11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground in Ortonville Recreation Area offers rustic camping specifically designed for horse owners. The campground features vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, with sites spacious enough for horse trailers. Equestrian trails connect directly to the campsite areas, allowing riders immediate access to the trail system. The campground includes both overnight camping areas and a separate staging area for day riders. Trailer parking is available at each site, accommodating both camping equipment and horse transportation. The campground maintains a quiet atmosphere that appeals to equestrians seeking a peaceful retreat. The rustic nature of the facilities creates an authentic outdoor experience without modern amenities like showers or electrical hookups.
The extensive trail system throughout Ortonville Recreation Area provides varied terrain for riders of all experience levels. Trails wind through wooded areas and connect to two lakes within the park boundaries, offering scenic riding opportunities and water access for horses. Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, located approximately 20 miles southwest, offers additional equestrian-friendly camping with more modern amenities including electrical hookups and shower facilities. Both parks maintain well-marked bridle paths that connect to larger regional trail networks. Horse owners should bring their own feed and water buckets, as on-site horse-specific amenities are limited. The trails remain accessible year-round, though spring conditions can create muddy sections that may require careful navigation. Group equestrian camping is available with advance reservations, particularly popular during summer and fall weekends.
"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."
"Large play areas, dog run, basketball court, lots of walking trails, and family friendly."
"The location is pretty great, off the beaten path but, within 30 minutes of major stores and conveniences. "
"This 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.."
"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"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."
"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. "
"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."
"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"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."
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.
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.
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.
TravelerThis was our first time camping. 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. Our spot #18 I felt was spacious and not to close to the people next to us and trees behind us. We had privacy and it was quiet. The people we did talk to were all very friendly. We heard the showers were decent but we used our own. I would stay again.
LegendVibe: Woodland getaway with no flash and really nice sites.
Cleanliness: Sites are above average. Vault toilets are…vault toilets.
Facilities: Nothing flashy. 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.
General spots: Large, very well treed, gravel, picnic table and fire ring.
Privacy: Can see neighbors through sites, but better privacy than most places.
Our site: 39. Could drive circles around inside it. Even has a tree in the middle of it with room to drive all the way around it(not with a trailer). Depending where you set up your rig, you may need an extra long extension cord.
Noise: Quiet. Occasionally hear wolves howling. Cell signal(Verizon): 1 bar. No internet loads. Text messages will send and receive. Sometimes immediately, sometimes hours later. Other: Wish we had a chance to explore the lakes. Sounds like the swimming and fishing is good. Saw several kids on bikes toting rods.
RangerCampground 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. There are two rustic campgrounds as well down the road. When we went to go get a campsite (you can reserve online for an $8 fee) they told us that the upper campground would be the better choice, due to the heavy rain that had come through earlier. It was the perfect choice! Our campsite was spacious, with a few pine trees for shade. If you have a hammock, the outer edge of campsites would be perfect. Only downside to our campsite was the distance between the picnic table and the fire pit. The bathrooms and showers are in the lower campground, but it’s a 5 minute walk or 30sec drive to them. They were clean, stocked with toilet paper and the showers were warm. There’s a ton of hiking trails, a boat launch and boat rental, as well as the beach and inflatable water park. Overall a great little nature spot in the middle of the Brighton area.
Gear Review: As a ranger for The Dyrt, I sometimes get sent awesome gear that I could use and try for my upcoming trip. This time I got to try the equinox hoodie from Eclipse Sun Products (https://eclipseglove.com/collections/all-eclipse-sun-products/products/equinox-hoodie-beach-cover-up). This hoodie is super super lightweight, and the open sides allow for a nice breeze on hot days. Of course, their main feature is the 50+ UPF fabric used in not just the hoodie, but all of Eclipses sun products. I am a melanoma survivor, so having something lightweight, but protective, is so great. It’s one size fits all, and while it fits me great at 5’5, I have also heard from other taller people that it fits them great as well. It does the job well, and while I live in Michigan and it only got to about 75°, I could feel it keeping the sun off my skin. Totally recommend the equinox hoodie!!
GuideTenting at its finest... brother his wife and 5 kids my husband at the time and 4 kids reserved a group area and had a blast teaching and showing those who had never camped how fun it could be!! No cell/internet service but that was perfect!! Great time to unplug and just enjoy our surroundings and begin to learn our own creativity! Learned how to ensure food was safe and tucked away from coons along with the good ole fashion porta potties .... nothing Lysol can can’t fix there but with a total of 8 males (6 being under 18....) always have a can of Lysol when porta potties were in our future lol Definitely would go back when ready for a”rustic” camping event!
Ortonville Recreation Area offers equestrian camping in rural southeast Michigan, situated at approximately 1,100 feet elevation. The region features rolling glacial terrain with two lakes and extensive multi-use trail systems. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with moderate humidity, while spring and fall camping requires preparation for temperature fluctuations between 40-70°F.
Trail riding experiences: Ortonville Equestrian Campground connects directly to over 20 miles of bridle paths with varied terrain suitable for beginner to experienced riders. Kate K. from Ortonville Equestrian Campground notes: "The lakes and launches are very nice and there are some great trail systems through the area."
Mountain biking adventures: The trail system at Addison Oaks County Park features both paved and dirt paths popular with mountain bikers. According to Kate K. from Oakland County Addison Oaks, "Addison Oaks is a campground that features hiking and mountain biking trails, campground, cabins, disc golf course, and a lake for boating."
Lakeside activities: The clear waters at Seven Lakes State Park provide opportunities for fishing, swimming, and paddling. Holly S. confirms: "The campground has a private lake that's good for swimming and fishing. Plenty of hiking/biking trails easily accessed from the campground."
Spacious equestrian sites: Horse owners appreciate the dedicated trailer parking and large sites at Highland Recreation Area. Jennifer H. shares about Highland State Recreation Area: "Extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around. Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Lovely little no wake lake perfect for swimming, fishing or paddling."
Well-maintained facilities: Bishop Lake Campground maintains clean facilities that enhance the camping experience. Mike B. reports: "The bathrooms are clean and the showers were warm." Another camper, Debra B., adds: "The campgrounds restrooms and showers were clean. Our campsite had a view of the lake, but no shade."
Natural privacy: Many campsites in the region offer wooded separation between sites. About Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, Sarah P. states: "This campground is my FAVORITE in Oakland County. The sites aren't super far away from each other but there are trees between sites so from most of the sites you can't really see your neighbors."
Rustic camping options: Several equestrian campgrounds near Lapeer offer primitive facilities with limited amenities. Brett B. describes Highland Recreation Area: "This rustic campground is obviously well-tended and has an almost magical feel to it. It's private, quiet, and full of wildlife. There are two paved sites for handicapped accessibility, running water, a dumpster, and two outhouses."
Seasonal considerations: Spring conditions can create challenging trail riding conditions. Christie V. notes about Pontiac Lake: "Very 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."
Wildlife awareness: The natural setting attracts diverse wildlife including deer, turkeys, and raccoons. Kristina J. warns: "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."
Beach access planning: Some campgrounds require transportation to reach swimming areas. According to Mary H. from Pontiac Lake Recreation Area: "Beach is a 1.8 mile hike from the East loop in the campground but is well worth the walk. (Trail is not stroller/wagon friendly)."
Activity scheduling: Weekend programs offer structured entertainment for children at several campgrounds. Tim & Nancy C. share about Addison Oaks: "It was a Boo Fest weekend. Lots of socially distanced activities for the kids and a scavenger hunt (finding clues on signs in park to solve a mystery). There 26 miles of bike trails and hiking. Many in park are paved."
Unplugged experiences: Limited cell service in some areas creates opportunities for family bonding without technology. Tammy P. explains: "No cell/internet service but that was perfect! Great time to unplug and just enjoy our surroundings and begin to learn our own creativity!"
Electrical hookup planning: Some sites have electrical connections positioned far from RV pads. Mary H. advises: "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."
Site selection strategy: Different campground loops offer varying levels of privacy and shade. Ron E. from Addison Oaks County Park recommends: "Nice quick weekend retreat campground. Cement pads, water, and electric. Loop C is spacious with some trees."
Christian-oriented options: Covenant Hills Camp offers a faith-based camping environment with additional rules. Tammy P. notes: "Nice family/Christian campgrounds... ok for those who care not enjoy alcohol beverages while vacationing, great activities set up for the kids."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lapeer, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lapeer, MI is Addison Oaks County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lapeer, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Lapeer, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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