12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground in the Ortonville Recreation Area provides rustic camping specifically for horse owners. The campground features vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings with ample space for horse trailers. Campsites are designed to accommodate both riders and their horses with appropriate spacing and layout. The campground serves as both an overnight destination and a staging area for riders accessing the extensive trail system. While facilities are basic, the focus on equestrian needs makes this a popular choice for horse camping near Otisville. The campground maintains a quiet atmosphere during daylight hours, allowing riders to prepare for trail rides without disruption. Vault toilets are maintained regularly, though no shower facilities are available at this rustic location. The campground itself is primarily designed for equestrian use rather than general camping.
The trail system at Ortonville Recreation Area offers extensive riding opportunities directly accessible from the equestrian campground. Riders can access miles of designated bridle paths that wind through varied terrain and wooded areas. Sleepy Hollow State Park, located further from Otisville, provides another option with miles of equestrian trails and a dedicated horse camping area. The park features multiple trail systems suitable for various riding abilities and preferences. Trails connect riders to scenic areas including lakes and natural features. Horse owners should bring their own water containers as drinking water for horses may be limited at certain times. The trails are well-maintained and regularly patrolled by park staff. Equestrians report the trails offer good footing for horses throughout most of the riding season, though conditions can vary with weather.
"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. "
"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."
"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"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."
"What can I say, I love the Michigan State Parks. I find they are the best, Sleepy Hollow is not different and it has so many things to do. "
"Quietly tucked into Clinton co Michigan. Sleepy is easily accessible. Its close to Lansing. There are shopping centers nearby. Country party store is closer!! Very large lake....Ovid is her name!"
from $25 - $101 / 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"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.
LegendWhat can I say, I love the Michigan State Parks. I find they are the best, Sleepy Hollow is not different and it has so many things to do. I would advise if you want to camp there on a weekend to make reservations well in advance. We stay here because there are only 2 campgrounds in the Lansing East Lansing Area this being one of them and the other does not have all full hook ups and charges more. When we visit our daughter at Michigan State University this is the place we stay, 20 - 30 minutes into the University depending upon the traffic.
It has large wooded sites only electric but you can fill up the water at the dump station. Each site has a picnic table and Fire ring. Each campsite has a asphalt pad. They sell fire wood at the campground office. Bring what you need or you can go into St. johns to the Kroger or Walmart. they have 2 main camping loops with 2 loops in each of the main loops and a shower restroom in each main loop. The restrooms are very clean and kept up. I love the showers hot water and for me that is hot and great pressure, I could shower all day. Sure beats our shower in the RV.
The State Park is on Ovid Lake and it is a beautiful lake, great for fishing, canoeing, paddle boards, kayak, and swimming. they have a shelter for you if you have a big party.
They also have a group campsite and a picnic area for large groups. d You can also bring your horses go to the Equestrian area and unload and get on the trail.
You can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and paddle boards. They also have a great play ground for the kids and a fishing pier. Bring Bikes or just hike on the trails and head down to the beach.
Travelerquiet campground during the day, short drive to the beach, biking and equestrian trails available. loud around the restroom at night, cleaning crew came through at 10 pm.
TravelerQuietly tucked into Clinton co Michigan. Sleepy is easily accessible. Its close to Lansing. There are shopping centers nearby. Country party store is closer!! Very large lake....Ovid is her name! Offers many species of fish for catching!! There are fishing docks, ONE IS NOT VERY ACCESSIBLE TO NON AMBULATORY PERSONS !!! THIS ONE'S IN THE CAMP AREA! The path is nicely groomed. The bea h is a long way from the parking lot a d there is no beach access from camp. The park is usually a clean family place...but for really young children or elderly persons it may. Ot be your first choice. I live nearby and have camped there zillions of times. I love it and shower bouses in camp are clean! Friendly staff a d they ate SERIOUS about quiet time! Bug spray required !!
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.
GuideI frequent this park if I am camping or not. decent disc gof course and access to Lake Ovid is great, miles of trails to hike/bike/ride horses. Hosts are very friendly and is always a joy to talk with the rangers
ScoutFun backpacking trails best trails close to state capital
fishing ,boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails,
Geocaching available.
GuideThis was our last stop on a trip where we camped in 6 different Michigan State Parks. This may be an older camp or the DNR was trying to save money when it was built. Most electrical posts are designed to accommodate at least 2 adjoining lots, and as many as 4. This in itself is not a concern until you realize the posts are way too far away to reach without an extension. We tried several lots and couldn’t reach any of the outlets. We finally met a couple who saId they had extensions at the office. So, we finally got set up with an extension cord from the camp office and decided to walk to the beach. Our site was adjacent to the path leading to the beach so we figured we could use a little walk. The path led to another path that led to a parking lot for the beach. After crossing the parking lot we still had to cross a large yard/park that finally opened onto the beach on this small lake. It was all very scenic, but we weren’t expecting a major hike to get to the beach. Showers are nice. They also have a neat ice cream vending machine that I had to check out for scientific purposes only. For a Michigan state park we were quite disappointed.
GuideAwesome campground, horse trails available, volleyball nets, beach, and trails! Don’t get too rowdy however because the DNR constantly patrols the area.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground serves as a popular destination for horse owners near Otisville, Michigan. Located within the 5,400-acre Ortonville Recreation Area, the campground sits at approximately 1,050 feet elevation with rolling terrain typical of Michigan's glacial till plain. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during peak camping season with higher humidity levels from June through August.
Trail riding access: The campground connects directly to bridle paths at Seven Lakes State Park Campground where riders find varied terrain. "Seven Lakes has a great hike that takes you all around the lake, as well as smaller loops. You can find challenging hikes or an easy path," notes Maggie M.
Kayaking opportunities: Within 30 minutes of Otisville, several campgrounds offer paddling options. "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," according to Andy B. who visited Seven Lakes State Park.
Disc golf courses: Addison Oaks County Park features a complete disc golf course among its recreational options. "I enjoyed the trails, disc golf and overall wonderful Park staff! Extremely clean and well-kept," reports Joe S.
Private campsites: Many equestrian campers appreciate the natural separation between sites at horse-friendly campgrounds near Otisville. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, Sarah P. notes, "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."
Family-oriented activities: Christian campgrounds provide structured recreation for families. "They take very good care of this campground.. Lots to do for kids!" shares Carol M. about Covenant Hills Camp, while another camper adds, "Lots of things to do. climbing wall, zip line, swimming, fishing alot of pike."
Equestrian-focused amenities: Horse camping facilities near Otisville provide specialized features. Kate K. observed at Ortonville Recreation Area, "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."
Bug preparation essential: Michigan's wooded campgrounds require proper insect protection. At Pontiac Lake, Kristina J. warns, "The biggest drawback is the enormous amounts of mosquitos and ticks in the sites. Every night we had to triple check each other and our pets for ticks."
Extension cords needed: Some campgrounds have electrical hookups positioned far from parking pads. Mary H. 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."
Water access varies: Bishop Lake Campground offers swimming but requires planning. "The beach was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive," notes Debra B.
Playground considerations: When selecting a family site at equestrian campgrounds near Otisville, check proximity to play areas. "Good, quiet campground (unless your on a site around the playground) lots to keep the kids busy, bonus ice cream store," advises David B. about Covenant Hills.
Holiday activities: Seasonal camping events provide extra entertainment. At Sleepy Hollow State Park, Stephanie C. shares, "Every year they put together an awesome Halloween trick or treat weekend, but be sure to book the day of six months before because otherwise you will not get a site."
Beach options: Family-friendly swimming areas complement horse camping trips. "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," describes a visitor to a nearby lake.
Site selection for privacy: RVers at horse campgrounds near Otisville should research site layouts. At Oakland County Addison Oaks, Richard T. recommends, "Both times stayed in the more wilderness area D with lots of trees and sites for tents or back-in trailers... Sites have electricity and water and are well spaced out."
Electrical capacity: During summer heat, be aware of power limitations. Amy D. notes from her experience at Sleepy Hollow, "Because we didn't get any shade from the nearby trees we had to run the ac which is unusual for us in Michigan. We were in the midst of a heat-wave though and it was much appreciated. The park needs to upgrade the electrical system as this was putting a strain on their electrical equipment."
Paved site availability: For easier RV leveling, seek campgrounds with improved sites. Nick W. shares his experience: "Most electrical posts are designed to accommodate at least 2 adjoining lots, and as many as 4. This in itself is not a concern until you realize the posts are way too far away to reach without an extension."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Otisville, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Otisville, MI is Covenant Hills Camp with a 4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Otisville, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Otisville, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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