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Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Lake Michigan Recreation Area is a four loop campground located on the shoreline to Lake Michigan between Manistee and Ludington. In addition to the 99 single family sites and 3 group sites, the site also boasts a day use area with multiple picnic tables, pavilions and a playground, an ampitheater and an overlook. Arrowhead Trail, which runs through the campground, connects to the wilderness trails that traverse Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Cadillac/Manistee Ranger Station |
|---|---|
| Operational Hours: | Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless otherwise posted. |
| Reservations: | Recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 |
| Area Amenities: | Parking: 60 vehicle capacity |
| Fees: | Camping (per night):
|
| Permit Info: | Special Use Permit -
|
| Open Season: | May 15 - October 10 |
| Usage: | Light |
| Best Season: | May to October |
| Restrictions: | As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. Applicable Orders -
|
| Closest Towns: | Freesoil |
| Water: | Yes |
| Restroom: | Vault |
| Operated By: | American Land and Leisure |
| Information Center: |
|
General Information
Directions:From Manistee
- Travel south on US-31 for 10 miles.
- Turn right and travel west on W. Forest Trail Rd. for 8 miles.
- W. Forest Trail Rd. becomes FR 5629. Continue west on FR 5629.
- The road terminates at the site.
General Notes:
Downloadable Maps and Resources
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Visitor Information and Map
Location
Lake Michigan
Nearby Recreation Areas
County
Mason
Activities
Beachcombing
Amenities -
- Playground
- Pedestal grills
- Overlook deck
- Beach
- Bike trail
- Amphitheater
Sand Play
Campground Camping
A campground site map is located on Recreation.gov.
Amenities -
- Playground
- Pedestal grills
- Overlook deck
- Beach
- Bike trail
- Amphitheater
- Hosts
| No. of Sites | Single: 99 |
| Reservation Info | Hemlock and Violet Loops: No reservation needed. All sites are first come, first serve.
Orchid and Oak Loops - 25 single sites: Reservation needed -
|
| No. of Accessible sites | |
| Sleeping Shelter | No |
RV Camping
Amenities -
- Playground
- Pedestal grills
- Overlook deck
- Beach
- Bike trail
- Amphitheater
- Hosts
| No. of Sites |
|
| Pavement Type for Parking | Asphalt |
| Reservation Info | Hemlock and Violet Loops: No reservation needed. All sites are first come, first serve.
Oak and Orchid Loops: 25 single sites and 3 group sites are reservable. Reservation needed -
|
| Hookup - Water | No |
| Hookup - Sewer | No |
| Size Restrictions | 50 Ft. or Less |
| Dump Stations | No |
| Hookups - Electric | No |
| Vehicle Clearance | Low |
Group Camping
| No. of Sites | Group (25 - 49 people): 3 |
| Reservation Info | Reservation needed -
|
| Group Shelter | No |
| Group Cooking Facilities | No |
| Hookups - Electric | No |
| Sleeping Shelter | No |
Day Hiking
Arrowhead Trail is a short loop trail created by the Boy Scouts and is located between the Lake Michigan Recreation Area and Lake Michigan, forming a loop between the campground and the beach.
Lake Michigan Recreation Area also has a trailhead for the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area trails. These trails are minimally maintained and signed.
Viewing Wildlife
The Lake Michigan Shoreline is the summer habitat for the Piping Plover. The piping plover is a relative of the Killdeer. Piping Plovers are smaller, and lighter colored. Breeding adults have a single black band around the neck, while the Killdeer has two. The Great Lakes population of piping plovers is endangered — they are in danger of extinction. The “piping” part of the name is a description of its call, a sweet, soft whistle. Plovers are a group of shorebirds that feed with run-stop-peck movements, somewhat like the way an American robin feeds.
The ultimate wildlife viewing experience is watching animals in their habitat. Here are some helpful tips to become a wildlife friendly viewer:
- Use the right tools - A field guide, a pair of binoculars and a camera. Wear clothing that is appropritate for the season and activitiy.
- Watch at dawn and dusk - This is the time when most wildlife species are active enough to view.
- Keep your distance - Maintain a distance that is comfortable for the wildlife.
- Stay quiet - Move slowly and quietly to increase your chances of viewing wildlife, and to avoid stressing the animals you wish to watch.
- Do not feed the wildlife - There is plenty of food availale in the wild. Human food can cause digestive problems, provide improper nutrition, and even kill an animal.
An online version of the Michigan Wildlife Viewing Guide is available on the MI-DNRE website.
| Species | Unique Species - Piping Plover and Prairie Warbler |
| Special Feature | Ludington Dune System, including Lake Michigan Recreation Area, Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. |
Viewing Scenery
| Special Feature | Ludington Dune System, including Lake Michigan Recreation Area, Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore |
Visitor Programs
Interpretive Areas
Picnicking
| No. of Sites | 6 |
| Reservation Info | No reservation needed. All sites are first come, first served. |
Swimming
To find out the water temperature in Lake Michigan visit the Great Lakes Coastal Forcasting System
Also remember to check the Beach Conditions Report. Lake Michigan Recreation Area and Nordhouse Dunes are located just north of Ludington State Park and south of Orchard Beach State Park
| Water Temperature | Cool to Cold |
