This land is your land . . .
Situated between three of the Great Lakes, Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers campers ample space to enjoy nature in diverse settings. The quiet repose of its vast woodlands and the scenic beauty of its many rivers, streams, and inland lakes provides a wide range of opportunities for active recreational pursuits on land and water.
- State Parks
- State Park Mini-Cabins
- State Park Rustic Cabins
- State Park Rent-A-Tipi
- State and Corporate Forests
Michigan's State Park system covers over 3.8 million acres of land and is the largest State Forest system in the eastern United States.
Wherever you are in Michigan, you are never more than an hour from a state park or recreation area. with more than 96 state parks to choose from, you'll find the very best of Michigan preserved for all time in your Michigan State Park system: scenic inland waterways, surging waterfalls, freshwater coastal sand dunes, old growth forests, wilderness peaks, and Great Lakes shoreline.
Beginning with Interlochen in 1919, the Michigan State Park system was established to preserve the state's natural treasures for future generations to experience and enjoy, including many of Michigan's most unique and significant landforms and biological communities. Nearly two-thirds of Michigan State Parks support rare species or biological communities, as documented in the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.
The Michigan State Park system also includes historical sites that preserve Michigan's rich heritage. Experience the past as you walk through a reconstructed logging camp, tour an iron smelting town, or converse with constumed interpreters at a historical fort.
In addition to natural features and historical sites, Michigan State Parks offer a variety of outdoor recreation facilities, from modern and rustic campgrounds (Reservations - 800/44-PARKS (800/605-8295 TDD)) to hiking and cross-country ski trails to boat launch sites and fishing piers.
Featuring 142 miles of Great Lakes frontage and 462 miles of lakes, rivers, and streams, Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas offer some of the best opportunities in the country to enjoy water sports. Whether you prefer paddling down a river in a kayak, water skiing on an inland lake, or cruising the Great Lakes in a motor boat, state parks provide access to many Michigan waterways.
If you are trying to "get away from it all" during weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day, don't even bother with the state parks in the Lower Peninsula - they're jam packed with RV'ers who sport such amenities such as satelite TVs and gas grills. I swear, the only thing that these people are escaping is the chore of mowing the lawn.
The Upper Peninsula (U.P.) can be just as bad on holiday weekends (Memorial, July 4th, and Labor Day) but is less conjested on most other weekends. There is also more tent-camping going on up north.
Those choosing to camp in "developed" areas will take comfort in the fact that Michigan has among the cleanest restroom and shower facilities of any state camping system, even when you look at privately owned camping parks. If the trail slogan is "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints," the restroom pitch could be "no flora or fauna in here." If the bathrooms in U.P. State Parks were evaluated seperately, I'd go so far as to say Michigan had the cleanest facilites east of the Mississippi.
Michigan State Parks have more than 55 Mini-Cabins
available for rent in 38 parks across the state. Occupants of the mini-cabins have access to all the conveniences found in the campground, such as modern restroom facilities with showers and flush toilets, water fountains, and electricity. Mini-cabins with access to barrier free toilet facilities also meet barrier free accessibility guidelines. The mini-cabins are designed to sleep four people and are furnished with bunk-beds, a small table, and electricity. Outside, there is a picnic table and a fire circle.You must bring your own bedding, cookware and tableware. A first-aid kit, lanterns, flashlights, axe or handsaw, and a portable stove are also recommended.
A minimum from one to three nights is required depending on which park the mini-cabin is in. Please check the park list for the minimum nights rental required.
Reservations will be accepted at any time after January 1st, for that calendar year. If you are unable to use your mini-cabin reservation, please notify the appropriate park office as soon as possible - notifications received prior to 3:00 p.m. on the beginning date of your reservation are entitled to a full refund (excluding reservation fee). For cancellations received after 3:00 p.m., the minimum rental fee, plus the fee for each reserved night prior to notice, will be deducted from the refund.
To reserve a mini-cabin, call 800/5432-YES. Be sure to read and understand the section entitled Regulations, Cancellations, and Etiquette
Michigan State Parks Mini-Cabins
State Park/
Recreation AreaPhone Minimum Stay # of
Mini-CabinsBaraga 906/353-6558 1 night 1 Bay City 517/684-3020 2 nights 2 Brimley 906/248-3422 1 night 1 Burt Lake 616/238-9392 2 nights 1 Clear Lake 517/785-4388 2 nights 1 Fort Custer R.A. 616/731-4200 2 nights 2 Fort Wilkins 906/289-4215 1 night 1 Harrisville 517/724-5216 2 nights 1 Hayes 517/467-7401 2 nights 2 Hoeft 517/734-2543 2 nights 1 Holly R.A. 810/634-8811 2 nights 2 Indian Lake 906/341-2355 1 night 2 Interlochen 616/276-9511 2 nights 2 Ionia R.A. 616/527-3750 2 nights 2 Lakeport 810/327-6224 2 nights 1 Leelanau 616/922-5270 2 nights 2 Ludington 616/843-8671 2 nights 3 McLain 906/482-0278 1 nights 4 Metamora-Hadley R.A. 810/693-6767 2 nights 2 Mitchell 616/775-7911 2 nights 1 Muskegon 616/744-3480 2 nights 2 North Higgins Lake 517/821-6125 2 nights 1 Orchard Beach 616/843-8671 2 nights 1 Otsego Lake 517/732-5485 2 nights 1 Petoskey 616/347-2311 2 nights 1 Port Crescent 517/738-8663 2 nights 1 Proud Lake R.A. 313/685-2433 2 nights 2 Sleeper 517/856-4411 2 nights 1 South Higgins Lake 571/821-6374 2 nights 1 Straits 906/643-8620 1 night 2 Tawas Point 517/362-5041 2 nights 2 Traverse City 616/922-5270 2 nights 2 Twin Lakes 906/482-0278 1 night 1 Van Riper 906/339-4461 1 night 1 Warren Dunes 616/426-4013 3 nights 3 Wilson 517/539-3021 2 nights 1 Young 616/582-7523 2 nights 1
Michigan State Parks have more than 60 Rustic Cabins
available to rent. Over a dozen different parks have cabins for your convenience and pleasure. Rustic cabins can be a functional and enjoyable base camp for fishing or hiking. Show season cross-country skiing, ice fishing, or snowshoeing can be just as much fun.The cabins are on quiet sites and many overlook water. The smaller cabins tend to be more comfortable for families. At some sites two or more nearby cabins can accomodate larger groups.
The cabins have single sized beds or bunks with mattresses, a table, chairs, broom, and wood stoves for heat. There are outside hand-pumps for water and vault toilets.
You must bring your own bedding, cookware, tableware, first-aid kit, lanterns, flashlights, axe or handsaw, and insect repellant. A portable stove is also recommended. When reserving a cabin, ask of additional furnishings are provided - at the more remote cabins, the park may provide extra gear so that you won't have to carry as much in.
Reservations will be accepted at any time after January 1st, for the current and following calendar year. For example, if you called on January 15th, 2000 you could reserve a cabin for any date throughout 2001. If you are unable to use your cabin reservation, please notify the appropriate park office as soon as possible - notifications received prior to 30 days of your reservation are entitled to a full refund. For cancellations received less than 30 days before your expected arrival, a one night cancellation fee will be deducted from your refund. If the park isn't notified until after the first reserved night, the cancellation fee, plus the fee for each reserved night prior to notice, will be deducted from the refund.
To reserve a rustic cabin, call 800/5432-YES. Be sure to read and understand the section entitled Regulations, Cancellations, and Etiquette
Michigan State Parks Rustic Cabins
State Park/
Recreation AreaMailing Address Phone # of
CabinsCapacity Bald Mountain R.A. 1330 E. Greenshield
Lake Orion, MI 48360810/693-6767 2 20 Brighton R.A. 6360 Chilson, Rt. 3
Howell, MI 48843810/229-6566 7 8 to 20 Cheboygan Wilderness Park Drive
Carp Lake, MI 49718616/436-5381 3 8 Craig Lake Van Riper State Park, P.O. Box 66
Champion, MI 49814906/339-4461 2 6 & 14 Fort Custer R.A. 5163 W. Fort Custer Dr,
Augusta, MI 49012616/731-4200 3 6 & 12 Hartwick Pines Rt. 3, Box 3840
Grayling, MI 49738517/348-7068 1 6 Highland R.A. 3500 Wixom Rd.
Milford, MI 48382810/685-2433 1 5 Holly R.A. 8100 Grange Hall Rd.
Holly, MI 48442313/634-8811 1 6 Island Lake R.A. 12950 E. Grand River
Brighton, MI 48116810/229-7067 2 20 McLain Rt. 1, Box 82, M-203
Hancock, MI 49930906/482-0278 1 8 Ortonville R.A. 1330 E. Greenshield
Lake Orion, MI 48360810/627-3828 2 20 & 24 Porcupine Mt. W.S.P. 412 S. Boundary Rd.
Ontonagon, MI 49953906/885-5275 16 2 to 8 Rifle River R.A. 2550 E. Rose City Rd.
Lupton, MI 48635517/473-2258 1 6 Waterloo R.A. 16345 McClure Rd. Rt. 1
Chelsea, MI 48118313/475-8307 12 4 to 20 J.W. Wells Route 2, Box 2500
Manistique, MI 49854906/863-9747 6 8 & 12 Wilderness Wilderness Park Drive
Carp Lake, MI 49718616/436-5381 9 4 to 8 & 24 Yankee Springs R.A. 2104 Gun Rd., Rt. 3
Middleville, MI 49333616/795-9081 27 4 to 24
allows the camper to try a different camping style and setting. The tipis are authentic tribal replicas and are available to rent in eight state parks.
Rent-A-Tipi
You must bring your own bedding, cookware, tableware, water jug, rain gear, first-aid kit, lanterns, flashlights, insect repellant, and, if you have one, a portable stove.
When you arrive at the park, your tent or tipi will be erected on a wooden platform. They are equiped with two folding cots, two foam pads, a broom, and a picnic table. A propane stove, lantern, and ice chest may be rented for an additional $3 per night, along with a $20 deposit.
Reservations will be accepted at any time after January 1st, for that calendar year. If you are unable to use your tipi reservation, please notify the appropriate park office as soon as possible - notifications received prior to 3:00 p.m. on the beginning date of your reservation are entitled to a full refund (excluding reservation fee). For cancellations received after 3:00 p.m., the minimum rental fee, plus the fee for each reserved night prior to notice, will be deducted from the refund.
To reserve a tipi, call 800/5432-YES. Be sure to read and understand the section entitled Regulations, Cancellations, and Etiquette
Parks participating in the Rent-A-Tipi program
State Park/
Recreation AreaMailing Address Phone Baraga M-203
Hancock, MI 49930906/482-0278 Bewabic P.O. Box 66
Champion, MI 49814906/339-4461 Burt Lake 02280 Boyns City Rd.
Boyne City, MI 49712616/582-7523 Holly R.A. 8100 Grange Hall Rd.
Holly, MI 48442313/634-8811 Indian Lake Route2, Box 2500
Manistique, MI 49854906/341-2355 Interlochen 1132 US-31, North
Traverse City, MI 49684616/922-5270 Pontiac Lake 7800 Gale Rd.
Waterford, MI 48327313/666-1020 Wilson 6093 East M-115
Cadillac, MI 49601616/775-7911
Regulations, Cancellations, and Etiquette
- Check in times for rustic cabins are arranged between you and the park, but no check in will be scheduled later than 8:00 p.m. For other rental facilities, check in time is any time after 3:00 p.m. on the day of your first night's rental. Your reservation will not be held past 12:00 noon of your second day unless the park office is notified of your late arrival. Check out time is 3:00 p.m. on the day the permit expires. Please keep the facilities and site clean and attractive - dispose of trash properly.
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- The senior responsible person of the party must register the cabin.
- Pets are not permitted inside the rented facilities.
- All motor vehicles that are operated within the park require a motor vehicle permit and must be parked in designated areas.
- Reservations to a party are limited to no more than 15 nights per visit.
- Occupancy is limited to the number of beds provided with the facilities. Family camps requiring extra bed space may erect additional shelters on the rented site.
- Occupants are liable for damages to the cabin and its contents.
- Park staff may evict any individual or party who is in violation of stare park rules and regulations. If there is no damage to state property by an evicted group, a cancellation fee will be deducted from a refund for the unused time.
Michigan State and Corporate Forests
If you're looking for access to good fishing, a quiet spot near a northern lake or stream, a rustic outdoor experience, and plenty of space between campsites, the state forest campgrounds and corporate lands across the northern two-thirds of Michigan are for you. Together, there are almost 200 campgrounds which offer a variety of outdoor experiences: hiking, horseback riding, mushroom hunting, blueberry picking, butterfly collecting, and fishing are but a few of the recreation opportunities available at these campgrounds. Most campers don't even know these places exist, and the locations offer only primitive facilities (water pump and pit toilets).
The campgrounds are small, from five to 50 campsites. Most are located on lakes and rivers. Some have group sites while others are so remote they can be reached only by a determined hike through the woods, or paddle down the river. In addition, some state forest campgrounds have special use areas. For example, no motor vehicles are allowed at the Sand Lakes Quiet Area. In contrast, other areas allow dirt bike and ORV users their own trails and campgrounds.
Currently, I don't have the resources to scan the available literature, and list all the available campgrounds and locations. As you can't reserve these area in advance, such information would only serve the purpose of general orientation (the maps provided don't show roads, just blips that indicate more or less where the campgrounds are, and a list of addresses). Most of the roads referenced by the addresses do not appear on a traditional Michigan State map - many of the roads are nothing more than "two-tracks."
If you are planning on using State and Corporate forests for camping, I suggest picking up a copy of the Michigan Atlas and Gazetteer by DeLORME. Upon entry to the U.P., look for a MDOT Welcome Center, conveniently located in either Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, or Ironwood, MI. The Welcome Centers will be able to provide you a copy of either "A Guild to Campgrounds on Public and Corporate Lands in Michigan's Upper Peninsula" or "Michigan State Forests, Campgrounds and Pathways Upper Peninsula" , published by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Both of these guides, available free of charge, contain the locations of the campgrounds referenced above.
You may also be able to get a copy sent to you by contacting either the Michigan Department of Natural Resources or the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The MDOT Welcome Centers referenced above are located at: Sault Ste Marie St. Ignace Ironwood 1001 Eureka St.
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
906/632-8242As you exit Mackinac Bridge North,
first drive on right-hand side
St. Ignace, MI 49781
906/643-6979
801 N. Cloverland Drive
Ironwood, MI 49938
906/932-3330
Strictly Michigan
Base Kamp