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 DeWitt, MI
15 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground accommodates horse riders with accessible trails through its 2,678-acre property, making it one of the top-rated horse camping destinations within 20 miles of DeWitt. The park features multiple horse trails with varying terrain and difficulty levels. Riders have direct access to several miles of bridle paths that wind through wooded areas and along Lake Ovid. Horse owners need to bring their own portable corrals or high-line systems as permanent horse corrals are not available at the campground. The DNR maintains these trails year-round, though seasonal conditions may affect accessibility. Most trails remain open from April through November, with restricted use during hunting seasons and wet weather periods.
Located approximately 20 miles from DeWitt, the park offers equestrian-specific amenities including trailer parking near trailheads and water access points for horses along the trails. The horse trails connect to a larger network of recreational paths that extend throughout the park. Horse camping requires standard site reservation plus an additional vehicle entry permit for trailers. Bathroom facilities with showers are available near the main camping areas. The trails accommodate riders of all experience levels, with some routes suitable for beginners and others challenging enough for experienced equestrians. Trail markers are clearly visible throughout the system. The campground enforces strict quiet hours, which creates a peaceful environment for horses and riders alike after a day on the trails.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near DeWitt (15)
1. Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground
"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 Availability2. 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 Availability3. Eaton County Fairgrounds
"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"
4. Bishop Lake Campground — Brighton Recreation Area
"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 Availability5. Sugarloaf Campground — Waterloo Recreation Area
"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 Availability6. Hell Creek Ranch & Campground
"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 Availability7. Seven Lakes State Park 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.)"
"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 Availability8. 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"
9. 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."
10. Holts RV Sites and Mobile Home Court
Drive Time
- 10 min from Lansing, MI
- 39 min from Flint, MI
- 43 min from Jackson, MI
- 55 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near DeWitt, MI
1 Photos of 15 DeWitt Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near DeWitt, MI
125 Reviews of 15 DeWitt Campgrounds
- Joshua E.
TravelerIonia 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.
Mary T.
LegendSleepy Hollow State Park Campground
I know another great Michigan State Park
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. 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.
- Kristina P.Traveler
Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground
ok
quiet 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.
- KKaren P.Traveler
Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground
Sleepy, as i call it...
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! 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 !!
David F.GuideSleepy Hollow State Park Campground
Nature is where it's at
I 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
- JJacob B.
ScoutSleepy Hollow State Park Campground
Best hiking trails within 1gour drive of the state capital
Fun backpacking trails best trails close to state capital
fishing ,boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails,
Geocaching available.
- NNick W.Guide
Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground
Disappointing
This 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.
- AAshley S.Scout
Hell Creek Ranch & Campground
Perfect for the whole family
What 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.
Guide to DeWitt
Sleepy Hollow State Park provides equestrian camping options 20 miles from DeWitt, Michigan. The 2,678-acre property sits in the Mid-Michigan region at approximately 860 feet elevation. Winter temperatures can drop below 20°F, while summer highs typically reach the mid-80s with moderate humidity levels affecting trail conditions throughout the year.
What to do
Lake fishing opportunities: At Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground, anglers can target various fish species in Lake Ovid. "Fishing is good here for some largemouth bass, and huge blueguils. Lots of traffic being so close to City, but good day excursion," notes Michael P.
Hiking trail networks: The Brighton Recreation Area offers extensive trail systems for day hikes. A camper reports, "Large campsite with trees, lit path to the bathroom, and easy access to hiking trails and raft/boat launch."
Disc golf courses: Recreational facilities beyond horseback riding include disc golf courses. "Fishing, boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails, Geocaching available," mentions Jacob B. about Sleepy Hollow State Park's diverse activity options.
What campers like
Private campsites: Many campers appreciate secluded spots at Bishop Lake Campground, 45 minutes from DeWitt. "We stayed during very hot weather at the beginning of July 2020. Our site backed up to trees and I can't recall seeing our neighbors to the left or right," writes Amy D. about the privacy available at certain sites.
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and showers receive positive reviews at Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern. "The camp sites were nice, there was a nice swimming area in crystal clear water and a beautiful bathhouse," reports Kevin C.
Seasonal events: Special programming adds appeal during specific times. "Every year they put together an awesome Halloween trick or treat weekend, but be sure to book the day of six months before because otherwise you will not get a site," advises Stephanie C. about Sleepy Hollow State Park.
What you should know
Electrical access limitations: Extension cords may be needed at some campgrounds. "Be sure to bring at least 100 feet of extension chord if you want electricity, because the power ports are not as accessible from some areas," warns Nathan V. about Sleepy Hollow.
Distance to amenities: Beach and water features may require transportation from campgrounds. "The park is very large, so it is always good to have a vehicle able to drive to the trails and beach," explains Nathan V.
Weather considerations: Weather conditions significantly impact the camping experience. "This time, however, we could tell that the staff does not keep up on it as much. The firepit was surrounded by water, and our site (142) really only had dry space for one tent," reports Mike W. about seasonal maintenance issues.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Hell Creek Ranch & Campground, 30 miles from DeWitt, provides dedicated play areas. "A swimming pool and playground with basketball court to keep my kids entertained and clean facilities convinced me I had made the right choice," shares Ashley S.
Horse interaction opportunities: Beyond trail riding, some facilities offer additional equine activities. "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," continues Ashley S.
Water activities for children: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming options. "Jump Island. It's. Connected but costs money. $15 for a 45 minute jump session. Follow on Facebook for coupons. You can also just swim at the lake- nice area with shade trees beach and nice lake water," suggests Beth G. about Bishop Lake Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Seven Lakes State Park Campground requires planning for optimal positioning. "Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you," advises Edward C.
Full hookup options: Several campgrounds near DeWitt offer complete RV services. "Annually we do the Harvest Festival," mentions Joe E. about Waterloo Sugarloaf, adding that the campground provides comfortable amenities for extended stays.
Extension cord requirements: Electrical hookups sometimes require additional equipment. "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," explains Nick W., suggesting bringing appropriate power cords.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near DeWitt, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near DeWitt, MI is Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 32 reviews.
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near DeWitt, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near DeWitt, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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