Boondocking in Michigan

There are many State Forrest CG's without hookups in the lower. Have a look at the DNR camping site....

One of our favorites is Tomahawk Creek Flooding north of Atlanta, MI. But watch out for Elk!

Hmm, I'm familiar with a number of state forest campgrounds, but that is one I've not heard of. I'll look it up.

Any other favorites out there?

Just north of ScottVillegas, West of 31. National forest campground. Name escapes me at the moment

This site might help you get started. Look on a map for the national forest name and then click on it on this sites.

Staying in national or state forest campgrounds isn't really boondocking - it's dry camping but close enough to get the feel of no hookups. For true boondocking you wouldn't have carved out sites, no toilets and no water available.

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm#michigan

Mfan wrote:
Just north of ScottVillegas, West of 31. National forest campground. Name escapes me at the moment

There's the Lake Michigan Recreation Area that's North of Scottville and West of 31. It's not on Lake Michigan but within miles walk.

I do know some dispersed sites right on Lake Michigan, and few inland lakes, but those are top secret :)

Fisherman's Island State Park has 5 rustic sites right on the beach, just outside of Charlevoix... You might be able to get one if you go during the week, forget about weekends during the summer, they're all reserved.

Along M-37 the USFS has a bunch of great tiny campgrounds on tiny inland lakes.

Newaygo State Park has very nice rustic sites near a super busy inland lake. If you like to listen or watch twin v8 and bigger boats with no discernible mufflers test the limits of their engines, this is the campground for it.

Solar is fabulous, Gary. No hauling out the cable and generator, checking gas and oil, starting it, waiting an hour or so to charge up, letting the generator cool, and putting the cable away and generator in the Tahoe. No wondering if the neighbors are going to town and charging while they are away to be polite.

Heck, now I don't care! I just run my solar charging system whether the neighbors are in their campsite or not! Even if their little baby is sleeping!

Thanks gordonthree lake Michigan recreation area was it.

Mfan and Gordon,

Thanks for the info on Lake Michigan Recreation Area. So if Im reading it right it's federal. Does my lifetime National Park card get me access, or do I need an additional permit? I love that area north of Luddington and think I want to check that campground out. And I'm guessing it's not as hard to get into as say Platte River campground at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.

Gordon I really want to get in on those top secret dispersed sites. Maybe you could just tell me :) I've been to Fisherman's Island state Park and really liked it. Might check out the rustic sites. Neither my wife or I care for the Newaygo area at all, but I appreciate the mention.

2gypsies - I appreciate the map and info. Thanks very much

GaryS1953 wrote:


Thanks for the info on Lake Michigan Recreation Area. So if Im reading it right it's federal. Does my lifetime National Park card get me access, or do I need an additional permit? I love that area north of Luddington and think I want to check that campground out. And I'm guessing it's not as hard to get into as say Platte River campground at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.

Your lifetime pass covers the day-use fee for the parks, and I think will discount your camping at Platte river, since that's a National Park and not just a recreation area. Last time I was at Lake Mich Rec, the concessionaire was charging campers the day-use fee on top of the camping fee, I believe Platte River does the same.

GaryS1953 wrote:

Gordon I really want to get in on those top secret dispersed sites. Maybe you could just tell me :) I've been to Fisherman's Island state Park and really liked it. Might check out the rustic sites. Neither my wife or I care for the Newaygo area at all, but I appreciate the mention.

Sorry no can do, finding dispersed waterfront sites are like the secret recipe for Bush's beans, only other soul that knows is the dog.

Lots of nice quiet federal campgrounds along M37. Walkup Lake, Benton Lake to name a few favorites. Walkup doesn't do reservations but Benton does. Tons of great boondock sites across the street from Benton, there's an easy two-track that weaves around through the National Forest, plenty of "sites" cleared out off the road.

Good sites along the Manistee River too. Seaton Creek is small and quiet, Blacksmith Bayou if you like fishing, or even if you don't, it's so small it used to be free, but they paved the road and fixed up the outhouse, and now they charge a small fee... Sawdust Hole is another tiny gem, there's like 5 sites?

On the other side of the state, in the Huron NF, along M65 there's a bunch of nice federal campgrounds, and a few dispersed sites.

For me, a lot of the fun is finding these places, the smaller the better.