The trail passes under I-75, north of Grayling, and then continues eastward to follow the historic Au Sable River to its end in Au Sable, just south of Oscoda. And even though you should have no trouble driving down this road in your regular passenger car, keep in mind that turning around in a larger vehicle may be a bit difficult. In my opinion, those wishing to engage in dispersed camping in the state of Michigan should prioritize these National Forests above other areas. Verizon cell signal is pretty good here. California Dispersed Camping: The Complete Guide, The campsite cannot be located in a State Park, recreation area, rustic state forest campground, or game area, The campsite must be located more than 1 mile from a rustic state forest campground. The only services at Robbins Pond is a simple pit toilet, so youll need to come prepared with your own water. It is, however, an absolutely beautiful area to pitch your tent in. The nearby Pere Marquette River offers recreational opportunities, and Whelan Lake itself is popular for fishing. Even though this is water front camping, its actually not that buggy, though you will still want to bring your favorite mosquito repellent. For that matter, its very important that you do your best and not spread invasive weeds while camping in Michigan. To camp inside the Nordhouse Dunes zone, you will have to pay a small fee, which is, in my opinion, a trivial price to pay for accessing such a gorgeous area. The campground is located in a pine forest. R. EGISTRATION . 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. Located south of Munising in the Hiawatha National Forest, Pete's Lake Recreation Area has 41 rustic sites, including two for walk-in campers. WebCookson Lake Campsites. The regulations for camping here are slightly different from the USFS, and we provide additional context and details on State Forest dispersed camping in Michigan below. The 128.8-mile portion of the NCNST that goes through the Manistee portion of the National forests has 15 spur trails to other forest hiking and interpretive trails. The twenty-two mile River Road National Scenic Byway extends westward from Lake Huron into the Huron National Forest. Dispersed foot traffic and primitive tent camping within the Forests is allowed almost anywhere, unless otherwise posted closed and/or "No Camping". Speaking generally, those who know how to read USFS maps, have some experience in navigating woodland roads, as well as the gut feeling of knowing where to look should have no trouble with finding a myriad of dispersed campsites in the Great Lake State. The bugs can get pretty bad here, so some good bug spray is recommended as well. You will, however, have to fill it out in advance, print it, and then take it with you to the campsite, where youll have to post it in a visible spot. You can also hop in your car and have a day trip to Lake Huron. There are several dispersed campsites along the trail. While this is not a genuine dispersed camping area, it provides outdoor enthusiasts with a feeling of solitude with its well-spaced camping spots. 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. They also have 58 primitive campsites, especially for tent camping. Required under authority of the Natural Resource and Reservations can be made at recreation.gov. Restrooms:NoWater:NoCrowds:ModerateMap. The McKinley Trail Camp is one of the best options for folks looking to spend some time in the magnificent Huron National Forest. The road in is easy enough for any vehicle, though the sites can handle only small to medium sized RVs. The river has many bends and large logs. Wildlife species that commonly inhabit this area include white-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, red fox, raccoon, porcupine, squirrels, pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, wild turkey and various songbirds. A good option for those looking for free and dispersed camping in Huron National Forest is the McKinley Trail Camp. In recent years efforts have been made to replace logs in the river to help reduce erosion and maintain the world-class trout fishing river as an aquatic habitat. There are vault toilets, but no reliable water sources or trash removal services. There are no amenities of any kind here, though, so youll want to come well-prepared. If your campfire will be on National Forest System lands you will not need a wood permit to cut firewood. In addition, theres a beautiful beach on Lake Michigan and the town of Manistee is only 8 miles away. 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. The best way to explore this area is by horse just like in the case of the aforementioned Marzinski Trail Camp but you can engage in regular camping here as well. Lumbermans Monument Visitor Center interprets the areas colorful lumbering past. (GPS 44.232524, -84.657665) Au Sable State Forest This is an isolated area where very few people camp, so be prepared for plenty of alone time. 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. Currently the White River is designated Scenic by the State of Michigan. (GPS 46.89123, -89.09722) Private Property This is located on land owned by Timber Resource Group (TRG), a logging company. 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. If you dont have a regular passenger vehicle, just rent one you dont want to miss out on the beauty of this place. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Highly recommended! People have enjoyed the scenic beauty of the Au Sable for hundreds of years. Another great resource for finding dispersed campsites in Michigans State Forests is their excellent interactive State Forest Map. However, people have been known to boondock on their lands frequently. WebDispersed Camping Dispersed foot traffic and primitive tent camping within the Forests is allowed almost anywhere, unless otherwise posted closed and/or "No Camping". The NCNST is marked with blue rectangle-shaped blazes. As you may have guessed, the star gazing from here is amazing! Theres enough room here for at least 7 groups of campers and the area is located just off the highway easy access is guaranteed. This campground is buggy, expect lots of mosquitoes, but also plenty of fireflies too. There is fishing here, and the lake is swimmable. This is a very popular campground, and you should plan to arrive mid-week in the afternoon if you want to find availability. However, salmon season is particularly busy on the river. Learn about the industry that helped develop northern Michigan and the men who cut the timber that helped build a nation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We answer your questions about Boondocking, Free Camping, and Overnight Parking using facts and actual experiences. 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. Haymeadow Creek does not have trash service, so please be sure to bring a bag, pack out your trash, and leave your campsite in better shape than you found it. Dispell the myths of boondocking and arm yourself with the laws and truths. While dispersed camping in Michigan still remains elusive for many, weve put together a list of ten (10) boondocking sites that may interest you, The following campsites were selected based on our own experiences camping there and based on popularity with other boondockers. Dont forget pitching a tent within a 1-mile radius of a rustic state forest campground is not allowed. A 4WD vehicle is required, or at least wood boards or tracks to help you get unstuck. The Manistee River, from Tippy Dam to the M-55 Bridge, is a designated National Recreation River. You can access the Camp Registration Card here. Its free camping, while being just a couple miles from the beach. This is dispersed camping in Michigan at its finest! Generally speaking dispersed camping is permitted on public land managed by the United States Forest Service in Michigan. Similar to the Marzinski Trail Camp described above, this camping area is meant to provide free camping for those exploring the forest via horse, but all are welcome. WebOn the Medicine Bow National Forest, the stay limit is 16 days in a 30-day period while dispersed camping. Its flow of water still serves as an important link in the production of the state's electrical power supply. For that matter, make sure to practice the leave no trace principles while spending time there. There are no services at Lake Perrault, so youll need to properly dispose of all waste and come prepared to be self-sufficient. Water levels can become fairly shallow during dry summer months. WebDispersed Camping in a National Forest Primitive Camping along the Ice Age National Trail in the Chequamegon National Forest The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is one of the best places to find scenic areas for primitive camping. Please sign in to ask a question dispersed => false: fiftyfiveplus => false: aarp => false: senior_discounts => false: Situated just north of the Michigan-Wisconsin border, in the Ottawa National Forest, this place has only three campsites in total. In the northernmost part of Michigans Upper Peninsula, you will find the Keweenaw Peninsula, and on it, the charming Lake Perrault. (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. May 25, 2017 Anyplace on state land unless posted or within a mile as noted above. Not the case. 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. When it comes to the best free dispersed camping destination in the Midwest, the state of Michigan The Great Lake State is undoubtedly one of the best. (GPS 45.03178, -84.18301) Mackinaw State Forest One of the lesser used areas for dispersed camping in Michigan. Behind this peculiar name hides a dispersed camping area that is situated just outside Mackinaw City, on the northern tip of Michigans Lower Penninsula. Read more about Condon Lakes West at FreeRoam. Confidence markers are orange triangles. Read more about Haymeadow Creek Campground on FreeRoam. There are six designated dispersed campsites here, all of which are first-come, first served. Visitor recreation activities include camping, fishing, mushroom gathering, bird-watching, hunting, hiking and canoeing. No amenities are provided; such as water, restrooms or trash cans. These sites are too small for large RVs, but still suitable for vans, pickup truck campers, and even small trailers. Whelan Lake offers primitive, dispersed camping in Manistee National Forest in west-central Michigan. Share sensitive information only 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. You can access the Camp Registration Card here. While it doesnt have any reliable water sources, the Marzinski Horse Trail Camp has vault toilets. Do it all the time. One particularly great thing about this zone is that its rarely crowded, even in the middle of summer. Although there are no restrooms or water sources here, several of the trailheads in the area do have simple vault toilets available. Climb through a log jam, use a peavey, cut a wooden cookie with a cross-cut saw, and learn about the life of a lumberjack through video and displays. 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