Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp

Blind Sucker #1 State Forest Campground

This is one of many small rustic campgrounds in the state forest along Lake Superior east of Grand Marais. A gravel road leads you into the park where the first thing you notice is a 1,000 – acre lake great for fishing (bass, pike, perch), paddling around, or simply enjoying a nice water view. Some of the camp sites are right on the lake and are well-suited for a tent or small trailer. 

As you enter there is a self-pay station as this park is not staffed and sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Campsites are $13/night but since it is managed by the Michigan DNR so you need a Recreational Passport. If you are a non-resident the additional daily cost is $9 which can make this quite expensive for a rustic site. All 13 sites have picnic tables and fire pits. There are some tall trees for shade but there is not a lot of privacy between sites. There are vault toilets (which were clean and did not smell), water pumps, and trash receptacles in the campground.

A boat launch and a few parking spots is available. The concrete boat launch was super easy to get our kayaks in and out and would be suitable for a small boat too. When we visited there was nobody in the campground except a plethora of black flies. The Blind Sucker Pathway leaves from the park and is a 7-mile trail that runs over to Lake Superior.

Overall, this is a nice little campground on a lake. Some sites are in a wide open area so there is no privacy or shade but the lake sites are super nice. Gravel roads lead into the park but they were in good shape.

Rustic state forest campground with lake access

Blind Sucker campground made our August of 2017 camping trip enjoyable and unforgettable. Our rustic camp site was located right on the North Country Trail which was ideal for morning hiking and adventuring. Also, there is access to Blind Sucker flooding where you fish and kayak. This campground was approximately a 35 min drive from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and only 25 min from Grand Marais (an awesome little town right on Lake Superior). 

Great place to pitch a tent.

Love this place. It has no power but is key quiet. Lots of open spots usually. Usual rustic camping. The boat launch is a little tight but good fishing. Lots of small fish but the scenery is amazing.