10 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground within Ortonville Recreation Area offers rustic tent and RV camping specifically designed for equestrians. The campground includes designated areas for horses with vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings as standard amenities. Riders can access the extensive trail systems directly from their campsites, making it convenient for those traveling with horses. While the campground itself is fairly basic, the natural setting and equine-focused design make it popular among horse owners. The campground area remains open year-round, allowing for four-season riding opportunities. Sites are not reservable but typically have good availability except on peak summer weekends and holidays.
Located within a state recreation area that features two lakes, the equestrian trails provide varied terrain suitable for riders of different experience levels. The staging area adjacent to the campground offers additional space for day-use visitors with horses. Trail systems wind through the recreation area's diverse landscape, connecting riders to scenic views and natural features. Water access for horses is available at designated points along the trails. Most visitors bring their own feed and portable corrals or highlines since permanent stalls are not available. Horse owners particularly appreciate the peaceful setting and well-maintained trails that offer genuine wilderness experiences within relatively close proximity to suburban areas. The campground's rustic nature requires riders to be self-sufficient, bringing all necessary equipment for themselves and their horses.
"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. "
"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."
"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.."
"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. "
"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."
"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 $22 / 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 $17 - $90 / 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."
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.
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.
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.
TravelerThis was our first time camping. 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. Our spot #18 I felt was spacious and not to close to the people next to us and trees behind us. We had privacy and it was quiet. The people we did talk to were all very friendly. We heard the showers were decent but we used our own. I would stay again.
LegendVibe: Woodland getaway with no flash and really nice sites.
Cleanliness: Sites are above average. Vault toilets are…vault toilets.
Facilities: Nothing flashy. 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.
General spots: Large, very well treed, gravel, picnic table and fire ring.
Privacy: Can see neighbors through sites, but better privacy than most places.
Our site: 39. Could drive circles around inside it. Even has a tree in the middle of it with room to drive all the way around it(not with a trailer). Depending where you set up your rig, you may need an extra long extension cord.
Noise: Quiet. Occasionally hear wolves howling. Cell signal(Verizon): 1 bar. No internet loads. Text messages will send and receive. Sometimes immediately, sometimes hours later. Other: Wish we had a chance to explore the lakes. Sounds like the swimming and fishing is good. Saw several kids on bikes toting rods.
RangerCampground 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. There are two rustic campgrounds as well down the road. When we went to go get a campsite (you can reserve online for an $8 fee) they told us that the upper campground would be the better choice, due to the heavy rain that had come through earlier. It was the perfect choice! Our campsite was spacious, with a few pine trees for shade. If you have a hammock, the outer edge of campsites would be perfect. Only downside to our campsite was the distance between the picnic table and the fire pit. The bathrooms and showers are in the lower campground, but it’s a 5 minute walk or 30sec drive to them. They were clean, stocked with toilet paper and the showers were warm. There’s a ton of hiking trails, a boat launch and boat rental, as well as the beach and inflatable water park. Overall a great little nature spot in the middle of the Brighton area.
Gear Review: As a ranger for The Dyrt, I sometimes get sent awesome gear that I could use and try for my upcoming trip. This time I got to try the equinox hoodie from Eclipse Sun Products (https://eclipseglove.com/collections/all-eclipse-sun-products/products/equinox-hoodie-beach-cover-up). This hoodie is super super lightweight, and the open sides allow for a nice breeze on hot days. Of course, their main feature is the 50+ UPF fabric used in not just the hoodie, but all of Eclipses sun products. I am a melanoma survivor, so having something lightweight, but protective, is so great. It’s one size fits all, and while it fits me great at 5’5, I have also heard from other taller people that it fits them great as well. It does the job well, and while I live in Michigan and it only got to about 75°, I could feel it keeping the sun off my skin. Totally recommend the equinox hoodie!!
GuideTenting at its finest... brother his wife and 5 kids my husband at the time and 4 kids reserved a group area and had a blast teaching and showing those who had never camped how fun it could be!! No cell/internet service but that was perfect!! Great time to unplug and just enjoy our surroundings and begin to learn our own creativity! Learned how to ensure food was safe and tucked away from coons along with the good ole fashion porta potties .... nothing Lysol can can’t fix there but with a total of 8 males (6 being under 18....) always have a can of Lysol when porta potties were in our future lol Definitely would go back when ready for a”rustic” camping event!
Ortonville Equestrian Campground serves equestrian visitors with designated spaces for horses and access to extensive trail systems from campsites. The campground features vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings throughout the year. Located in a recreation area with two lakes, the trails provide varied terrain suitable for different riding abilities. The rustic nature requires riders to be self-sufficient with all necessary equipment for themselves and their horses.
Trail riding with horses: Ortonville Equestrian Campground within the Ortonville Recreation Area offers direct access to miles of riding trails. At Addison Oaks County Park, "the park offers nice holiday activities - we were last there for Halloween camping," according to Barb L. The recreation area provides ample riding opportunities with terrain suitable for various experience levels.
Mountain biking: The trails throughout the region accommodate bikers of different skills. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, "Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails" as Christie V. notes. The paved routes connect to more challenging dirt trails for advanced riders.
Fishing opportunities: Many local lakes support good fishing. Jenny A. mentions that Covenant Hills Campground offers "kayaking, fishing, the blob much more. Clean and friendly." Several lakes in the area have public access points for shore fishing and boat launches.
Private campsites: Many equestrian camping areas offer more seclusion than standard campgrounds. At Highland State Recreation Area, "The sites are very private and spacious in the primitive camping area. The natural scenery is STUNNING with fields of flowers and trees," reports Adrienne C. These spaces allow for better accommodation of horses and equipment.
Family activities: Campgrounds near Columbiaville offer structured activities for children. According to Carol M., Covenant Hills Campground is "Very family friendly.. They take very good care of this campground.. Lots to do for kids!" The recreation programs keep younger visitors engaged while parents tend to their horses.
Wildlife viewing: The natural settings around horse campgrounds provide chances to observe local fauna. "We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail!" shares Adrienne C. about Highland State Recreation Area. Deer sightings are common in early morning and evening hours.
Water access limitations: Not all horse trails have convenient water access points for animals. Tim & Nancy C. note that at Seven Lakes State Park Campground, "Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you." Riders should plan water breaks accordingly and bring portable water containers.
Site accommodations: Many equestrian sites require specific equipment. Jennifer H. explains that Highland State Recreation Area provides "Extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around." This extra space accommodates trailers, corrals, and other horse-related gear.
Reservation requirements: During peak seasons, securing spots can be challenging. The equestrian campground operates first-come, first-served, which can mean limited availability on summer weekends and holidays. Plan weekday visits for better site selection.
Activity planning: Families should prepare daily schedules that accommodate both riding and non-riding activities. David B. suggests Covenant Hills offers "Good, quiet campground (unless your on a site around the playground) lots to keep the kids busy, bonus ice cream store." Bringing bikes allows children to explore while adults prepare horses.
Safety precautions: Establish clear boundaries for children around horses and water features. At Bishop Lake Campground, "The beach was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive. Nice walking trails," reports Debra B. Create designated play areas away from equestrian zones.
Storage solutions: Pack efficiently with containers that prevent wildlife access. Tammy P. advises at Highland State Recreation Area to "ensure food was safe and tucked away from coons." Rope and carabiners help hang supplies from trees when not using vehicles or trailers.
Access challenges: Large RVs with horse trailers require careful navigation. Ron E. mentions that Addison Oaks County Park has "Cement pads, water, and electric. Loop C is spacious with some trees." Some equestrian sites have limited turning radius for larger rigs.
Utility connections: Not all horse campgrounds offer full hookups. Mary H. notes that at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, "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." Prepare for potential boondocking situations with full water tanks and empty waste tanks.
Site selection: Choose locations that balance horse needs with camping comfort. For Highland Recreation Area, Brett B. shares it's a "rustic campground is obviously well-tended and has an almost magical feel to it. It's private, quiet, and full of wildlife." Corner sites typically offer more space for horse containment systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Columbiaville, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Columbiaville, MI is Covenant Hills Camp with a 4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Columbiaville, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Columbiaville, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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