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Ortonville Equestrian Campground in Ortonville Recreation Area features specifically designed campsites for those traveling with horses. The campground provides rustic accommodations with vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings for overnight equestrian visitors. Open year-round, the facility includes both a main campground and a dedicated staging area for equestrians. The equestrian campsites accommodate tents and RVs, allowing riders to stay close to their horses throughout their visit. The campground's popularity among horse owners stems from its functional design rather than luxury amenities. Trails and lakes nearby offer excellent recreational opportunities beyond riding, with two great lakes and boat launches available within the recreation area.
The extensive trail system throughout Ortonville Recreation Area connects directly to the equestrian campground, making it convenient for daily rides without trailering. Riders can access miles of trails directly from their campsites, offering varied terrain through wooded areas and open fields. Horse owners note the well-maintained trails provide good footing and interesting routes for various riding abilities. While the campground itself offers basic amenities, the real attraction lies in the trail access and natural setting. Trailer parking is ample, accommodating various sizes of horse trailers. The recreation area requires a Michigan Recreation Passport for entry, and camping reservations are recommended during peak seasons. The park's combination of riding opportunities, natural lakes, and dedicated horse camping facilities makes it a practical destination for equestrians seeking camping options near Mayfield.
"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. "
"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."
"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.."
"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."
"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. "
"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 Equestrian Campground provides rustic facilities for horseback riders seeking campgrounds around Mayfield, Michigan. Located within Ortonville Recreation Area, the campground features spacious sites capable of accommodating horse trailers of various sizes. Riders can access miles of trails directly from the camp without needing to transport horses elsewhere. The location serves as a functional base for exploring the surrounding recreation area rather than offering luxury camping amenities.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Seven Lakes State Park offers excellent fishing opportunities within 30 minutes of Mayfield. "This place has some great water so bring a boat, board, or kayak. Very popular for fishing and paddling," notes one Seven Lakes visitor. The park contains multiple fishing spots across its namesake lakes.
Mountain biking on maintained trails: The trail systems near Mayfield support various skill levels of mountain biking. At Addison Oaks County Park, "Tons of trails for hiking and biking. They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean," according to a regular visitor.
Disc golf courses: Several recreation areas maintain disc golf courses as an alternative outdoor activity. "I enjoyed the trails, disc golf and overall wonderful Park staff! Extremely clean and well-kept," reports one camper about Addison Oaks facilities.
Secluded, wooded sites: Many campgrounds near Mayfield offer private camping spots with natural screening. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, "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."
Clean, modern facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathhouses and grounds. At Bishop Lake Campground, "The campgrounds restrooms and showers were clean. Our campsite had a view of the lake, but no shade. The beach was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive."
On-site recreation options: Many campgrounds provide dedicated facilities for family activities. At Covenant Hills Camp, "Lots of things to do. climbing wall, zip line, swimming, fishing alot of pike. Wooded lots very friendly," mentions one satisfied visitor.
Michigan Recreation Passport requirements: State recreation areas around Mayfield require a Recreation Passport for entry, which can be purchased annually or added to vehicle registration.
Limited cellular coverage: Some campgrounds have minimal phone service. At Highland State Recreation Area, visitors note the lack of connectivity can be a positive: "No cell/internet service but that was perfect!! Great time to unplug and just enjoy our surroundings and begin to learn our own creativity!"
Variable site privacy levels: Campground layouts differ significantly in how much separation exists between sites. "The campground isn't overly special but it's in a great location. Bathrooms, picnic tables, fire pit, the standard accommodations," explains a Seven Lakes visitor.
Look for dedicated children's activities: Several campgrounds schedule regular weekend programming. "They take very good care of this campground. Lots to do for kids!" notes a Covenant Hills visitor about their family-friendly approach.
Consider proximity to beaches: Not all campgrounds offer swimming within walking distance. At Bishop Lake, "The beach was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive. Nice walking trails. Our favorite was the lake for kayaking."
Pack extra supplies for primitive sites: When choosing rustic equestrian camping near Mayfield, remember basic necessities. "Learned how to ensure food was safe and tucked away from coons along with the good ole fashion porta potties.... nothing Lysol can't fix," advises a Highland Recreation Area camper.
Extension cord requirements: Electrical hookups aren't always conveniently placed relative to parking pads. At Pontiac Lake, "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 leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring preparation. One Covenant Hills visitor notes, "I wouldn't say rustic but the sites can be a bit hard to get into. They don't level out very well."
Water access points: Pay attention to water spigot locations when booking sites. Campgrounds like Addison Oaks provide water connections, but their placement varies across loops: "Sites have electricity and water and are well spaced out."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mayfield, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mayfield, MI is Covenant Hills Camp with a 4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mayfield, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Mayfield, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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