the dyrt
Standard (tent/RV)
RV Sites
Tent Sites
Fires Allowed
Pets Allowed
Drinking Water
About Bay Furnace Campground
Bay Furnace Campground is located on the south shores of Lake Superior, near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Favorite to many, the campground is centered to various waterfalls, as well as other sightseeing attractions, including boat tours and visits to Grand Island.
Recreation
Fishing in Lake Superior is best by boat. There is no access to the lake at Bay Furnace, but there is a boat ramp approximately 10 miles west, at AuTrain, and in Munising. Anglers can enjoy a variety of lake trout and salmon fishing.
Visitors can access the popular Grand Island via a 10-minute ferry ride or by private boat. This scenic island is a favorite for hiking, mountain biking and exploring.
Various boat excursions are offered near the campground at an additional cost, providing a great way to explore the crystal clear blue-green waters of Lake Superior and view the stunning natural rock formations.
Facilities
The campground offers multiple reservable single sites for tent and RV camping. Additional campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
A day-use picnic area is also available at the campground, located near the lake shore. Multiple tables, drinking water and accessible vault toilets are included.
Natural Features
Visitors can enjoy the scenic views of Lake Superior, with its spectacular sunrises, sunsets and occasional northern lights displays. Amid forests of deciduous trees, some sites overlook the lake while others are near Furnace Creek.
Nearby Attractions
Boat ramps are available in Munising, less than 5 miles from the campground, or at AuTrain, which is about 10 miles away.
ADA Access: N
Sites
49
Price
$20.00
Operator
National Forest
Access
Drive In
Walk In
Features
ADA Accessible
Alcohol Allowed
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Fires Allowed
Firewood Available
Pets Allowed
Phone Service
Picnic Table
Reservable
Sanitary Dump
Toilets
Trash Available
Water Hookups
Contact
Location
Bay Furnace Campground is located in Michigan
Directions
Bay Furnace Campground is located in Alger County, about 3 miles west of Munising on Highway 28, at the village of Christmas, across from the Kewadin Casino.
14 Reviews of Bay Furnace Campground
Small and quiet without frills
It just so happened we were there on the very last night they were open for the season. And yet they still had over half the sure booked! It's a small campground, but very near the lake, and the coolest part is the old blast furnace (hence the name of the camp on the bay) on display. Mother Nature took it over, but you can feel the history!
A few spaces are actually on the water front with beach access, but one is taken by the camp host, the other two are reservable…. And they were reserved. But there were others, all within an easy walk of the sand. Ours was tucked in the woods, others more exposed, all with fire pits and grills and picnic tables. Even a hanging post of some sort. Drinking water was also a perk.
There is no electric and there are no showers, but vault toilets are centrally located. There is an adjacent park with more tables and grills. Even though there were a lot of RVs, we heard no generators the night we were there.
This is a forest service campground in the Hiawatha Forest. Sites are $20 each as of 2019.
Great sites/peace and quiet
Bay Furnace was a quiet campground with spacious sites. This campground is definitely for campers looking to have an off the grid feel while being close to any necessary amenities. The beach was perfect for swimming and looking for rocks. With Munising just a couple of miles away there’s plenty to do.
Reservable and Rustic
We were looking for a place to camp near the Pictured Rocks that wasn’t an RV park and was reservable. We ended up at Bay Furnace. It’s very quiet, right on Lake Superior and not too far from all of the Pictured Rocks sites. If you don’t mind rustic, I recommend Bay Furnace. You Amy get closer with the Pictured Rocks campgrounds, but first come first serve makes me nervous.
Access to Lake Superior
This campground has trails from most sites that lead directly to the lake where there is a nice breeze so it reduces the bugs in the spring & summer. Due to the rocks, logs, and plants along the water it is difficult to “stroll down the beach” so you kind of have to pick a spot and chill. The place is full of small trails so if you like to explore, that is a plus. Some sites offer more privacy than others and there are only a handful that have a lake view. The outhouses were meticulously clean and well water is available. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a 15-30 minute drive, depending on how far you’re going.
Favorite get away
Hands down the best campground near Munising, MI. Located in Christmas. You can find iron ore and beautiful stones here. Very peaceful and rustic.
Favorite get away
Hands down the best campground near Munising, MI. Located in Christmas. You can find iron ore and beautiful stones here. Very peaceful and rustic.
Very comfortable
We hit this campground at the end of our trip and we found it to be very relaxing. One bonus for us was that my wife had camped here as a child and had wonderful memories.
Beautiful!
Located in Hiawatha National Forest on Lake Superior. We were on motorcycles & this was a spur of the moment pick for us but even though we arrived late in the afternoon we had a few sites to choose from. The sites offer plenty of privacy and are large and well maintained. Located on the southern Lake Superior shoreline, the beach area was fantastic & the water was clean/clear but cold as would be expected. perfect for a refreshing cool off in hot weather! There were waterfront sites, vaulted toilets, fire rings with grill tops. For those with Rv's there was a dump station as well. No electric or water hook ups available. Lake Superior access is a plus for us however it is not accessible by boat. Plenty of nearby stores, gas, food. Pictured Rocks is within driving distance and worth the trip.
amazing spot on the lake!
what a beautiful temporary home. we arrived in the early afternoon then went over to Pictured Rocks Kayaking for an afternoon kayak trip (highly recommend!) and made it back before sunset. we reserved a spot in a loop off the lake and it was only a 5 mIn walk to the shores. not buggy at all, wonderful temperatures in late July, the super cool Bay Furnace ruins, and an all around quiet and relaxing place. wish I could have stayed for a week.
amazing spot on the lake!
what a beautiful temporary home. we arrived in the early afternoon then went over to Pictured Rocks Kayaking for an afternoon kayak trip (highly recommend!) and made it back before sunset. we reserved a spot in a loop off the lake and it was only a 5 mIn walk to the shores. not buggy at all, wonderful temperatures in late July, the super cool Bay Furnace ruins, and an all around quiet and relaxing place. wish I could have stayed for a week.
