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Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp offers equestrian camping facilities with clearly designated horse areas separate from the regular camping circles. The campground provides rustic accommodations situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Dubonnet reservoir, with riding trails directly accessible from the camping area. Sites include fire pits and access to vault toilets and freshwater pumps. While no formal horse corrals exist, the campground layout accommodates riders traveling the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail with ample space for portable corrals or highlines. Unnecessary traffic occasionally passes through the equestrian portion, but the campground remains popular with trail riders seeking access to forest paths and lake views. The self-registration fee is $15 per night with first-come, first-served availability.
The Shore to Shore Trail system connects riders to extensive riding opportunities throughout the surrounding state forest lands. Numerous equestrians camp at Lake Dubonnet while completing segments of this historic trail that spans Michigan. Turtle Lake Campground, approximately 18 miles southwest of Leland, also accommodates horse camping with dedicated equestrian sites featuring water and electric hookups. Unlike Lake Dubonnet's more rustic setup, Turtle Lake offers enhanced amenities including showers and a camp store while maintaining trail access. The campground remains open from mid-May through mid-October, making it suitable for summer and early fall riding seasons. Trail riders frequently mention the convenience of being able to access both water recreation and horse trails from these campgrounds, with the Boardman River area providing additional riding opportunities in the surrounding state forests.
"We stayed at this campground while doing the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail by horseback, therefore we were in the "horse" portion of the campground."
"Being only a couple miles from home, I could ride my bike through the forest paths to this camp ground. The camp is located on the N.W. shore of the Lake Dubonnet resovoir."
"Turtle Lake is a perfect mix of campers! Very family friendly, but spaced out well enough for privacy. They have a nice beach area and areas to fish. All sites provide a good amount of shade."
"Family friendly, there is fishing and canoeing, fire pits and swimming in the lake. They have a camp for horses too."
"Quiet, large sites, like new bath house, 7th nite free, rate$35, good location for northwestern Michigan sites Water on all outside sites. interior sites share water hookups"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"The other is the trail camp. You drop your money in the box pick a spot of as much space as you want (there is hardly ever a lot of people)."
"I like the location; very secluded in the State Forest but only a half hour from downtown Traverse City. This facility meets the recreation need of a diverse cross section of Michigan residents."
"We rented a extra site, so nobody could rent near us, sooo nice! Very close to Manistee River and canoe/raft liveries, very fun family togetherness activity."
from $25 - $55 / night
Check Availability
RangerWe stayed at this campground while doing the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail by horseback, therefore we were in the "horse" portion of the campground. This campground had easy access to the water, and the restrooms were very clean. The campground seemed to have a lot if unnecessary traffic.
TravelerThere are 2 sections of Schecks Place. One is a campground with picnic tables and site numbers.
The other is the trail camp. You drop your money in the box pick a spot of as much space as you want (there is hardly ever a lot of people).
The last 2 times we went there was maybe one or two people with their horses or just passing thru.
There are bathrooms and a well for water. No showers No electric.
The river runs by and is awesome to go tubing down.
There are trails that go through so if you are an equestrian this spot is perfect.
TravelerI like the location; very secluded in the State Forest but only a half hour from downtown Traverse City. This facility meets the recreation need of a diverse cross section of Michigan residents. It’s a great home base or overnight camp for canoeists and kayakers (my particular interest). The camp is also used by mountain bikers & gravel riders, ATV riders, anglers, and equestrians (separate camp area). Large wooded sites. Primitive means vault toilets, no power and hand pump water. No reservations — FCFS.
Negatives: can be noisy at times with the ATVs and also large camping groups. But for the most part I’ve found ppl to be respectful. A couple of the sites flooded after an unusually heavy rain today, so I would avoid any site that looks low if rain is expected.
Site 16 is good. High and dry after the rain.
GuideCant count how many times i've been here. Being only a couple miles from home, I could ride my bike through the forest paths to this camp ground. The camp is located on the N.W. shore of the Lake Dubonnet resovoir. Rustic, cheap, horse friendly, out house, and pleanty of forest and lake to explore.
GuideTurtle Lake is a perfect mix of campers! Very family friendly, but spaced out well enough for privacy. They have a nice beach area and areas to fish. All sites provide a good amount of shade. We will definitely be staying here again! They also have a separate equestrian camping area that have water and electric hookup sites.
ScoutFamily friendly, there is fishing and canoeing, fire pits and swimming in the lake. They have a camp for horses too.
ScoutQuiet, large sites, like new bath house, 7th nite free, rate$35, good location for northwestern Michigan sites Water on all outside sites. interior sites share water hookups
GuideTrail camp but no horses the night I was there. Lots of open space, spots aren’t really numbered. A couple nice hike/bike trails spur off the campground. Lots of traffic in the area through the night (ORV and mudding trucks). Bathrooms are nice. Only a few water front spots.
RangerThis campground is in some lower ground, with a beautiful river running though it. It's fairly wide open, with trees around, but this was great as it made stargazing easy. We were here for a night as we were traveling on the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail, the overall experience was excellent!
Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp includes separate equestrian camping areas located approximately 20 miles southwest of Leland, Michigan. The campground sits at an elevation of 860 feet within the Pere Marquette State Forest, making it accessible for most vehicles during the May to October camping season. Winter conditions often render the access roads impassable due to snow accumulation and seasonal closures.
Kayaking on Lake Dubonnet: Access the reservoir directly from most campsites with small watercraft. The lake contains numerous lily pads and submerged trees creating unique paddling conditions. "Great like camp ground. No swimming but pretty lake with lots of lilipads and sunken tree. Nice hiking trail," notes Tracie S. about Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp.
Explore islands by boat: Launch small watercraft to reach isolated islands in Lake Dubonnet. "Beautiful lake with cool islands! Campsites are large and fairly separated! Can't wait to go back!" reports Thomas H. The islands provide opportunities for wildlife viewing and exploration.
Riverside camping and tubing: Set up camp near the Boardman River at Scheck's Place State Forest Campground for water recreation. "The river runs by and is awesome to go tubing down," writes Gemma G., highlighting the recreational opportunities beyond trail riding.
Mountain biking and gravel riding: Access trail systems directly from several equestrian campgrounds. "This facility meets the recreation need of a diverse cross section of Michigan residents. It's a great home base or overnight camp for canoeists and kayakers. The camp is also used by mountain bikers & gravel riders, ATV riders, anglers, and equestrians," explains Jay F.
Spacious sites with privacy: Sites at Lake Dubonnet provide ample room between neighbors. "I absolutely love this campground. The campsites themselves have lots of space, privacy and a fire pit. This place is the bees knees," writes Caryssa R., highlighting the layout that prevents overcrowding.
Fresh water quality: Multiple campers mention the excellent water from the pumps. "Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp has the basic rustic camping necessities. Outhouses near each circle, spickit with really good water, hiking trails, boat launch and even a nearby island you can kayak to and let the dogs roam free!" notes Caryssa R.
First-come availability when other sites fill: Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds offers alternatives when dedicated horse camps reach capacity. "Nice people. Some sites are electric only, some include water. Not busy and quiet," reports Ron S., making this a practical backup option during peak season.
Convenience for multi-day trail riders: The established location on the Shore to Shore Trail provides strategic positioning. "We stayed at the trail camp it is quiet with no hookups. You can take as much space as you need and there is access to the river. We will be going back again next month," states Gemma G. about Scheck's Place.
Reservation requirements vary: Many horse campgrounds near Leland operate on first-come, first-served basis with self-registration. "First come first serve sites, but it's a super awesome place to go when everything else is booked," explains James H. about Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp.
Site numbering systems: Some equestrian campgrounds have informal site arrangements. "Trail camp but no horses the night I was there. Lots of open space, spots aren't really numbered," reports Emily V., noting the flexible setup at Lake Dubonnet.
Seasonal closures: Turtle Lake Campground has specific operational dates. "Season: May 15th to October 15th" according to the campground information. Plan accordingly when scheduling multi-day rides through the region.
Varying traffic patterns: Some equestrian sites experience vehicle traffic. "Lots of traffic in the area through the night (ORV and mudding trucks)," notes Emily V. about Lake Dubonnet, while others report occasional ATV noise at Scheck's Place.
Look for campgrounds with beach areas: Manton Trails RV Park offers family-friendly amenities beyond equestrian features. "Lots of things for the kids, basketball, volly ball, a beach area, pond with fishing. Very clean, very kind and helpful staff!" explains Valerie C.
Consider grass-covered sites: Certain campgrounds provide grassy terrain more comfortable for children. "What I liked best about this park was that my children were not caked in dirt. While I understand that comes with the territory of camping, this campground provides a bit more of a grassy setting and offers a nice playground," reports Ann D. about Turtle Lake Campground.
Select campsites near restroom facilities: Families benefit from proximity to bathroom facilities. "The bathrooms were redone and are very nice!" notes Ann D., highlighting updated facilities that make family camping more comfortable.
Check fishing opportunities: Many children enjoy fishing at the campgrounds. "There is a small lake that is fun for short kayak/canoe rides and fishing. It's called Turtle Lake for obvious reasons- when my kids went fishing, they pulled up large snapping turtles both times," shares Allison H.
Electric-only hookups at fairgrounds: Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds provides budget-friendly alternatives for RVs. "Power 50/30 were fine. Water is a shared spigot on most sites, but some sites have water. There is a good dump station. Sites are level," reports Jim from Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds.
Avoiding low-lying sites: Select elevated campsites when rain is forecast. "A couple of the sites flooded after an unusually heavy rain today, so I would avoid any site that looks low if rain is expected. Site 16 is good. High and dry after the rain," advises Jay F. from Scheck's Place.
RV accessibility limitations: Many equestrian campgrounds have size restrictions. Turtle Lake offers designated equestrian sites with enhanced amenities including "water and electric hookups" that accommodate larger rigs, while rustic trail camps typically restrict RV size.
Consider fairgrounds for rallies: Large group events can utilize fairground facilities. "We stayed July 2021 for an RV rally. We had no building of shelter for community gatherings. But, weather cooperated and we had a great time," shares Jim about the Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Leland, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Leland, MI is Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Leland, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Leland, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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