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Established Camping

Andrus Lake State Forest Campground

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Andrus Lake State Forest Campground, near Paradise, Michigan, is a fantastic spot for those looking to unwind in nature. With spacious sites that offer a good amount of privacy, you can enjoy the tranquility of camping by a small lake, complete with a boat launch and a sandy beach for swimming.

This campground is perfect for families and friends who want to fish, swim, or just relax by the water. Visitors have noted that the fishing can be a bit hit or miss, but the kids will have a blast swimming and playing on the beach. Just be prepared for some mosquitoes, especially at dusk—bring your bug spray and maybe a smoky fire to keep them at bay.

If you’re up for some exploration, you’re not far from Tahquamenon Falls and Whitefish Point, both of which offer stunning scenery and outdoor activities. The campground is pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friends along for the adventure. Just remember, you’ll need a recreation passport to camp here, so plan ahead to avoid any surprises.

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Location

Andrus Lake State Forest Campground is located in Michigan

Detail location of campground

Directions

From town: Go 6 mi N on Wire Rd & Vermillion Rd.

Coordinates

46.70296642005132 N
85.03674896567873 W

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Connectivity

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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
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    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Drive Time

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

9 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 23, 2024

Great spot

This is a lovely place. My spot was right close to the beach. Absolutely beautiful. Took a short walk in the forest and saw a lot of wild mushrooms. Loved it. Definitely come back

Site28
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Djakata S., September 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Djakata S., September 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Djakata S., September 23, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 22, 2022

Great spot

Nice area on a small lake. Has boat launch and beach. Camp size are big and lots of privacy half on lake sore others are not but still good sites. I stayed 3 days and was very quite.be aware of recreational pass needed so if you don't have yr pass its extra $10 a day so it cost me $30 a day

Site15
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Aug. 7, 2021

Beautiful campsites right on the lake

Took the family to Tahquamenon Falls for the and was looking for somewhere free to stay with our state park pass. Just so happen to find this lil gem. Mosquitos are there but not miserable for on lake camping. I used red Offwoods mosquito & tick repellent and me and all our children were fine. Kids cought a few bass right off the dock. There is a Sandy beach for swimming. Vault toilet was pretty nasty but better then ones we seen at sleeping bear dunes and that's a national park. No issues with raccoons or other scavenger's. Fire ring provided. Came early on a Monday was easy to find a spot but I seen about half the spots were filled up by 9pm.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Dakota R., August 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Dakota R., August 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Dakota R., August 7, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2021

Nice campground, but busy

We camped here for a couple days in mid July. They had sites big, small, on the lake, and off so something for everyone. Only thing is that it fills up fast. The first night we drove through late and every site was full, while we were there we found most were full not long after checkout (2pm). Our site was nice, not right on the lake but a short walk. When we went the mosquitos were insane as the sun went down. If you went by the water they would instantly swarm you. If you had a smoky fire going early you might be safe, but there's no guarantee. They seemed immune to bug spray and everything citronella. We could have sworn we even saw one fly straight out of the fire itself, so we wish you luck. There are blueberries everywhere if you come at the right time, in the campground and much of the area around it. We were told there's actually a blueberry festival in early August in the town closest to it (Paradise, MI). It's not all that far from the falls and whitefish point also. It has vault toilets and a water pump, no electricity and very little to no cell reception. You must also have a recreation passport to camp here, regardless of where you're from. If you don't have one you will have to pay an additional fee to purchase one at the time of your registration. For in state residents it was $17 (+ nightly fee) and they would mail it to your house, can't remember the out of state cost unfortunately. Quiet hours from 11pm-8am, $15 a night, no reservations, pet friendly (we found this out by hearing the dogs barking at every passing stranger, as they do). There's a campground host as well, we found that most campgrounds in the UP have them. In the middle there's a public beach and picnic area, we didn't use it but it looked nice. We went fishing once for a few hours and caught 5 bass between the two of us all about 12in, so if you're looking for some good fishing you might be out of luck with this lake. Also, you have to take a dirt road to get there as you do with many places in the UP, so heads up on that. I was worried about scavengers, but we didn't end up having any problems with them. We were careful to throw out any food packages before bed, but we kept our food in a small tent and that didn't draw anything in.

Site7
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Madalynn L., July 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Madalynn L., July 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Madalynn L., July 29, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 24, 2021

Peaceful Campground near Tequhamenon Falls

This is a great place to camp for a night or two if you are looking to do some peaceful fishing or explore the whitefish point area. There are no facilities at this campground and only a pump well for water. The closest town is Paradise which is very limited and only has a small general store. There is no cell service in most of the area.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Sydney H., April 24, 2021
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Sydney H., April 24, 2021
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Sydney H., April 24, 2021
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Sep. 7, 2020

Great! Important warning to those driving sedans!

It was nice! Just don't take Betsy Road to get there because you will get stuck. There are no signs to warn you! The sites at the campground were really secluded and perfect. We checked out the falls, whitefish pt, vermillion pt, two hearted river and the falls while we visited. Highly recommend all of them. Vermillion is also something we wouldn't recommend to someone not ready to drive in the sand though! We had the friend who pulled us out at Betsy and Sheldrake roads to take us out that way haha.

Reviewed Jun. 21, 2020

Love this campground!

I was not expecting this campground to be so awesome. Loved how close to Whitefish point for the museum and rock hunting. Andrus Lake was beautiful and is perfect for canoeing and stand up paddle boarding. Got there on a Sunday night and scored a good site but the campground was pretty much fun by the end of the night which did surprise me. Most only stayed 1 night but was more crowed then I would have liked for a midweek stay. Drinking water was orange! Outhouses were filled with bugs and were not super clean. Bring your bug spray. Only gets the high review because I loved the location. Campground had a cute beach area that the kids loved to swim and build castles but did need lots of bug spray. Verizon cell service was great and had between 2-3 bars in most of the campground.

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  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Joie V., June 21, 2020
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jul. 16, 2019

Stocked lake

We stayed here on my first time to camp the UP. It had recently been restocked after a kill off of their fish. Fish were too small yet for fishing, however the kids had lots of fun swimming and playing in the clean sandy shore line of the beach. We haven’t been back. Worth checking out again, just haven’t had the chance

Reviewed Sep. 3, 2018

Beautiful place, but mosquitoes!

I stayed here on a dirt bike while doing a trip around the UP. The campground is very nice and has some spots on the water. Some sites are nicely wooded as well. There are vault toilets and a water pump available.

Down the road we were able to purchase firewood and had a nice fire in the fire rings.

I can't wait to go back to this area and stay at this campground again.

  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Mike B., September 3, 2018
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Mike B., September 3, 2018
  • Review photo of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground by Mike B., September 3, 2018
  • (12) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities and facilities are available at Andrus Lake State Forest Campground?

Andrus Lake State Forest Campground offers basic amenities including vault toilets and a hand pump for water. The campground features a beach with clean sandy shoreline perfect for swimming, a boat launch for watercraft access, and fire rings at campsites. Sites vary in size with some located directly on the lakeshore and others nestled in the woods. Each site has good privacy with plenty of space between neighbors. Note that a Recreation Passport is required for entry, and there are no electrical hookups or modern facilities available.

How does Andrus Lake State Forest Campground compare to other campgrounds near Paradise, Michigan?

Andrus Lake State Forest Campground stands out for its excellent location near popular attractions like Whitefish Point, Tahquamenon Falls, and Vermillion Point. Unlike more developed campgrounds in the area, it offers a more rustic, peaceful experience with direct lake access for fishing, canoeing, and paddleboarding. The campground is less expensive than many alternatives since it's covered by the Recreation Passport, though it lacks modern amenities found at larger facilities. Its proximity to Paradise (the nearest town with a small general store) makes it convenient while still providing a secluded natural setting.

What do visitor reviews say about Andrus Lake State Forest Campground?

Visitors consistently praise Andrus Lake State Forest Campground for its beautiful lakeside setting and secluded, private campsites. Many highlight the lake's suitability for canoeing, paddleboarding, and swimming with its clean sandy beach. Campers appreciate the convenient location for exploring nearby attractions like Whitefish Point, Tahquamenon Falls, and Two Hearted River. The campground fills up quickly, especially during peak season, with sites often taken shortly after checkout time. Some visitors mention mosquitoes are present but manageable with proper repellent. The peaceful atmosphere and natural surroundings are frequently mentioned as standout features.

Are there photos available of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground?

Yes, photos of Andrus Lake State Forest Campground are available online. These images typically showcase the lakefront campsites, the sandy beach area, wooded camping spots, and the serene lake itself. Photos often highlight the natural setting with views of the lake, surrounding forest, and various mushrooms and wildlife that can be spotted nearby. For the most current and comprehensive collection of images, check The Dyrt's campground page, the Michigan DNR website, or social media platforms where campers frequently share their experiences and photos of the campground.