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The Pigeon River State Forest Campground provides rustic horse camping near Pellston, with extensive trails accessible to horseback riders through Michigan's northern wilderness. While the campground itself does not have dedicated horse corrals according to available information, the surrounding forest features extensive trails accessible to horseback riders. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with basic amenities including vault toilets, drinking water from wells, fire pits, and picnic tables. Sites along the river offer natural sound barriers and privacy for campers with horses. The campground provides access to the Shingle Mill Pathway that runs directly through the grounds, creating convenient trail riding opportunities for equestrians.
Located approximately 20 minutes from the nearest town, Pigeon River State Forest offers remote trail riding through Michigan's northern wilderness. Riders should come prepared with all necessary horse supplies as services are limited in this rustic setting. The forest contains dispersed camping areas along the North Country Trail that accommodate overnight stays with horses. No cell service exists in most of the forest, making physical maps essential for navigation. Trail riders report encountering wildlife including elk in the less-traveled sections of the forest. The area experiences heavy tick activity during summer months, so appropriate precautions for both horses and riders are recommended. The campground operates seasonally from April through October with limited availability during peak summer weekends.
"Recommend the on site ATVrental lots of trails to ride"
"Island lake/Huron River Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI. Also, Hiawasse River, TN"
"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."
"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"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."
"Watch the sunset from your tent on top of a 40 foot over lake MI."
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.
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.
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.
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.
GuideSmall sites but full hookups. Nice activities and mini golf. Bathrooms soso. Easy access to Otsego state park and Hartwick pines state park
GuideMe and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. 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.
LegendWe have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 107 for 3 days in mid July. This is a relatively large CG, just under 100 wooded sites, which are reasonably spaced for a private CG. The CG is very clean and well maintained, but rather on the pricy side, even with all of the amenities. The roads and sites are gravel. Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site. He said they’d look into it. During the week, the CG was only about 1/3 full, but completely filled up on the weekend. AT&T coverage fair, with 2 Bars of service that fluctuated between 5G and LTE, with speeds up to 4.3 MB/s. The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location. We had marginal views of the southern and northern skies, but we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink was able to get speeds up to 6.5 MB/s. Unfortunately, the CG WiFi wasn’t very usable, less than 1 MB/s, even before the CG filled up.
ScoutSites not paved and entrance roads not paved!!!
TravelerLarge sites, amazing hosts, does charge for a band for kids to do activities like jumping pad etc. this includes a bike rental and golf but was an added charge. Area is beautiful but campground doesn’t have fishing - limited hiking paths good for families with kids
Pigeon River State Forest offers dispersed camping options along the North Country Trail with established sites for overnight stays. The surrounding forest spans over 100,000 acres of northern Michigan wilderness, creating opportunities for solitude and wildlife viewing. Trail camping sites require no reservations but campers must follow Michigan DNR backcountry camping rules, including camping at least 200 feet from water sources.
Explore sinkholes: Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground provides access to nearby sinkhole trails within walking distance. "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," notes camper Vaughn S.
Kayak nearby rivers: Sturgeon Valley Campground offers direct river access for paddling excursions. "Judy is lovely. River access great. My favorite place to camp and kayak," reports Sue R. who frequents the area. The campground serves as a convenient base for accessing multiple rivers in the region.
Mountain bike forest trails: The Shingle Mill Pathway running through Pigeon River campground creates opportunities for trail riding. "I love this area so much! So much to explore and not heavily trafficked at all," shares Kate K. about the extensive trail system available to cyclists.
Private riverside sites: Campers appreciate the secluded waterfront locations at Pigeon River. "Me and my son picked one of a few spots on the pigeon river. The river ran along the edge of our site. Highly recommend, but the current is strong so beware if you have little ones," cautions Paul C.
Dark skies for stargazing: St. James Township Campground on Beaver Island offers exceptional night sky viewing. "Beaver Island is a designated dark sky area and I've seen the aurora multiple times," reports Mike M. who typically stays 5-8 days at this location.
Well-spaced campsites: Chandler Hill Campground receives praise for its layout. "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," says Holly K.
Limited cell service: Most forest areas around Pellston have no cell coverage. "Bring a map/gps because there is not cell service," advises Aaron T. about preparing for trips to the area.
Tick activity: Summer months bring heavy tick populations. "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. The only problem with this hike was the insane amount of ticks," reports Ian R. after backpacking in the forest.
Distance to supplies: Forest campgrounds require advance planning for provisions. "Make sure you have all of your supplies before you arrive as the nearest town is 20+ minutes away," notes Aaron T. about the remote nature of camping in this region.
Choose age-appropriate water access: When seeking horse campgrounds near Pellston, Michigan with families, consider current strength. "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," advises Paul C. about Pigeon River sites.
Look for campgrounds with play areas: Chandler Hill provides recreational facilities for children. "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!" shares Holly K. about family amenities.
Check for family activities: Seasonal events enhance family camping experiences. "They had kids activities over the 4th of July weekend, and our kid loved it," notes Kim L. about Gaylord KOA, which is within driving distance of equestrian trails near Pellston.
Site size considerations: When seeking equestrian-friendly camping options near Pellston, verify RV accommodation capabilities. "I've seen people tenting and I've seen people with large fifth wheels. Some sites are only big enough for tents but most sites can fit large RVs," explains Lydia T. about Pigeon River State Forest Campground's varied site dimensions.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. "Our site had a fair bit of slope side to side, which I mentioned to the person that led us to our site. He said they'd look into it," shares Ray & Terri F. about their 36-foot Class A experience at Gaylord KOA.
Road surface quality: Forest roads leading to horse campgrounds near Pellston typically have gravel surfaces. "Sites not paved and entrance roads not paved!!!" notes Neil about access conditions that may affect larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Pellston, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Pellston, MI is Chandler Hill Campground with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Pellston, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Pellston, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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