Ortonville Recreation Area

Often referred to as Hadley Hills, a wonderful, wooded paradise greets equestrians at this gem in Southeastern Michigan at the Ortonville Recreation Area. The well-marked, looped system offers 12 miles of wooded trails in a moraine landform produced by melting glacial ice. The result is an area with basin lakes, sinkholes, and unusual shapes to the numerous hills. If you enjoy big climbs, don’t miss Pinnacle Point and sections of the southern and western part of the trail system have some nicely challenging and hilly sections. As some sections of the trails are rocky, horseshoes or boots are recommended. Lightly traveled gravel roads and minimum maintenance two tracks immediately adjacent to the park can add several unofficial miles to the riding pleasure for the adventurous.

The rustic equestrian campground has 21 sites, many accommodating big rigs comfortably. Each campsite is provided with high line poles, a fire ring and a picnic table. Most sites are relatively level. Corrals are now located at sites 1, 7, 8, 13, & 16 – with more to come. Shade is available during part of the day on most sites. A well with hand pump and a permanent mounting block are near the trailhead next to the pavilion. A community firepit provides a relaxing place to join friends in the evenings, A vault toilet is available at each end of the campground. A connecting trail leads from the pavilion to the improved Day Use Area just a few hundred feet to the east.

Just about a mile down the road is Big Fish Lake, another Ortonville Recreation Area facility, ideal for a quick swim to cool off after your ride. And just a few minutes to the north lies the quaint village of Hadley, home to a grocery/party store and a great sandwich/pizza/ice cream shop. The town of Ortonville to the west provides a wider variety of restaurants and shopping.

2024 was a transformative year for the park. The partnership of Ortonville Recreation Equestrian Association (OREA) and the DNR team reimagined how the park accommodated equestrian use. The new High Vista Trail is now one of the most popular. Major trail repairs including a reroute have greatly reduced the prolific mud encountered on the trail system in the past. The campground and day use area were completely reconfigured to provide a better experience. All sites are now reservable on the DNR Reservation System. More improvements are coming as the park evolves. Thank you all for your hard work!