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 Grandville, MI
8 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Ely Lake Campground in Fennville accommodates horses with dedicated equestrian campsites and extensive trail networks. The campground offers primitive camping experiences with horse-friendly sites, vault toilets, and hand pump water sources. Miles of trails wind through the Allegan Forest, providing riders with natural terrain for day trips. The campground remains open year-round with many sites positioned along the shoreline of the no-motor lake. Campers notice the trails are well-maintained and marked with yellow blazes, though some sections become less defined in certain areas.
Equestrian trails throughout the campground connect to broader Allegan Forest paths, offering varied terrain for both novice and experienced riders. Double RR Ranch RV Resort in Belding provides river crossings and guided trail rides for less experienced riders, with shallow water routes that are particularly suitable for children and beginners. Horse camping requires self-sufficiency as no electric hookups, showers, or running water are available at Ely Lake. Pit toilets are serviced regularly, though weekend visitors should bring their own supplies. The spacious sites accommodate horse trailers with ample room for setting up portable corrals or highlines. Many equestrians prefer the campground during spring and fall visits when bugs are less prevalent and trails are most accessible.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Grandville (8)
1. 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"
2. 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 Availability3. 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!"
4. 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. Fort Custer Recreation Area
"The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶"
"Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes."
from $21 - $108 / night
Check Availability6. 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. Equestrian Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
from $20 / night
Check Availability8. White River Campsite #1
"We explored the area while camping at nearby Pines Point campground."
Drive Time
- 7 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 38 min from Muskegon, MI
- 49 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 1 hr 8 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Grandville, MI
2 Photos of 8 Grandville Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Grandville, MI
85 Reviews of 8 Grandville 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!!!
- Diana M.Traveler
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Perfect for families
The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶
- Janet N.Scout
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Something for everyone
MMichigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. $25per night with electric. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes. Roads quiet and could easily ride your road bike to nearby bike paths. I loved the lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky.
- 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.
- KKaren O.Traveler
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Huge and has so much to offer
Wow! Three lakes, hiking, biking and horse trails, showers, camp host and super quiet this past week while there. Not many campers, but everyone there seemed pleasant and were quiet. Deep sites, electric if you so desire, firepit and tables. I use a tent. Driving from the west through Augusta is a treat...so pretty. Civilization not far at all. Fishing, beach, play areas and an amusement park for mountain bikers! No alcohol. Will return!
- Bryce J.Guide
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Surprisingly nice beach area.
Fort Custer is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider!
Never over-crowded, tons of trails, and very nice paddle board, kayak, and canoe rentals! The lake at the state park is outlined by trails and features a small island to paddle around!
Guide to Grandville
Equestrian camping opportunities can be found throughout Michigan's forests and recreation areas, particularly within 50 miles of Grandville. The Allegan Forest contains numerous trails designed for horse riders with varying skill levels and riding preferences. Michigan's climate creates distinct camping seasons for equestrians, with spring and fall generally offering the most comfortable conditions for both horses and riders.
What to do
River crossings with horses: At Double RR Ranch RV Resort near Belding, riders can experience guided trail rides through shallow water routes. "We enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids," notes camper Joanie C.
Disc golf and hiking: Duke Creek Campground offers activities beyond horseback riding. "There are only 2 baskets on the playground within a few feet of each other. Not an actual disc golf course," warns camper Clint, suggesting serious disc golfers should look elsewhere.
Lake activities without motors: Ely Lake Campground provides water recreation for when you're not riding. "The Lake is for non-motorized recreational use so it is mostly used for kayaking and canoeing and fishing," explains James K. The lack of motors ensures a quieter experience around the water.
What campers like
Natural terrain variety: The White River Campsite #1 area offers dispersed camping options in Manistee National Forest. "This is the White River special area of the Manistee National Forest. While there are numbered campsites, there are no facilities or amenities," notes Kendra H., emphasizing its undeveloped character.
Well-marked equestrian paths: Fort Custer Recreation Area features dedicated trails for various activities. "A horse trail circles around the outside edge," mentions Art S., making this a structured option for riders who prefer clearly designated routes.
Swimming options after riding: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming areas. "There is a beach," James K. mentions about Ely Lake, while Janet N. notes that Fort Custer has "one lake with swimming beach," providing riders cooling options after trail time.
What you should know
Varying noise levels: Noise conditions at horse campgrounds can vary dramatically by day of week. "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," warns James K. about Ely Lake Campground.
Seasonal bug activity: Insect presence affects both horses and humans. "Bugs can be bad in busy season," notes Brad B. about Ely Lake, while Cathy Y. warns about Fort Custer: "lots need mowing so lots of bugs, bring insect repellent."
Trail maintenance conditions: Scalley Lake Park Campground offers a quieter alternative. "Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!" explains Nolyn S., though trail conditions vary across properties.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly water options: Double RR Ranch provides family-appropriate riding experiences. "Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids," mentions Joanie C., explaining why it's suitable for families with young riders.
Playground availability: Some campgrounds offer play structures for children. "There is a small playground for kids but not much else to do," notes Clint about Duke Creek, suggesting families should plan additional activities.
School vacation timing: Weekday camping typically means fewer people and more trail availability. "We had a blast! Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day!" shares Becky P. about Duke Creek Campground's activities.
Tips from RVers
Electric-only connections: Fort Custer Recreation Area offers limited hookups for equestrian campers with trailers. "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station," explains VB S., highlighting the need for water management planning.
Site spacing considerations: Site layout affects horse trailer positioning. "The sites were very small at this campground. Our fire pit was so close to our trailer we didn't dare use it," warns Clint about Duke Creek Campground.
Water access planning: Ely Lake requires self-sufficiency with water. "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," advises James K., a critical consideration for both human and horse needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Grandville, MI?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Grandville, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Grandville, MI is Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Grandville, MI?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Grandville, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Grandville, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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