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Dispersed Camping Hovey Lake Equine Trailhead provides rustic camping without water or electrical hookups for equestrians exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Located within the Hiawatha National Forest, the site offers drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access for tent and RV camping at no cost. The equestrian trailhead serves as a base camp for riders accessing the surrounding trail network, with restroom facilities available. Horses are permitted at the campground, though there are no permanent corrals. The site accommodates both small horse trailers and camping setups, with room for portable corrals or highlines that campers must set up themselves. Cell service can be spotty in this remote location.
The surrounding trail system connects riders to varied terrain through mixed hardwood forests and wetlands typical of the Upper Peninsula. Fire rings are available for campfires, but campers should bring their own firewood to avoid spreading invasive species. The trailhead provides access to multiple trail loops suitable for day rides of varying lengths. Riders should be prepared for potentially muddy conditions in spring and early summer, especially near Hovey Lake. The area is particularly quiet during weekdays, with minimal traffic on the access roads. Campers must practice pack-in, pack-out ethics as no trash service is available. During hunting seasons, equestrians should wear high-visibility clothing while riding the trails.
"Was slightly passed the pin marker on the same unlaced road - only about 1/4-1/2 off the highway."
"There was only 1 car drive by in 2 days."
"Went all the way to the back and got a lakeside spot down the other side of the hill from the main site. Nice and tucked away."
"Great site located between two lakes. In response to the previous review, your best directions will come from locating the site on your GPS (in our case Google Maps) and dropping a pin."
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $8 / night
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GuideWent all the way to the back and got a lakeside spot down the other side of the hill from the main site. Nice and tucked away. Thought the skeeters were insane, but this time of year, it's to be expected.
ScoutGreat site located between two lakes. In response to the previous review, your best directions will come from locating the site on your GPS (in our case Google Maps) and dropping a pin. That took us straight to the location no problem. Totally legit dispersed camp site. Will definely be going back. Because the access to both lakes is near the camp site, we did encounter vehicles driving by, maybe 2 a day. It is the end of the road though so no one was driving to fast and it didn't cause any issues.
TravelerWas slightly passed the pin marker on the same unlaced road - only about 1/4-1/2 off the highway. Sites are fairly spacious but don’t have any of the hookups or amenities mentioned on the site profile - some do have rudimentary fire pits though. There are 3 sites in total. Ground is flat enough to comfortably tent camp. Camp in early September, bugs were minimal. At times the night was eerily silent, at other times I heard dirt bikes and tractor trailers in the distance, also heard a pack of coyotes at one point and pretty sure I heard some sort of padfooted animal walk by my site once or twice.
ScoutThe site only gives you coordinates that are actually an hour away from the site. There is no real address to get there. We pulled in pretty late, had a rough long drive so we got to where we thought it was at around 11:30 pm. Then we can’t find the site, so we go to the website and it gives us strange directions to somewhere an hour away. As we drove out there, we lost all service, were on dirt roads and we were miles past any signs of civilization. We started to get a strange feeling but we trekked on. Suddenly it gets very foggy and spooky looking and we all debate turning back, but still we keep going. Finally, we turn onto the road that it is on, just a ways down, and the stop sign is filled with bullet holes however we haven’t seen a single sign of people out there. We keep going and finally decide this all seems like an elaborate ploy to lure campers in and kill them. We decide to turn around and end up in some weird abandoned summer camp, still around thirty minutes left on the road to get to the actual site. We decide there are far too many creepy signs pointing towards this not being a good idea then as we leave and get service back, we look up the site and realize there are zero reviews at all. The site doesn’t exist on google except for these camping sites, with the same two photos only on every site and zero reviews. As we are driving away, we get an email at one am saying “hello your site is still empty, please enjoy your stay” as if there was someone waiting for us at the site even though it was a remote site with no formal check in. How did they know we were not at the site yet? And what are the chances they email us right as we turn around? I’m glad we didn’t end up staying, we all had a horrible gut feeling and I suggest no one else stay here either. Nothing about it seemed legit or safe.
ScoutLong nice road with a few pull offs once you are close to the end there is one official site with a table and fire circle. Is first come first serve but if you keep driving down there are two different boat launches with room to park/camp. We stayed in our car just in case. NOTE! the camp site is closed for updates until the end of October apparently. No service with mint
ScoutWe only found 2 pull in sites and took the first one. We were able to back our 26 foot travel trailer in and stay hooked up to it. There was only 1 car drive by in 2 days.
ScoutJust want an overnight stay and are self contained it’s perfect. We pulled in a 15 foot trailer and turned it around but wouldn’t go much bigger.
ScoutJust off M-28, down the right side road a bit you will see campfire remnants and a spot where people tend to park on the left. No signage and only saw 2 pre used spots as another review said, but there is plenty of space to park along the road if you are not driving an rv or very large vehicle. Quiet spot especially in early May, cell service with Verizon was shockingly good.
TravelerWe were lucky, we went pre-season. We did have to clear a bunch of down trees to get down the road but we had the site and the lakes to ourselves. It was gorgeous. There is a permitted site (May-Sept) at the end but multiple pull out spots for dispersed camping along the forest road.
Hovey Lake Equine Trailhead provides free dispersed camping opportunities approximately 25 miles southwest of Gwinn, Michigan in the Hiawatha National Forest. The site serves as an access point to an established network of equestrian trails that wind through the diverse Upper Peninsula ecosystem. Winter access can be limited by snow conditions, with the area typically accessible from May through October depending on seasonal weather patterns.
Explore surrounding lakes: The dispersed camping area provides access to multiple small lakes beyond Hovey Lake itself. Visitors to Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite report: "Great site located between two lakes. Because the access to both lakes is near the camp site, we did encounter vehicles driving by, maybe 2 a day. It is the end of the road though so no one was driving to fast and it didn't cause any issues."
Ride the backcountry trails: The trail system connects to other parts of the national forest with varying difficulty levels. Some paths accommodate wider horse trailers while narrower sections require more experienced riders. The area attracts equestrians seeking multi-day trail rides away from developed areas.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings and evenings provide opportunities for spotting native wildlife. At Hickey Marsh Dispersed Camping, one camper noted: "At times the night was eerily silent, at other times I heard dirt bikes and tractor trailers in the distance, also heard a pack of coyotes at one point and pretty sure I heard some sort of padfooted animal walk by my site once or twice."
Quiet weekday camping: The equestrian camping area sees minimal traffic on weekdays outside of holiday periods. A visitor to nearby Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite shared: "We were lucky, we went pre-season. We did have to clear a bunch of down trees to get down the road but we had the site and the lakes to ourselves. It was gorgeous."
Multiple camping options: The trailhead area includes several informal sites suitable for different camping setups. Those seeking more amenities can find alternatives nearby. One camper at Catchin' Crickets Campground noted: "Clean, sites are level. Reasonable good space in between sites."
Cell reception in select areas: Despite the remote location, some spots maintain usable connectivity. A camper at Hickey Marsh reported: "Cell service with Verizon was shockingly good," while another noted that "T-Mobile cell services was very good."
Road conditions vary seasonally: Access roads to horse campgrounds near Gwinn, Michigan can deteriorate after rainfall. Spring thaws often create muddy sections requiring higher clearance vehicles. Forest roads may require navigation skills as signage is minimal.
Limited facilities: The equine camping area provides basic accommodations focused on trail access rather than amenities. A camper at Swan Lake Campsites described similar dispersed sites: "Long nice road with a few pull offs once you are close to the end there is one official site with a table and fire circle. Is first come first serve but if you keep driving down there are two different boat launches with room to park/camp."
Bug protection essential: The wetland ecosystem supports significant insect populations during warmer months. A visitor to Hickey Marsh warned: "I would warn though that the mosquitoes were pretty bad when we visited. Would still recommend for a quick stop over."
Site selection priorities: Choose spots with natural boundaries for safety with children and horses. The most level sites accommodate portable corrals better than sloped areas. Look for sites with sufficient space between your camp area and designated hitching areas.
Bring adequate water: No reliable water sources exist at the trailhead beyond what might be filtered from natural sources. Plan for 1-2 gallons per person daily plus additional water for horses depending on temperature and activity levels.
Pack for variable weather: Upper Peninsula weather changes rapidly even in summer months. At nearby Hickey Marsh Dispersed Camping, a camper advised: "Just want an overnight stay and are self contained it's perfect. We pulled in a 15 foot trailer and turned it around but wouldn't go much bigger."
Size restrictions matter: The trailhead accommodates small to medium horse trailers with living quarters but has tight turning radiuses. Most equestrian sites near Gwinn have size limitations. One camper shared: "We only found 2 pull in sites and took the first one. We were able to back our 26 foot travel trailer in and stay hooked up to it."
Scout before committing: The unpaved access points can be challenging to navigate with larger rigs. Check conditions before bringing trailers down forest roads. Turning around may be difficult in wet conditions or with larger setups.
Prepare for self-sufficiency: Equestrian campsites require complete self-containment. No dump stations or water fill locations exist at the trailhead, requiring advance planning for waste management during multi-day stays with horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gwinn, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gwinn, MI is Hickey Marsh Dispersed Camping with a 5-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gwinn, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Gwinn, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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