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 Cannonsburg, MI
11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Hungerford Equestrian Group Campsite offers dedicated horse camping in the Big Rapids area of Michigan. Located within the Hungerford Recreation Area, this group campsite specifically accommodates equestrians with space for horses and trailers. The site features picnic tables and fire rings while maintaining a rustic camping experience without electricity, drinking water, or modern facilities. Group reservations are available for riders planning trips together. Trail riding opportunities include access to the extensive trail system through the Manistee National Forest, which is popular among local equestrians.
Located approximately 70 miles northwest of Cannonsburg, the Hungerford horse trails connect to the broader Manistee National Forest trail system, providing miles of scenic riding routes through Michigan woodlands. The Hungerford Lake area combines equestrian camping with forest trails suitable for various riding skill levels. Visitors appreciate the well-maintained bridle paths and varied terrain that takes riders through mixed hardwood forests and along scenic waterways. Trailer parking accommodates various sizes, though the forest roads require careful navigation. The dispersed camping areas throughout the forest provide alternative options for equestrians seeking more solitude. Seasonal considerations include spring mud conditions and summer bugs, with fall offering ideal riding weather with fewer insects and cooler temperatures.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Cannonsburg (11)
1. Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins
"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"
2. 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 Availability3. Duke Creek Campground
"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!"
4. 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."
5. 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 Availability6. Timbers Edge Campground
"We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!"
"A lot of horses and hunters. Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking. Friendly managers. No cell service"
7. Eaton County Fairgrounds
"Confidently located a mile outside of Charlotte, with all the conviences of restraunts, walmart, Meijer etc."
8. White River Campsite #1
"We explored the area while camping at nearby Pines Point campground."
9. Equestrian Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. Hungerford Lake Campground
Drive Time
- 19 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 48 min from Muskegon, MI
- 1 hr from Lansing, MI
- 1 hr 18 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Cannonsburg, MI
2 Photos of 11 Cannonsburg Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Cannonsburg, MI
49 Reviews of 11 Cannonsburg Campgrounds
- JJames K.
TravelerEly 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!!!
- Becky P.
RangerTimbers Edge Campground
Quiet Getaway!
We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!
Arron P.GuideHungerford Lake Campground
Rustic camping at finest!
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.
- SSharon S.Scout
Timbers Edge Campground
Nice for horses and hunting
I went in November. Most campers were there on the weekend. Pit toilets, a pond, hot showers but shower room unheated, no dump station,nice size lots. A lot of horses and hunters. Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking. Friendly managers. No cell service
- EEllen S.Traveler
Ely Lake Campground
Great Rustic Campground
I have been camping here a couple years. It is open year round. 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.
- Joanie C.Scout
Double RR Ranch RV Resort
Lots to do
There is a river to explore and we always get a riverfront site. Rivers are just fun for fishing, throwing stones, canoeing. There is a campstore, Firepits, large trees, they do hayrides for kids, too. 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. There are some larger vacation lodges to rent that ars nestled away in the woods, and a bunkhouse with rentals. My husband liked the golf course that came with renting spot. Seen lots of wildlife. Very relaxing time in our pop up not too far from Grand Rapids.
Guide to Cannonsburg
The Hungerford Recreation Area, located approximately 70 miles from Cannonsburg in Michigan's Manistee National Forest, offers over 5,000 acres of mixed hardwood forest at elevations between 900-1,100 feet. Winter temperatures average 20°F with summer highs reaching 85°F, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions. The area's sandy soil drains quickly after rain, making trail conditions variable throughout the year.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: The White River special area provides miles of bridle paths through diverse forest terrain. "There are dispersed options as well as docked site. It's in a forest, so bring a compass if you plan to do some hiking," notes a White River Campsite #1 visitor.
Fishing access: Hungerford Lake offers non-motorized water recreation perfect for anglers. An Ely Lake Campground camper shares, "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."
Seasonal activities: Fall provides optimal conditions for equestrian camping near Cannonsburg with reduced insect activity and cooler temperatures. "I went in November. Most campers were there on the weekend... A lot of horses and hunters. Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking," reports a visitor at Timbers Edge Campground.
What campers like
Rustic camping experience: The primitive nature of sites appeals to those seeking authentic outdoor experiences. "Perfect unplugged campground with no electric, vault toilets. Beach front and small boat launch - no motors. We love it in the spring and fall. Bugs can be bad in busy season," notes a camper at Ely Lake.
Horse-friendly facilities: Many campgrounds near Cannonsburg accommodate equestrian needs. "We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!" writes a Timbers Edge visitor.
Natural water features: Scalley Lake Park Campground offers peaceful lakeside camping. "Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!" shares one camper, while another adds, "The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience weekend disruptions. One Ely Lake camper warns, "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... There is loud music, people yelling, fireworks going off and... not very much sleep."
Limited facilities: Most equestrian camping areas near Cannonsburg maintain minimal amenities. "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," explains a Hungerford Lake visitor.
Seasonal variations: Weather impacts camping conditions significantly. Spring brings mud, summer brings insects, and fall offers ideal conditions with moderate temperatures (50-70°F) and fewer bugs. Winter camping requires cold-weather gear as temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds offer structured recreation. "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!" shares a Duke Creek Campground visitor.
Cabin options: Consider cabins for family comfort. "The campground was great, and clean. The park was nice and so we're all the kid activities! The pool is very nice and the store is stocked nicely," reports a Duke Creek camper, offering an alternative to tent camping with children.
Water recreation: Lakes provide natural entertainment for families. "There is a river to explore and we always get a riverfront site. Rivers are just fun for fishing, throwing stones, canoeing," explains a visitor at Double RR Ranch, adding that they "enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose campgrounds that accommodate your vehicle size. The Eaton County Fairgrounds offers "full hookup, nice wooded sites" that can handle larger rigs, with a reviewer noting it's "very peaceful when there are no ongoing events."
Hookup availability: Many equestrian-focused campgrounds near Cannonsburg offer limited services. At Timbers Edge, one RVer notes they offer "electric and water. Nice size lots," though amenities are basic.
Access considerations: Forest roads require careful navigation. While exploring White River campground, one visitor observed it's "more suitable for tents or maybe small campers. Best access seems to be along 160th avenue south of Arthur road. The road seems a bit sketchy but should be okay for most vehicles."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Cannonsburg, MI?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cannonsburg, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cannonsburg, MI is Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Cannonsburg, MI?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cannonsburg, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Cannonsburg, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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