Ortonville Equestrian Campground in Ortonville Recreation Area accommodates horses with rustic campsites and direct trail access. The equestrian campground features toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, and designated areas for horses, though it lacks electric hookups and shower facilities. Sites can accommodate tents and RVs but are not suited for large rigs. The campground maintains a strict policy regarding fires, which are permitted only in designated fire rings. Horse owners report occasional encounters with deer and wildlife while camping in the wooded setting.
Located approximately 30 miles north of Troy, the equestrian trails at Ortonville connect to a larger network of bridle paths through the recreation area's mixed forest terrain. The campground operates year-round, making it accessible for seasonal trail rides and overnight horse camping trips. Horse owners must bring their own water buckets, feed storage containers, and portable corrals or highlines as permanent stalls are not available. The trails feature moderate hills and varied terrain suitable for riders of different experience levels. Proper manure management is required, and campers should pack out all horse waste or deposit it in designated areas. The campground's proximity to other recreation area facilities provides extended riding options beyond the immediate camping area.
$22 / night
"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."
"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."
"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."
$17 - $90 / night
"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."
"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. "
"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."
"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.."
$20 - $35 / night
"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."
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 sits within the 5,400-acre Ortonville Recreation Area, approximately 45 miles northwest of Troy, Michigan. The area features mixed hardwood forests across rolling terrain with elevation changes up to 200 feet. The equestrian-focused campground accommodates both overnight stays and day use with direct access to bridle trails that connect to the broader recreation area's path network.
Trail riding for all levels: The trail system offers various difficulty options with notable terrain changes. As one visitor notes, "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" at Highland State Recreation Area.
Wildlife viewing: The forested setting provides opportunities to spot local wildlife. A camper at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area shared: "Camp site was nice with blacktop pad and once parked felt very secluded and could barely see site past truck in parking spot. Great for getting away and seeing the night sky."
Swimming and water recreation: Several nearby recreation areas offer lake access. A visitor described that "The lake is pretty good for swimming" at Highland Recreation Area, while another visitor mentioned, "The water is clear and warm (perfect lake for swimming)" at a nearby location.
Privacy between sites: Many nearby campgrounds offer good separation between campsites. One visitor to Addison Oaks County Park mentioned: "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."
Cleanliness and maintenance: Campers frequently mention well-maintained facilities. At Bishop Lake Campground, one camper noted: "Had a nice stay here. The campground was full but quiet. The bathrooms and showers were nice and clean with hot water."
Trail access for equestrians: Horse owners appreciate direct trail connections from camping areas. A visitor to Ortonville reported encountering deer and other wildlife while on the trails, with the terrain offering varied riding experiences suitable for most skill levels.
Bug protection is essential: Wooded areas near water can have significant insect activity. One camper at Seven Lakes State Park Campground advised: "Do make sure you bring plenty of bug netting/spray/gear if you come in the summer, the bugs are brutal."
Equestrian amenities vary: While horse camping areas provide basics, riders should bring their own equipment. At Ortonville, there are no permanent stalls, so portable corrals or highlines are necessary for securing horses.
Weather preparedness: Michigan weather can change rapidly, especially in spring and fall. Trails may become muddy after rain, impacting riding conditions. One visitor noted: "If it's rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area."
Limited availability: Equestrian camping sites can fill quickly during peak season. Reservations are recommended when possible, especially for weekend trips during summer months.
Kid-friendly activities: Many recreation areas offer features beyond horseback riding. A visitor to Brighton Recreation Area shared: "Brighton recreation has several camping areas within its property. The lake you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, row boats or paddle boats. They offer all types of camping."
Safety around horses: When camping with children in equestrian areas, establish clear boundaries and rules about approaching horses. Children should understand proper behavior around unfamiliar animals.
Pack for varying weather: Michigan weather can be unpredictable, especially in spring and fall. Layers are recommended as temperatures can fluctuate significantly between day and night, even in summer months.
Educational opportunities: Horse camping provides learning experiences about animal care and responsibility. Many recreation areas offer interpretive programs or nature activities during summer months.
Site selection for larger rigs: While Ortonville accommodates RVs, sites are better suited for smaller to medium-sized rigs. A visitor to nearby Pontiac Lake Recreation Area advised: "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."
Access roads and terrain: The roads leading to equestrian camping areas may have limitations. RVers should check road conditions before arrival, especially after heavy rain when unpaved areas may become difficult to navigate.
Manure management: RVers with horses must follow proper waste management protocols. All campgrounds require campers to properly dispose of horse waste in designated areas or pack it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Troy, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Troy, MI is Pontiac Lake Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Troy, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Troy, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
