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Ortonville Equestrian Campground in Ortonville Recreation Area is the primary horse-friendly camping option near Sterling Heights, Michigan. The rustic campground has designated equestrian campsites designed specifically for visitors with horses. Campsites include fire rings, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. The campground does not provide horse corrals, so campers must bring their own portable corrals or use a highline system for securing horses overnight. Drinking water is available at central locations throughout the campground. Sites accommodate both tent camping and RVs, though there are no hookups available. The grounds remain very quiet and secluded, offering campers a true wilderness experience while staying with their horses.
Located approximately 40 miles northwest of Sterling Heights, the equestrian campground connects directly to an extensive network of bridle trails that wind through Ortonville Recreation Area's forested landscape. The trail system provides varied terrain for riders of different skill levels, from novice to experienced equestrians. Trailer parking is available at designated areas near the campsites for easy access. Group camping options exist for equestrian clubs or families traveling with multiple horses. Horse owners must pack in their own feed and remove all manure from campsites upon departure. The campground operates year-round, though trail conditions vary seasonally with spring often bringing muddy sections to bridle paths. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer and fall riding seasons when the trails showcase Michigan's natural beauty.
"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 $20 - $80 / 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."
"Great time to unplug and just enjoy our surroundings and begin to learn our own creativity!"
"This is one of our family's favorite close to home sites. Extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around. Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding."
from $20 - $186 / 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 $32 - $37 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $35 - $40 / 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.."
"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"Nice campgrounds easy to get around and my children loved it"
"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here"
"Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably."
from $20 - $35 / night
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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.
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.
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutWhat started as a little get away turned into not wanting to leave! A swimming pool and playground with basketball court to keep my kids entertained and clean facilities convinced me I had made the right choice. As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here. Other perks to this campground: Openings to Pinckney State trails right on property and all sorts of lakes, parks and small town downtown areas for food and shopping nearby, H.C.R.C. was a hidden gem.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
GuideThis 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..
ScoutA very quiet campground. The sites are spread out and only 2 vehicles per site are allowed. The East campground is more open and had 3 small cabins that can be rented. The West camping is more wooded and isolated. An extensive horse back riding trail system and MTB trails are easily accessible.
TravelerThis was our first time staying here. Great private campground with rustic, elec, water/elec (30 amp), and concrete pad sites. Very clean campground with nice shower house. Owners are very friendly. Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably.
TravelerThis was our first time camping. 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. Our spot #18 I felt was spacious and not to close to the people next to us and trees behind us. We had privacy and it was quiet. The people we did talk to were all very friendly. We heard the showers were decent but we used our own. I would stay again.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground serves as a hub for horse riders about 40 miles northwest of Sterling Heights, Michigan. The area features rolling hills with elevations between 800-1,100 feet and clay-loam soil that provides stable footing for horses. Trail systems throughout the recreation area connect to broader regional paths, creating extensive riding opportunities across varying terrain types.
Trail riding options: Ortonville Recreation Area offers riders access to miles of designated bridle paths. "The lakes and launches are very nice and there are some great trail systems through the area," notes Kate K., highlighting the recreation opportunities beyond the campground itself.
Swimming and water activities: Seven Lakes State Park Campground provides water recreation for campers and their families. "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," shares Andy B., who enjoyed the water with family.
Mountain biking: Trails near equestrian camping areas often accommodate mountain bikers too. "There are 26 miles of bike trails and hiking. Many in park are paved," reports Tim & Nancy C. from Addison Oaks County Park, showing the multi-use nature of trails in the region.
Privacy between sites: Highland State Recreation Area offers secluded camping with natural buffers. "The sites are very private and spacious in the primitive camping area. The natural scenery is STUNNING with fields of flowers and trees," explains Adrienne C., contrasting with the more open layout at Ortonville.
Wildlife viewing: Camping near Sterling Heights provides opportunities to spot local fauna. "We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail!" continues Adrienne C., showcasing the wildlife encounters possible when horse camping in this region.
Seasonal activities: Bishop Lake Campground offers special events throughout the year. "It was a Boo Fest weekend. Lots of socially distanced activities for the kids and a scavenger hunt (finding clues on signs in park to solve a mystery)," writes Tim & Nancy C., highlighting seasonal programming that enhances horse camping trips.
Insects and pests: Bug protection is essential when horse camping near Sterling Heights. "There are tons of mosquitoes and ticks, so make sure you bring bug spray. Also make sure that all food and garbage is secure at night, the raccoons have no fear," warns Kristina J. from Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Distance to facilities: Some equestrian campgrounds require driving to reach amenities. "The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive," explains Renee R. about the layout at Pontiac Lake, a consideration when planning camp logistics with horses.
Reservation needs: Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area fills quickly during peak seasons. "Wonderful place for a quick get away. Park is clean. Beach is a 1.8 mile hike from the East loop in the campground but is well worth the walk," notes Mary H., showing the popularity that necessitates advance bookings.
Child-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated facilities for children. "Tons of trails for hiking and biking. They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean," recommends Wendy K. about Addison Oaks County Park.
Space considerations: Hell Creek Ranch & Campground offers good sites for family gatherings. "The site we had was very large and pretty level," shares Lisa D., noting features important when camping with children and horses.
Bathroom facilities: Clean restrooms matter for family equestrian trips. "The bathrooms and showers were nice and clean with hot water," reports Sam H. about conditions at Pontiac Lake, an important consideration for multiday horse camping trips with children.
Site specifications: RVers should note hookup details when horse camping. "Cement pads, water, and electric. Loop C is spacious with some trees," observes Ron E. about Addison Oaks County Park, highlighting infrastructure relevant to RV horse campers.
Extension cord needs: Some sites have distantly placed hookups. "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," advises Mary H. about Pontiac Lake, a practical consideration for RVers with horse trailers.
Pad types: Site surfaces vary across equestrian campgrounds. "The campground has a private lake that's good for swimming and fishing. The sites are decently sized with most being easily gotten into with an RV," notes Holly S. about Seven Lakes State Park, addressing RV access concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sterling Heights, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sterling Heights, MI is Addison Oaks County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sterling Heights, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Sterling Heights, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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