19 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Limited equestrian camping options exist near Cohoctah, Michigan with none of the reviewed campgrounds featuring dedicated horse corrals. Bridle trails can be accessed at Brighton Recreation Area and Highland State Recreation Area, though riders must arrange off-site horse accommodations. The campgrounds provide standard camping amenities including water, electric hookups, and toilet facilities, but lack specialized equestrian infrastructure. Reviews indicate the sites accommodate standard camping equipment with picnic tables and fire rings, but visitors seeking horse-friendly camping should call ahead to verify current policies.
The trail systems at these recreation areas connect to larger regional networks, allowing for day-use horseback riding. Michigan state parks typically require recreation passports for entry, with additional fees for camping. Most campgrounds near Cohoctah operate seasonally, with Brighton Recreation Area and Seven Lakes State Park providing the most accessible options for day riders. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some areas becoming muddy after rainfall. Horse owners should bring portable containment systems and verify trailer parking availability before arrival, as standard campsite sizes may not accommodate horse trailers alongside camping equipment.
"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"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"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"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
Check Availability"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"Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more!"
"It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net."
from $35 - $40 / 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."
from $20 / 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.
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
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.
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.
Camping near Cohoctah, Michigan offers visitors access to several state recreation areas within a 30-mile radius. The region features mixed hardwood forests, glacial lakes, and rolling terrain at elevations ranging from 850 to 950 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from April through October, with limited winter camping options at Highland and Pontiac Lake recreation areas.
Paddling opportunities: Brighton Recreation Area features multiple lakes for kayaking. "Our favorite was the lake for kayaking," notes Debra B., who appreciated the clean restrooms and lake views. The park's water activities extend beyond basic paddling with seasonal rentals.
Hiking trails: Trail systems connect many of the recreation areas, with Highland State Recreation Area offering some of the most scenic options. "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. The area features extensive trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds provide beach access for summer swimming. "The beach is pretty good for swimming," writes Mike B. about Bishop Lake Campground. Most swimming areas are monitored seasonally, with some campgrounds offering additional water features like "Jump Island" for an extra fee.
Privacy between sites: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area receives high marks for site separation. "Very nice sites. Wooded and up north feel," says Christie V. Many campers appreciate that "the sites aren't super far away from each other but there are trees between sites so from most of the sites you can't really see your neighbors."
Clean facilities: Bath houses and restrooms at Sleepy Hollow State Park receive consistent praise. "Bathrooms are clean, paved roads and grass sites," reports Ricky C. Even at more rustic campgrounds, facility maintenance is noted as a priority by park staff.
Wildlife viewing: Many campers mention wildlife encounters as a highlight. "We heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals," shares Mike S. about winter camping at Waterloo Recreation Area. Highland Recreation Area's primitive camping area offers opportunities to spot wild turkeys, deer, and various bird species.
Mosquito activity: Bug populations can be significant, especially in early summer. "The camping area sits on an inaccessible lake with a marsh area. When we rolled in the first thing we noticed was that everyone had screen houses set up," explains Ryan F. about Lake Murray at Brighton Recreation Area.
Electrical access: Some campgrounds have unusual electrical hookup placements. "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," warns Nick W. at Sleepy Hollow State Park.
Variable site terrain: Many campgrounds feature uneven sites. "Our site wasn't level, so we were rolling around a bit," reports Ryan F. at Brighton's rustic sites. When making reservations, check site descriptions or call ahead to confirm site conditions, especially for larger rigs.
Kid-friendly water features: Seven Lakes State Park offers excellent swimming options. "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," says Andy B. The park provides lake access directly from some campsites.
Biking opportunities: For families with children who enjoy biking, consider site selection carefully. "The campground itself was a small loop; so not so much bike/scootering unless the kids like a big circle," notes Andy B. about Seven Lakes. Other parks offer more extensive paved paths for young riders.
Seasonal activities: Several parks offer special weekend programs. "It was a Boo Fest weekend. Lots of socially distanced activities for the kids and a scavenger hunt (finding clues on signs in park to solve a mystery)," explains Tim & Nancy C. about Addison Oaks County Park. Check park calendars for scheduled events.
Leveling requirements: Many sites require leveling equipment. "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," advises Mary H. about Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Access considerations: Some campground roads can be challenging in wet conditions. "If it's rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area. We have a 4Runner, so it was no problem but a few little cars did slide around and have trouble on the hill by our site," notes Ryan F. about Brighton's rustic area.
Limited site availability: RVers should book well in advance, especially for popular weekends. "Very pretty park. Sites and facilities are well maintained. Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you," advises Edward C. about Seven Lakes State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cohoctah, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cohoctah, MI is Bishop Lake Campground — Brighton Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cohoctah, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 equestrian camping locations near Cohoctah, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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