Vanderbilt, Otsego County

Hiking Trails | Snowshoeing Trails |  Nordic (XC) Skiing | Horseback Riding

This peaceful wooded equestrian campground is located along a bluff overlooking the majestic Pigeon River. It is shaded by hardwoods within the Pigeon River State Forest. Elk Hill Equestrian River Campground is intended to be used by those camping with horses. Options for those camping with horses are limited in the Pigeon River Country State Forest so equestrians rely upon this campground for use. If you are not camping with horses, please consider staying in one of our other state forest campgrounds. There are 11 sites, six of which will accommodate a 40-ft vehicle. Sites four and 11 are “buddy” sites, allowing two camping units on one of the sites, when both are rented. Only one camping unit is allowed on all other sites. Each site has a fire ring and picket posts. Campground amenities include vault toilets, water from well hand pump, an accessible mounting block and manure bunker.

The state forest campground is a stop along the 420-mile Shore-to-Shore trail system is open to hiking and horseback riding and stretches east-west from Empire to Oscoda (with two additional northern and southern spur trails). The Stoney Creek Equestrian Trails also provide some looped trail riding options in the area.

Elk Hill Equestrian River Trail Campground Map