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Ortonville Equestrian Campground in the Ortonville Recreation Area accommodates horse camping with a rustic setup emphasizing trail access rather than modern amenities. Located 53 miles northwest of Mount Clemens, the campground allows direct access to the park's extensive bridle trail system. Sites feature picnic tables and fire rings with vault toilets available throughout the grounds. The campground restricts pets to maintain a dedicated horse environment. Trail riders consistently note the well-maintained paths through the forested terrain, making for quality riding experiences throughout the year.
The equestrian trails connect to the broader Ortonville Recreation Area, offering varied terrain through wooded areas, open fields, and rolling hills. Access roads accommodate horse trailers with adequate parking space at the campground entrance. Water is available at designated locations, though riders often bring supplemental water for their horses. The park maintains rustic camping conditions without electric hookups, sewer connections, or shower facilities. Reservations are not available, making this a first-come, first-served destination for horse enthusiasts. Seasonally open year-round, the Ortonville trails see heaviest equestrian use during spring and fall months when temperatures are moderate and insects less prevalent. Riders should prepare for basic conditions and bring necessary equine supplies.
"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."
"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."
"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"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."
"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. "
"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.."
"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"
"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."
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!!
Ortonville Equestrian Campground offers dedicated facilities for riders seeking trail access in a rustic setting. Located in the Ortonville Recreation Area, this horse-focused destination sits approximately 53 miles northwest of Mount Clemens. The campground connects directly to an extensive bridle trail system covering varied terrain and elevation changes throughout the 5,400-acre recreation area. Seasonal conditions affect trail quality, with spring and fall providing optimal riding experiences.
Trail riding with horses: The Ortonville trails provide extensive riding opportunities through diverse landscapes. As noted by one visitor to Highland State Recreation Area: "Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Lovely little no wake lake perfect for swimming, fishing or paddling."
Fishing at nearby lakes: Multiple recreational areas offer fishing opportunities within a short drive. A camper at Seven Lakes State Park mentioned: "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."
Mountain biking: Several parks provide designated mountain biking trails. A visitor to Pontiac Lake Recreation Area shared: "Extensive mountain biking trails and the lake is open to boating, kayaking, and other water sports. Park offers lots of private sites!"
Privacy between sites: Many horse campgrounds near Mount Clemens, Michigan feature well-spaced sites. A camper at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area noted: "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."
Trail access: Direct trail connections remain a key advantage for horse-focused camping areas. At Highland State Recreation Area, a visitor commented: "Extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around. Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding."
Water features: Lakes and ponds enhance the camping experience beyond trail riding. According to a Seven Lakes State Park visitor: "The campground has a private lake that's good for swimming and fishing. Plenty of hiking/biking trails easily accessed from the campground."
Rustic conditions: Equestrian campgrounds typically provide basic facilities only. A visitor to Highland Recreation Area cautioned: "This is one of our family's favorite close to home sites...Tenting at its finest...the good ole fashion porta potties...nothing Lysol can can't fix."
Wildlife encounters: The natural setting attracts various wildlife species. A visitor at Addison Oaks County Park shared: "Enjoyed the trails, disc golf and overall wonderful Park staff! We saw deer and rabbit."
Site preparation: Bringing adequate supplies for horse care is essential. A camper at Pontiac Lake noted: "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."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts facility operations and trail conditions. A Seven Lakes visitor mentioned: "We spent 4 days in the sparsely-populated campground. Very quiet. Great for walking the dogs around Sand Lake and other park trails. Cool weather, as expected."
Activity options: Nearby parks offer family-friendly alternatives to horseback riding. A visitor to Bishop Lake Campground mentioned: "Nice lakes for swimming and can take your pet as well! Big playground and nice bathrooms."
Playground access: Some equestrian camping areas feature play equipment for children. An Addison Oaks camper noted: "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."
Special events: Seasonal programming enhances family experiences. Another Addison Oaks visitor shared: "We stayed in area A in a water/electric site. It was a Boo Fest weekend. Lots of socially distanced activities for the kids and a scavenger hunt (finding clues on signs in park to solve a mystery)."
Pad conditions: RV sites vary in quality and preparation. A camper at Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park observed: "The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy."
Hookup locations: Electrical connections require planning at some facilities. A Pontiac Lake visitor noted: "bring extension cords; some hook ups are exceptionally far away from the designated RV parking pad."
Site selection strategies: Choosing the right location impacts camping comfort. A Wayne County Fairgrounds visitor advised: "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mount Clemens, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mount Clemens, MI is Addison Oaks County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mount Clemens, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Mount Clemens, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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