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Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp provides rustic campsites for equestrians traveling the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail. The horse portion of the campground offers spacious sites with direct water access from the northwestern shore of Lake Dubonnet. Facilities include fire pits at each site and clean vault toilets throughout the camping area. No electric hookups or water connections are available at individual sites, though fresh water can be accessed via pumps located near the restroom facilities. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. Sites can accommodate both tent camping and modest RVs. The campground experiences occasional heavy traffic from ORVs and mudding trucks, particularly at night.
Connected to multiple forest paths and trails, Lake Dubonnet serves as a strategic basecamp for horseback riding expeditions. The Shore to Shore Trail passes directly through the campground, providing riders with extensive route options for day trips or longer excursions. Scheck's Place State Forest Campground, another equestrian-friendly option approximately 20 miles east, offers additional trail camp facilities along the Boardman River with ample space for horse trailers. Equestrian campers typically select sites based on trailer access and proximity to water sources for their animals. The camping season runs from April through October with a self-registration fee of $15 per night. Most visitors find the campground relatively uncrowded except during peak summer weekends, allowing riders to enjoy peaceful trail access throughout much of the season.
"We stayed at this campground while doing the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail by horseback, therefore we were in the "horse" portion of the campground."
"Being only a couple miles from home, I could ride my bike through the forest paths to this camp ground. The camp is located on the N.W. shore of the Lake Dubonnet resovoir."
"The other is the trail camp. You drop your money in the box pick a spot of as much space as you want (there is hardly ever a lot of people)."
"I like the location; very secluded in the State Forest but only a half hour from downtown Traverse City. This facility meets the recreation need of a diverse cross section of Michigan residents."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Quiet, large sites, like new bath house, 7th nite free, rate$35, good location for northwestern Michigan sites Water on all outside sites. interior sites share water hookups"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Turtle Lake is a perfect mix of campers! Very family friendly, but spaced out well enough for privacy. They have a nice beach area and areas to fish. All sites provide a good amount of shade."
"Family friendly, there is fishing and canoeing, fire pits and swimming in the lake. They have a camp for horses too."
"We rented a extra site, so nobody could rent near us, sooo nice! Very close to Manistee River and canoe/raft liveries, very fun family togetherness activity."
from $25 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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"Recommend the on site ATVrental lots of trails to ride"
RangerWe stayed at this campground while doing the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail by horseback, therefore we were in the "horse" portion of the campground. This campground had easy access to the water, and the restrooms were very clean. The campground seemed to have a lot if unnecessary traffic.
TravelerThere are 2 sections of Schecks Place. One is a campground with picnic tables and site numbers.
The other is the trail camp. You drop your money in the box pick a spot of as much space as you want (there is hardly ever a lot of people).
The last 2 times we went there was maybe one or two people with their horses or just passing thru.
There are bathrooms and a well for water. No showers No electric.
The river runs by and is awesome to go tubing down.
There are trails that go through so if you are an equestrian this spot is perfect.
TravelerI like the location; very secluded in the State Forest but only a half hour from downtown Traverse City. This facility meets the recreation need of a diverse cross section of Michigan residents. It’s a great home base or overnight camp for canoeists and kayakers (my particular interest). The camp is also used by mountain bikers & gravel riders, ATV riders, anglers, and equestrians (separate camp area). Large wooded sites. Primitive means vault toilets, no power and hand pump water. No reservations — FCFS.
Negatives: can be noisy at times with the ATVs and also large camping groups. But for the most part I’ve found ppl to be respectful. A couple of the sites flooded after an unusually heavy rain today, so I would avoid any site that looks low if rain is expected.
Site 16 is good. High and dry after the rain.
GuideCant count how many times i've been here. Being only a couple miles from home, I could ride my bike through the forest paths to this camp ground. The camp is located on the N.W. shore of the Lake Dubonnet resovoir. Rustic, cheap, horse friendly, out house, and pleanty of forest and lake to explore.
GuideTurtle Lake is a perfect mix of campers! Very family friendly, but spaced out well enough for privacy. They have a nice beach area and areas to fish. All sites provide a good amount of shade. We will definitely be staying here again! They also have a separate equestrian camping area that have water and electric hookup sites.
ScoutFamily friendly, there is fishing and canoeing, fire pits and swimming in the lake. They have a camp for horses too.
ScoutQuiet, large sites, like new bath house, 7th nite free, rate$35, good location for northwestern Michigan sites Water on all outside sites. interior sites share water hookups
GuideTrail camp but no horses the night I was there. Lots of open space, spots aren’t really numbered. A couple nice hike/bike trails spur off the campground. Lots of traffic in the area through the night (ORV and mudding trucks). Bathrooms are nice. Only a few water front spots.
RangerThis campground is in some lower ground, with a beautiful river running though it. It's fairly wide open, with trees around, but this was great as it made stargazing easy. We were here for a night as we were traveling on the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail, the overall experience was excellent!
Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp sits near Suttons Bay, Michigan at around 900 feet elevation in the Grand Traverse County forest system. The area features sandy loam soil with mixed northern hardwood forest coverage, creating moderate shade at most campsites. Water access points along the northwestern shoreline remain shallow through mid-summer with firm, sandy bottoms suitable for canoe and kayak launching.
Lake exploration: Bring kayaks or canoes to paddle Lake Dubonnet's lily pad-filled waters. "Beautiful lake with cool islands! Campsites are large and fairly separated!" notes Thomas H. about Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp.
Hiking trails: Access multiple forest paths directly from the campground. "A couple nice hike/bike trails spur off the campground," reports Emily V. The trail system connects to broader regional routes with moderate terrain suitable for day hikers.
Paddling the Boardman River: Launch from Scheck's Place State Forest Campground for river adventures. "Rustic campground with access to the Boardman river and many miles of trails in the state forest," writes Anna B., adding "quiet canoe camping" opportunities throughout the season.
Fishing: Cast for bass and panfish from shoreline spots. "Great like camp ground. No swimming but pretty lake with lots of lilipads and sunken tree," reports Tracie S. about Lake Dubonnet, noting the unique fishing environment created by submerged features.
Private waterfront access: Many sites offer direct paths to the water. "There is a boat launch right near by, but most of the sites have their own path right down to the water," shares Kate K. about Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp.
Affordable self-registration: Pay $15 per night through a simple self-registration system. "Self registration for $15 per night," confirms Kate K., making this an economical option for equestrian and non-equestrian campers alike.
Spacious sites: Enjoy ample room between campsites. "Campgrounds are large sites, but easy access and large sites so you have your own space," explains Jason C. about Turtle Lake Campground, which offers similar spacing to other horse campgrounds near Suttons Bay, Michigan.
Clean facilities: Access well-maintained vault toilets throughout the camping areas. "This campground had easy access to the water, and the restrooms were very clean," notes Judy B. about her equestrian camping experience.
First-come, first-served only: No reservations accepted at most state forest equestrian campsites. "First come first serve sites, but it's a super awesome place to go when everything else is booked," advises James H. about Lake Dubonnet.
Variable traffic patterns: Be prepared for occasional vehicle noise. "Lots of traffic in the area through the night (ORV and mudding trucks)," warns Emily V., though most weeknights remain relatively quiet.
Limited phone service: Cell coverage varies throughout the camping area. At Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds, "Power 50/30 were fine. Water is a shared spigot on most sites, but some sites have water," explains Jim, though similar primitive campgrounds have minimal connectivity.
Seasonal variations: The camping season typically runs April through October. "The campground seemed to have a lot if unnecessary traffic," notes Judy B., with busiest periods on summer weekends.
Kid-friendly exploration: Visit nearby islands by kayak for added adventure. "Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp has the basic rustic camping necessities. Outhouses near each circle, spickit with really good water, hiking trails, boat launch and even a nearby island you can kayak to and let the dogs roam free!" recommends Caryssa R.
Playground access: Turtle Lake Campground provides family-friendly amenities. "What I liked best about this park was that my children were not caked in dirt. While I understand that comes with the territory of camping, this campground provides a bit more of a grassy setting and offers a nice playground," shares Ann D.
Fishing with kids: Prepare for turtle encounters while fishing. "When my kids went fishing, they pulled up large snapping turtles both times. A bit of a surprise to see their size!" warns Allison H. about Turtle Lake.
Site selection for horse trailers: Choose sites based on access needs. "We stayed at the trail camp it is quiet with no hookups. You can take as much space as you need and there is access to the river," explains Gemma G. about Scheck's Place Trail Camp, a primary equestrian campground near Suttons Bay.
RV size limitations: Most horse campgrounds accommodate modest-sized RVs under 30 feet. "Off the beaten path but has great rustic campsites with firepits and there are restrooms and fresh water close by in each circle," notes Kimberlee H.
Dump station planning: Prepare to use off-site dump stations as most equestrian campgrounds lack this facility. "They have electric on all sites, both water and electric on some sites and a dump station," reports Lorie F. about alternative camping at the fairgrounds when horse campgrounds are full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Suttons Bay, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Suttons Bay, MI is Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Suttons Bay, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Suttons Bay, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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