Michigan campgrounds offer extensive opportunities for rustic camping, many of them accessible only by hiking and canoeing. The state has a large system of trails in the state, rustic cabins that offer winter opportunities for camping, and even some interesting options such as tepee and yurt rentals. While many privately owned campgrounds cater to more modern facilities, the state parks and forests offer the best options to the camper looking for a rustic experience.
The Upper Peninsula
Michigan's UP is a recreational wonderland for those who enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling and even ice climbing. Remote parks such as Craig Lake State Park in Baraga County offer hike-in rustic camp sites, and a rustic yurt rental is available during summer months. In the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park rustic yurts are available year-round, and cross-country ski trails run near the campsites. Other options are Deer Lake State Forest Campground, one of the most secluded state forest campgrounds in that part of the state, according to the Department of Natural Resources website. This park has secluded hike-in-only camping, and moose and other wildlife sightings are common at this location. Blind Sucker Campgrounds near Newberry run along a wildlife flooding area. A trail connects the two campgrounds in this system, and it's close to several hiking trails.
Chain of Lakes
The Pinckney area offers an extensive system of hiking trails, connected lakes and rustic camping experiences. Crooked Lake Rustic Campground offers a back-country camping experience for hikers, with many secluded rustic sites. The Brighton Recreation area offers camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing and equestrian trails for horseback riding. Waterloo Recreation Area is the largest state park in the lower peninsula at 20,000 acres, with plenty of space to find a back-country rustic camping location. It also has four designated campgrounds, beaches, 47 miles of hiking trails and equestrian trails.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Cheboygan State Park offers a wide choice of rustic camping and interesting activities. Located on the straits of Mackinaw, there are rustic beach cabins available along Lighthouse Point. Tepee rentals are an interesting choice at this park, erected by park rangers; no expertise is needed to enjoy this camping experience. Also in the area, Wilderness State Park offers rustic cabins and rustic bunkhouses, located on Carp Lake. The Lake Michigan Campground is located within the Hiawatha National Forest and has campsites located within sand dunes and a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.
Sunrise Side
The east coast of Michigan offers more rustic camping opportunities. Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin has a rustic organization camp for youth and miles of sandy beaches to enjoy for any camper. Tawas Point State Park is known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest and has a Victorian-era lighthouse. Shallow and warm, Tawas Bay is a great swimming option. Modern facilities are available here, but rustic camp sites are always an option at state parks.
Dispersed Camping
Michigan state parks offer an option called dispersed camping, which allows a camper to camp anywhere on state land if it is not posted as no camping and a designated campsite is not within one mile of the location. You must have a camp registration card at the site, available from the DNR website or generally at the entrance to all state parks.This gives flexibility to anyone who enjoys heading into the back country with just the essentials and setting up camp in places many will never see.
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