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Highland State Recreation Area accommodates horseback riders with access to extensive horse trails through woods and open fields. The 5,900-acre park features rustic equestrian camping with spacious sites that provide ample room for horse trailers and equipment. While the campground does not have permanent horse corrals or stalls, riders are permitted to set up portable corrals or use highlines. Riders particularly value the extra-large campsites that allow plenty of space for both camping equipment and horses. The extensive trail system includes dedicated bridle paths that wind through diverse terrain including woods, meadows, and around Haven Hill Lake.
The equestrian trails at Highland Recreation Area connect to a broader network of riding opportunities throughout Oakland County. Both day riders and overnight campers can access multiple loop trails ranging from 3 to 12 miles in length, with trail maps available at the park office. Water access for horses is available at several points along the trails, though riders should bring their own water containers for campsite use. The primitive camping area provides basic amenities including outhouses and potable water, but no electrical hookups. Trail conditions remain well-maintained throughout the riding season from April through October. Many equestrians note that the extensive trail system offers adequate terrain for both novice and experienced riders, with natural scenery that includes fields of wildflowers and opportunities to spot wildlife including wild turkeys.
"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 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"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 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."
"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"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. "
"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."
"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."
"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."
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.
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
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 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.
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.
Highland State Recreation Area features over 5,900 acres of varied terrain for equestrian camping near Northville, Michigan. The rustic equestrian sites accommodate trailers with space for portable corrals and highlines. Campers have direct access to extensive bridle paths through woods, meadows, and around Haven Hill Lake, with connections to additional trails throughout Oakland County.
Kayaking and fishing: Brighton Recreation Area offers multiple water activities beyond horseback riding. "Large campsite with trees, lit path to the bathroom, and easy access to hiking trails and raft/boat launch," notes Brianna S. The park features clear waters for paddling and fishing opportunities.
Mountain biking: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area maintains extensive trail systems popular with cyclists. "This is one of the best areas for hiking and biking and kayaking and swimming," according to Christine A. The park offers trails of varying difficulty levels suitable for both beginners and experienced riders.
Disc golf: Addison Oaks County Park provides recreational alternatives including a dedicated disc golf course. Joe S. mentions, "I enjoyed the trails, disc golf and overall wonderful Park staff! Extremely clean and well-kept." The course offers a full 18-hole layout through wooded terrain.
Private campsites: Many equestrian campers appreciate the secluded nature of sites at Highland Recreation Area. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, campers note similar advantages. "The spots are all pretty private due to trees and vegetation. Nice fire pit. Water hookup and dump on site," reports Sam H.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the region maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. At Seven Lakes State Park, one camper notes, "Clean bathrooms and showers," though adds that "Trees and covered areas were skimpy - trees were still young."
Wildlife viewing: The natural areas around Highland provide opportunities for wildlife observation. Brett B. at Highland State Recreation Area describes it as "private, quiet, and full of wildlife," adding that the campground "has an almost magical feel to it."
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the region operate on seasonal schedules. Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park closes annually from November through March, with one camper noting, "I arrived for a 2 week stay in the area on 11/12. I discovered this campground was closed for the season."
Equestrian requirements: Highland State Recreation Area allows portable corrals and highlines but does not provide permanent stalls. At Hell Creek Ranch & Campground, similar accommodations exist. Julie B. notes it's "Mostly RV however tents are allowed" and has "full hook ups at most sites or at least your electric and water."
Bug preparation: Several campgrounds in the area report significant insect activity. Ryan F. at Brighton Recreation Area warns, "The biggest problem was mosquito activity. The camping area sits on an inaccessible lake with a marsh area... everyone had screen houses set up."
Swimming options: Bishop Lake Campground offers family-friendly water activities. "This is a larger state park with full size sites for RVs. The beach is pretty good for swimming," reports Mike B., while another camper adds, "Such a cool place to enjoy with the kids, we had a blast at Jump Island!"
Playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. Mary O. describes Bishop Lake Campground as having a "Big playground and nice bathrooms," adding you can "take your pet as well!"
Biking opportunities: Family-friendly biking routes are available at multiple parks. Kim S. at Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern reports that her children "rode bikes around the loop and loved swimming and the playground. Facilities were nice and clean."
Site selection: RVers should carefully choose sites based on hookup placement. Mary H. at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area advises, "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."
Levelness considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. Edward C. notes that at Seven Lakes State Park, "Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you."
Full hookup availability: Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park offers complete services for larger rigs. David J. explains, "The staff is pretty helpful. They take you to the campsite and assist guiding you in. Full hook ups are available, as are partial h/I'd and tent spaces."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Northville, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Northville, MI is Bishop Lake Campground — Brighton Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Northville, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Northville, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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