Camping & Cabins
The Least You Need to Know About Camping
- Check with your local ranger district for current site conditions, closures, and other important considerations before traveling.
- You do not need to pay a fee or obtain a permit to dispersed camp (outside of a designated campground) on the Huron-Manistee National Forests.
- Dispersed and Primitive tent camping within the Forests is allowed almost anywhere, unless otherwise posted closed and/or "No Camping." There is no dispersed camping within 200’ ft of a river, lake, stream, or other body of water.
- Developed campgrounds usually provide bathrooms, fire rings and picnic tables, and may provide other amenities.
- Developed campgrounds most likely charge a fee, and several campgrounds require or recommend a reservation. Reservations can be made on recreation.gov.
- You can gather firewood for a campfire on-forest without a wood permit to cut firewood. Buy or collect firewood locally to prevent the spread of insects and disease.
- Before having a campfire, check to make sure there are no fire restrictions in place. Do not build a campfire in hazardous, dry conditions. Extinguish your campfire completely before leaving. Review important information on campfire safety.
- No RV hook-ups are available for water, sewage or electric at any campground.
- Some developed campgrounds and/or campsites can accommodate RVs, while others are better suited to tent camping.
Au Sable Loop Campground and Day Use Area
Site Open
As visitors exit McKinley Road to enter the Au Sable Loop Scenic Overlook,  they will first see a panoramic vista of the National Scenic portion of the Au Sable River. An exemplary setting for…
Au Sable River Primitive Camping
Site Open
Ausable River Primitive Camping is not a physical campground located at one location. A series of 102 individually designated single-family campsites are located on a 55-mile stretch of the Ausable…
Bear Island Campground
Site Open
A small quiet campground with few amenities. This site is primarily used by river paddlers. Three campsites.Flickr Photo Album
Bear Track Campground
Site Open
Bear Track got its name many years ago from a bear track found while building the site. A 1.5 mile trail connects the campground to the North Country National Scenic Trail. Fishing is a popular…
Benton Lake Campground
Site Open
 Benton Lake is a 33-acre lake completely surrounded by National Forest land. The North Country National Scenic Trail is located off Pierce Drive, about 2 miles east of the campground entrance road.…
Blacksmith Bayou Access Site
Site Open
One of many bayous along the lower portion of the river, Blacksmith is an oxbow lake left from an old river channel. The river channel moves during geologic time, creating new meanders in the…
Bowman Bridge Campground and River Access
Site Open
The section of the river from Gleason's Landing to Bowman Bridge flows through a long stretch of federal ownership. This is one of the most popular stretches of river, and Bowman Bridge River Access…
Bowman Lake Area
Site Open
This area not only has the Pere Marquette River running through it, but also contains a portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail and habitat for the federally endangered Karner blue…
Bowman Lake Campground
Site Open
The campground is walk-in only, with carry-in canoe access. This quiet and secluded campground is very popular with fisherman and hunters.Flickr Photo Album
Brush Lake Campground
Site Open
The campground is located on the shores of Brush Lake, which is entirely surrounded by National Forest System lands. There is a drive-in boat launch on the eastern shore of the river and a smaller…