Blind Sucker #2 State Forest Campground

We had initially wanted to stay at Lake Superior State Forest campground, but there were no sites available. This was just right up the road, within minutes and worked out wonderfully. We took two sites since we had family joining us at a later date. It's pay the tube at the entrance. The sites were large. We took the first sites towards the entrance and were directly across from the boat launch, but it wasn't nearly as busy as I was afraid it might be. It was a beautiful view. The campground is down a long, dirt road that has lots of ATV activity. We really enjoyed our time here. We were within minutes of Lake superior and there was a walking trail that went there as well. The stars were fantastic because it was so dark at night due to the remoteness. There is a little store about 15 minutes away in Deer Park and it has everything you might need. It was also wild Blueberry season and they were everywhere. The vaulted toilets were clean, and the water didn't have any funny smells or tastes. I'll definitely camp here again.

Blind Sucker Campground deserves a visit just for the funny name alone. This campground is located in Lake Superior State Forest off County Road 407 about 13 miles east of Grand Marais. The gravel road leading here has some pretty bad washboard sections that will rattle your teeth and some potholes that would swallow your car, but hey, this is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a little off the beaten path. 

Nothing fancy here. This is a great little rustic campground with 32 non-reserveable sites (all on a first come, first served basis) buried under trees set on a lake. The shady sites are suitable for tents and small RVs and makes for a nice place to rest and relax. When we visited, there was only one other camper as this campground is not as popular as Blind Sucker #1 and the nearby Lake Muskallonge State Park. There is potable water from a hand pump and vault toilets which much to our delight were clean, stocked with toilet paper and didn’t smell even on warm days.

The lake has a pathway going down the lake for a short hike or for bank fishing.  We were set to go for a walk and cast a line until the bothersome black flies changed our plans. There is also a 6-7 mile trail that passes through the campground for a longer hike and connects to the   There is a boat launch but other than that, there are no amenities. If you are looking for a place to swim where you don’t have to worry about leeches, just across the road a short distance away is Lake Superior. The lake is perfectly refreshing and the beach was completely empty of people which made for a great place to hang out during the afternoon.

Other camping options in the area are Blind Sucker #1 and Lake Muskellunge State Park (where you can pay for a shower and purchase firewood). Grand Marais has a small market, gas station, hardware store, and some restaurants. Grand Marais is also the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and a great place to explore. Dog owners – be warned that Pictured Rocks NL is not very dog-friendly and they are allowed in very few places and just a couple of short trails.