7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several equestrian campgrounds serve riders in the Sand Lake region of Michigan, with McKinley Horse Trail Campground providing basic tent and RV sites specifically for horseback riders. The primitive campground operates seasonally from April through mid-November, with vault toilets but no drinking water or hookups. Big Oaks Equestrian State Campground offers a similar rustic experience with a clear separation between horse camping (sites 9+) and standard camping (sites 1-8). The campground includes drinking water and toilet facilities but lacks electrical connections. Trails directly connect to the campgrounds, providing immediate access to riding opportunities in the surrounding Huron National Forest.
Luzerne Express Campground accommodates horse campers with dedicated pens available at reasonable rates. The campground provides direct access to forest riding trails, allowing equestrians to ride directly from their sites into the Huron National Forest. Walsh Road Equestrian State Forest Campground, though reportedly affected by logging that cleared much of the area, offers tent camping in a secluded setting with an open field for equestrian activities. Most horse-friendly campgrounds in the region maintain rustic facilities with varying levels of amenities, from primitive sites with minimal facilities to those with water access. Riders should prepare for limited cell coverage, particularly at more remote equestrian campgrounds where Verizon service may be unavailable.
"The large campground is crowded in summer months and you have to buy tokens to take a shower, but the views and access to the River are spectacular."
"Sites are reasonably priced around$25-30/night. The park is very dog-friendly, which we appreciated.
Nice large, woodsy, level lots. Many are waterfront. "
"Bathroom was clean, site was large surrounded by tall pine trees. Picnic table was HC accessible. Fire pit ring. I'm a motocamper and suited my needs. No trash, so take what you brought in plus some."
from $40 - $100 / night
Check Availability"This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to."
"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."
"The area is a trail riders Mecca. From horseback riding to ATV’s. There are horse pens available at the campground for overnight horse camping as well at a very reasonable rate."
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
RangerThe Luzerne Express Campground is literally all you need in one spot. The whole place is incredibly accommodating. Friendly, helpful staff. There is an array of sites available plus RV’s and Cabins for rent so winter camping here is a blast. The area is a trail riders Mecca. From horseback riding to ATV’s. There are horse pens available at the campground for overnight horse camping as well at a very reasonable rate. Walk right off the campground into the Huron National Forest.
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.
ScoutThis place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to. Highly reccomend for anyone looking to camp without ANY ammentities. Access is 4x4 only winter months.
TravelerThis is one of the worst campgrounds I have ever been to. The bathrooms and showers close at 10pm, and the restrooms themselves are nasty, the showers cost $2 (in quarters) for 6 minutes of lukewarm water, the locals are hostile to unfamiliar faces, and to top it off, the rental ATVs and dirt track to ride them on is o ly separated from the campsites by a board fence, so expect to hear all kinds of small engines zipping by at all hours. The RV trailers for rental are all used trailers circa 1995 and "refurbished", which entails a quick coat of interior paint and laminate flooring screwed to the floors with drywall screws. Guests who have rented the RV trailers are instructed to not use the showers in their trailers. Absolutely not worth the money, would rate 0 stars if I could. If you are looking for a camping experience that puts you in the heart of upper Michigan redneck territory, this is the place for you. If you want a good experience, look elsewhere.
TravelerI stayed here a few times in September 2022. The weather was really rainy but the lake is pretty and Oscoda has a lot of hiking and places to hang up a hammock and relax. (The campsite is about 10 minutes from town.)
Labor Day weekend was crazy and my neighbors had a really difficult time staying in their designated site - one family next to me really liked to put their trash on a tree within my site. People just seemed a little unfriendly and territorial - it seemed like they didn’t know what to do with a younger solo woman camper. Unrelated, a guy was shouting a song about cocaine around 11pm, drinking with his buddies. Just kind of weird vibes even though there were a million kids. It didn’t really feel like homey, family vibes.
The second time I was there I was told I could not car camp. The lady who was working didn’t seem to care but my last night an older male worker waited at the entrance until I returned and loudly announced my site number and said I wasn’t allowed to car camp (I usually don’t get frustrated with older people when they yell because I assume they may be hard of hearing, but it seemed a little unsafe to announce where I would be sleeping.) I asked if hammock camping was ok and he became gruffer and told me his boss wanted to kick me off the campground - which seemed to imply a possible punishment if I kept asking questions. Ironically, I was asking these questions because I didn’t have a tent but was still trying to comply. I just felt uncomfortable after that and left, spending my last night somewhere else.
Showers are ok - they’re coin operated and cleaned every few days.
The scenery is pretty but it doesn’t work for me if I can’t car camp and if there’s no cell service to work. As mentioned, weird vibes as a solo female camper too. Adult activities - like a dance party or movies - take place after dark. I can’t imagine how being in a dark forest with strangers would feel safe, let alone fun, when there is alcohol and it seems likely there are other substances too. No really where my interests lie.
But if you have an RV you might have a different experience - or if you’re looking for a party during a holiday weekend. It might also be worth a try if you’re camping as a group.
GuideLots of things to do in this area! The large campground is crowded in summer months and you have to buy tokens to take a shower, but the views and access to the River are spectacular.
ScoutGot lucky enough to snag a week-long stay on a waterfront site(401) the last week of July and thoroughly enjoyed our stay! We had very nice neighbors and had a great week of relaxing.
Pros:
Website booking process was very easy. Sites are reasonably priced around$25-30/night.
The park is very dog-friendly, which we appreciated.
Nice large, woodsy, level lots. Many are waterfront.
Trash pickup if you leave it by your site marker. Nice and quiet during the week.
Delicious hard ice cream served from the store.
Nice walks down"The Point". Beautiful views.
Cons:
Water and electric are poorly located. Need extra hose/cords.
The large store is mostly empty. No souvenir style items.
Trash everywhere..mini booze bottles, wrappers, cigarette butts.
Bathrooms are clean, but very outdated and run down.
Showers run on tokens/quarters and do not have a temperature control.
Equestrian camping near Sand Lake, Michigan offers access to the extensive trail systems of the Huron National Forest. The region averages 33 inches of annual rainfall with summer temperatures typically ranging between 65-80°F, making late spring through early fall the optimal camping season. Winter snowfall can exceed 80 inches annually, limiting access to some campgrounds during colder months.
Trail riding access: McKinley Horse Trail Campground connects directly to miles of forest trails with minimal development. "This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to," notes Juan A.
ATV adventures: Luzerne Express Campground provides immediate access to ATV trails from the property. "The area is a trail riders Mecca. From horseback riding to ATV's. There are horse pens available at the campground for overnight horse camping as well at a very reasonable rate. Walk right off the campground into the Huron National Forest," explains Judy B.
River activities: Explore the Au Sable River which flows through the region. The river maintains a steady flow rate between 1,200-1,800 cubic feet per second during summer months. Kayaking trips ranging from 2-8 hours are popular among campers. "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," shares Max O. about Oscoda County Park.
Lake access: Old Orchard Park Campground offers waterfront sites along Foote Pond with swimming beach access. "Nice large, woodsy, level lots. Many are waterfront. Trash pickup if you leave it by your site marker. Nice and quiet during the week. Nice walks down 'The Point'. Beautiful views," reports Tracey R.
Private campsites: South Branch Trail Camp provides secluded sites surrounded by pine forest. "Bathroom was clean, site was large surrounded by tall pine trees. Picnic table was HC accessible. Fire pit ring. I'm a motocamper and suited my needs," explains Sean R.
Off-grid experience: Some equestrian campgrounds in the area offer true rustic camping with minimal facilities. The lack of electrical hookups and limited cell service creates a more immersive nature experience. "This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there," notes Juan A. about McKinley Horse Trail Campground.
Facility limitations: Most equestrian campgrounds have basic facilities. "Showers run on tokens/quarters and do not have a temperature control," mentions Tracey R. about Old Orchard Park. At Oscoda County Park, "they have 50 or 20 amp power, so you will need a 15 or 50 adapter to use 30 amp service. No water at camp sites, but they have a water fill station," explains Gordon B.
Limited reservations: Many campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis, particularly during peak season (June-August). Weekends fill quickly, often by Thursday afternoon. "For most of the sites here, it is first come first served. We have driven all the way there before and not been able to get in," shares Stephanie C.
Cell service gaps: Cellular connectivity varies significantly throughout the Sand Lake region. Most equestrian campgrounds have limited or no service. At Walsh Road Equestrian Campground, "No cell service. Verizon is the dominant service up here. 0 signal," reports Dj W.
Playgrounds available: Some campgrounds offer playground facilities for children. "I bring my whole family! Very family and pet friendly. It has a playground and a small beach. There are many options to stay here!" explains Rachel S. about Old Orchard Park Campground.
Beach access considerations: Beach areas vary significantly between campgrounds. "The beach area at this campground is okay. My niece and nephew liked it, but I felt that it is too small, crowded, and dirty," notes Stephanie C. about one location.
Bathroom facilities: Family campers should note bathroom maintenance varies. Oscoda County Park received mixed reviews: "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," reports Stephanie C.
Site limitations: Many equestrian campgrounds have uneven terrain or limited accessibility for larger rigs. "Nice open field camping. At the moment they have 50 or 20 amp power, so you will need a 15 or 50 adapter to use 30 amp service. No water at camp sites, but they have a water fill station," notes Gordon B. about Oscoda County Park.
Hookup locations: RVers may need additional equipment for hookups. "Water and electric are poorly located. Need extra hose/cords," warns Tracey R. about Old Orchard Park Campground.
Winter access challenges: Four-wheel drive may be required for winter access to some campgrounds. "Access is 4x4 only winter months," cautions Juan A. about McKinley Horse Trail Campground, which remains open from April through mid-November.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sand Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sand Lake, MI is Old Orchard Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sand Lake, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Sand Lake, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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