Jami M.
Guide
GuideIonia State Recreation Area
Great get away
Clean, family friendly, beautiful. Take a walk through the equestrian to check out the horses.
Equestrian Camping near Zeeland, MI
9 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Ely Lake Campground features equestrian campsites and designated horse trails within the Allegan Forest. The campground maintains primitive campsites suitable for tents, RVs, and horse trailers with ample parking areas. The equestrian area has sufficient space for horses while maintaining separation from non-equestrian campers. Vault toilets serve all camping areas, with no running water except hand pumps that sometimes produce discolored water. Each site includes a fire pit and picnic table. The campground remains open year-round with a self-service payment system using a drop box that requires cash or check upon arrival.
Miles of bridle paths connect riders to scenic woodland trails throughout the surrounding forest. The non-motorized lake offers water access for horses at designated points. The 1-mile loop trail around the lake connects to longer equestrian routes, though riders should watch for yellow trail markers as some sections are poorly defined. Weekend visitors may encounter more activity, including other horse enthusiasts using the dedicated equestrian camping area. The natural setting provides true wilderness camping with no electricity, showers, or modern facilities. Riders appreciate the combination of lake access and forest trails that remain accessible throughout most seasons. Horse owners should bring all necessary supplies as no on-site store exists, though firewood and other essentials can be purchased in nearby towns.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Zeeland (9)
1. Ely Lake Campground
"No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails."
"All rustic sites, horses welcomed, vault toilets, and water pumps. Pay for site by money drop in tube so bring your check book. The lake is great for kayaking. Miles of trails to wander and discover."
from $17 / night
Check Availability2. Fort Custer Recreation Area
"The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶"
"Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes."
from $21 - $108 / night
Check Availability3. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday
"Nice very busy pool and slide, play areas, walking trail, camp store with hot food. Not far from Lake Michigan and places to buy fresh fruit and veggies. Check it out you'll be happy you did."
"This is a great place to camp with young children, as there are many activities around the camp. It is family owned and operated and you can tell- warm and friendly."
4. Ionia State Recreation Area
"Take a walk through the equestrian to check out the horses."
"There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. "
from $20 - $160 / night
Check Availability5. Duke Creek Campground
"Right across the road from Michigan's Adventure amusement park"
"Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day! We should have reserved an entire week!"
6. Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins
"Amazing spot away from the city! The owner of the place is very accommodating and pleasant to be around. Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!"
"The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here"
7. Double RR Ranch RV Resort
"We enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids. It is close to a town to get take out food if it rains."
8. Equestrian Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
from $20 / night
Check Availability9. White River Campsite #1
"We explored the area while camping at nearby Pines Point campground."
Drive Time
- 21 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 41 min from Muskegon, MI
- 56 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 1 hr 14 min from Battle Creek, MI
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Zeeland, MI
2 Photos of 9 Zeeland Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Zeeland, MI
102 Reviews of 9 Zeeland Campgrounds
- JJames K.
TravelerEly Lake Campground
Beautiful rustic sites with loud parties at night
Ely Lake Campground is a County campground in Allegan Michigan. All of the sites are rustic. Here are the bullet points:
- There are no bathrooms, just pit toilets.
- There is no electricity.
- There is a hand pump for water, although I would recommend bringing your own drinking water because the water from the hand pump is very discolored.
- Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table.
- They don't sell firewood, but you can by some in town on your way in.
- There is a beach.
- You can make reservations online ahead of time, or show up and find an empty site (but bring cash or check to pay because its a drop box).
- They have equestrian trails and sites.
First the positives: It is a beautiful rustic campground. We stayed on the side with sites 49-73 (specifically site 50) which has larger more secluded sites than the other side of the Lake. The Lake is for non-motorized recreational use so it is mostly used for kayaking and canoeing and fishing. There is about a 1 mile trail that you can walk around the exterior of the Lake, however it is ill defined in some places so just keep your eyes peeled for yellow markers on the trees (which are everywhere so you wont get lost).
This place also attracts a lot of equestrian campers and they have trails specifically for horseback riding. So if you have kids that love horses, you may see some on the weekends.
The negatives: It is a wonderful experience until about 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday night. This place attracts a rowdy crowd and in the evenings (apparently there is no where else for the locals to have a rager). There is loud music , people yelling, fireworks going off and… not very much sleep. And I am not just talking about a few people with their music on -- it was someone blasting their sub-woofer with electronic dance music until 4:45 AM. It was really disappointing because otherwise the experience was positive. Luckily my kids are all deep sleepers so I was the only one who had to sit up all night.
They clean the bathrooms daily from what I can tell, but otherwise the campground is not maintained. There was trash around our site, and when you walk the trail about the lake you will see cigarette packets and beer bottles occasionally. Also along the trail were two massive hornet nests that really should have been removed by park management - but it's clear they don't ever maintain the trail.
If you're willing to overlook some garbage, and if the party people stay away you could have a wonderful camping trip. Allegan County has a beautiful natural resource here, but sadly it seems like it is being squandered, and wont last.
- Joshua E.Traveler
Ionia State Recreation Area
Great activities for outdoors lovers
Ionia has so many great outdoor activities for almost anyone. There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. The beach is fantastic especially for little kids who might not be the best swimmers ready for Lake Michigan or lakes with lots of boats and waves to deal with. Nice and sandy and a nice store and ice cream shop at the beach.
The campground itself is very nice, but you may find the activities are a short drive away from your site to get there. The sites are all a little bit shallow especially if you have a larger travel trailer you may find it a bit tight. There is a great variety of shaded and sunny sites. There is only one bathroom for the campground so it can be a bit busy and it could probably use an update.
Suzi K.
ScoutEly Lake Campground
Words Can't Describe
This is always my go to campground! All natural camping with plenty of nice people! One word of advise is to bring your own tp though lol they seem to always run out on Sunday mornings lol but are back up and running by mid afternoon. No showers and just outhouses but that's REAL camping right!!!? No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails. Walking trails around the lake that offer nature at it's purest! I have been coming to this lake to camp for over 40 years and I hope I have 40 more years left!!!
- Diana M.Traveler
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Perfect for families
The trails are great for hikers, bikers, & equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband & I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶
- Janet N.Scout
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Something for everyone
MMichigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. $25per night with electric. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes. Roads quiet and could easily ride your road bike to nearby bike paths. I loved the lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky.
- EEllen S.Traveler
Ely Lake Campground
Great Rustic Campground
I have been camping here a couple years. It is open year round. All rustic sites, horses welcomed, vault toilets, and water pumps. Pay for site by money drop in tube so bring your check book. The lake is great for kayaking. Miles of trails to wander and discover.
- KKaren O.Traveler
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Huge and has so much to offer
Wow! Three lakes, hiking, biking and horse trails, showers, camp host and super quiet this past week while there. Not many campers, but everyone there seemed pleasant and were quiet. Deep sites, electric if you so desire, firepit and tables. I use a tent. Driving from the west through Augusta is a treat...so pretty. Civilization not far at all. Fishing, beach, play areas and an amusement park for mountain bikers! No alcohol. Will return!
- Bryce J.Guide
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Surprisingly nice beach area.
Fort Custer is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider!
Never over-crowded, tons of trails, and very nice paddle board, kayak, and canoe rentals! The lake at the state park is outlined by trails and features a small island to paddle around!
Guide to Zeeland
Equestrian camping near Zeeland, Michigan offers access to several state parks and recreation areas within 30-50 miles of the city. The region features sandy soil conditions that provide good drainage for horse trails even after rain. Temperatures range from mid-70s in summer to below freezing in winter, with the camping season typically running April through October for most developed facilities.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: At Ely Lake Campground, riders can explore miles of dedicated horse paths through the Allegan Forest. As reviewer Ellen S. notes, "Miles of trails to wander and discover" connect riders to various scenic routes.
Swimming and boating: Fort Custer Recreation Area offers multiple lakes for recreation. One camper shares, "Endless hiking trails and two lakes where you can fish, swim, and boat" making it ideal for warm-weather visits.
Fishing in non-motorized lakes: Small lakes throughout the area provide quiet fishing spots. At Scalley Lake Park Campground, visitors appreciate the "Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful" according to reviewer Nolyn S.
Blueberry picking: Some campgrounds incorporate fruit picking into the camping experience. The Covert/South Haven KOA features "blueberry fields everywhere on the property" where "you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes," as Cindy B. describes.
What campers like
Rustic camping experiences: Many sites maintain primitive conditions that appeal to traditionalists. At Ely Lake, campers value that "It is a beautiful rustic campground" with sites that are relatively secluded on certain parts of the lake.
Clean facilities despite primitive settings: Even at basic campgrounds, maintenance matters to visitors. One camper at Duke Creek Campground reported, "The campground was great, and clean. The park was nice and so we're all the kid activities!"
Family-friendly activities: Organized events keep younger campers entertained. As Becky P. notes about Duke Creek, "Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural settings support diverse animal populations. Campers at White River Campsite #1 appreciate that it's "in a forest, so bring a compass if you plan to do some hiking" according to reviewer Vegan T.
What you should know
Variable water conditions: Hand pumps at some sites may not provide ideal drinking water. One Ely Lake visitor warns, "I would recommend bringing your own drinking water because the water from the hand pump is very discolored."
Rustic bathroom facilities: Many equestrian camping areas have basic toilets only. A Scalley Lake camper notes their "Cabins, electric and bath houses" while other sites have vault toilets only.
Payment systems: Self-service payment is common at rural sites. As one reviewer explains about Ely Lake Campground, "Pay for site by money drop in tube so bring your check book."
Weekend noise levels: Some campgrounds experience increased activity and noise on weekends. According to James K., "It is a wonderful experience until about 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday night. This place attracts a rowdy crowd."
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated kid programming: Some campgrounds offer scheduled activities. At Duke Creek, "There is a small playground for kids" and seasonal events that children enjoy.
Water safety considerations: Lakes without lifeguards require extra supervision. The beach at Ely Lake provides swimming access but parents should note there are no lifeguards on duty.
Horseback riding opportunities for beginners: Double RR Ranch RV Resort offers "a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids," according to Joanie C., making it suitable for families new to equestrian activities.
Alternative accommodations for non-campers: Some sites offer cabins for those not ready for tent camping. At Covert/South Haven KOA, one visitor appreciated that "my family who are not necessarily 'outdoorsy' love that they can sleep in an air conditioned cabin with cable!"
Tips from RVers
Electric-only hookups: Most equestrian campgrounds offer limited services. Fort Custer campers note, "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station."
Site dimensions and access: Large rigs may struggle at some locations. A Duke Creek visitor warned that "The sites were very small at this campground. Our fire pit was so close to our trailer we didn't dare use it."
Dump station availability: Plan for possible lines at shared facilities. One Fort Custer camper observed, "Since there are no water or sewer hook ups, lines at the dump/fill station can get long."
Road conditions to dispersed sites: Access can be challenging for larger vehicles. At White River Campsite, "The road seems a bit sketchy but should be okay for most vehicles," according to Kendra H.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Zeeland, MI?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Zeeland, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Zeeland, MI is Ely Lake Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 11 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Zeeland, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Zeeland, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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