You'll find Michigan's forests in the state's Upper Peninsula and the northern region of the Lower Peninsula. Michigan's Department of Natural Resources is responsible for managing the largest state forest system in the United States and provides 145 state forest campgrounds for you to enjoy. Take advantage of rustic, spacious sites with easy access to canoeing, hiking, biking and other outdoor fun on a camping trip to Michigan.
Amenities
Most Michigan forest campgrounds are rustic, meaning vault toilets and hand pumps for water but no showers or electricity. Veterans Memorial State Forest Campground in Benzie County and Shupac Lake State Forest Campground are examples of rustic parks. Black Creek State Forest Campground in Midland County is semi-modern, with a pressurized drinking-water system and vault toilets, as is Houghton Lake State Forest Campground, which has a modern restroom but no showers. You won't find more than 50 campsites on any state forest campground; some have as few as five spaces.
Access
You can reach most Michigan forest campgrounds by road, but some are accessible only by hiking or canoeing in. Forest Lake State Forest Campground in Alger County has three walk-in sites out of a total of 26 sites. Elk Hill Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp is designed for access by horseback campers taking the adjacent Shore to Shore Riding/Hiking Trail. You can bring small trailers to drive-in forest campgrounds; some accept larger vehicles on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Canoeing
According to Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, every forest campground is located near a river or lake. Reed & Green Bridge State Forest Campground in Luce County has canoeing opportunities on the Two-Hearted River with boat launch access at the campground. If you want to canoe in to your site, Au Sable River Canoe Camp is accessible by water from the Au Sable River. The campground has 13 tent sites, five of which are canoe-access only.
Trails
More than 60 of Michigan's forest campgrounds have nearby trails. The Black Mountain Recreation Area has 30 miles of trails and two rustic campgrounds, Black Lake and Twin Lakes. For a gentle route, Big Bear Lake has 2.2 miles of trails on flat to rolling terrain, accessed from Big Bear Lake State Forest Campground. Big Knob State Forest Campground in Mackinac County has close to 1.5 miles of level terrain along Lake Michigan beach, and a wetland-habitat path. Jackson Lake State Forest Campground offers direct access to 80 miles of hiking trails that connect nine state forest campgrounds.
Recreation
The Black River State Forest Campground is ideally located for fishing, with steelhead, lake trout, walleye, pike, bass, perch and bluegill nearby. Hog Island Point State Forest Campground is set on Lake Michigan and is a prime spot for lake trout. If you bring your bike, head to Weber Lake State Forest Campground in Cheboygan County; it has easy access to the Lost Tamarack trail, with 4.75 miles of pathway in two loops.
Weather
Michigan generally has a temperate climate and well-defined seasons. The northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula and all of the Upper Peninsula, where you'll find the forests, features warmer but shorter summers and very cold winters, making summer a better choice for visiting the state forests with a tent or trailer. Most rustic campgrounds are closed outside of the summer season.
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