10 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Hell Creek Ranch & Campground connects directly to the Pinckney State Recreation Area trail system, offering access to horseback riding opportunities throughout southeastern Michigan. The campground includes a horse barn on the property operated by Heavenly Horse Stables that provides riding lessons and guided trail rides. Campers can enjoy meet-and-greet sessions with barn animals and horses. The facilities maintain clean restrooms and showers, with a variety of campsite options including rustic tent sites, electric sites, and water/electric hookups with 30-amp service. The campground's concrete pad sites accommodate larger horse trailers, with ample parking throughout the property. The swimming pool and basketball court offer recreation options after trail riding.
The Waterloo Recreation Area offers extensive trail networks accessible from several camping areas in the Manchester region. Trails connect to multiple recreation areas including Brighton Recreation Area and Pinckney State Recreation Area, forming an interconnected system ideal for extended rides. Most campgrounds in the region maintain relatively flat sites suitable for horse trailer parking, though availability varies seasonally. Sites are generally spacious enough to accommodate both camping equipment and horse needs. Waterloo's sites feature picnic tables and fire rings with sufficient room for standard horse trailers. The mosquito population becomes significant during summer months, particularly in wooded sections of campgrounds, requiring appropriate protection for both horses and riders. Campground access to state-maintained bridle paths provides direct trail connections without requiring road travel.
"Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more!"
"It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net."
"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"As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here"
"Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"Nice campgrounds easy to get around and my children loved it"
"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"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. "
"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."
"Confidently located a mile outside of Charlotte, with all the conviences of restraunts, walmart, Meijer etc."
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.
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutWhat started as a little get away turned into not wanting to leave! A swimming pool and playground with basketball court to keep my kids entertained and clean facilities convinced me I had made the right choice. As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here. Other perks to this campground: Openings to Pinckney State trails right on property and all sorts of lakes, parks and small town downtown areas for food and shopping nearby, H.C.R.C. was a hidden gem.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
TravelerThis was our first time staying here. Great private campground with rustic, elec, water/elec (30 amp), and concrete pad sites. Very clean campground with nice shower house. Owners are very friendly. Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably.
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.
GuideHad the pleasure of visiting first weekend in February, on the coldest weekend of the year! Nice little cabin set in about 800’ from where you park. It has a table, wood stove, and 4 sets of bunks in a back room. Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more! Pro tip for cold nights is to block the back room and sleep in the main area-
RangerWow.. what a nice little getaway in Hell, Michigan area! Camp host, “Lightening” is a friendly and helpful guy who NEVER stopped working (except to chat with campers here and there). The big pool and bathrooms were immaculate, with surrounding patio furniture sanitized nightly (I watched from my RV window and was so impressed with Lightening’s genuine dedication). The site we had was very large and pretty level. The price we paid was W/E $30/night. Cannot beat that for a fun getaway on a budget! Neat area to find trails and lakes to enjoy as well. Highly recommended campground!
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.
Waterloo Recreation Area, Pinckney State Recreation Area, and adjacent parks provide extensive equestrian camping opportunities near Manchester, Michigan. The region's 20,000+ acres of protected land includes interconnected trails ideal for horseback riding, with campsites specifically designed to accommodate riders and their horses. Many sites offer flat terrain suitable for horse trailers with appropriate spacing between camping areas for equine needs.
Lake activities at Bishop Lake: Bishop Lake Campground has a variety of water recreation opportunities on its crystal-clear lake. "The lake has water activities you can pay extra for if you would like to do that. The lake you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, row boats or paddle boats," notes reviewer Melissa M. For a unique experience, check out the inflatable water park: "Such a cool place to enjoy with the kids, we had a blast at Jump Island!" says Jillian E.
Trail riding connections: At Hell Creek Ranch & Campground, riders have direct access to state trails. "Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan," explains Jason F. The property maintains a riding operation with stables on-site, making it convenient for equestrians seeking organized experiences: "A horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals," adds Ashley S.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Highland Recreation Area offers extensive opportunities for spotting native Michigan wildlife. "We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail! There's also Haven Hill deep in the woods on a trail. It was the Ford family summer getaway spot back in the 1930's," shares Adrienne C. The diverse ecosystem creates multiple habitat zones that attract different species throughout the seasons.
Private, spacious sites: Sugarloaf Campground in Waterloo Recreation Area provides sites with natural barriers between campers. "The campground has some nice full-grown trees, but isn't extremely wooded. The trees offer shade, but are spaced out enough that a group can pull their campers around for privacy," reports Jonah H. This layout creates a balance between openness and seclusion.
Clean facilities: The well-maintained amenities at Seven Lakes State Park receive consistent positive reviews. "Clean bathrooms and showers," notes Andy B. This attention to cleanliness extends to the natural areas as well: "Sand Lake was our spot and the water was breath taking - it's a small pond really, but great for kayaking. Crystal clear, clean water, a good public beach."
Family-friendly activities: Brighton Recreation Area caters well to families with children. "They offer all types of camping. A lot of trails for biking and hiking," mentions Melissa M. The campground includes amenities specifically designed for younger campers: "There is a nice play area for the children and clean bathrooms," adds Debra B. regarding Sugarloaf Lake in Waterloo.
Mosquito prevalence: Several campgrounds in the Manchester area experience significant mosquito activity, particularly in summer months. "The biggest problem was mosquito activity. The camping area sits on an inaccessible lake with a marsh area. When we rolled in the first thing we noticed was that everyone had screen houses set up," warns Ryan F. about Lake Murray rustic sites. Experienced campers recommend bringing appropriate protection.
Site selection considerations: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area offers varied site options that require planning. "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," advises Mary H. Sites vary significantly in privacy level, terrain, and tree cover across different campgrounds in the area.
Seasonal patterns: Weather and usage patterns change significantly throughout the camping season. "We just visited yesterday and although there was ice, due to warmer conditions today the trails were a bit muddy," notes DeijaNay H. about Seven Lakes State Park in winter. Some facilities like Wayne County Fairgrounds close seasonally: "I arrived for a 2 week stay in the area on 11/12. I discovered this campground was closed for the season," reports Mike M.
Swimming access options: Multiple lakes across the recreation areas provide swimming opportunities with varying facilities. At Sugarloaf Modern, "There is a very nice play area for the children and clean bathrooms. The boat launch was near our camp site which was nice not having to leave the campground," explains Debra B. Some beaches include additional amenities for children.
Bike-friendly environments: Many campgrounds feature road networks appropriate for children on bicycles. "They rode bikes around the loop and loved swimming and the the playground," says Kim S. about her family's experience at Sugarloaf. This provides convenient recreation options directly from campsites.
Educational opportunities: Highland Recreation Area offers chances for children to disconnect from technology and learn outdoor skills. "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," shares Tammy P. about taking 9 children camping there. The rustic setting creates natural learning experiences.
Hookup variations: Electric service varies significantly between campgrounds in the Manchester area. "Only downfall is no water hookups on site," notes Martin W. about Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern. Plan water usage accordingly or select sites with appropriate hookup options for your specific RV requirements.
Site leveling requirements: Many sites in the region have slight to moderate slopes. "Our site wasn't level, so we were rolling around a bit," explains Ryan F. about Lake Murray rustic sites. Seven Lakes sites "tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you," adds Edward C. Bring appropriate leveling equipment for your vehicle type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Manchester, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Manchester, MI is Sugarloaf Campground — Waterloo Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Manchester, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Manchester, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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