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 Coopersville, MI
12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Hungerford Equestrian Group Campsite in the Manistee National Forest offers primitive camping designed specifically for equestrians. Located along Forest Road 5134 near Big Rapids, this group campsite accommodates horse riders with picnic tables and fire rings but lacks water and toilet facilities. Trail riders enjoy direct access to the forest's extensive trail system directly from the campsite. The trails wind through diverse terrain, offering varied riding experiences for all skill levels.
The White River Special Area and Ely Lake Campground provide additional options for horse camping near Coopersville. Ely Lake accommodates horses with dedicated camping areas connected to equestrian trails. Daily trail rides at Double RR Ranch RV Resort allow campers to experience guided horseback riding through shallow river crossings, making it suitable for inexperienced riders and children. Horse trails in the Allegan State Game Area surrounding Ely Lake offer miles of natural terrain for independent exploration. Most equestrian campsites in the region require advance reservations during peak season from May through October, with primitive horse campground options available year-round at rustic sites like Hungerford.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Coopersville (12)
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. 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 Availability4. 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. White River Campsite #1
"We explored the area while camping at nearby Pines Point campground."
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. 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"
8. Double JJ Resort
9. 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."
10. Hungerford Lake Campground
Drive Time
- 14 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 21 min from Muskegon, MI
- 59 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 1 hr 18 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Coopersville, MI
2 Photos of 12 Coopersville Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Coopersville, MI
48 Reviews of 12 Coopersville 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 Coopersville
Horse campgrounds near Coopersville, Michigan offer equestrians a range of camping options in the Allegan State Game Area and Manistee National Forest. These rustic sites provide direct trail access with varying amenities and seasonal availability. Several campgrounds accommodate horses with dedicated staging areas, while others offer guided trail rides through diverse terrain including river crossings and wooded trails.
What to do
Trail riding at Ely Lake: Allegan County's Ely Lake Campground offers extensive horse trails through the Allegan State Game Area. "Miles of trails to wander and discover," notes Ellen S., who appreciates the year-round availability. The trails connect directly to primitive campsites designed for equestrians.
River crossings on horseback: At Double RR Ranch RV Resort, campers can experience guided trail rides through shallow water. "We enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids," writes Joanie C., who stayed at a riverfront site.
Equestrian weekends: Special horse-focused events run May through October at several campgrounds. "We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!" reports Becky P. about Timbers Edge Campground.
What campers like
Rustic environment: The primitive nature of many horse camps appeals to those seeking an authentic outdoor experience. "This is more suitable for tents or maybe small campers," notes Kendra H. about the White River Campsite #1 in the White River special area of Manistee National Forest.
Non-motorized lakes: Several campgrounds feature lakes where motors aren't allowed. "The Lake is for non-motorized recreational use so it is mostly used for kayaking and canoeing and fishing," explains James K. about Ely Lake. This creates a quieter environment for horses and riders.
Spacious sites: Horse campers need room for trailers and equipment. "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," reports Sharon S. about Timbers Edge Campground.
What you should know
Amenity limitations: Most horse campgrounds are primitive with basic facilities. "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," advises Vegan T. about White River Campsite #1.
Seasonal considerations: While some sites like Hungerford Lake Campground offer year-round access, facilities may be limited in colder months. "Dispersed camping and camp sites available. There are horse staging areas and hiking trails," notes Arron P.
Weekend crowds: Popular equestrian sites fill quickly during peak season. Ely Lake camper James K. warns that weekends can attract "a rowdy crowd" with "loud music, people yelling, fireworks going off" at night.
Water availability: Many primitive horse camps lack reliable drinking water. At Ely Lake, James K. advises: "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."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly trail rides: For families with children interested in horses, Double RR Ranch offers gentle experiences. "Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids. It is close to a town to get take out food if it rains," notes Joanie C., highlighting the convenience for families.
Swimming options: When not riding, kids can cool off in the lakes at several campgrounds. "There is a beach," mentions James K. about Ely Lake, while Joanie C. praises Double RR Ranch for its "river to explore" where families enjoy "fishing, throwing stones, canoeing."
Planned activities: Some campgrounds organize special events. "They do hayrides for kids," reports Joanie C. about Double RR Ranch, adding that "there just weren't enough hours in the day" for all the activities available.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe animals. "Seen lots of wildlife," notes Joanie C., making these campgrounds educational experiences for children interested in nature.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for large rigs: Most equestrian campgrounds have limited space for large RVs with horse trailers. At Duke Creek Campground, camper Clint notes, "The sites were very small at this campground. Our fire pit was so close to our trailer we didn't dare use it."
Dust considerations: The combination of horses and vehicles can create dusty conditions. Josh N. reports about Double JJ Resort: "Maybe it was due to weather but the sites were full of dirt and dust that got everywhere over the weekend."
Alternative accommodations: For those seeking more comfort, some horse-friendly areas offer cabins. "The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here," shares Nora M. about Scalley Lake Park Campground.
Hookup sharing: At some campgrounds, utilities may be awkwardly positioned. Josh N. explains that at Double JJ Resort, "Water and electric ports were shared on one site so other campers were constantly on our site hooking up and adjusting."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Coopersville, MI?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Coopersville, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Coopersville, MI is Duke Creek Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Coopersville, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Coopersville, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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