Ortonville Equestrian Campground provides rustic camping specifically for horse owners in the Ortonville Recreation Area. The campground features tent and RV sites with hitching posts, access to vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The equestrian campground remains open year-round for riders seeking to explore the extensive trail systems throughout the 5,400-acre recreation area. Sites accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space. Trail riders note the campground serves as both an overnight destination and convenient staging area for day-use equestrians. Campground data and reviews near Burton, Michigan is regularly updated on The Dyrt.
The trail system at Ortonville Recreation Area offers miles of marked riding paths through varied terrain including wooded forests and open meadows. Horse owners have direct access to trails from their campsites without crossing busy roads or public areas. Water access for horses is available through natural streams within the recreation area. The rustic nature of the equestrian campground means riders should bring their own water for both horses and personal use. Most equestrians report positive experiences with the well-maintained trails that connect to different sections of the park. Reservation requirements apply during peak seasons, with availability often limited during popular riding weekends in summer and fall when trail conditions are optimal.
"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. "
"Large play areas, dog run, basketball court, lots of walking trails, and family friendly."
"The location is pretty great, off the beaten path but, within 30 minutes of major stores and conveniences. "
$22 / night
"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."
"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."
"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."
$17 - $90 / night
"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."
"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.."
$25 - $101 / night
"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!"
"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."
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.
LegendWhat 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.
Travelerquiet 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.
TravelerQuietly 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 !!
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.
GuideI 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
ScoutFun backpacking trails best trails close to state capital
fishing ,boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails,
Geocaching available.
GuideThis 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.
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.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground serves as the primary horse camping destination near Burton, Michigan, situated within the 5,400-acre Ortonville Recreation Area. The campground remains operational year-round with rustic accommodations designed specifically for equestrians. Located approximately 20 miles from Burton, this recreation area features diverse terrain including rolling hills, mature forests, and open meadows that offer varied riding experiences for horse owners throughout southeastern Michigan.
Hiking at Highland Recreation Area: The recreation area features extensive trail systems 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!" reports Adrienne C. about Highland State Recreation Area.
Kayaking and paddling: Many local lakes offer calm waters ideal for non-motorized boating. According to Kate K. at Seven Lakes State Park, "This place has some great water so bring a boat, board, or kayak. Very popular for fishing and paddling."
Winter activities: Several recreation areas maintain trails open during colder months. DeijaNay H. notes about Seven Lakes State Park: "I highly enjoy this park year round. The trails are consistently well kept and easily marked to follow. I just visited yesterday and although there was ice, due to warmer conditions today the trails were a bit muddy."
Private campsites: Many equestrian campers appreciate the secluded nature of sites. Jennifer H. from Highland State Recreation Area mentions, "Extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around. Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding."
Swimming access: Lakes near the equestrian campgrounds provide cooling options after trail rides. Andy B. from Seven Lakes State Park shares: "Sand Lake was our spot and the water was breath taking - it's a small pond really, but great for kayaking. Crystal clear, clean water, a good public beach. Our site had 'private' access and our boys just played in the water for three days."
Wildlife viewing: The natural settings around Burton horse campgrounds support diverse animal populations. Brett B. describes Highland Recreation Area as having "an almost magical feel to it. It's private, quiet, and full of wildlife."
Site selection considerations: Some campgrounds have varying levels of shade and privacy. According to Mary H. from Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, "Park offers lots of private sites! We stayed in site 118 and could not see neighboring sites! The site was very spacious and offered picnic table, fire ring, paved pad, and electrical hook up."
Extension cord needs: Electrical hookups may require additional equipment. Nick W. from Sleepy Hollow State Park advises: "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 considerations: Bug activity varies throughout the year in horse campgrounds near Burton. Maggie M. warns: "Do make sure you bring plenty of bug netting/spray/gear if you come in the summer, the bugs are brutal."
Kid-friendly activities: Several recreation areas near Burton offer specialized programs for children. At Covenant Hills Camp, David B. reports: "Good, quiet campground (unless your on a site around the playground) lots to keep the kids busy, bonus ice cream store."
Biking options: Many equestrian-friendly recreation areas also maintain bike paths. Holly S. notes about Seven Lakes State Park: "Plenty of hiking/biking trails easily accessed from the campground."
Beach access: Families should note distance between camping areas and swimming locations. Renee R. mentions regarding Pontiac Lake Recreation Area: "Only drawback is the distance from the lake. The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive."
Leveling requirements: RV campers should come prepared for uneven sites. Edward C. from Seven Lakes State Park advises: "Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you."
Electrical considerations: Some equestrian campgrounds have limited electrical capacity during peak weather conditions. Amy D. from Sleepy Hollow State Park shares: "Because we didn't get any shade from the nearby trees we had to run the ac which is unusual for us in Michigan. We were in the midst of a heat-wave though and it was much appreciated. The park needs to upgrade the electrical system as this was putting a strain on their electrical equipment."
Site accessibility: Evaluate site access for larger vehicles when reserving at horse campgrounds near Burton. According to Ron E. from Addison Oaks County Park: "Nice quick weekend retreat campground. Cement pads, water, and electric. Loop C is spacious with some trees."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Burton, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Burton, MI is Seven Lakes State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Burton, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Burton, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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