9 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Big Oaks Equestrian State Campground, located near Atlanta, offers rustic camping specifically designed for horseback riders. The campground features sites with room for horse trailers, with standard campsites (1-8) designated for non-equestrian campers. Trail access connects directly to the campground, allowing riders immediate entry to the surrounding forest trail system. Each campsite includes a fire pit and picnic table with drinking water available throughout the campground. The campground environment features mature trees providing shade and natural surroundings. The sites are well-maintained though basic in amenities, reflecting its rustic designation.
Walsh Road Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp provides another option for horse camping in the region, located near Grayling. The facility includes an open field specifically for equestrian activities alongside six designated camping sites. The campground connects to surrounding trail networks for day rides. Vault toilets are available but no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own water supply for themselves and their horses. The seasonal operation runs from April through November, making it unavailable during winter months. The secluded location offers quiet camping with minimal nearby amenities, creating a true backcountry experience for riders seeking isolation on the trails.
"The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones. I wouldn’t recommend for 6 and under."
"The shingle mill pathway in Pigeon River State Forest was a nice, quiet trail. Went on a Thursday in June and saw 1 other person over 2 days."
"Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn’t get too wild."
"This is a great horse camp. Have camped here many times. Pump water and river for horses. Manuer bunkers and solid poles for highline tying. Some cell phone reception but spotty."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Island lake/Huron River Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI. Also, Hiawasse River, TN"
"Recommend the on site ATVrental lots of trails to ride"
"While it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls."
"The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location."
from $61 - $95 / night
Check Availability"Love this park, right down the street from our family cabin and you get the best views of the Au Sauble river for miles around."
GuideIt was logged off and is essentially destroyed. I think there's 6 "sites" and an open field for equestrian activities.
Very secluded. Nothing of interest in the nearby area.
Looks to be seldom used.
No cell service. Verizon is the dominant service up here. 0 signal.
LegendA horse campground located directly on trails. Rustic campground with lots of trees. Non horse campers stay in lots 1-8
GuideThis is a great horse camp. Have camped here many times. Pump water and river for horses. Manuer bunkers and solid poles for highline tying. Some cell phone reception but spotty.
TravelerEntire camp is rustic with well pumps throughout, also all restrooms are vault toilets. Sinkhole trails within walking distance, beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn’t get too wild.
RangerThis campground is not my favorite, although my husband did not mind staying there. One of the reasons it is not my favorite is because the bathrooms were disgusting. I do not think that they were cleaned the entire four days we were there. They were super-hot and dirty. Another reason I did not care for the campground is because while we were there, my cousin’s dog was taken to doggy jail! We went on a kayaking trip down the Au Sable river and were gone a couple of hours. My cousin has a big dog that was tied to the tree. The dog had water, but must have knocked it over. The weather was not hot, it was in the low 70’s. My uncle’s site was right next door and he was watching the dog. My uncle was preparing dinner and went into the camper to grab what he needed to grill hamburgers and hot dogs. While he was making hamburger patties someone must have walked by and saw that the dog’s water was empty (because the dog knocked it over), that person went to the park attendant and they called animal control. My uncle came out of the camper and the dog was gone. My uncle said he was in the camper for about 20 mins making patties and getting food ready to grill outside. Apparently, it is not actually animal control that came to get him, it was a person down the street that takes the animals to his home on the weekend when animal control is not open. My uncle came out of the camper and the dog was gone. My uncle was frantic and walked around the entire campground and then went to the front desk. The lady was so rude to my uncle. My uncle is a very nice and funny man and he was just beside himself! My cousin came back from the kayaking trip and my uncle told him what happened. My cousin went to the man’s house that took the dog and had to pay $80 to get him out! It was quite the ordeal. My uncle felt bad because he wasn’t out there the entire time with the dog, but he wasn’t gone that long and it wasn’t that hot outside. My uncle would have seen that the water was empty and would have refilled it. The sites are HUGE and there are some trees, but I would not camp here again. That situation left a bad taste in my mouth and the bathrooms not being cleaned during our stay put me over the edge.
RangerWhile it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls. Full coin laundry was helpful too! They had kids activities over the 4thof July weekend, and our kid loved it. The KOA is about a 5 min drive to Otsego Lake and the state park, where there's a nice beach and easy lake access. There's also a newly paved bike trail right by the lake for you to log some miles on. Nearby towns of Gaylord and Boyne provided us with plenty to do, and only a couple hours to get to Sleeping Bear sand dunes. We thought this place was worth the expense- big, flat, level sites with fire pit and full hook up. Nice pine trees and plenty of space for kids to play. Did not like the additional fee for kid to get wrist band for jump pillow and mini gold, but did it anyways.
GuidePeaceful and quiet and close to the sinkhole pathway. Clean bathrooms and large mostly private sites. You can launch your boat and beach it near the campground and your campsite but no direct access that we saw.
TravelerThe owners were constantly driving around and correcting people. Rules are okay but they were over the top. They would even stop and just stare at our site while we sat outside.. it was very odd. Also not kept up at all. The playground was old and my 30 lb dog slipped out from under the “dog park” fence because it was so high off the ground where they were allowed to be unleashed, luckily we got her and she’s ok.
GuideSmall sites but full hookups. Nice activities and mini golf. Bathrooms soso. Easy access to Otsego state park and Hartwick pines state park
Equestrian camping near Onaway, Michigan offers rustic experiences within Michigan's northern forest ecosystem. The region sits at an elevation of approximately 900 feet above sea level in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, characterized by a mix of hardwood forests, river systems, and small inland lakes. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, requiring seasonal operation for many campgrounds in the area.
Riverside hiking and biking: Pigeon River State Forest Campground features the Shingle Mill Pathway running directly through the grounds. "The Shingle Mill Pathway (a roughly 10 mile loop trail) runs right through the camgrounds which is ideal for hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking," notes Halie C., adding that "the river is also great for fly fishing and floating down if you decide to bring a tube."
Lakeside recreation: Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground provides access to a peaceful lake environment. "Beautiful lake with some nice fish. I believe it is a no wake lake so it doesn't get too wild," reports Vaughn S. The campground is also "close to the sinkhole pathway" with "clean bathrooms and large mostly private sites," according to Nicole V.
ORV and ATV trails: Nearby trails offer extensive riding opportunities. "Recommend the on site ATV rental lots of trails to ride," suggests Brad F. about Chandler Hill Campground. The surrounding area features numerous marked trail systems connecting multiple destinations.
Natural water features: Campers consistently mention water proximity as a key feature. "Me and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. The river ran along the edge of our site," shares Paul C. about their experience at Pigeon River State Forest Campground. However, he cautions that "the current is strong so beware if you have little ones."
Peace and quiet: The remote locations provide genuine solitude. "Very quiet campground and sites are well spaced," notes Chris R. about Gaylord KOA. Another camper reports: "This is so great koa with no road noise. The trees are mature and beautiful."
Wildlife viewing: The region offers opportunities to spot native animals. "Lots of awesome sink holes to swim in, and even elk sightings. If you can manage to find this place, you will love it!" shares Kate K. about the Pigeon River area.
Cell reception and supplies: Most rustic sites have limited or no connectivity. "Make sure you have all of your supplies before you arrive as the nearest town is 20+ minutes away. Bring a map/gps because there is not cell service," advises Aaron T. regarding Pigeon River State Forest Campground.
Site accessibility: Consider vehicle types when choosing campsites. "You can pick sites on the river or back by the woods. There are vault toilets and a well for water," explains Lydia T. "I've seen people tenting and I've seem people with large fifth wheels. Some sites are only big enough for tents but most sites can fit large rvs."
Seasonal considerations: Oscoda County Park operates from April 15 to December 1, with most equestrian sites in the region closing by November. As Gordon B. notes about Oscoda, "No water at camp sites, but they have a water fill station. Nice quiet and relaxing right on the lake."
Water safety: Rivers in the area require supervision for young children. Paul C. recommends, "I wouldn't recommend for 6 and under" when referring to riverside sites at Pigeon River State Forest Campground due to strong currents.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer recreational amenities for children. "This is a great laid back, family campground," according to Lydia T. Holly K. notes about Chandler Hill Campground: "We've camped here for two years in a row and we LOVE it! Everyone is so friendly. Camp sites are nicely spread out and our 4 kids have a ball. They just updated their playground area as well!"
Insect preparation: Summer months bring biting insects. "The only problem with this hike was the insane amount of ticks," warns Ian R. about the Pigeon River area. Other reviewers consistently mention bringing insect repellent as essential for comfortable camping.
Hookup availability: Most equestrian campgrounds near Onaway offer limited or no hookups. RVers should prepare accordingly. "At the moment they have 50 or 20 amp power, so you will need a 15 or 50 adapter to use 30 amp service," notes Gordon B. about Oscoda County Park.
Site leveling: Prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. Ray & Terri F. report about Gaylord KOA: "Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site." They also note that "the roads and sites are gravel."
Satellite access: Tree coverage affects reception at many sites. "The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location," according to Ray & Terri F., who managed to get DISH coverage despite this challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Onaway, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Onaway, MI is Pigeon River State Forest Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Onaway, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Onaway, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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