Camping on the Huron-Manistee National Forests

To receive information not found on this page or for any problems with any documents found on this page please email us at: r9 hmnf website@fs.fed.us

• Developed Camping
  • Huron Campgrounds
  • Manistee Camping
  • Developed Campground Rules
• Primitive Camping
  • Huron Primitive Camping
  • Manistee Camping
• Dispersed Camping and Backpacking
  • Dispersed Camping
  • Backpacking and Dispersed/Primitive Camping Rules
• Campfire Safety
• Contact Us
• Make a Reservation at Recreation.gov
• Recreation Enhancement Act Fee Information
• 2009 Recreation: Fees, Concessionaire Information and Open/Close Dates (xls) NOTE: The arrows in the header row provide drop-down menus where you can select the information you are looking for, a particular site, or a travel corrider to obtain a listing of all associated recreation sites. For example if you choose Au Sable Scenic River under Parent Rec. Area Name, only the access sites for that river will appear. To return to all of the information select "All" from the list.

Developed Camping

There are many developed campgrounds throughout the Forests. Camping can generally be enjoyed from May through September. Regulations permit camping in developed campgrounds for a maximum of 14 consecutive days. Most campgrounds will have sites available on a first-come first-served basis. For some campgrounds and day use areas directions can be opened by selecting the name of the campground or day use area. At Concessionaire operated sites, ask the concessionaire for more information. Fee information is posted at all campgrounds and day use areas. A fee for a unit/site is for two camp units, for example two tents, or a pop-up and a tent. See developed campground rules for more information. To reserve a campsite: visit Recreation.gov

To receive information not found on this page or for any problems with any documents found on this page please email us at: r9 hmnf website@fs.fed.us

Available activities are marked with a diamond shape - .

• Huron Campgrounds
• Manistee Campgrounds
• Developed Campground Rules
• Recreation Enhancement Act Fee Information
• Contact Us

Huron Campgrounds

Campground/Day Use Area Name (Click on $ symbol to view fees or scroll down)																	Open/Closed for Season	Notes
AuSable Loop	5			$													Open	Not gated; not maintained after Nov. 14; road/parking not plowed
Au Sable River Primitive Camping (see below)																	Open	No reservation required after Sept. 30. Must camp at designated sites.
Au Sable National Scenic River Primitive Camps																	Open	Not maintained; road/parking not plowed
Buttercup Campground																	Open	Not gated; not maintainedafter Nov. 14; road/parking not plowed
Cathedral Pines																	Open	Permanent Gate - no motorized access; not maintained after Nov. 14
Gabions	10			$													Open	Not gated; not maintained after Nov. 14; road/parking not plowed
Horseshoe Campground	9		$														Open	Closes Nov 30; Gated when closed
Horseshoe Boat Launch																	Open	Not gated; not maintained after Nov. 30; road/parking not plowed
Island Lake	17		$	$													Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 19
Jewell Lake	32		$														Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
Kneff Lake	27		$	$													Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 19
Loon Lake Day Use			$	$													Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 19
Luzerne Trail Camp $	10	65															Open	Gated, not closed. The Individual/Family camping area is open year-round. Not maintained after Nov. 14. Access road and/or parking not plowed.
Mack Lake	42		$	$													Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 19
Meadows $	16																Open	Not gated; not maintained after Nov. 14; road/parking not plowed
Meadow Springs																	Open	Permanent Gate - no motorized access; not maintained after Nov. 14
McKinley Trail Camp $																	Open	Gated, not closed. The Individual/Family camping area is open year-round. Not maintained after Nov. 14. Access road and/or parking not plowed.
Monument	19		$														Closed	Closed; Gated when closed
Pine River	11		$														Open	Closes Nov. 30; Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
River Dune Campground																	Open	Permanent Gate - no motorized access; not maintained after Nov. 14.
River Road Trail Camp																	Open	Closes Nov. 30; Gated when closed.
Rollways	19		$	$													Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
Round Lake	33		$	$													Closed	Gated when clossed; Reopens May 15
Sand Lake Beach																	Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
South Branch Trail Camp	15	1	$														Open	Closes Nov. 30; Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
Sprinkler Lake																	Open	Not gated; not maintained after Nov. 30; road/parking not plowed
White Pine Loop		2	$	$
Wagner Lake	12		$														Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 19
Wakeley Lake $	5																Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.

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Manistee Camping

Campground/Day Use Area Name (Click on $ symbol to view fees or scroll down)																			Open/ Closed for Season	Notes
Bear Track	16	4	$	$															Open - no fee	Not gated; not maintained after Oct. 5; road/parking not plowed
Benton Lake	25		$	$															Open	Campground: Gated when closed. Day Use: not gated. Not maintained after Sept. 28. Not plowed.
Blacksmith Bayou																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Bowman Bridge	20	4	$																Open	Campground: Gated when closed. Day Use: not gated; maintained in winter, road/parking plowed in winter.
Bowman Lake																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Brush Lake																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Claybanks																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Dorner Lake Day Use Area																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Diamond Point																			Open	Not gated; not maintained after Nov. 30; road/parking not plowed.
Driftwood Valley Day Use Area				$															Open	Not gated; not maintained after Oct. 15; road/parking not plowed
Elk Canoe Campground																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter
Gleason's Landing	4	2	$																Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking plowed in winter.
Government Landing																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Hemlock	19		$	$															Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 14
Highbanks	9		$																Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
Hungerford Trail Camp	48			$															Open	Gated when closed; Closes Nov. 1
Hungerford Lake																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Indian Lake																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Lake Michigan Recreation Area	99	3	$	$															Open year-round: Violet and Oak Loops - $10.00/night Closed: Orchid and Hemlock Loops	Closed loops gated when closed; Reopens May 15. All loops: not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Lake Michigan Recreation Area Day Use Area and Trailhead																			Closed	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Marzinski Campground and Trailhead																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Minnie Pond																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Nichols Lake North				$															Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Nichols Lake South	28		$																Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
Old Grade	20		$																Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 15
Peterson Bridge***	31		$																Open - no fee	Gated when closed; Reopens May 15.
Peterson Bridge Boat Launch																			Open year-round Temporarily Closed due to maintenance	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Pine Lake	12		$	$															Open - no fees	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Pines Point	29	5	$	$															Campground - Closed   Day Use - Open year-round	Campground: Gated when closed. Day Use: not gated; not maintained after Sept. 28; road/parking not plowed
Podunk																			Open	Not gated; not maintained after Nov. 1; road/parking not plowed.
Red Bridge																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Sand Lake Campground and Day Use Area	45	1	$	$															Closed	Gated when closed; Reopens May 8
Sawkaw Lake																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Sawdust Hole																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Sulak																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed.
Seaton Creek	17		$																Open - no fees	Not gated; not maintained after Sept. 20; road/parking not plowed
Shelley Lake																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Twinwood Lake																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; Camping - road/parking not plowed Day Use - road/parking plowed
Timber Creek	9		$																Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking plowed
Tunk Hole																			Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Udell Rollways Day Use Area and Disc Golf Course				$															Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained after Oct. 15; road/parking not plowed
Walkup Lake																			Open year-round	not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Whelan Lake																			Open year-round	not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed

* This site closes in November

***This campground is closed for the winter season and for construction during the winter season.

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Developed Campground Rules

The Huron-Manistee National Forests recreation areas were developed for your use and enjoyment. Please leave it as you would like to find it - neat, clean, and attractive.

The following safety and protection rules should be observed by all visitors to the area:

• Drive carefully and observe posted speed limits. Park only in designated parking areas. Not more than two motor vehicles are permitted at any camp unit.
• Motor vehicles of any type are not permitted on trails.
• Camping is limited to 14 days in a 30-consecutive day period at any campground.
• Camp only on developed units/sites - maximum 8 people per unit/site. Camping equipment left unattended for more than 24 hours will be removed.
• Construction of makeshift camp furniture or structures is not permitted.
• Dead material may be used for fires. Living trees, shrubs, and plants may not be cut or damaged.
• Build fires only in fireplaces or grates provided.
• Pets must be confined or on a 6-foot leash at all times. Animals other than seeing eye dogs are not allowed in swimming areas.

Primitive Camping

• Huron Primitive Camping
• Manistee Primitive Camping

The following primitive campsites are available to the public. Primitive campsites provide a rustic camping experience with few amenities offered. Vehicle passes are required at all sites other than Podunk, McKinley, and Luzerne. Camping is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Drinking water may not be available for the entire season, so you may want to plan to bring your own.

To receive information not found on this pages or for any problems with any of these pages please email us at: r9 hmnf website@fs.fed.us

Huron Primitive Camping

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Manistee Primitive Camping

Sites	Site Information	County	Office	Open/Closed for Season	Notes
Little Manistee River	(HTML page with General Information )		Cadillac/Manistee	Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Nordhouse Dunes	(HTML page with General Information and Map)		Cadillac/Manistee	Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
Upper Manistee River	(Map / Text Only )		Cadillac/Manistee	Open year-round	Not gated; not maintained in winter; road/parking not plowed
* A Huron-Manistee National Forests' vehicle pass is required at this site. Please contact the appropriate Office for complete costs and details.

Dispersed Camping

Camping is allowed on most areas of the Forests. A permit is not required to camp on National Forest land. Your campsite must remain at least 200 feet from water and trails. There is no camping allowed within 1/4 mile of the Pine River on the Cadillac Ranger District except at Peterson Bridge Campground or other designated campgrounds along the river. Camping is permitted along the Manistee River and the AuSable River at designated sites only. Camping in dispersed areas is allowed for a maximum of 16 days in a 30 day period on National Forest System lands within a ranger district. Campfires are permitted for cooking and warming. However, be aware of the fire danger and always be sure your campfire is dead out before you leave your campsite. For more detailed information please consult the local Forest Service office in the area where you are recreating.

We welcome you to the Huron-Manistee National Forest and invite you to discover the tranquil beauty of your National Forest. We encourage you to "Leave No Trace" of your visit to the National Forest and to leave the area unspoiled for the next person. Please pack out what you pack in.

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• Camping is allowed anywhere on National Forest land unless otherwise posted.
• A permit is not required to camp on National Forest land.
• Your campsite must remain at least 200 feet from water and approximately 150 feet from roads and trails.
• There is no camping within 1/4 mile (1,320 feet) of the Pere Marquette River on the Baldwin Ranger District.
• There is no camping within 1/4 mile of the Pine River on the Cadillac Ranger District except at Peterson Bridge Campground and other designated campgrounds.
• Camping is permitted along the Manistee River and the Au Sable River at designated sites only.
• Camping is allowed for a period of 16 days in a 30-day period on National Forest lands within a ranger district.
• There is well water available at our campgrounds.
• If you are disperse camping, it is recommended you carry a water filter with you.
• Between the months of March and October/November please be conscious of weather conditions, such as strong wind and dryness in the forest, if you plan to have a campfire.
• Campfires are permitted for cooking and warming even during high fire danger times.
• Be sure your campfire is dead out before leaving your campsite.

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• Use a designated fire ring or grill.
• If there is no designated fire pit, build fire away from overhanging branches and clear flammable vegetation such as leaves and grass away from fire area.
• Keep fires small.
• Have a supply of water and a shovel handy to extinguish fire.
• Do not leave fires unattended.
• Completely extinguish fire with water before leaving. Fire should be cold to the touch.
• Be extra careful and don't burn at all when it's windy.
• If you are using charcoal briquettes, soak them in water until they are cold to the touch before disposal.

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