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Highland State Recreation Area offers extensive equestrian trail networks for horseback riding enthusiasts near Wolverine Lake. The park features multiple rustic campsites with spacious areas suitable for horse trailers. Trail systems include dedicated bridle paths that wind through fields of wildflowers, wooded sections, and around Haven Hill Lake. The camp area provides clean facilities with running water and waste disposal options. Campers consistently note the park feels secluded despite its convenient southeast Michigan location. The sites are extra large with plenty of room for horses and equipment.
The 5,900-acre recreation area connects riders to miles of marked equestrian trails that accommodate riders of all experience levels. Horse owners should bring their own portable corrals or highlines as the campground does not offer permanent horse pens or stalls. Water access is available for horses at designated areas throughout the park. The rustic campground is well-maintained with friendly DNR staff to assist visitors. Riders frequently encounter wildlife including wild turkeys while on the trails. For those planning multi-day rides, reservations are recommended during peak season as the horse-friendly sites fill quickly, particularly from May through October when trail conditions are optimal.
"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 $22 / 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 $17 - $90 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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. "
"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."
"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
Check Availability"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"
"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."
"Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more!"
"It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net."
"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."
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.
ScoutThis is a fabulous campground! 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.) There is a boat launch on one end of campground and the amazing beach on the other. The water is clear and warm (perfect lake for swimming) and there is both sand and grassy areas on the fairly large beach. The beach also offers picnic tables and benches. The only negative aspect I can see about this campground is that the sites are right on top of each other, so if you have a loud group or a generator next to you, it is noisy. But most campgrounds have sites set real close together, so you will find this pretty much everywhere. Def camp here! About an hours drive from a Pictured Rocks National Park. There are no showers or running water. Camp hosts were very nice, helpful, & welcoming.
Wolverine Lake's location in southeast Michigan offers year-round equestrian camping with average summer temperatures of 82°F and winter lows around 16°F. The area features a mix of hardwood forests and wetlands within the Clinton River watershed, creating varied terrain for both horse and hiking trails. Campgrounds in this region typically close from November through March, with peak season for equestrian sites running April through October.
Trail riding and exploring bridle paths: Highland State Recreation Area offers extensive trail networks through varied landscapes. "The natural scenery is STUNNING with fields of flowers and trees. We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail!" notes Adrienne C. The park includes special historical features along trails as well.
Paddling and fishing: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area provides water recreation options when you're not on horseback. "This is one of the best areas for hiking and biking and kayaking and swimming," says Christine A. The 640-acre lake allows motorboats with access points near the campground.
Mountain biking: Several parks near Wolverine Lake maintain dedicated single-track trails. "Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails. Nice big lake," mentions Christie V. Trails range from beginner-friendly loops to technical sections for experienced riders.
Private, spacious sites: Seven Lakes State Park offers camping areas with room to spread out. "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. Our site had 'private' access and our boys just played in the water for three days," explains Andy B.
Wildlife encounters: The rural setting around Wolverine Lake provides opportunities for animal sightings. "We ran up on a group of probably 70 wild turkeys on the trail!" shares one camper. Bird watching is particularly rewarding during spring migration when warblers pass through.
Year-round access: Some equestrian facilities maintain limited winter operations. "This rustic campground is obviously well-tended and has an almost magical feel to it. It's private, quiet, and full of wildlife," says Brett B. about Highland State Recreation Area, which remains open during winter months.
Seasonal closures: Most horse campgrounds near Wolverine Lake operate from April through October. Check specific opening dates before planning trips in early spring.
Reservation requirements: Bishop Lake Campground and other popular sites fill quickly during peak season. "The campgrounds restrooms and showers were clean. Our campsite had a view of the lake, but no shade. The beach was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive," notes Debra B.
Insect preparation: Bug protection is essential, especially in wooded horse camping areas. "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.
Trail conditions: Spring can bring muddy paths that may restrict horse access. Most trails dry out by June and remain accessible through October.
Beach access: Many equestrian campgrounds include swimming areas separate from horse facilities. "Jump Island! It's connected but costs money. $15 for a 45 minute jump session. Follow on Facebook for coupons. You can also just swim at the lake- nice area with shade trees beach and nice lake water," suggests Beth G.
Playground availability: Addison Oaks County Park provides family-friendly amenities. "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," explains Wendy K.
Beginner-friendly horse opportunities: Several stables near Wolverine Lake offer guided rides for children without their own horses. Bring appropriate footwear and helmets.
Extension cord requirements: When bringing an RV to equestrian sites, come prepared with longer power cords. "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.
Site selection for large rigs: Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern accommodates larger vehicles but requires planning. "Site was a little small for our 38foot - we had to go sideways which opened us up to other campers. Not my favorite," warns Beth G.
Leveling considerations: Many equestrian sites are designed for functionality rather than perfect leveling. "Sites tend to slope towards Sand Lake so have leveling blocks if that's important to you," suggests Edward C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Wolverine Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Wolverine Lake, 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 Wolverine Lake, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Wolverine Lake, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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