Horse camping options near Levering, Michigan are limited but available in the surrounding region. Pigeon River State Forest Campground in Vanderbilt offers rustic campsites suitable for tent and RV camping with horses, though no dedicated horse corrals are provided. The campground features vault toilets, potable water from wells, and fire pits with picnic tables at each site. Trails in the area are not heavily trafficked, making them ideal for peaceful trail rides. Some campers have established dispersed campsites with sweet setups throughout the forest where the North Country Trail runs through.
The Shingle Mill Pathway provides direct access to horseback riding opportunities from Pigeon River State Forest Campground. This 10-mile loop trail is suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Horse owners must bring their own containment systems as no permanent horse facilities exist at the campground. The strong current of the Pigeon River requires caution when allowing horses to drink or cool off. Sites along the river provide peaceful camping experiences, but proper preparation is essential as the nearest town is over 20 minutes away and cell service is non-existent. The state forest is known for possible elk sightings and numerous sinkholes that provide swimming opportunities during warmer months.
"Recommend the on site ATVrental lots of trails to ride"
"Island lake/Huron River Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI. Also, Hiawasse River, TN"
"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."
$61 - $95 / 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."
"Watch the sunset from your tent on top of a 40 foot over lake MI."
"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."
TravelerEntire camp is rustic with well pumps throughout, also all restrooms are vault toilets. 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.
RangerWhile 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. Full coin laundry was helpful too! They had kids activities over the 4thof 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. There's also a newly paved bike trail right by the lake for you to log some miles on. Nearby towns of Gaylord and Boyne provided us with plenty to do, and only a couple hours to get to Sleeping Bear sand dunes. We thought this place was worth the expense- big, flat, level sites with fire pit and full hook up. Nice pine trees and plenty of space for kids to play. Did not like the additional fee for kid to get wrist band for jump pillow and mini gold, but did it anyways.
TravelerThe owners were constantly driving around and correcting people. Rules are okay but they were over the top. They would even stop and just stare at our site while we sat outside.. it was very odd. Also not kept up at all. The playground was old and my 30 lb dog slipped out from under the “dog park” fence because it was so high off the ground where they were allowed to be unleashed, luckily we got her and she’s ok.
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.
GuideSmall sites but full hookups. Nice activities and mini golf. Bathrooms soso. Easy access to Otsego state park and Hartwick pines state park
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.
ScoutSites not paved and entrance roads not paved!!!
TravelerLarge sites, amazing hosts, does charge for a band for kids to do activities like jumping pad etc. this includes a bike rental and golf but was an added charge. Area is beautiful but campground doesn’t have fishing - limited hiking paths good for families with kids
Horse campgrounds near Levering, Michigan provide access to trails throughout Michigan's northern woodlands. The area offers rustic campsites with varying levels of amenities in state forests and private facilities. Camping options range from sites along rivers to facilities with full hookups, with the camping season typically running from April through October when temperatures average 45-75°F.
Explore sinkhole trails: Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground offers proximity to 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. about this rustic campground near Onaway.
River activities: Circle S Campground provides direct river access for water recreation. "Judy is lovely. River access great. My favorite place to camp and kayak," shares Sue R. The campground serves as a gateway to several waterways including "Island lake/Huron River, Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI."
Dark sky viewing: St. James Township Campground on Beaver Island offers exceptional stargazing opportunities. "Beaver Island is a designated dark sky area and I've seen the aurora multiple times," reports Mike M., who regularly camps there for 5-8 days at a time. The campground sits atop a 40-foot bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.
Lake access: Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground offers a peaceful setting on a no-wake lake. Nicole V. notes, "Peaceful 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."
Privacy and spacing: Gaylord KOA receives praise for its spacious sites. Chris R. describes it as a "very quiet campground and sites are well spaced." Ray & Terri F. add that "this is a relatively large CG, just under 100 wooded sites, which are reasonably spaced for a private CG."
Natural surroundings: Campers appreciate the mature forest setting at many area campgrounds. "The trees are mature and beautiful. This is a great laid back, family campground," states Lydia T. about Gaylord KOA, while another camper appreciates the "wooded CG with a walking trail."
Cell service limitations: Service varies significantly between campgrounds. Ray & Terri F. report from Gaylord KOA: "AT&T coverage fair, with 2 Bars of service that fluctuated between 5G and LTE, with speeds up to 4.3 MB/s." WiFi can be unreliable even at developed campgrounds.
Water safety considerations: Water features present safety challenges. Paul C. warns at Pigeon River State Forest Campground: "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."
Site variations: Even within the same campground, site amenities and sizes vary. Lydia T. explains, "You can pick sites on the river or back by the woods. There are vault toilets and a well for water... Some sites are only big enough for tents but most sites can fit large rvs."
Activity-centered options: Chandler Hill Campground offers numerous family amenities. Holly K. shares, "We've camped here for two years in a row and we LOVE it! Everyone is so friendly. Camp sites are nicely spread out and our 4 kids have a ball. They just updated their playground area as well!"
Recreational rentals: Some campgrounds provide equipment rentals that eliminate the need to transport your own. Brad F. recommends, "Recommend the on site ATV rental lots of trails to ride" at Chandler Hill Campground.
Swimming opportunities: Several campgrounds offer swimming access, though facilities vary. At Gaylord KOA, Christine D. notes, "Great bathrooms and showers, pool, playground," making it convenient for families needing these amenities.
Site leveling: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. Ray & Terri F. reported from their 36-foot Class A with tow vehicle: "Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site."
Road conditions: Access roads vary in quality throughout the region. Neil notes about Gaylord KOA: "Sites not paved and entrance roads not paved!!!" This can affect arrival and departure, particularly during wet weather.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited to private campgrounds in the area. Debra S. mentions Gaylord KOA offers "small sites but full hookups," while state forest campgrounds typically provide only basic amenities like vault toilets and potable water from wells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Levering, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Levering, MI is Chandler Hill Campground with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Levering, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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