amenities including electrical hookups. Both locations provide access to water sources for horses along the trails. Riders should bring their own feed and portable corrals or highlines as permanent stalls are not available at these rustic facilities. The campgrounds typically see higher equestrian activity during spring and fall when temperatures are moderate and insects are less prevalent.
"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 $20 - $80 / 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."
"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."
from $20 - $186 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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 $32 - $37 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $32 - $37 / night
Check Availability"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."
"We used our Starlink Mini and it worked well on a nearly cloudless day with unobstructed access to the sky. I would definitely stay here again."
"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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.."
"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 within the 5,400-acre Ortonville Recreation Area in southeast Michigan, approximately 20 miles northeast of Bloomfield Hills. The terrain consists primarily of rolling hills and woodlands with elevation changes providing varied riding challenges for equestrians. The campground remains functional in all four seasons with peak usage occurring during spring and fall when temperatures range from 50-75°F. Michigan state regulations require a Recreation Passport for all vehicles entering state recreation areas.
Trail riding options: The Ortonville trail system connects directly to the equestrian campground with routes varying from 1-10 miles in length. "The trails are well maintained and heavily trafficked," notes Kate K. about Ortonville State Recreation Area. Adjacent parks offer additional riding opportunities within a 30-minute drive.
Fishing access: Multiple lakes within the recreation areas provide fishing opportunities without leaving the park boundaries. "The lakes and launches are very nice and there are some great trail systems through the area," states Kate K. regarding the recreation area facilities. Bass, panfish, and pike are common catches in the lakes.
Mountain biking trails: For non-equestrian visitors, nearby Seven Lakes State Park offers extensive trail networks suitable for cycling. "There are over 20 miles of bike/hike trails, about half of which are located lake side," explains DeijaNay H., adding that "the trails are consistently well kept and easily marked to follow."
Private campsites: Equestrian campers appreciate the separation between sites that allows horses to rest undisturbed. At nearby Highland State Recreation Area, Jennifer H. found "extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around. Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding."
Natural setting: The wooded environment creates a sense of seclusion despite proximity to urban areas. Brett B. describes Highland State Recreation Area as having "an almost magical feel to it. It's private, quiet, and full of wildlife." These characteristics are typical of horse campgrounds near Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Water features: Multiple lakes within driving distance offer alternatives to trail riding. "Lovely little no wake lake perfect for swimming, fishing or paddling," says Jennifer H. about Highland's amenities, which complement the equestrian-focused facilities with additional recreational options.
Limited amenities: Equestrian campgrounds provide basic facilities focused on horse needs rather than camper comfort. "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)," notes Kate K. about the Ortonville facilities.
Seasonal considerations: Bug activity varies significantly by season, with summer months requiring extra preparation. At nearby Bishop Lake Campground, Kristina J. warns that "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."
Reservation requirements: While some camping areas operate first-come-first-served, popular weekends fill quickly. For equestrian camping near Bloomfield Hills, calling ahead is strongly recommended, especially during fall color season when demand peaks.
Beach alternatives: When not trail riding, families appreciate nearby swimming options. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, Daniel reports the "beach and water was a 5.3 mile drive and wasn't a lot of things for kids to do but ride bikes and play in woods but mine still had fun."
Wildlife viewing: The recreation area hosts numerous wildlife species visible from trails and campsites. Adrienne C. reports an unexpected encounter at Highland: "We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail!" Bringing binoculars and wildlife identification guides enhances these opportunities.
Playground access: Some recreation areas near equestrian campgrounds include dedicated children's play areas. At Addison Oaks County Park, Wendy K. notes they "have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean."
Site selection: RV sites near horse facilities require careful consideration for trailer positioning. Mary H. advises at Pontiac Lake: "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."
Trailer parking: Horse trailers require substantial maneuvering space beyond typical RV needs. The designated parking areas accommodate various trailer sizes, but backing skills are essential. Sites with pull-through access are limited and fill quickly during peak season.
Water access: RVers should plan for limited water hookups at equestrian sites. Sam H. notes about Pontiac Lake, "The campground was full but quiet. The bathrooms and showers were nice and clean with hot water. Site 71 wasn't the most private but still nice. Water hookup and dump on site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bloomfield Hills, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bloomfield 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 Bloomfield Hills, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 equestrian camping locations near Bloomfield Hills, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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