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Fort Custer Recreation Area near Augusta, Michigan accommodates equestrians with designated horse trails throughout the 3,000-acre park. The campground features spacious, wooded sites with electrical hookups and modern bathroom facilities. Horse owners can access several miles of marked equestrian trails that wind through diverse terrain including forests and open meadows. The trails are well-maintained and provide adequate space for riders and horses to navigate comfortably. Multiple reviewers note the trails are clearly marked and designed with horses in mind, with good footing and appropriate width for safe riding.
Located approximately 30 minutes from Portage, Fort Custer offers separate trail systems for different user groups, minimizing conflicts between equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers. Horse trailers can be parked at designated areas with easy access to the trail system. The recreation area remains open year-round, allowing for seasonal riding opportunities through changing landscapes. Water access is available at several points throughout the trail system for horses. The park requires Michigan Recreation Passports for entry and riders should check with park management regarding any specific equestrian policies or seasonal trail closures. Trail maps are available at the park office showing the horse-designated routes and parking areas.
"The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶"
"Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes."
"Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric)."
"This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it."
from $20 - $480 / night
Check Availability"Nice very busy pool and slide, play areas, walking trail, camp store with hot food. Not far from Lake Michigan and places to buy fresh fruit and veggies. Check it out you'll be happy you did."
"This is a great place to camp with young children, as there are many activities around the camp. It is family owned and operated and you can tell- warm and friendly."
"No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails."
"All rustic sites, horses welcomed, vault toilets, and water pumps. Pay for site by money drop in tube so bring your check book. The lake is great for kayaking. Miles of trails to wander and discover."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"Overall Rating: 4 for access to the area, very clean facilities, and not too many campers thus time of year.
Price 2024: $35 for water/electric only.""A little close to your neighbors but the way the sites are angled you had plenty of room. Very friendly people. Easy in and out."
"Confidently located a mile outside of Charlotte, with all the conviences of restraunts, walmart, Meijer etc."
GuideEquestrian trails and campgrounds are popular here. Horse rides sold on site. There is a nice hotel that sometimes hosts events actually located in the park. Come tobagginging and ice fishing in the winter and then pamper yourself in the hotel, or visit in the summer and have a beach day or easy hike with the family. Great spot for Pokémon Go because of the available cell service.
TravelerEly Lake Campground is a County campground in Allegan Michigan. All of the sites are rustic. Here are the bullet points:
First the positives: It is a beautiful rustic campground. We stayed on the side with sites 49-73 (specifically site 50) which has larger more secluded sites than the other side of the Lake. The Lake is for non-motorized recreational use so it is mostly used for kayaking and canoeing and fishing. There is about a 1 mile trail that you can walk around the exterior of the Lake, however it is ill defined in some places so just keep your eyes peeled for yellow markers on the trees (which are everywhere so you wont get lost).
This place also attracts a lot of equestrian campers and they have trails specifically for horseback riding. So if you have kids that love horses, you may see some on the weekends.
The negatives: It is a wonderful experience until about 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday night. This place attracts a rowdy crowd and in the evenings (apparently there is no where else for the locals to have a rager). There is loud music , people yelling, fireworks going off and… not very much sleep. And I am not just talking about a few people with their music on -- it was someone blasting their sub-woofer with electronic dance music until 4:45 AM. It was really disappointing because otherwise the experience was positive. Luckily my kids are all deep sleepers so I was the only one who had to sit up all night.
They clean the bathrooms daily from what I can tell, but otherwise the campground is not maintained. There was trash around our site, and when you walk the trail about the lake you will see cigarette packets and beer bottles occasionally. Also along the trail were two massive hornet nests that really should have been removed by park management - but it's clear they don't ever maintain the trail.
If you're willing to overlook some garbage, and if the party people stay away you could have a wonderful camping trip. Allegan County has a beautiful natural resource here, but sadly it seems like it is being squandered, and wont last.
ScoutThis is always my go to campground! All natural camping with plenty of nice people! One word of advise is to bring your own tp though lol they seem to always run out on Sunday mornings lol but are back up and running by mid afternoon. No showers and just outhouses but that's REAL camping right!!!? No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails. Walking trails around the lake that offer nature at it's purest! I have been coming to this lake to camp for over 40 years and I hope I have 40 more years left!!!
TravelerPokagon State Park has an excellent state park campground. Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric). Many sites are flat (good for tent camping) while others are slightly rolling hills (helps breakup the sites a bit). There is a lot to do in the park including many trails, horse riding (horse stable on site), and lake swimming on a nicely improved beach. Only cons are no full hook up and the fire rings/grills could be improved.
TravelerThe trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶
TravelerThis is an extremely large campground. About seventy-five percent of the sites are electric. We stayed in Site 255, which was not electric (booked last minute). This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it. However, Site 269 (next to Site 277) afforded great privacy and was large; among the non-electric sites this was the best I saw. I did not survey the electric sites, but I’m sure the site matters a lot. Non-electric sites are $20.00, plus a $9.00 park entrance fee.
There are numerous walking trails, along with horse and bike trails. Additionally, there are boat rentals, horseback rides, pony rentals, swimming, nature center, and a restaurant at the inn.
This is a family oriented park. Extended family groupings are very common. Nevertheless, people and their children are well behaved.
I would recommend this campground for two days or more. A one day stay will mean you probably won’t see much of this wonderful park. The only reason I gave it a four was that even in mid-September it was packed.
ScoutMMichigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. $25per night with electric. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes. Roads quiet and could easily ride your road bike to nearby bike paths. I loved the lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky.
TravelerThere are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do
TravelerWow! Three lakes, hiking, biking and horse trails, showers, camp host and super quiet this past week while there. Not many campers, but everyone there seemed pleasant and were quiet. Deep sites, electric if you so desire, firepit and tables. I use a tent. Driving from the west through Augusta is a treat...so pretty. Civilization not far at all. Fishing, beach, play areas and an amusement park for mountain bikers! No alcohol. Will return!
Fort Custer Recreation Area offers extensive horse camping options with 3,000 acres of terrain near Portage, Michigan. The park's trail system includes separate paths for equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers, reducing potential conflicts on the trails. The recreation area features sandy soil that drains well after rain, making it suitable for year-round equestrian activities.
Lake activities: At Pokagon State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy multiple no-wake lakes for peaceful water recreation. "There are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do," notes Becky N. about the Pokagon State Park Campground.
Blueberry picking: Covert/South Haven KOA features blueberry fields throughout the property. According to Cindy B., "This KOA has blueberry fields everywhere on the property. For a period of time in summer and early fall, you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes!" The Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday is about 14 miles from South Haven's beaches and downtown shopping.
Hiking trails: The trail system at Ely Lake Campground offers natural surroundings for walking. "Miles of trails to wander and discover," says Ellen S. about this rustic option. The Ely Lake Campground also features a lake trail marked with yellow tree indicators.
Secluded sites: Fort Custer Recreation Area offers private camping spots away from crowds. Hannah ⚡ reports, "We just stayed at site 51 and it is extremely secluded! We had an amazing time tent camping it was so quiet!" This sense of privacy enhances the camping experience at Fort Custer Recreation Area.
Swimming options: Campers appreciate the beach areas at several campgrounds near Portage. At Ely Lake, Suzi K. mentions, "There is a beach. They have horse campsites and trails. Walking trails around the lake that offer nature at it's purest!"
Family-friendly amenities: The Covert/South Haven KOA provides numerous structured activities for children. Lisa P. explains, "The kids love the activities and the pool and my family who are not necessarily 'outdoorsy' love that they can sleep in an air conditioned cabin with cable!"
Rustic camping conditions: Some campgrounds near Portage offer very basic facilities. At Ely Lake Campground, TheSydliks explains, "Caveat: no electric, no running water, no sewer/septic, no dump, no fill... Can run your generator(inverter type is best). Solar is a negative due to tree cover. Vault toilets only, and pitcher pumps for water."
Weekend noise levels: Popular campgrounds can get loud, especially on weekends. James K. notes about Ely Lake, "This place attracts a rowdy crowd and in the evenings... There is loud music, people yelling, fireworks going off and... not very much sleep."
Seasonal considerations: The Eaton County Fairgrounds campground operates seasonally. According to Northstorm T., it's "Only $20 nightly, full hookup, nice wooded sites" and is "Very peaceful when there are no ongoing events." The campground is open from May 1 to October 1.
Activity variety: Pokagon State Park offers numerous recreation options for children. Amy K. says, "There's an inn, restaurant, cabins, boat rentals, horseback riding, bike trails, beach, toboggan run, etc. Tons of picnic areas and pavilions; would be a great spot for a family reunion."
Bug protection: Fort Custer Recreation Area can have insects during certain seasons. Cathy Y. advises, "Lots need mowing so lots of bugs, bring insect repellent." This simple preparation can make a significant difference in comfort.
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds feature designated swimming spots for kids. Janet N. describes Fort Custer as having "Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach."
Hookup availability: Electric-only sites are common at Fort Custer. VB S. points out, "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station." Plan accordingly if you need additional utilities.
Site selection: Choose sites based on shade and access needs. Art S. notes about Fort Custer, "Our site was on the far end of a loop. This meant a longer walk to the restrooms and showers. On the other hand, we were right across from an access trail to the blue hiking trail."
Dump station lines: During busy periods at some campgrounds, waits can occur. Bob B. shares his experience: "Since there are no water or sewer hook ups, lines at the dump/fill station can get long. Sites are easy to get in and out of with RV/TT."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Portage, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Portage, MI is Fort Custer Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Portage, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Portage, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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