Hartwick Pines CG, Michigan

We enjoyed our stay there last Memorial weekend. We had a huge fhu site. It was20 degrees our first night!
The museum and old growth forest were very nice but the mosquito's could have carried us away. Also, there is no swimming readily available. So for those of you with kids like mine that like/need to swim all summer, you may want to visit spring or fall.
Overall very nice and we would go back for sure.

chezmoose wrote:

RAMBOY wrote:

chezmoose wrote:
We love Hartwick. It's about the only state park we stay at. (Not into crowds!)

You should try Cheboygan SP. No crowds there.

Good to know! Will check it out... thanks!

Hoeft SP by Rogers City is another less-crowded park.

RAMBOY wrote:

chezmoose wrote:
We love Hartwick. It's about the only state park we stay at. (Not into crowds!)

You should try Cheboygan SP. No crowds there.

Good to know! Will check it out... thanks!

chezmoose wrote:
We love Hartwick. It's about the only state park we stay at. (Not into crowds!)

You should try Cheboygan SP. No crowds there.

Well that went south in a hurry. Hope you and your dog are ok. Be interesting to see what the determination is, if anything. Not sure I would use a well with an unknown water source.

Last time I visit this park, and I'll be writing a strongly worded letter to Gov. Synder about his staff as well...

May have poisoned my dog...

Still too much snow on the trails in the woods, too hard on the ankles since its all ice/slush. Brought my mountain bike too, but the rear tire is flat... found a spare tube, but no toolkit... ugh, unprepared on this trip. Guess I can reorganize the basement storage bays.

Bonus, they're training with the A10 WARTHOG at camp grayling, saw a formation fly over a few mins ago... their main gun has a very distinct sound and rattles the trailer despite being quite a ways off.

Hartwick Pines State Park is a very nice place. We've stayed there many times but usually in the Fall when leaves are turning going to the U.P. or returning from the U.P leaf peeping trips. Also stay at Platte River CG in Sleeping Bear Dunes National park a couple times each year as it's really a gorgeous place also with huge sites and the CG loop 1 and the extremely clean tiled heated bathrooms and private door showers are open all year. Yes, the campsites and roads are kept plowed of snow and the electric is always on! Hot and cold excellent water at the bathouses all year. Dumpstation is closed in winter so we use a tall Thedford Porta Potti and dump it in the bathroom toilet. Never spill a drop or bad odors and as it has a long swivel dump snout on the bottom half 5 gallon tank that dumps it directly dowm the toilet's bottom hole.

Also go to Little River Casino CG at Manistee a couple times a year and a lot of other Michigan SP CG's and other CG's. The LRC CG is closed in winter but you can boondock in the gigantic parking lot. However, Tahquamenon Falls State Park Overlook CG at the Lower Falls is always open and plowed all winter and the electric is on. Can dump your Porta Potti in the pit toilets and carry your water in 1 gal-5 gal jugs. It works fine and has for us in winter for over 30 years now! Porta Potti's are perfect for winter use and some use them year around as they can be dumped in and toilet or pit toilet etc. The holding tank on the 5 gal is good for 3-5 days for 2 people inside day and night before getting close to needing dumping.

Enjoy the serenity in Hartwick CG now because it does get very busy in the summer but being that it's a very large SP there's lots of quiet areas for all.

Not much snow left in the campground, there is some hiding in the shadows thought. Going to check out a nearby walking trail shortly.

The road to the day-use area is barracaded and also blocked by a large man made snow pile, guess they're not ready for visitors in that area yet.

Hartwick Pines is very nice during the season. Lots of paved roads and off road trails for bikes or hiking, a small interpretive center, and a small section of old growth forest to explore. Many historical displays from the logging days. Great place!