Waterloo Recreation Area has about 20 miles of designated horseback riding trails, reached from two staging areas, one off Loveland Road and one off Maute Road, plus a 25-site rustic equestrian campground near Chelsea where your horse stays with you. If you’d rather keep your horse at a nearby stable and sleep somewhere with showers, laundry and things for the rest of the family to do, The Oaks Campground is right next door, and you can bring your horse over for a day ride on our own trails too.
Here’s what riders should know about Waterloo’s horse trails, and how to choose where to stay.
Waterloo horse trails: the basics
- Mileage. The DNR lists about 20 miles of horseback riding trails (its campground page says about 21 miles connect to the equestrian campground).
- Staging areas. Two: off Loveland Road and off Maute Road. The day-use staging area has a mounting block and a pavilion.
- Designated trails only. Michigan’s state park rules allow riding only on designated equestrian trails or in an equestrian campground, so stay on the trails marked for horses.
- Recreation Passport. Required for vehicle entry, including your truck and trailer.
- Hunting. Hunting is allowed in the state park. Call the park office (734-475-8307) about seasonal considerations, and wear bright colors in the fall.
Waterloo is big equestrian country, and our team sees it every season. As one campground employee put it, the recreation area “has a ton of horse riding trails that are very neat,” and there are plenty of boarding stables in the area because of it.
Waterloo Equestrian Campground (Rustic)
If you want your horse at your campsite, the state’s equestrian campground is the place. Per the DNR:
- 25 grassy sites at about 8400 Loveland Road, Chelsea, each with a fire pit, picnic table and picket posts.
- Vault toilets and a solar well pump for water. Showers are available for a small fee at Sugarloaf Lake Campground from May through October.
- It connects directly to the equestrian trail system and the staging area.
- Sites are reservable, except on certain event weekends.
- Eight rustic equestrian cabins nearby sleep larger groups. Bring your own bedding, cookware and dishes.
Best for: riders who want to saddle up from the campsite, keep their horses close overnight, and are comfortable with rustic facilities. It’s a well-loved setup, and if that’s your priority, book it early.
Staying at The Oaks while you ride Waterloo
A lot of riders who camp with us keep their horses at one of the nearby boarding stables and ride Waterloo’s trails from there. Our team says that’s the most common way it works: camp at The Oaks, ride at Waterloo.
The Oaks is best for:
- Families where one or two people ride and the others want a beach, a floating water park, a fishing lake and events.
- Riders who want bathhouses with showers and laundry, a camp store, and a big RV site with 50-amp electric (short-term sites) and water.
- Anyone who’d like quiet hours (11 PM to 8 AM) and a family-focused campground after a long day in the saddle.
Sites at The Oaks are large, from about 35 by 65 feet up to 55 by 120. There’s no full sewer at the site; RV sites have a gray-water drain and honey wagon service. Rates vary by date and site; see The Oaks rates page.
Can I ride my horse at The Oaks?
Yes, for day riding. The Oaks has about 120 acres of trails through forest and grassland, and we allow guests to trailer a horse in from a nearby stable for the day.
- Trailer parking. There’s plenty of room to park trailers by the trailhead.
- Bag the manure. Please bag and remove it.
- Shared trails. Our trails are shared with golf carts, bikes and hikers, and there are no horse-only trails yet. A horse that’s skittish around carts or bikes may be happier on Waterloo’s designated equestrian trails.
- No overnight horses, for now. We don’t board horses or have stables. Pens for guests’ horses during their stay are being considered for the future, so riders could one day keep their own horse at camp for a weekend, with their own feed and care. That isn’t available yet.
Other horse trails near Waterloo
Pinckney Recreation Area, just east of Waterloo, has about 13 miles of equestrian trail. The DNR also runs equestrian campgrounds at other southern Michigan recreation areas, including Brighton, Fort Custer and Yankee Springs. Check each park’s DNR page for current rules and reservations before you haul.
Quick comparison: where to stay for Waterloo riding
| Waterloo Rustic Equestrian Campground | The Oaks Campground | |
|---|---|---|
| Horse at your site overnight | Yes, picket posts at each site | No (pens for guests’ horses are being considered) |
| Trail access | Connects directly to about 20 to 21 miles of Waterloo equestrian trail | Day riding on about 120 acres of shared trails; short drive to Waterloo staging areas |
| Restrooms and showers | Vault toilets; showers at Sugarloaf for a small fee | Bathhouses with showers and laundry |
| Power | Rustic | 50-amp short-term RV sites (30 amp seasonal) with water; electric tent sites |
| For the rest of the family | Waterloo’s lakes and trails | Sand beach, Aquaglide water park, fishing lake, Kangaroo Jumper, events |
| Best for | Dedicated riders who want their horse at camp | Mixed families and riders who board nearby |
Questions
How many miles of horse trails are at Waterloo?
About 20 miles, according to the DNR, from staging areas off Loveland Road and Maute Road.
Is there a horse campground at Waterloo?
Yes. The Waterloo Rustic Equestrian Campground has 25 sites with picket posts near Chelsea, plus eight rustic equestrian cabins.
Can I keep my horse overnight at The Oaks?
Not yet. The Oaks allows day riding only. Pens for guests’ horses during a stay are being considered for the future, and we don’t board horses.
Do I need a Recreation Passport to ride at Waterloo?
Yes. It’s required for vehicle entry into the state park, including at the staging areas.
Does The Oaks rent horses or offer trail rides?
No. Bring your own horse from a nearby stable for a day ride.
Could horse pens come to The Oaks?
Pens for guests’ horses during a stay are being considered for the future, but they aren’t available now. The Oaks won’t board horses or offer stable services.
Is there trailer parking at The Oaks?
Yes, there’s plenty of room to park a horse trailer by the trailhead for a day ride. Please bag manure.
