Mckinley Horse Trail Campground

About

McKinley Horse Trail Campground is a free primitive camping area in the Huron National Forest, situated in a red pine plantation near McKinley Landing. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no designated campsites, offering a dispersed camping experience. Fire rings are scattered throughout the area, and vault toilets are available. Water on site is not potable but can be used for horses and livestock. The campground is designed primarily for equestrians, with a large parking area that accommodates up to 150 vehicles including trucks with horse trailers. It serves as a primary staging area for the Shore-to-Shore State Horse Trail, a 240-mile route crossing Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Non-motorized activities including horseback riding, backpacking, biking, and hunting are permitted. The area is open year-round, though the access road and parking lot are not plowed during winter months. Motorized vehicles and over-snow vehicles are prohibited on the trails. No permits are required for individuals or groups of 74 people or fewer.

Directions

From Grayling: Travel east on M-72 for 30 miles. Turn left and travel north on M-72/M-33 for 0.5 miles. Turn right and travel east on McKinley Dr./CR-F32. Turn right and travel south on Evans Rd. for 0.5 miles. Turn right and travel west on CR-F602 for 2 miles. Turn right and travel north on FR 4004.