Big Oaks Equestrian State Campground offers horse camping sites directly on the trail system. This rustic forest campground near Atlanta, Michigan features horse-specific camping areas with sites 1-8 designated for non-equestrian campers. Located in the Pigeon River Country State Forest area, approximately 30 minutes from Indian River, the campground provides basic amenities including vault toilets and drinking water. The campground maintains a secluded atmosphere with mature trees providing natural shade and separation between sites. Equestrian sites accommodate both horse trailers and camping equipment, making it suitable for overnight stays while exploring the extensive trail network.
The Walsh Road Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp connects to Michigan's extensive horse trail system, though recent logging has impacted the natural surroundings. This primitive campground includes approximately six camping sites and an open field for equestrian activities. No drinking water is available, so campers must bring their own supply. Vault toilets are provided, but no shower facilities exist at this location. The campground operates seasonally from April through November, making it inaccessible during winter months. Cell service is non-existent in this remote area, with no Verizon signal available. Both campgrounds require horse owners to follow state forest regulations regarding manure management and tethering practices while camping.
"Island lake/Huron River Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI. Also, Hiawasse River, TN"
"Recommend the on site ATVrental lots of trails to ride"
"The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn’t recommend for 6 and under."
"The shingle mill pathway in Pigeon River State Forest was a nice, quiet trail. Went on a Thursday in June and saw 1 other person over 2 days."
"This is a great horse camp. Have camped here many times. Pump water and river for horses. Manuer bunkers and solid poles for highline tying. Some cell phone reception but spotty."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
"While it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls."
"The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location."
from $61 - $95 / night
"Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn’t get too wild."
"Watch the sunset from your tent on top of a 40 foot over lake MI."
ScoutI have camped at St James on Beaver Island numerous times, typically for 5-8 days. Beaver Island is a designated dark sky area and I’ve seen the aurora multiple times. My favorite thing to do is paddle my kayak out into the bay, anchor up, and sit for hours in the gentle waves reading a book.
LegendThis is so great koa with no road noise. The trees are mature and beautiful. This is a great laid back, family campground. The sites are bigger than other campgrounds in the area.
GuidePeaceful and quiet and close to the sinkhole pathway. Clean bathrooms and large mostly private sites. You can launch your boat and beach it near the campground and your campsite but no direct access that we saw.
LegendA horse campground located directly on trails. Rustic campground with lots of trees. Non horse campers stay in lots 1-8
LegendYou can pick sites on the river or back by the woods. There are vault toilets and a well for water. The Shingle Mill Pathway runs through the campground. Each site comes with fire pit and picnic table. I've seen people tenting and I've seem people with large fifth wheels. Some sites are only big enough for tents but most sites can fit large rvs.
GuideIt was logged off and is essentially destroyed. I think there's 6 "sites" and an open field for equestrian activities.
Very secluded. Nothing of interest in the nearby area.
Looks to be seldom used.
No cell service. Verizon is the dominant service up here. 0 signal.
GuideMe and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn’t recommend for 6 and under.
LegendWe have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 107 for 3 days in mid July. This is a relatively large CG, just under 100 wooded sites, which are reasonably spaced for a private CG. The CG is very clean and well maintained, but rather on the pricy side, even with all of the amenities. The roads and sites are gravel. Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site. He said they’d look into it. During the week, the CG was only about 1/3 full, but completely filled up on the weekend. AT&T coverage fair, with 2 Bars of service that fluctuated between 5G and LTE, with speeds up to 4.3 MB/s. The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location. We had marginal views of the southern and northern skies, but we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink was able to get speeds up to 6.5 MB/s. Unfortunately, the CG WiFi wasn’t very usable, less than 1 MB/s, even before the CG filled up.
GuideIsland lake/Huron River Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI. Also, Hiawasse River, TN
Equestrian camping near Indian River, Michigan offers access to extensive trail systems through northern Michigan forests. Located in the Pigeon River Country State Forest region, these campgrounds typically operate from April through October when temperatures range from 45°F-80°F. The area contains part of Michigan's extensive horse trail network with vault toilets being the standard amenity at most locations.
Explore sinkhole trails: Near Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground, campers can access unique geological features. "Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn't get too wild," notes Vaughn S.
Float the Pigeon River: The river provides calm sections ideal for tubing. "The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones," warns Paul C. about camping at Pigeon River State Forest.
Dark sky viewing: Northern Michigan offers exceptional stargazing opportunities. "Beaver Island is a designated dark sky area and I've seen the aurora multiple times," reports Mike M. about St. James Township Campground.
Secluded riverside camping: Pigeon River State Forest Campground provides sites directly on the water. "You can pick sites on the river or back by the woods. There are vault toilets and a well for water. The Shingle Mill Pathway runs through the campground," explains Lydia T.
Horse-friendly layout: The equestrian campgrounds separate horse and non-horse campers. "Non horse campers stay in lots 1-8," notes Lydia T. about Big Oaks Equestrian State Campground.
Proximity to multiple outdoor activities: Staying at campgrounds near water bodies allows for diverse recreation options. "My favorite thing to do is paddle my kayak out into the bay, anchor up, and sit for hours in the gentle waves reading a book," shares Mike M.
Cell service limitations: Most forest campgrounds have minimal or no cellular coverage. "No cell service. Verizon is the dominant service up here. 0 signal," reports Dj W. regarding Walsh Road Equestrian State Forest Campground.
Distance to supplies: Remote locations require preparation. "Make sure you have all of your supplies before you arrive as the nearest town is 20+ minutes away. Bring a map/gps because there is not cell service," advises Aaron T.
Recent logging impacts: St. James Township Campground offers better natural surroundings than some other options. "Watch the sunset from your tent on top of a 40 foot over lake MI," says Casey B., contrasting with areas affected by timber harvesting.
Select appropriate water sites: River currents vary in strength throughout the region. "Me and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn't recommend for 6 and under," cautions Paul C.
Consider campgrounds with activities: Gaylord KOA offers more structured recreation. "They had kids activities over the 4th of July weekend, and our kid loved it. The KOA is about a 5 min drive to Otsego Lake and the state park, where there's a nice beach and easy lake access," notes Kim L.
Check for tick activity: Some trails have significant tick populations. "The shingle mill pathway in Pigeon River State Forest was a nice, quiet trail. Went on a Thursday in June and saw 1 other person over 2 days. The only problem with this hike was the insane amount of ticks," warns Ian R.
Site size considerations: Chandler Hill Campground accommodates larger vehicles. "Nice campground. The hosts were very nice. Clean pool. Recommend the on site ATV rental lots of trails to ride," suggests Brad F.
Surface conditions: Most forest campgrounds have unpaved access. "Sites not paved and entrance roads not paved!!!" notes Neil about Gaylord KOA, highlighting the typical conditions in the region.
Leveling requirements: Be prepared to level your rig at forest campgrounds. "Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site. He said they'd look into it," reports Ray & Terri F. about their experience with a 36-foot Class A at Gaylord KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Indian River, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Indian River, MI is Sturgeon Valley Campground with a 5.0-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Indian River, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Indian River, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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