The Luzerne Express Campground in Michigan offers designated sites with horse pens for equestrian camping. Located within easy access to the Huron National Forest, this campground allows riders to venture directly from their campsites onto forest trails. The campground provides a variety of accommodation options including tent sites, RV spots, and cabin rentals, all compatible with horse camping needs. Horse pens are available at reasonable rates for overnight stays. Trail riders can walk directly off the campground into miles of forest riding trails, making it a convenient base for exploring the region on horseback.
Big Oaks Equestrian State Campground near Atlanta, Michigan provides rustic camping with direct trail access for horse enthusiasts. The campground separates horse campers from non-equestrian visitors, with sites 1-8 designated for regular camping and the remaining areas set aside for horses and their owners. The campground is situated directly on riding trails, creating seamless trail access for riders. The heavily wooded sites offer natural shade and privacy while maintaining proximity to the trail network. Big Oaks accommodates both tent and RV camping with big-rig friendly sites, making it accessible for various trailer sizes and camping preferences. The campground operates seasonally from May through October, with vault toilets and drinking water available for campers.
"This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to."
"Love this park, right down the street from our family cabin and you get the best views of the Au Sauble river for miles around."
$40 - $100 / night
"Bathroom was clean, site was large surrounded by tall pine trees. Picnic table was HC accessible. Fire pit ring. I'm a motocamper and suited my needs. No trash, so take what you brought in plus some."
"The large campground is crowded in summer months and you have to buy tokens to take a shower, but the views and access to the River are spectacular."
"Sites are reasonably priced around$25-30/night. The park is very dog-friendly, which we appreciated.
Nice large, woodsy, level lots. Many are waterfront. "
"The area is a trail riders Mecca. From horseback riding to ATV’s. There are horse pens available at the campground for overnight horse camping as well at a very reasonable rate."
$61 - $95 / night
"While it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls."
"The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location."
"The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn’t recommend for 6 and under."
"The shingle mill pathway in Pigeon River State Forest was a nice, quiet trail. Went on a Thursday in June and saw 1 other person over 2 days."
"Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn’t get too wild."
GuideIt’s never busy here. I don’t have horses but I’ve seen people stay with horse trailers with their tie outs to the poles that are designed for it. There’s trails in the surrounding areas. Also water pump and vault toilets. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided as well.
GuideIt was logged off and is essentially destroyed. I think there's 6 "sites" and an open field for equestrian activities.
Very secluded. Nothing of interest in the nearby area.
Looks to be seldom used.
No cell service. Verizon is the dominant service up here. 0 signal.
LegendA horse campground located directly on trails. Rustic campground with lots of trees. Non horse campers stay in lots 1-8
RangerThe Luzerne Express Campground is literally all you need in one spot. The whole place is incredibly accommodating. Friendly, helpful staff. There is an array of sites available plus RV’s and Cabins for rent so winter camping here is a blast. The area is a trail riders Mecca. From horseback riding to ATV’s. There are horse pens available at the campground for overnight horse camping as well at a very reasonable rate. Walk right off the campground into the Huron National Forest.
RangerThis campground is not my favorite, although my husband did not mind staying there. One of the reasons it is not my favorite is because the bathrooms were disgusting. I do not think that they were cleaned the entire four days we were there. They were super-hot and dirty. Another reason I did not care for the campground is because while we were there, my cousin’s dog was taken to doggy jail! We went on a kayaking trip down the Au Sable river and were gone a couple of hours. My cousin has a big dog that was tied to the tree. The dog had water, but must have knocked it over. The weather was not hot, it was in the low 70’s. My uncle’s site was right next door and he was watching the dog. My uncle was preparing dinner and went into the camper to grab what he needed to grill hamburgers and hot dogs. While he was making hamburger patties someone must have walked by and saw that the dog’s water was empty (because the dog knocked it over), that person went to the park attendant and they called animal control. My uncle came out of the camper and the dog was gone. My uncle said he was in the camper for about 20 mins making patties and getting food ready to grill outside. Apparently, it is not actually animal control that came to get him, it was a person down the street that takes the animals to his home on the weekend when animal control is not open. My uncle came out of the camper and the dog was gone. My uncle was frantic and walked around the entire campground and then went to the front desk. The lady was so rude to my uncle. My uncle is a very nice and funny man and he was just beside himself! My cousin came back from the kayaking trip and my uncle told him what happened. My cousin went to the man’s house that took the dog and had to pay $80 to get him out! It was quite the ordeal. My uncle felt bad because he wasn’t out there the entire time with the dog, but he wasn’t gone that long and it wasn’t that hot outside. My uncle would have seen that the water was empty and would have refilled it. The sites are HUGE and there are some trees, but I would not camp here again. That situation left a bad taste in my mouth and the bathrooms not being cleaned during our stay put me over the edge.
ScoutThis place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to. Highly reccomend for anyone looking to camp without ANY ammentities. Access is 4x4 only winter months.
TravelerEntire camp is rustic with well pumps throughout, also all restrooms are vault toilets. Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn’t get too wild.
RangerWhile it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls. Full coin laundry was helpful too! They had kids activities over the 4thof July weekend, and our kid loved it. The KOA is about a 5 min drive to Otsego Lake and the state park, where there's a nice beach and easy lake access. There's also a newly paved bike trail right by the lake for you to log some miles on. Nearby towns of Gaylord and Boyne provided us with plenty to do, and only a couple hours to get to Sleeping Bear sand dunes. We thought this place was worth the expense- big, flat, level sites with fire pit and full hook up. Nice pine trees and plenty of space for kids to play. Did not like the additional fee for kid to get wrist band for jump pillow and mini gold, but did it anyways.
TravelerThis is one of the worst campgrounds I have ever been to. The bathrooms and showers close at 10pm, and the restrooms themselves are nasty, the showers cost $2 (in quarters) for 6 minutes of lukewarm water, the locals are hostile to unfamiliar faces, and to top it off, the rental ATVs and dirt track to ride them on is o ly separated from the campsites by a board fence, so expect to hear all kinds of small engines zipping by at all hours. The RV trailers for rental are all used trailers circa 1995 and "refurbished", which entails a quick coat of interior paint and laminate flooring screwed to the floors with drywall screws. Guests who have rented the RV trailers are instructed to not use the showers in their trailers. Absolutely not worth the money, would rate 0 stars if I could. If you are looking for a camping experience that puts you in the heart of upper Michigan redneck territory, this is the place for you. If you want a good experience, look elsewhere.
Equestrian camping thrives in the northern Michigan wilderness surrounding Curran. Located in the heart of Huron National Forest, the area sits at approximately 1,000 feet above sea level with sandy soil that drains quickly after rain. Horse trail systems throughout this region connect campgrounds directly to miles of forest paths, making it one of Michigan's preferred destinations for riders seeking multi-day trail experiences.
Forest trail riding: McKinley Horse Trail Campground provides direct access to Huron National Forest trails. "This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to," writes Juan A., noting that winter access requires 4x4 vehicles.
Swimming in sinkholes: Several unique geological formations are scattered throughout Pigeon River State Forest Campground. Kate K. mentions, "Lots of awesome sink holes to swim in, and even elk sightings. If you can find this place, you will love it!"
Kayaking: The Au Sable River offers paddling opportunities near many campgrounds. Aaron H. from Oscoda County Park shares his experience: "I love the Oscoda Koa campground.... Such a laid back place..and I love the Au Sable River."
Hiking: The Shingle Mill Pathway provides excellent multi-use trails. Halie C. notes, "The Shingle Mill Pathway (a roughly 10 mile loop trail) runs right through the campgrounds which is ideal for hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking."
Equestrian-specific amenities: Horse campgrounds near Curran, Michigan offer dedicated facilities. "A horse campground located directly on trails. Rustic campground with lots of trees. Non horse campers stay in lots 1-8," explains Lydia T. about Big Oaks Equestrian State Campground.
Privacy between sites: Pigeon River State Forest Campground provides secluded camping spaces. Paul C. shares, "Me and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. The river ran along the edge of our site."
Waterfront access: Several campgrounds offer lakefront or riverside sites. At Shoepac Lake, Vaughn S. notes, "Entire camp is rustic with well pumps throughout, also all restrooms are vault toilets. Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish."
Peaceful atmosphere: The region's horse trails and campgrounds remain uncrowded. Kate K. describes the Pigeon River area: "I love this area so much! So much to explore and not heavily trafficked at all."
Limited cell service: Most equestrian camping areas have poor connectivity. Halie C. warns about Pigeon River: "Beware of the bugs! Also, there is no cell service." Similarly, DJ W. reports about Walsh Road: "No cell service. Verizon is the dominant service up here. 0 signal."
Supply planning: Prepare thoroughly before arrival at remote horse campgrounds. Aaron T. advises, "Make sure you have all of your supplies before you arrive as the nearest town is 20+ minutes away. Bring a map/gps because there is no cell service."
Tick awareness: Ticks are prevalent in Michigan's horse camping areas. Ian R. cautions about Shingle Mill Pathway: "The only problem with this hike was the insane amount of ticks."
Water safety concerns: Rivers near campgrounds can present hazards. Paul C. warns, "The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn't recommend for 6 and under."
Choose campgrounds with amenities: Some equestrian facilities offer more family comforts. Rachel S. recommends Old Orchard Park Campground: "I bring my whole family! Very family and pet friendly. It has a playground and a small beach. There are many options to stay here!"
Consider site placement: Select sites based on your family's needs. Lydia T. explains about Pigeon River: "You can pick sites on the river or back by the woods. There are vault toilets and a well for water."
Pack entertainment: Remote horse camping areas have limited amenities. Aaron T. emphasizes preparation: "Make sure you have all of your supplies before you arrive as the nearest town is 20+ minutes away."
Bathroom facilities: Know what facilities exist at horse campgrounds. Michael A. notes about Old Orchard: "The area around here is beautiful with lots of sights and trails. This park has a wide variety of individuals and many long term residents but the staff were pretty friendly and the lake is beautiful."
Site accessibility: Verify RV site details before booking at horse campgrounds. Lydia T. explains, "I've seen people tenting and I've seem people with large fifth wheels. Some sites are only big enough for tents but most sites can fit large rvs."
Hookup locations: Check utility connections when setting up. Tracey R. from Gaylord KOA advises: "Water and electric are poorly located. Need extra hose/cords."
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven terrain at rustic equestrian sites. Ray & Terri F. share about Gaylord KOA: "Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site."
Road conditions: Access roads to horse campgrounds may be rough. Neil notes about Gaylord KOA: "Sites not paved and entrance roads not paved!!!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Curran, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Curran, MI is McKinley Horse Trail Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Curran, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Curran, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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