State Forest · Michigan
Big Oaks Equestrian State Forest Campground & Trail Camp
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 24
- Hookups
- 24 no hookups
- Season
- April 15 to November 1
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Elevation
- 948 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 989-785-4388
About
This rustic equestrian campground is nestled on Avery Lake and offers opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, boating and fishing. All sites have picket posts and site #10 has corrals for two horses. There is also a submersible well that requires a 2,500 watt generator. The campground is located 10 miles southwest of Atlanta via County Road 487 and Avery Lake Road.
From the campground, equestrians can access Big Oaks Equestrian Trails and many state forest roads that are open to horseback riding.
This campground is maintained with the help of the Alpena County Horseman's Club
24 equestrian campsites, $20 a night. Closed November 1 to April 15. First come, first served; register at the campground kiosk on the day you arrive. Vault toilets and a hand-pump well for drinking water; no electricity or hookups. One camping unit and six people per site, 15 nights at most. Managed from Clear Lake State Park (989-785-4388).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 11° | -10° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 12° | -14° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 24° | 4° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 52° | 33° | 11° | 82° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 67° | 45° | 28° | 84° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 54° | 43° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 61° | 53° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 59° | 53° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 55° | 42° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 42° | 30° | 76° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 31° | 9° | 62° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 23° | 0° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Avery Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 0 mi · 16 sites
- Little Wolf State Forest Campground · State Forest · 7 mi · 24 sites
- Big Bear Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 9 mi · 30 sites
- Big Bear Point State Forest Campground · State Forest · 10 mi · 14 sites
- Jackson Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 11 mi · 18 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.