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Ortonville Equestrian Campground in the Ortonville Recreation Area provides rustic camping options specifically for horse owners. The campground features open sites with space for horse trailers and room for setting up portable corrals or tie-outs for horses. Facilities include vault toilets, drinking water access, and trash disposal. No electric hookups are available at the horse-friendly sites, making this a true rustic camping experience. The campground maintains a quiet atmosphere with sites spread far enough apart to accommodate horses comfortably. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings, though bringing your own firewood is necessary as none is sold on-site. The grounds are well-maintained despite their rustic nature, creating a clean environment for both riders and horses.
The extensive trail system at Ortonville Recreation Area connects directly to the equestrian campground, allowing riders immediate access to miles of scenic bridle paths without having to trailer horses to a trailhead. Trails wind through wooded areas and open fields, providing varied terrain for riding experiences. Highland State Recreation Area also offers equestrian-friendly trails within a short drive, expanding riding opportunities for those camping in the area. The trails are well-marked with adequate width for horses to pass comfortably. Seasonal considerations affect trail conditions, with spring often bringing muddy sections that may limit access to certain areas. Most trails remain open year-round, allowing for four-season equestrian camping opportunities. Sites often fill quickly during peak riding seasons, so advance planning is essential for securing horse-friendly camping spots in the Franklin area.
"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 $22 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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 $17 - $90 / 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."
"Addison Oaks is a campground that features hiking and mountain biking trails, campground, cabins, disc golf course, and a lake for boating."
"The grounds are huge with bike/hike trails, a lake and a disc golf course. Mountain biking seems to be very popular there are dirt trails off the paved hiking loop."
"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. "
"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"Nice campgrounds easy to get around and my children loved it"
"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 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."
"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."
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.
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.
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
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.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
GuideThis 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..
ScoutA very quiet campground. The sites are spread out and only 2 vehicles per site are allowed. The East campground is more open and had 3 small cabins that can be rented. The West camping is more wooded and isolated. An extensive horse back riding trail system and MTB trails are easily accessible.
TravelerThis was our first time staying here. Great private campground with rustic, elec, water/elec (30 amp), and concrete pad sites. Very clean campground with nice shower house. Owners are very friendly. Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably.
ScoutThis is a fabulous 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.) There is a boat launch on one end of campground and the amazing beach on the other. The water is clear and warm (perfect lake for swimming) and there is both sand and grassy areas on the fairly large beach. The beach also offers picnic tables and benches. The only negative aspect I can see about this campground is that the sites are right on top of each other, so if you have a loud group or a generator next to you, it is noisy. But most campgrounds have sites set real close together, so you will find this pretty much everywhere. Def camp here! About an hours drive from a Pictured Rocks National Park. There are no showers or running water. Camp hosts were very nice, helpful, & welcoming.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground offers dedicated facilities for horse owners within a 5,400-acre recreation area in Oakland County. The terrain features rolling hills with mixed hardwood forests and open meadows at elevations ranging from 900 to 1,100 feet. The area receives approximately 30 inches of annual rainfall, creating seasonal variations in trail conditions that affect equestrian camping opportunities.
Horseback riding trails: Access miles of bridle paths directly from Highland State Recreation Area campground. "There are extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Lovely little no wake lake perfect for swimming, fishing or paddling," notes Jennifer H. The trail system connects multiple recreation areas.
Mountain biking: Explore the trail networks at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, located 15 miles from Franklin. "Nice 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," shares Christie V. Trails range from beginner to advanced difficulty levels.
Fishing access: Fish at several lakes within a 30-minute drive of Franklin. "The beach is 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," reports Debra B. about Brighton Recreation Area. Most lakes permit non-motorized boats and some allow electric motors only.
Privacy between sites: Many equestrian camping areas maintain good separation between camping spots. "The sites are very private and spacious in the primitive camping area. The natural scenery is STUNNING with fields of flowers and trees. We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail!" writes Adrienne C. about Highland State Recreation Area.
Wildlife viewing: The natural areas surrounding Franklin provide opportunities to observe native Michigan wildlife. "This rustic campground is obviously well-tended and has an almost magical feel to it. It's private, quiet, and full of wildlife," Brett B. says about his experience at Highland State Recreation Area. Early morning and dusk offer the best viewing times.
Clean facilities: Addison Oaks County Park maintains well-kept amenities despite high visitor traffic. "We stayed in one of the group sites and it was beautiful. Less tree cover than we would have liked, you're basically in a giant grassy field, but it was perfect for a large group," Jennifer O. mentions. Most campgrounds provide vault toilets at minimum, with some offering shower facilities.
Bug protection: Insect repellent is essential when equestrian camping near Franklin. "There are tons of mosquitoes and ticks, so make sure you bring bug spray. Also make sure that all food and garbage is secure at night, the raccoons have no fear," warns Kristina J. about Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area. Ticks are especially common from April through October.
Limited shade: Bishop Lake Campground has fewer mature trees than some might expect. "Our campsite had a view of the lake, but no shade. The beach was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive," notes Debra B. Consider bringing portable shade structures during summer months.
Weather impacts: Spring conditions often create challenging situations for horse trailers and equipment. "If it's rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area. We have a 4Runner, so it was no problem but a few little cars did slide around and have trouble on the hill by our site," Ryan F. explains about Brighton Recreation Area.
Swimming options: Seven Lakes State Park provides water recreation alongside equestrian opportunities. "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. Our site had 'private' access and our boys just played in the water for three days," Andy B. shares. Most beaches have no lifeguards on duty.
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with built-in entertainment for children. "Brighton recreation has several camping areas within its property. The lake has water activities you can pay extra for if you would like to do that. A lot of trails for biking and hiking," Melissa M. mentions about Brighton Recreation Area.
Educational opportunities: Some parks near Franklin offer interpretive programs on weekends. "They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean," Wendy K. states about Addison Oaks County Park. Programs typically run from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Utility access: Hell Creek Ranch Campground provides full hookup options for RVs traveling with horses. "Seriously clean and quiet! The site we had was very large and pretty level. The price we paid was W/E $30/night. Cannot beat that for a fun getaway on a budget!" Lisa D. recommends. Reservation requirements vary by season.
Extension cord needs: Consider packing longer electrical cords than standard. "If you are hoping to hook up to electrical, bring extension cords; some hook ups are exceptionally far away from the designated RV parking pad," Mary H. cautions about Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area. Most sites require at least a 25-foot cord.
Levelness challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at some equestrian-friendly campgrounds. "Our site wasn't level, so we were rolling around a bit. 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," Ryan F. suggests about Brighton Recreation Area. Bringing extra leveling blocks is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Franklin, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Franklin, MI is Pontiac Lake Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Franklin, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Franklin, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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