Our Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Story has more information on what is being done to protect this special place and how you can help. French Farm Lake dispersed camping is located on the far northern tip of the lower peninsula just outside the town of Mackinaw City. The river is managed in two sections, one from Mio Pond to Alcona Dam Pond, the second from Alcona Dam to Lake Huron. Youll want to plan on bringing all the water youll need and be sure to practice Leave No Trace camping here. One of these is located on the states Lower Peninsula (Huron-Manistee) and the other two are situated on the Upper Peninsula (Ottawa and Hiawatha). However, the rules do vary a bit from one National Forest to another, which is precisely why I recommend doing a bit of online research before actually heading to any of these places. Michigan RV Parks Union City Turtle Lake Resort Turtle Lake Resort RV Park To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. The national forest will often close up this campsite due to presence of black bears, so make sure to check with the national forest for closures. The dispersed sites along Green Road vary from simple pull outs on the side of the road, to larger areas that feel a bit more secluded. The McKinley Trail Camp is one of the best options for folks looking to spend some time in the magnificent Huron National Forest. The section north of Tippy Dam, up to Hodenpyl Dam Pond, is bordered on either side by the Manistee River Trail and the North Country National Scenic Trail. You can learn more about this lumbering history at Lumbermens Monument Visitor Center that sits at the center of the byway. Water levels can become fairly shallow during dry summer months. Click here for additional information on ourWild and Scenic Rivers. WebMichigan's forests offer an abundance of recreational opportunities including fishing, hiking, camping, ORV riding, hunting and more. It is, however, an absolutely beautiful area to pitch your tent in. Although its true that this state is not the first thing that comes to peoples minds when someone mentions camping or hiking, a lot of outdoor enthusiasts end up surprised by the sheer number of places in Michigan where one can pitch a tent and enjoy the breathtaking wilderness. Its also popular campground for RVers and van dwellers. In general, with a little knowledge of where to look, experience navigating forest service roads, reading USFS maps, and camping in remote locations, you should be able to find plenty of dispersed campsites in Michigan. Never knew there were so many places like that to camp. The trail is marked with blue diamond-shaped markers on trees and cedar signs. An official website of the This small lake is located just off the highway and has room for 6 or 7 groups adjacent to the lake. Heres a list of National Forests in Michigan, together with links to guidelines regarding dispersed camping in each of these forests: Besides the National Forests mentioned above, Michigan also has State Forests. These sites are too small for large RVs, but still suitable for vans, pickup truck campers, and even small trailers. One final resource for finding dispersed camping in Michigan is to utilize the USFS Motor Vehicle Use Maps for the three National Forests. For additional information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers. Read more about Bock Road at FreeRoam. There is fishing here, and the lake is swimmable. For that matter, make sure to practice the leave no trace principles while spending time there. Robbins Pond makes a good stop on a larger Upper Peninsula dispersed camping road trip, which you can string together with several of the other camping areas included in this guide. Visit, Au Sable River - Alcona Dam to Lake Huron, Au Sable Loop Campground and Day Use Area, Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch, Little Manistee River, National Scenic Study River, Bowman Bridge Campground and River Access, Gleason's Landing Campground and River Access, Log Mark Rest Stop Canoe and Fishing Landing, Luzerne Horse Trail Campground and Trailhead, South Branch Trail Campground and Trailhead, Huron-Manistee National Forests completes Slagle Creek bridge project, Don't Move Firewood! However, youll want good background information as well as intel on the best campsites before you set out on your own Michigan dispersed camping trip. The US Forest Services manages three National Forests within Michigan. Official websites use .gov A .gov Adjacent to the wilderness area is the popular Lake Michigan Recreation Area. WebHuron-Manistee National Forests Near Oscoda, Michigan. For a more relaxed experience, visitors will enjoy the lush forest and breathtaking vistas from the many scenic overlooks along the route. The recreation sites in this area are all located on the Lake Michigan shoreline or within driving distance of the lake. ( WebCookson Lake Campsites. WebFree camping (dispersed) is allowed on most national forest lands except in highly developed areas - such as trailheads, campgrounds and picnic sites - and in some of You can primitive camp anywhere in the boundaries of the national forest fee free. Let me know in the comments below if I have missed any great spots or if anything needs updating. After European settlement of the area, the Au Sable River was a major throughway for floating white pine to sawmills or waiting barges at ports on Lake Huron. Recreation opportunities include hunting, picnicking, mushroom gathering and berry picking. The road in is easy enough for any vehicle, though the sites can handle only small to medium sized RVs. One particularly great thing about this zone is that its rarely crowded, even in the middle of summer. If you feel up to it, you can likely get away with camping here, as long as you stay out of the way of logging trucks. For that matter, its very important that you do your best and not spread invasive weeds while camping in Michigan. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller. All Huron-Manistee National Forests Offices, https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/hmnf/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=18536&actid=34, Huron-Manistee National Forests completes Slagle Creek bridge project, Don't Move Firewood! Thats why its very important to leave archeological traces alone and report all illegal activities you notice while camping. WebState forest campgrounds Rustic camping If you're looking for a more rustic camping experience, check out our 140-plus state forest campgrounds located throughout A short, 7-mile hike along the bluffs of the Au Sable River will provide day hikers with some of the best, and most dramatic, views of the Au Sable River, where hikers or skiers will be able to look over the river valley, with clear views almost to Lake Huron in some spots. While it doesnt have a reliable water source, Haymeadow Creek has picnic tables and vault toilets. Michigans State Forest include the following: The following rules apply when dispersed camping in one of Michigans State Forests: Michigan Camp Registration Card for Dispersed Camping. Im pretty sure you already have the basics, like the tent or sleeping bag, but here are some other items you may want to consider packing: Read our post on wild camping essentials and checklist for more information. WebPete's Lake Munising. There is tons to explore in the area including the Au Sable River, Shore to Shore Horse Trail, as well as not being from from Lake Huron itself. Canoeing and kayaking are the primary activities on this river, with much of the appeal being the fast water and light rapids. This same year the river was added as a National Wild and Scenic River, the first in Michigan. Give your best to leave the camping spot in the exact state you found it. Read more about Horseshoe Lake on FreeRoam. Choosing a dispersed camping site has some The terrain is mostly flat through mixed hardwood forest and pine. You can access the Camp Registration Card here. There are six designated dispersed campsites here, all of which are first-come, first served. During those years many of the logs and fallen trees that littered the river were carried downstream with the harvested white pine. To make sure youre taking the correct route to this lovely place, I would recommend using Google Maps together with the official USFS map for the area. Although the state isnt as well known for its free camping as some of the Western States, youll find far fewer campers in Michigans National and State Forests. From Mio Pond to Lake Huron, the Au Sable is primarily managed by the HMNF. (GPS 43.92460, -86.01289) Huron Manistee National Forest Located along the south side of the Pere Marquette River, this is a small campground with 12 campsites, all free for 14 days of stay. Given its location, its an absolutely amazing area to camp in, whether youre interested in horse riding or not. The sites are well spread out, easy to access, and there is tons to do in the surrounding area. Only have a campfire if it is permitted, and always be sure it is completely extinguished. (GPS 46.02072, -86.85749) Hiawatha National Forest A free campground with 5 sites, each with picnic tables and fire rings. A lot of campers report that Google Maps is not correctly routing outdoor enthusiasts here, so reaching Whelan Lake can be quite challenging. Please sign in to ask a question dispersed => false: fiftyfiveplus => false: aarp => false: senior_discounts => false: However, keep in mind that youre probably going to have a difficult time turning your large rig here. LockA locked padlock While the campsite can be difficult to find, you still wont find any shortage of nearby campers or off-road vehicles. This is dispersed camping in Michigan at its finest! Even though this is water front camping, its actually not that buggy, though you will still want to bring your favorite mosquito repellent. I would recommend packing a quality bug spray as well a lot of people who have been here reported that mosquitoes can get pretty bad. 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