Best Equestrian Camping near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp provides rustic equestrian camping with specific areas designated for horse use near Sleeping Bear Dunes. Located in Interlochen, Michigan, this state forest campground features first-come, first-served sites with fire pits, vault toilets, and water pumps. The campground has gained popularity among riders traveling the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail, with many equestrians noting the convenient lake access and clean facilities. Sites are spacious and undesignated, allowing riders to select the most suitable spots for their horses and equipment. The campground operates seasonally from April to October with a self-registration system.
Riders access multiple forest trails directly from Lake Dubonnet, with connecting routes through the surrounding state forest land. The Boardman River area offers additional equestrian trails via Scheck's Place State Forest Campground, where horse camping is also available with similar rustic amenities. Many equestrians report unnecessary traffic through the horse camping area during busy periods. Turtle Lake Campground provides an alternative with more amenities including a separate equestrian camping section that features water and electric hookups. This facility serves as a convenient base for exploring regional bridle trails while offering more developed facilities than the state forest options. The terrain throughout the area varies from woodland trails to open meadows, making it suitable for riders of different experience levels.
