Garey Lake Equestrian Trail Campground

Garey Lake is one of the camps along Michigan’s Shore to Shore trail, a horseback riding and hiking trail created 60+ years ago by Michigan Trail Riders Association which travels across the state in Northern Lower Michigan from Lake Huron (Oscoda) to Lake Michigan (Empire) and has northern (to Mackinaw City) and southern (to Cadillac) spurs. Michigan’s trail riders owe a huge debt of gratitude to the pioneers of MTRA and those who have continued to care for, advocate, maintain and improve the trail and its campgrounds all of these years later. The shore-to-shore ride is a wonderful and incredibly unique experience, and riders come from across our nation and the world to ride with MTRA across the state of Michigan.

The westernmost camp along the Michigan Riding and Hiking Trail is the Garey Lake Equestrian Trail Camp in Empire, MI. Garey Lake Camp is very large and is grassy and shady with picket poles, outhouses and an electric well that requires a minimum 5,000-watt generator. There is no hand pump. The well-marked 9.2-mile trail from Garey Lake to Lake Michigan meanders through a beautiful hardwood forest with a few areas of pines. The trail goes back and forth from two track to a single track and back to a two track. At one point, you will be riding a raised ridge that was once a railroad grade. The trail comes out to M-72. You will ride in the woods along this highway for over a mile. At the Village of Empire limit, you will come out onto M-72 and ride into the quaint little berg of Empire. There is a wonderful large sign welcoming you to the Village of Empire that makes an awesome backdrop for a photo shoot. Following the blue dots, the trail goes down village streets to the Village Public Park with its beautiful white sand beach. The dunes are visible from the park and are a beautiful sight.

If you wish to ride into the town of Empire without the assistance of MTRA, please note that Empire does allow horses to go into the village and the park. However, you must call the Village in advance of your ride and obtain permission. To get permission, you must have a plan for manure removal from the Village roads and the Beach. Also, the field where MTRA parks their rigs is private property and is closed to all other vehicles. Trucks with trailers are not allowed in the Village Park.

You do not have to plan a ride to Lake Michigan to enjoy all that Garey Lake campground has to offer. There are miles and miles of scenic circle riding trails around camp, it is a wonderful place to spend awhile enjoying time in the saddle. Single tracks, two tracks, quiet roads, riding through forests and fields, up and down hills and on gently rolling land too. It’s also a perfect destination for those who drive their horses with many wide-open trails on which to enjoy time with your equines.