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Ortonville Equestrian Campground offers rustic camping dedicated to horseback riders in the Ortonville Recreation Area. The campground features vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings with a focus on accommodating horses and their owners. Trails throughout the recreation area connect directly to campsites, providing immediate access to riding opportunities without having to trailer horses to trailheads. The equestrian camping area remains separate from regular camping areas, ensuring horse-friendly surroundings with ample space for trailers. Visitors note the well-maintained trail systems throughout the area make for enjoyable riding experiences, with both wooded terrain and access to two lakes that provide scenic riding opportunities.
Located approximately 30 miles from Flushing, the Ortonville horse camping area operates on a first-come, first-served basis rather than by reservation. The campground remains open year-round, allowing for four-season equestrian access, though spring conditions may create muddy trails. Water access is available for horses, but riders must bring their own drinking water as the campground offers limited facilities. The sites can accommodate both tent camping and smaller RVs with space designated for horse trailers. Parking areas allow for easy unloading and saddling of horses before accessing the trail system. The recreation area encompasses multiple lakes with boat launches and extensive trails that interconnect, creating varied riding routes through diverse landscapes. Despite its rustic nature, the campground's proximity to trails makes it popular among local equestrians seeking convenient overnight accommodations with their horses.
"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 Availability"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. "
"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 Availability"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 $20 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $20 - $186 / night
Check Availability"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.."
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.
LegendWhat 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.
Travelerquiet 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.
TravelerQuietly 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 !!
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.
GuideI 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
ScoutFun backpacking trails best trails close to state capital
fishing ,boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails,
Geocaching available.
GuideThis 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.
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.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground sits within the 5,400-acre Ortonville Recreation Area in southeastern Michigan, about 30 miles from Flushing. The equestrian camping area features direct access to over 16 miles of designated horse trails through diverse landscapes including wetlands, meadows, and wooded terrain. Camping spaces accommodate both tents and smaller RVs with separate areas designated for trailers.
Trail riding through diverse terrain: The Ortonville Recreation Area offers extensive trail systems for equestrian use that connect directly to the camping area. According to a visitor at Highland State Recreation Area, a similar equestrian-friendly park in the region, "There are extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Lovely little no wake lake perfect for swimming, fishing or paddling."
Fishing at nearby lakes: The recreation area contains multiple fishing spots with boat launches. At Seven Lakes State Park, located approximately 25 miles from Flushing, one camper noted, "Sand Lake was our spot and the water was breath taking - it's a small pond really, but great for kayaking. Crystal clear, clean water, a good public beach."
Wildlife observation: The natural areas around Ortonville provide opportunities to observe local wildlife. A visitor to Highland Recreation Area mentioned, "We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail! There's a quiet lake perfect for unwinding after a long day."
Private camping spaces: The horse-friendly camping area offers separation between sites for privacy. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, located within driving distance of Flushing, a camper shared, "The sites aren't super far away from each other but there are trees between sites so from most of the sites you can't really see your neighbors."
Trail connectivity: Direct access to riding trails from campsites is highly valued. One visitor at Pontiac Lake commented, "Very nice sites. Wooded and up north feel. Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails. Nice big lake."
Year-round access: The ability to camp during different seasons appeals to many horse owners. A visitor to Bishop Lake Campground noted similar year-round accessibility, saying, "The campgrounds restrooms and showers were clean. Our campsite had a view of the lake, but no shade. Nice walking trails."
First-come, first-served system: Ortonville Equestrian Campground does not operate on a reservation system. This differs from many nearby campgrounds like Sleepy Hollow State Park, where a camper mentioned, "Bathrooms are well spaced between the campsites, and have showers along with some vending machines outside of them. Spigots are scattered throughout and are very accessible."
Limited water facilities: While there is water access for horses, drinking water is not readily available for campers. Visitors must bring their own water supplies.
Spring trail conditions: Early spring visits may encounter muddy trail conditions that can affect riding quality. A visitor to another trail system in the area noted, "Due to warmer conditions today the trails were a bit muddy. Overall pleasant hike."
Limited amenities: The campground offers basic facilities including vault toilets and fire rings. One visitor described the facilities as "rustic but functional."
Plan for limited facilities: When bringing children to Ortonville Equestrian Campground, pack accordingly for the rustic experience. A visitor to Addison Oaks County Park, another horse-friendly area, suggested, "If what you're looking for is family fun, you can find it here! However, if you are like me and like more rustic camping, this is not the place for you."
Bring insect protection: The wooded areas around horse trails often have seasonal insect activity. One camper advised, "Do make sure you bring plenty of bug netting/spray/gear if you come in the summer, the bugs are brutal."
Prepare for wildlife encounters: The natural setting means wildlife sightings are common. A family that stayed at a similar rustic campground shared, "Learned how to ensure food was safe and tucked away from coons along with the good ole fashion porta potties."
Extension cord requirements: For RV campers using the equestrian area, note that electrical access points may be distant from parking spots. A visitor to a nearby recreation area warned, "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."
Trailer positioning: The campground layout accommodates horse trailers with designated parking areas for unloading and saddling horses. Consider the direction of prevailing winds when positioning your trailer to minimize dust.
Leveling equipment: Prepare for potentially uneven terrain at some sites. One camper at a similar Michigan horse campground noted, "Sites tend to slope towards the lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Flushing, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Flushing, MI is Seven Lakes State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Flushing, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Flushing, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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