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 Kent City, MI
14 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Several equestrian-friendly campgrounds operate near Kent City, Michigan with varying horse amenities. Timbers Edge Campground offers designated equestrian sites with ample space for horse trailers and direct access to riding trails. The campground provides basic amenities including pit toilets, hot showers, electric hookups, and water access points convenient for filling horse troughs. Sites accommodate both tent and RV camping with electric hookups available. The camping area features large lots particularly suitable for horse trailers and equipment. Most campers visit on weekends for horseback riding and hunting activities in the surrounding woodland areas. Trails connect directly to the campground for convenient riding access without trailering.
The White River special area in Manistee National Forest offers dispersed camping options suitable for horse enthusiasts seeking a more primitive experience. These areas provide space for horses but without dedicated corrals or stalls, requiring campers to bring portable containment systems. Hungerford Lake Campground provides horse staging areas adjacent to established hiking and riding trails. The small lake offers opportunities for horses to cool off after trail rides, and the campground allows year-round access. Double JJ Resort offers a more developed option with horseback riding programs, including guided river crossings suitable for inexperienced riders and children. Their riverfront sites provide convenient watering access, though riders should note the trails are designed for beginners rather than challenging riding experiences. Horse owners should confirm reservation requirements and specific equestrian policies when planning visits as amenities vary significantly between locations.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Kent City (14)
1. 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!"
2. 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"
3. 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 Availability4. White River Campsite #1
"We explored the area while camping at nearby Pines Point campground."
5. 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."
6. Timbers Edge Campground
"We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!"
"A lot of horses and hunters. Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking. Friendly managers. No cell service"
7. 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 Availability8. Double JJ Resort
9. Hungerford Lake Campground
10. Manistee National Forest Condon Lakes West Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area
"Got here around 1730 on a Sunday. Have the whole place to myself. Not bad getting into, signal is poor. Lots of wildlife."
Drive Time
- 20 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 31 min from Muskegon, MI
- 1 hr 5 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 1 hr 24 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Kent City, MI
2 Photos of 14 Kent City Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Kent City, MI
51 Reviews of 14 Kent City 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!!!
- Becky P.
RangerTimbers Edge Campground
Quiet Getaway!
We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!
Arron P.GuideHungerford Lake Campground
Rustic camping at finest!
Dispersed camping and camp sites available. There are horse staging areas and hiking trails. The lake is nice, small enough for a kayak/ no motor boat, nice.
- SSharon S.Scout
Timbers Edge Campground
Nice for horses and hunting
I went in November. Most campers were there on the weekend. Pit toilets, a pond, hot showers but shower room unheated, no dump station,nice size lots. A lot of horses and hunters. Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking. Friendly managers. No cell service
- 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.
- Joanie C.Scout
Double RR Ranch RV Resort
Lots to do
There is a river to explore and we always get a riverfront site. Rivers are just fun for fishing, throwing stones, canoeing. There is a campstore, Firepits, large trees, they do hayrides for kids, too. 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. There are some larger vacation lodges to rent that ars nestled away in the woods, and a bunkhouse with rentals. My husband liked the golf course that came with renting spot. Seen lots of wildlife. Very relaxing time in our pop up not too far from Grand Rapids.
Guide to Kent City
Equestrian camping options near Kent City, Michigan offer varied experiences for horse owners throughout the Manistee National Forest region. The area sits within a mix of state and national forest lands at elevations between 800-1,000 feet, with predominantly sandy soil conditions. Winter camping opportunities exist at several sites that remain open year-round, though facilities may be limited during colder months.
What to do
Trail riding with water features: Scalley Lake Park Campground provides access to water-based activities alongside riding. "Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!" notes camper Nolyn S. The campground combines equestrian access with cabin options for those seeking more comfort.
Winter horseback adventures: Hungerford Lake Campground stays open year-round, unusual for equestrian camping areas. "There are horse staging areas and hiking trails. The lake is nice, small enough for a kayak/ no motor boat," reports Arron P. Winter access makes this location valuable for riders seeking off-season trail opportunities.
Family horse programs: For those with less experience, structured riding programs provide safer options. "We enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids," shares Joanie C. about her experience at Double RR Ranch RV Resort. These guided experiences include river crossings suitable for beginners.
What campers like
Spacious equestrian sites: Horse owners appreciate campgrounds designed with trailer parking in mind. "We stayed here during their Equestrian Weekends several years in a row, great hosts and large lots make this place a nice hidden gem!" explains Becky P. about Timbers Edge Campground.
Primitive camping with horses: For riders seeking a more rustic experience, White River Campsite #1 offers dispersed options. "This is the White River special area of the Manistee National Forest. While there are numbered campsites, there are no facilities or amenities. This is more suitable for tents or maybe small campers," explains Kendra H.
Non-equestrian activities: Many horse-friendly campgrounds offer additional recreation. "The pool is big, has a playground, a nice store on site with food, games, and camping equipment. The best part about it was the on site horseback rides!" reports Cheyanne P. about Duke Creek Campground. These extra amenities provide options when not riding.
What you should know
Site spacing considerations: Equestrian sites have varied privacy levels. "Neighbors right on top of you. Dirtbikes n 4 wheelers flying around causing dust n access noise. Premium Sites might be the way to go though," warns Aaron Y. about Timbers Edge Campground. Premium sites typically offer more space between camping units.
Seasonal limitations: Ely Lake Campground offers equestrian access but conditions vary by season. "It is a beautiful rustic campground... Bugs can be bad in busy season," notes Brad B. Spring and fall typically provide better camping conditions with fewer insects.
Management interactions: Staff approaches differ between campgrounds. One equestrian camper at Timbers Edge noted challenges with management: "Run down campground with rude disrespectful owner. We were attacked over something that was so trivial...a few hoof prints by our trailer where we we told to park."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly horse activities: Duke Creek offers structured horse experiences for children. "Your kids will LOVE this place-we had a blast! Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day!" exclaims Becky P. These organized activities supplement horseback experiences.
Swimming options for cooling off: After riding, cooling down is important. "The lake is great for kayaking. Miles of trails to wander and discover," notes Ellen S. about Manistee National Forest Condon Lakes. Many horse trails intersect with water access points where both riders and horses can cool down.
All-weather accommodations: For families wanting horse access without tent camping, cabin options provide comfort. "The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here," shares Nora M. about Scalley Lake Park. These accommodations work well during unpredictable Michigan weather.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric service varies between equestrian campgrounds. "Price was good for electric and water. Nice for dog walking. Friendly managers. No cell service," reports Sharon S. about Timbers Edge Campground, noting the available utilities but communication limitations.
Site preparation: Sandy soil affects leveling and stability. "Maybe it was due to weather but the sites were full of dirt and dust that got everywhere over the weekend," warns Josh N. about Double JJ Resort. Bringing extra stabilization equipment helps manage these conditions.
Seasonal RV access: Road conditions affect larger RV accessibility. "Best access seems to be along 160th avenue south of Arthur road. The road seems a bit sketchy but should be okay for most vehicles," advises Kendra H. about White River camping areas. Spring thaw periods may limit access for larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Kent City, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Kent City, MI is Duke Creek Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Kent City, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Kent City, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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