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 Casnovia, MI
14 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Several horse-friendly campgrounds serve the Casnovia area with varying levels of equestrian accommodations. Timbers Edge Campground provides access to miles of riding trails through the Manistee National Forest. The sites accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space. Electric hookups, drinking water, and basic bathroom facilities support equestrian campers who bring their own containment solutions for horses. Some riders note that the campground hosts regular equestrian weekends that attract numerous horse owners, creating a community atmosphere among riders.
Trails throughout the region connect several camping options for those traveling with horses. Duke Creek Campground offers on-site horseback riding opportunities for campers, making it suitable for families who want to ride without bringing their own animals. Double JJ Resort features more extensive equestrian facilities with trail rides that explore the property, including shallow river crossings that work well for inexperienced riders and children. Sites at these facilities include fire rings and picnic tables, while the campgrounds maintain shower facilities for riders returning from dusty trail excursions. Trailer parking must be arranged in advance at most locations, especially during peak summer months when equestrian camping reaches capacity.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Casnovia (14)
1. 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!"
2. 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"
3. White River Campsite #1
"We explored the area while camping at nearby Pines Point campground."
4. 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 Availability5. 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"
6. 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."
7. 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 Availability8. Double JJ Resort
9. Hungerford Lake Campground
10. Manistee National Forest Condon Lakes West Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area
"Got here around 1730 on a Sunday. Have the whole place to myself. Not bad getting into, signal is poor. Lots of wildlife."
Drive Time
- 22 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 29 min from Muskegon, MI
- 1 hr 7 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 1 hr 26 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Casnovia, MI
2 Photos of 14 Casnovia Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Casnovia, MI
51 Reviews of 14 Casnovia 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 Casnovia
Horse campgrounds near Casnovia, Michigan offer varied terrain for riders across the Manistee National Forest region. Located between Muskegon and Grand Rapids, this area features sandy soil trails through pine and hardwood forests at elevations ranging from 800-1,000 feet above sea level. Weather conditions for equestrian camping remain optimal from May through October, with July and August typically seeing the most riders on trails.
What to do
Trail riding through Manistee National Forest: Explore miles of dedicated horse trails at White River Campsite #1 where riders can access dispersed camping options. "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 reviewer Vegan T.
Swimming with horses: Whiskey Creek Campground provides access to water for horses to cool off after trail rides. "Activities, trails, fishing, swimming or just relax! One of our family's favorite spots up north," reports Jason S. The campground maintains designated horse washing stations near water access points.
Equestrian weekend events: Seasonal gatherings at equestrian-focused campgrounds create opportunities for group rides and skills demonstrations. Many sites schedule regular weekend events from June through September with guided trail experiences for riders of varying skill levels.
What campers like
Spacious horse-friendly sites: Ely Lake Campground receives praise for its equestrian accommodations. "They have horse campsites and trails. Walking trails around the lake that offer nature at its purest!" says Suzi K., who has been visiting for over 40 years.
Trail connectivity: Riders appreciate how multiple campgrounds connect to shared trail systems, allowing for varied daily routes without trailering. The network of trails extends over 200 miles throughout the region when combining national forest and local trails.
Natural water features: Double JJ Resort offers water crossings that work well for rider training. "There are 2 water parks on the ranch as well as horseback riding and a river to explore," notes Bryan R. These shallow crossings provide safe practice areas for horses unaccustomed to water.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most equestrian campgrounds operate from May through October, with limited winter access. "Season: May 1 to October 1" appears in the listing for Scalley Lake Park Campground.
Advance reservations required: Horse-friendly sites fill quickly during summer weekends and holiday periods. Trailer parking requires coordination with campground hosts to ensure adequate space.
Trail conditions vary: Hungerford Lake Campground offers "Dispersed camping and camp sites available. There are horse staging areas and hiking trails," according to Arron P. Sandy soil becomes dusty during dry periods, while spring can bring muddy sections requiring careful navigation.
Containment requirements: Most campgrounds require horses to be contained in temporary corrals or high-lines when not being ridden. Portable electric fencing must maintain minimum distances from neighboring campsites.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly riding options: Duke Creek Campground provides supervised riding experiences for children. "The best part about it was the on site horseback rides!" reports Cheyanne P., making it ideal for families without their own horses.
Activities beyond riding: "We had a blast! Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day!" exclaims Becky P. about Duke Creek Campground, highlighting options for children when not riding.
Safety considerations: Parents should bring helmets for children under 16, as not all facilities provide appropriate sizes. Most guided trail rides require children to be at least 8 years old and 48 inches tall for safety reasons.
Camping near water: Families appreciate sites with swimming access for both horses and humans. Several campgrounds maintain separate swimming areas to prevent conflicts between recreational swimmers and horses cooling off after rides.
Tips from RVers
Trailer parking logistics: Large horse trailers with living quarters require advance coordination at most sites. Call ahead to confirm adequate turning radius and level parking surfaces.
Hookup availability: Limited full-hookup sites exist at equestrian campgrounds. Electric and water connections often need sharing between neighboring sites.
Dust management: "Maybe it was due to weather but the sites were full of dirt and dust that got everywhere over the weekend," warns Josh N. about Double JJ Resort. RVers recommend bringing awning side panels and interior mats to minimize dust infiltration from horse traffic.
Water management: Most horse campgrounds restrict washing near water sources. Bring portable gray water tanks for horse bathing runoff to comply with environmental regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Casnovia, MI?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Casnovia, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Casnovia, MI is Duke Creek Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Casnovia, MI?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Casnovia, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Casnovia, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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