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Fort Custer Recreation Area provides horse-friendly campsites with spacious sites separated by old growth trees. The campground features multiple trails designated for equestrian use, allowing riders to explore the natural surroundings without leaving the property. Horses are permitted in specific camping areas where trailer parking accommodates larger rigs. The trails are well-maintained and suitable for various skill levels. Campers report positive experiences with the equestrian facilities, noting the family-friendly atmosphere and on-site camp hosts during peak months. The recreation area includes two lakes for water access and a beach area separate from the horse trails.
Waterloo Recreation Area offers extensive bridle paths connecting to the campground, making it convenient for riders to access trails directly from their sites. The park encompasses over 20,000 acres of natural landscape with designated horse trails winding through diverse terrain. Horse owners must bring their own portable corrals or use tie-outs as permanent corrals are not provided at campsites. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some areas becoming muddy after rainfall. The modern campground has electrical hookups and clean bathrooms, though sites are relatively close together. Most campsites have partial shade from trees, providing some relief for horses during summer months. Alcohol is permitted in the campground, allowing riders to relax after a day on the trails.
"Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric)."
"This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it."
from $20 - $480 / night
Check Availability"The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶"
"Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes."
from $21 - $108 / 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 - $160 / night
Check Availability"Confidently located a mile outside of Charlotte, with all the conviences of restraunts, walmart, Meijer etc."
"Very convenient off highway with easy check-in and very quiet during the weekend when there are no events at the Fairgrounds"
"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"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 Availabilityfrom $100 - $108 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
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GuideEquestrian trails and campgrounds are popular here. Horse rides sold on site. There is a nice hotel that sometimes hosts events actually located in the park. Come tobagginging and ice fishing in the winter and then pamper yourself in the hotel, or visit in the summer and have a beach day or easy hike with the family. Great spot for Pokémon Go because of the available cell service.
GuideWe used Pokagon State Park as a two-night stopover on our way home from Northern Michigan, and overall, it was a good option for a short stay.
We stayed in Site 109, which was tucked away and felt fairly isolated from the rest of the campground. In early spring or late fall, I imagine the site would have a nice view of the lake, but in August the tree cover was too thick to see much of it.
The gravel pad was reasonably level, but we needed a couple inches of leveling blocks to get the RV sitting flat. There wasn’t really much of a grassy area at the site for the dogs, but we were able to walk them easily just down the road.
We brought our bicycles, which was a great way to explore the park. We rode around to the nature center, equestrian facility, and beach, and enjoyed being able to see more of the park without having to drive everywhere.
One thing that surprised us was the single dump station for the entire campground. Since none of the sites have full hookups, I would imagine the line could get ridiculously long after a busy weekend.
Overall, we’d stay here again, but probably only as a one- or two-night layover rather than a longer destination stay. Site 109 worked well for us because of its privacy and quiet location.
TravelerPokagon State Park has an excellent state park campground. Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric). Many sites are flat (good for tent camping) while others are slightly rolling hills (helps breakup the sites a bit). There is a lot to do in the park including many trails, horse riding (horse stable on site), and lake swimming on a nicely improved beach. Only cons are no full hook up and the fire rings/grills could be improved.
TravelerThe trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶
TravelerThis is an extremely large campground. About seventy-five percent of the sites are electric. We stayed in Site 255, which was not electric (booked last minute). This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it. However, Site 269 (next to Site 277) afforded great privacy and was large; among the non-electric sites this was the best I saw. I did not survey the electric sites, but I’m sure the site matters a lot. Non-electric sites are $20.00, plus a $9.00 park entrance fee.
There are numerous walking trails, along with horse and bike trails. Additionally, there are boat rentals, horseback rides, pony rentals, swimming, nature center, and a restaurant at the inn.
This is a family oriented park. Extended family groupings are very common. Nevertheless, people and their children are well behaved.
I would recommend this campground for two days or more. A one day stay will mean you probably won’t see much of this wonderful park. The only reason I gave it a four was that even in mid-September it was packed.
ScoutMMichigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. $25per night with electric. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes. Roads quiet and could easily ride your road bike to nearby bike paths. I loved the lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky.
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.
TravelerThere are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do
TravelerWow! Three lakes, hiking, biking and horse trails, showers, camp host and super quiet this past week while there. Not many campers, but everyone there seemed pleasant and were quiet. Deep sites, electric if you so desire, firepit and tables. I use a tent. Driving from the west through Augusta is a treat...so pretty. Civilization not far at all. Fishing, beach, play areas and an amusement park for mountain bikers! No alcohol. Will return!
Waterloo Recreation Area and Fort Custer Recreation Area provide dedicated equestrian camping options near Concord, Michigan. The region features rolling hills with elevations between 900-1,100 feet and a moderate climate that averages 75°F in summer months. Trail conditions can vary significantly with seasonal rainfall, making spring riding muddier than the drier trails typically found in late summer and early fall.
Trail riding accessibility: Brighton Recreation Area features multiple trail systems suitable for various skill levels. "A lot of trails for biking and hiking," notes Melissa M., who appreciates the variety of outdoor activities available throughout the property.
Water activities between rides: Bishop Lake Campground offers lake access for cooling off after trail rides. As Debra B. shares, "The beach was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive. Nice walking trails. Our favorite was the lake for kayaking."
Seasonal events: Fall is popular for equestrian camping near Concord due to cooler temperatures and special activities. Joe E. mentions that at Waterloo "Annually we do the Harvest Festival," which many horse owners plan their trips around.
Privacy between sites: At Fort Custer Recreation Area, Hannah remarks on site seclusion: "We just stayed at 51 and it is extremely secluded! We had an amazing time tent camping it was so quiet!" This separation provides horse owners with better control over their camping environment.
Reliable facilities: The campground infrastructure at Fort Custer receives consistent praise. Janet N. notes, "Michigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. $25 per night with electric. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing."
Multi-generational appeal: Many equestrian campers report returning year after year. Bob B. shares, "Ok, so I might be biased because this is where I spent my summers growing up. But I've never found another campground with such a great mix of secluded sites, but still opportunities to meet and party with fellow campers."
Insect preparation: Bug protection is essential, especially in wooded or lakeside campsites. Rebecca M. from Brighton Recreation Area warns, "We stayed at lot M18 of the rustic site, Murray Lake. The site was large and had a picnic table and fire pit. There are TONS of mosquitos."
Site selection strategy: Choosing the right site matters significantly. Ryan F. advises, "If I went there again I'd try to find a spot towards the end of the loop by the exit. These sites were higher and some of them were private."
Weather considerations: Spring conditions can affect access to rustic horse camping areas. Ryan cautions, "First of all, if it's rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area."
Kid-friendly amenities: Hell Creek Ranch Campground provides excellent horse-related activities for children. Ashley S. shares, "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."
Nearby attractions: Plan day trips around your horse activities. Kayla Q. from Bishop Lake reports, "I have been visited bishop lake family campground since I was a little girl. My mom brought us here every summer to have the time of our lives! She came here every summer with HER mom before that!"
Swimming options: Most equestrian campgrounds offer water access for children. Kim S. from Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern reports, "Spent 4 nights and 5 days camping with my husband and 2 kids. We had fun and the kids had a blast. They rode bikes around the loop and loved swimming and the playground."
Site leveling: Many horse-friendly campgrounds have uneven terrain. Ryan F. notes, "Our site wasn't level, so we were rolling around a bit," suggesting RVers bring additional leveling blocks.
Full hookup availability: Hookup options vary significantly between equestrian campgrounds. Martin W. from Waterloo notes, "Absolutely love this place. Only downfall is no water hookups on site," a common limitation at horse-friendly campgrounds in the region.
Electric service types: Most equestrian sites offer only basic electrical service. VB S. points out that at Fort Custer Recreation Area, "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station," which requires planning for longer stays with horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Concord, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Concord, MI is Pokagon State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Concord, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Concord, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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