At Greenleaf Lake State Park, there are 158 campsites. Thats why its very important to leave archeological traces alone and report all illegal activities you notice while camping. The Bowman Lake Trailhead serves as a main entry point onto the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT). Although the state may not be top of mind when you think of public lands, many campers are surprised by the opportunities to pitch your tent or park your trailer in some stunning wilderness. The Manistee River Trail follows the east shore of the Manistee River for 8.8 miles through rolling hills. While the best course of action is to just contact the local field office and find out everything about the regulations concerning the particular area youre planning to camp in, here are some general rules you should always follow while engaging in this activity: When it comes to washing your clothes and other stuff, always do it at least 200 feet away from wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers. There are six of them in total and all are supervised by the DNR (Department of Natural Resources for Michigan). Keep these pests at bay by getting a campfire going as soon as you get there and make sure to pack a quality bug spray. A few of the sites can accommodate smaller RVs and trailers, although we wouldnt recommend this site for those with very large rigs. Click here for additional information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers. This is the section of the Huron National Forest furthest west, and most sites are located along or north of M-72. 2 The Best Areas for Dispersed Camping in Michigan 2.1 Hovey Lake Dispersed Campground 2.2 Green Road / Nordhouse Dunes 2.3 French Farm Lake 2.4 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. website belongs to an official government organization in the (GPS 44.08561, -86.41265) Huron Manistee National Forest This dirt road runs for about 2 miles through a small portion of the Huron Manistee National Forest and provides several small boondocking sites. Adjacent to the wilderness area is the popular Lake Michigan Recreation Area. Upon completion the trail will extend from Crown Point, New York to Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota. Want to know the essentials for your next camping trip? Greenleaf Lake was constructed in 1939 and is over 930 acres, with an 18-mile hiking trail that wraps around the lake. 112 miles of trail run through the Huron portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read more about French Farm Lake Campground on FreeRoam. The lower 26-miles of the Pine River was designated a National Scenic River in 1992. We hope weve provided all of the information you need to plan a great Michigan dispersed camping trip . A map is also located on the MI-DNRE website. Reservation Rules. Green Road is located within the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, which is part of Huron-Manistee National Forest. The Pearl Lake area is a great example of dispersed camping in Michigan that is not on federally owned property. Although this isnt a dispersed camping area in the true sense of that term, its sites are both well-spaced out and completely free to camp at. We recommend using a combination of online apps/websites and USFS maps to find dispersed campsites. Reservation Rules. You will also be able to see all rustic state forest campgrounds as well as the boundaries of the State Forests. For that matter, its very important that you do your best and not spread invasive weeds while camping in Michigan. A permit is NOT required to camp on National Forest System lands outside of designated campgrounds. Looking to find more free, dispersed camping? Mosquitoes are a problem here, so bring lots of repellent. This section includes all recreation areas along M-55 or a short distance from M-55 located between Cadillac andManistee, except the Pine and Manistee Rivers. Map: This brochure is set to print on 8.5x11 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. Gaia GPS - Download offline maps for easy navigation! While horseback riders use this area frequently, you dont have to have a horse to camp here. Dispersed Camping in Michigans National Forests GPS Coordinates: 46.018146, -84.719897 This is a single free camping spot in Michigans Upper Peninsula, The Pere MarquetteNational Scenic River is a sixty-six mile stretch from the junction of the Middle and Little South Branches east of Baldwin to the Old Highway 31 Bridge. What Should I Pack for Dispersed Camping in Michigan? While this is a formal campground, there are many dispersed camping opportunities in the immediate vicinity of Haymeadow Creek. ( Can I Run My RV Air Conditioner on Battery Power? The river is wide and characterized by steep banks and sharp bends, with a swift current and mostly slow, wide bends. The 3,500 acre Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is a beautiful and complex feature along Lake Michigans eastern shoreline, in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, located between Ludington and Manistee. This map allows you to see state forest boundaries as well as rustic state forest campgrounds and look for areas that permit dispersed camping. WebHiawatha National Forest - Camping & Cabins:Dispersed Camping Dispersed Camping Dispersed camping is allowed on Hiawatha National Forest lands except developed R. EGISTRATION . This is a very popular campground, so youll want to get here early in the afternoon to secure a site. Although not traditional dispersed camping, the sites here are free and well spaced out. Camping is only allowed at designated sites within the river corridors for the designated Wild and Scenic sections of the Pere Marquette, Pine, Manisteeand Au Sable Rivers. Dispersed foot traffic and primitive tent camping within the Forests is allowed almost anywhere, unless otherwise posted closed and/or "No Camping". The river corridor supports a wide variety of recreational activities throughout the year, including hiking on the North Country National Scenic Trail and Manistee River Trail. In addition, a small trailhead is located on NFS Road 6267, giving access to the Bowman Lake Campground Trail, which is approximately 7.5 miles of loop trail designed for nonmotorized recreation. Diverse vegetation contributes to the overall "scenic" feel of the river. This free camping area has all the hallmarks of great dispersed camping in Michigan. However, the rules for pitching a tent in these forests are somewhat different than the ones concerning the aforementioned Forest Service lands. They will, however, help you navigate a plethora of Forest Service roads running through Michigans National Forests. The designated Wilderness area is a protected natural space, an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. This campground is noted for its thick, dense canopy of trees with lots of shade. Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler - The ultimate camping cooler. Read more about Horseshoe Lake on FreeRoam. To put it simply, you can freely pitch your tent in any of the three National Forests located in this U.S. state (Ill talk more about these below). Read more about Bock Road at FreeRoam. It is, however, an absolutely beautiful area to pitch your tent in. Green Road dispersed camping is in Free Soil, Michigan. There is no fee and permits can be obtained at the nearest District Office. Confidence markers are orange triangles. Use existing sites and fire rings when available. There is a vault toilet available, but no drinking water so youll want to plan accordingly. You can, of course, also contact the local field offices for the most up-to-date info. Weve created this guide to do just that and in the sections below youll find out where to camp, what to expect, how to navigate the various rules, and much more so you can plan your perfect Michigan dispersed camping trip. Water levels can become fairly shallow during dry summer months. However, this shouldnt stop you from paying a visit to it, as theres a myriad of dispersed camping spots in its vicinity. The scenic portion of the river is a sixty-six mile stretch from the junction of the Middle and Little South Branches east of Baldwin to the Old Highway 31 Bridge. Read more about Luzerne Horse Trailhead & Campground on FreeRoam. In Michigan, one can freely engage in dispersed camping on any public land that is supervised by the USFS United States Forest Service. Read more about Sturgeon River Campground on FreeRoam. While not technically dispersed camping, McKinley Trail Camp is free and the sites are well spaced giving campers a feeling of solitude. 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. It goes without saying, but pitching a tent here is completely free as well. In the next few sections of this guide, you will find all the vital information needed to understand the regulations concerning dispersed camping in the Great Lake State. Located south of Munising in the Hiawatha National Forest, Pete's Lake Recreation Area has 41 rustic sites, including two for walk-in campers. WebHuron-Manistee National Forests Near Oscoda, Michigan. 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. In addition to USFS land, Michigan also has a network of State Forests that permit dispersed camping. Read more about Marzinski Horse Trailhead & Campground at FreeRoam. The Manistee River, from Tippy Dam to the M-55 Bridge, is a designated National Recreation River. Our final Michigan dispersed camping spot is also one of the most secluded. Michigan state land rules apply here, meaning a maximum of 15 nights, or 21 nights between October 1 and May 1. The Nordhouse Dunes themselves are very close to the campsites and make for an ideal day hike youll be able to marvel at their unique look and enjoy the ambiance of the lakeshore. Located in the aforementioned Huron-Manistee National Forest, more precisely within the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, the Green Road has received numerous positive reviews over the last few decades. The Hovey Lake Dispersed Campground is located in Hiawatha National Forest on Michigans Upper Peninsula. Youll want to plan on bringing all the water youll need and be sure to practice Leave No Trace camping here. Read more about Whelan Lake on FreeRoam. Marzinski Horse Trailhead & Campground at FreeRoam, Luzerne Horse Trailhead & Campground on FreeRoam, Free Camping at Kansas State Fishing Lakes. Although there are no restrooms or water sources here, several of the trailheads in the area do have simple vault toilets available. A 3-mile segment of the NCT is located within this area and mountain biking is allowed on this section of trail. on official, secure websites. WebBackpacking or car camping (also known as dispersed camping) is permitted on state forest land as long as your site is located more than one mile from a state forest WebLearn about the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace, how to apply them when visiting the Keweenaw, and why we're a proud partner of Leave No Trace. WebDispersed camping is acceptable on National Forest System lands away from developed campgrounds, nearly anywhere your camping equipment and/or vehicle does not block Your best bet is to consult official USFS maps along with Google Maps to make sure you are taking the right route to the campsite. (GPS 45.75738, -84.76691) Mackinaw State Forest Free camping close to Mackinaw City, there are six campsites here, with the first four being suitable for large RVs. (GPS 44.22542, -86.16242) Huron Manistee National Forest This is a free, developed campground. Here are the links to the relevant motor vehicle use maps: The best thing about dispersed camping is undoubtedly the fact that it can be done without things that usually go hand in hand with pitching a tent on a developed campground. (285) Major Cell Coverage Issues. (GPS 43.75751, -85.90021) Huron Manistee National Forest There about six campsites located on the west bank of Condon Lake. Besides the fact that its a great place to camp on its own, Lake Perrault Dispersed Campground is also close to the Baraga State Forest Area and the town of Houghton. Its well-used area for off-road vehicles and fishing. There are, however, vault toilets at a few trailheads situated in the area. After sixteen (16) days the camp and equipment MUST be moved off of Forest Service System lands. There is one more official resource for finding Michigans best areas for dispersed camping. Here are the seven principles of Leave No Trace camping: You can read more about the seven principles of Leave No Trace camping here. Youll want to arrive mid-week, in the late morning or early afternoon to find an open site, otherwise you may be out of luck. Situated just north of the Michigan-Wisconsin border, in the Ottawa National Forest, this place has only three campsites in total. You can either contact the Ranger District Office responsible for the area youre planning to spend time in and inquire with them directly or simply find a nice camping spot on your own by driving along the Forest Service roads in these zones. There are no designated campsites here, but you will find some established fire rings. Read more about Hovey Lake Campground on FreeRoam. Do not bring flowers that could spread seeds and make sure to wash your vehicle particularly the tires before going there. 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. C. ARD . Boondocking on Bureau of Reclamation Lands. (GPS 45.03178, -84.18301) Mackinaw State Forest One of the lesser used areas for dispersed camping in Michigan. 517-741-7004. This section contains information on the sites located in the southern section of the Huron National Forest. Also, due to the fact that its situated in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, this place is not only very close to the Marzinski Horse Trail but also to Lake Michigan. Check out the Michigan State Forest interactive map here. Site Number The road in is easy enough for any vehicle, though the sites can handle only small to medium sized RVs. The NCNST is marked with blue rectangle-shaped blazes. Generally speaking, all National Forests permit some form of dispersed camping and have similar rules and regulations. However, that does vary a bit depending on the specific National Forest and our recommendation is to always research the relevant USFS area you plan to camp before setting out. 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. You can primitive camp anywhere in the boundaries of the national forest fee free. Make sure to also bring plenty of mosquito repellent. Looking for more dispersed camping content? As noted above, when dispersed camping in one of Michigans State Forests, you must complete and post a camp registration card at your campsite for the duration of your stay. Generally speaking, all National Forests permit some form of dispersed camping and have similar rules and regulations. There is a small fee for the Nordhouse Dunes area when dispersed camping, but we think this is well worth it for access to this beautiful area. The road in is very easy, suitable for any vehicle. Connector trails are marked with white rectangle blazes on trees. As its name suggests, it is comprised of two separate forests. Make sure to study a road map when getting here because Googles directions will get you lost. No amenities are provided; such as water, restrooms or trash cans. Youre also close to the beach here as well as Headlands International Dark Sky Park. Lumbermens Monument Visitor Center sits at the center of the byway. Give your best to leave the camping spot in the exact state you found it. If youve read the sections above you should have a good overview of the rules and regulations surrounding dispersed camping in Michigan. Whelan Lake Special Area is a 2,800 acre area located near the south branch of the Pere Marquette River. The dispersed camping sites located along the Green Road vary from roomy and secluded areas to simple pull-outs next to the road itself. It is popular for hiking, primitive and dispersed camping, beach combing, hunting, picnicking, nature study and wildlife viewing, also offering approximately 10-miles of trails accessed from two developed trailheads:Nurnberg RoadandLake Michigan Recreation Area.
dispersed camping michigan national forest
