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Best Equestrian Camping near Marenisco, MI

13 Reviews

Courtney Lake Campground provides opportunities for equestrian visitors in the Ottawa National Forest near Marenisco. The campground features a dedicated horse camping section with several large sites suitable for trailers. The trail system is well-maintained with paths measuring 5 to 6 feet wide, accommodating riders comfortably. Sites are spacious, clean, and designed with horse owners in mind. Water is available for both campers and animals, though electric hookups are not provided. The campground operates seasonally from May to October with standard amenities including vault toilets and drinking water.

The horse trail at Courtney Lake connects to a broader network of riding paths through the Ottawa National Forest. Riders access the trail directly from the equestrian camping area without needing to trailer horses to a separate trailhead. The terrain features a mix of wooded paths and open areas suitable for riders of various skill levels. Trail conditions remain consistent throughout the season with minimal elevation changes. For those seeking additional riding opportunities, Smith Rapids Campground provides alternative trail access, though it was temporarily closed in 2021. Campers planning horse trips should note that reservations are recommended during peak summer weekends, with fees of $14 per night ($7 with Senior Pass). The campground's private, quiet setting attracts equestrians looking for peaceful forest rides away from busier recreation areas.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Marenisco, Michigan (3)

    1. Torch Lake Campground

    3 Reviews
    Eagle River, WI
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 479-5160

    $40 - $47 / night

    "Private sites, large, forested, near hiking trails and clean bathrooms. Fall colors are spectacular here! Eagle River is close by with charming shops and friendly locals."

    "There are only a few sites and most are drive through. There is a beach on a 39-acre lake. I highly recommend this place! https://www.vilaswi.com/lodging/camping/torch-lake-campground-and-rv-park/"

    2. Courtney Lake Campground

    5 Reviews
    Nisula, MI
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 884-2085

    $22 / night

    "I didn't camp in the equine section, but would love to bring a horse. The trail is well groomed and 5 to 6 ft wide. I will be back, and recommend this place to friends including equine friends."

    "Access road off highway is paved, unlike many other national forest campgrounds. Some sites are very spacious and/or on waterfront."

    3. Sailor Lake NF Campground

    4 Reviews
    Park Falls, WI
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 762-2461

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Nestled within Wisconsin forest you find Sailor Lake. This national forest campground has water access as well as sites away from the lake."

    "* View ⛺️⛺️⛺️ 3/5 This is one of the lakeside campsites. You can see the lake from the campsite, but its not very close to the shore. The prairie next to our site is quite lovely."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Marenisco, MI

13 Reviews of 3 Marenisco Campgrounds

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2021

    Smith Rapids Campground - CLOSED 2021

    Camp along the river - with horses

    This campground is closed for 2021. However we didn’t know beforehand and are glad we checked it out. Right by camp entrance is a historic covered bridge. We weren’t the only o es stopping to see it today.

    We walked in to see the campground. Vault toilets, water and garbage are there. It hasn’t been mowed but the sites look medium size but most are well separated from each other. The ones we saw had more sun than shade. If you camp here, keep going around the bend to choose the best site. They curl around with some separation.

    This is listed as an equestrian campground so we looked for the trail along the river. We found what looked like a trail but the weeds were high. I’d be interested to see what it looks like when it reopens.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2019

    Sailor Lake NF Campground

    Spacious sites in the Wisconsin woods

    Nestled within Wisconsin forest you find Sailor Lake. This national forest campground has water access as well as sites away from the lake. We stayed at site 12 - a pull through site away from the water.

    Many, although not all, of the waterside sites are for tents. You park and carry your gear down a few steps for a close to the water feel. There is an open area for everyone to enjoy the lake - it’s filled with purple flowers today. With plenty of woods around, all sites offer privacy but they have different vibes. Plenty of choice here so look around or reserve one. Plenty of sites available for walk-ins too. A couple of vault toilets, garage receptacle and water source round out a nice camp.

    ATV trails as well as non-motorized trails are plentiful. We hiked on them and it was nice. Minimal cell signal encourages disconnecting for your stay.

  • M
    Oct. 6, 2021

    Courtney Lake Campground

    Awesome camp ground

    The sites are large, clean, and quiet. I didn't camp in the equine section, but would love to bring a horse. The trail is well groomed and 5 to 6 ft wide. I will be back, and recommend this place to friends including equine friends.

  • Mary M.
    Sep. 7, 2020

    Sailor Lake NF Campground

    Site 24 Labor Day Weekend

    • Kindling ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️ 5/5 Kindling was dry and abundant! Good variety of sizes.
    • Cooking grate/fire ring ⛺️ 1/5 Only because there IS a grate. Most other sites have better system but this one is broken.
    • Hammock trees ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️ 4/5 Hung two hammocks at site, could hang more. Trees could be slightly farther apart, but they were sufficient and there were options.
    • Privacy ⛺️⛺️⛺️ 3/5 Other campsites were visible from this site (especially 24) and most campsites here are right on the road. 23 and 24 are set back a bit.
    • View ⛺️⛺️⛺️ 3/5 This is one of the lakeside campsites. You can see the lake from the campsite, but its not very close to the shore. The prairie next to our site is quite lovely. The moonrise over the lake the first night was incredible.
    • Neighbors ⛺️⛺️ 2/5 We expected some noise as this site is on an ATV trail. What we didn’t expect was three hours of chainsawing on Saturday afternoon. Other than a few folks riding by on souped-up golf carts blasting “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” the ATV traffic was not an issue.
    • Firewood ⛺️⛺️ 2/5 Drove to County Line Gas Station in Minocqua to get firewood, which was pretty far. Almost nothing for firewood closer than that, as far as we could tell. $6 for a large bundle, not bad! Some of the bundles were a bit wet, however.
    • Toilets ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️ 4/5 Pit toilet cleaned and restocked daily. What more could you ask for?
  • J
    Oct. 2, 2021

    Torch Lake Campground

    Truly a Gem!

    Private sites, large, forested, near hiking trails and clean bathrooms. Fall colors are spectacular here! Eagle River is close by with charming shops and friendly locals.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2025

    Courtney Lake Campground

    One of my favorites on the Ottawa

    Usually fairly quiet. Access road off highway is paved, unlike many other national forest campgrounds. Some sites are very spacious and/or on waterfront.

    Mosquitos are terrible in season, but that’s not unexpected for the area.

  • Lynette J.
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Torch Lake Campground

    Quiet. Remote. Only a few sites.

    This place is fairly new and in excellent condition. It is well maintained. There are only a few sites and most are drive through. There is a beach on a 39-acre lake. I highly recommend this place! https://www.vilaswi.com/lodging/camping/torch-lake-campground-and-rv-park/

  • Nite H.
    Sep. 13, 2022

    Courtney Lake Campground

    2021 Bear Hunt

    Stayed at Courtney lake CG while bear hunting nearby. Very quiet during the week with some campers coming in on the weekend. Water and toilets were available directly across from the campsite. Was a relaxing two weeks with no disturbances. Price was $14/day, but with Senior Pass cost was $7/day. Very reseasonable.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2023

    Torch Lake Campground

    Great Stay

    This is a great campground to get away too. Everything was clean and well kept. Host were great.

Guide to Marenisco

Horse camping in Michigan offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and hit the trails.

Equestrian campgrounds include spacious sites and amenities

  • At Courtney Lake Campground, campers appreciate the large, clean sites that provide ample space for both horses and riders, making it an ideal choice for equestrian adventures.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and water access

  • Sailor Lake NF Campground features well-maintained trails suitable for horseback riding, along with water access to keep your horses hydrated during your stay.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • Torch Lake Campground allows pets and provides facilities that cater to horse camping, ensuring a comfortable experience for both you and your horse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Marenisco, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Marenisco, MI is Torch Lake Campground with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Marenisco, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Marenisco, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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