Bewabic State Park Campground features spacious, wooded campsites that accommodate pets throughout its three camping loops. Each loop offers varying levels of privacy and site sizes, with Loop A providing more secluded sites ideal for tent campers with dogs, while Loop C contains pull-through sites better suited for RVs and larger camping setups. The park maintains clean bathroom facilities with showers, making it convenient for longer stays with pets. Sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and most have electrical hookups. Paint River Hills Campground and Keyes Lake Campground also welcome pets, with the latter offering cabin accommodations for those traveling with dogs. Campground rules require pets to be leashed and supervised at all times. The beach area at Bewabic does not permit dogs, though nearby trails provide ample exercise opportunities for four-legged companions.
Multiple hiking paths surrounding Bewabic State Park provide excellent options for dog walks, with trails winding through mature forest and along Fortune Lake. The campground's mature tree cover offers natural shade for pets during summer months, particularly important when temperatures rise. Crystal Falls provides basic veterinary services and pet supplies within a short drive of most area campgrounds. Bewabic's sites give plenty of room between neighbors, allowing adequate space for dogs without disturbing fellow campers. Winter camping is available at select locations, though facilities may be limited during freezing weather. Paint River Hills Campground provides convenient access to the river via a five-minute hiking trail where dogs can cool off during warmer months. Seasonal availability varies by campground, with most operating from May through September or October.
"The site was very nice and had buffers all around, with only a neighbor to one side. We chose 61 because on the map it appeared close to the bathrooms and park."
"We also have a dog that needs room. Our site gave him that. Our site was clean. Vault toilets on every loop and 2 shower/flush toilet houses near loops C & B, and one near B & A."
$20 - $25 / night
"Beautiful walking trail along river. Quiet. Campsite for tents and RV. Call for directions lol The gps takes you to the old back entrance."
"The ORV Route is right outside the campground entrance and you can ride to the trail. You can also get ice and gas at the gas station in town by taking the alley. We stayed again in 2020 in Our RV."
"The campground is within walking distance to beautiful Chicagoan Lake. Onsite laundry and small camp store. Not a lot of privacy in the campground. Most people are in RV's so that's not an issue."
"They have a decent playground and camp store, the beach is great for swimming and the lake for fishing. They have a dock to jump off about 50' out, and another with a diving board about 200' out. "
"Easy access to trails and area lakes. Could canoe the river if you want. Very quiet."
"Loved the hike in, decided to walk the whole loop and unfortunately the bridge at the end was under water and we had to turn around and walk back instead."
"There was access to the lake from our campsite."
"Right across the road from a lake."
"Keyes lake was right across the street and the fishing was great. Most certainly will return."
$15 / night
"The campground is along the lake. You can choose a spot lakeside or more wooded. Some sites are reservable and others are first come first serve. We found openings early on a Friday afternoon."
"It is right off of lost lake which is a small lake that can swim in, small boating, fishing. A hiking trail backs up to the campground!"
"I live near this park, so I frequent it. They have recently made improvements to the park area, which make it very kid friendly. The park also has a nice pavilion with picnic tables. "
TravelerWe enjoyed our stay very much. Pretty campground, extremely friendly and helpful staff, nice neighbors all around. The shower area could use some updating, but was fairly clean. It is a dog friendly place and for the most part they were well behaved pets. We planned on staying four nights and are staying six instead. Taking advantage of the last nice days of the season. I would highly recommend trying this park.
GuidePark is located in the Peshtigo River state forest. Pet friendly!! Your pets are aloud on trails and with you at your campsite. They must be on a 6 ft leash. The park is beautiful. What surprised me the most was the pit toliets that looked like tiny houses. Pictures are attached. There is a small lake which is great for kayak and swimming. This park also has a boat launch onto the Cauldron Falls Reservoir. I've attached photos of the map. Almost all the campsites are private and hidden away in their own little spots. There are a few hiking trails which i enjoyed spending time on. If you go down the street a bit you will find Old Veterans state park which has a secluded quiet lake and beach. I spent an afternoon at the beach and never saw a soul. There is not a camp store. The only thing you can buy at the park is firewood.
ScoutThis place was so much fun! The back tent areas are great, great walking trails, right on the water, the staff is so friendly and do daily checks to check if you need fire wood or anything. They also have fun seasonal events that the host for the campers. Definitely check this place out! So many memories there. They also have a playground for the kids, pet friendly, and allow atv/utv.
LegendThis park is located about 15 minutes from the town of Marquette and is a great alternative if you can’t get a site in the Marquette Tourist Park (which is closer to town and very popular in the summer). It is located off US-41 which is a major Upper Peninsula thoroughfare but set back about ½ miles so you don’t get road noise but it is still convenient. The campground is located behind (and within walking distance of) a shopping area that has a meat market, grocery, gas station, movie theater, bowling alley, a few restaurants and a brewery (which has good, inexpensive beer and food). It is also located next to an RV dealer/service center/camp store which is convenient if you need anything. Nearby are some interesting museums including the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Michigan Iron Museum. You are only about 20 minutes from the town of Marquette which is worth a visit.
The park and facilities are well-maintained. The restrooms were super clean as was the pool and all the grounds. The people in the office were super nice in helping us pick a site and with information about the area. The park has over 105 RV sites with varying services and some being held by seasonal people. There are lots of amenities (which we did not use) including swimming pool, hot tub, playground, basketball courts, and more. The pool was super crowded and noisy so if you don’t want to hear kids screaming, stay away from sites close to the pool. The park does not take online reservations so you must call them directly.
We were assigned site #104 but could tell our motorhome was not going to get level in the site so we had to straddle the site and park partly in the adjacent grassy area. Luckily, the ground was dry to we didn’t make any deep ruts. Our site did have a nice shade tree on the patio which was welcomed because of the hot weather. The WiFi never worked at our site. We were able to get a clear view of the sky for our satellite television.
TravelerNice flat dirt sites, clean water pumps, well maintained toilets and a shared sandy swimming beach. Nice hiking trail runs from Spectacle Lake Campground to Kentuck Lake Campground. Quiet area, close to Phelps, Eagle River and border of Upper Michigan. Boat launch in campground.
GuideWe stayed at Van Riper State Park three times during June and July. The park is always clean and well-maintained. The bathrooms and showers and generally always nicely maintained as well, and there are plenty of both. The bathrooms do tend to run out of soap and toilet paper at busy times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but also cannot be left unattended in your site. The rules are heavily enforced in this park. Park staff will ask you to move vehicles if you have more than two, and you will be asked to turn music completely off upon quiet hours. This is not the place to go if you want to party.
Sites 15 and 17, as well as several other sites along that side of that loop, now have a wooden fence at the back of them, so they are not as large as they appear in the photos online.
We have stayed in sites 14, 90 and 93. We travel with a 34’ trailer.
Site 14 is narrow but manageable. It is well-shaded by large pine trees on the site. Site is entirely dirt. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines in.
Site 90 is on a corner by the propane tanks. It is a large site. It does have some roots and low spots. It is partial grass. It has nice shade and is adjacent to the bathrooms. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines.
Site 93 is a large site that backs up to a small grass/tree buffer. It is across the road from the bathrooms. It has nice shade. There is a place to hang a clothesline but not hammocks.
Pros: Clean, well-maintained park
Quiet
Lots of playground equipment
Bike/scooter pump track
Excellent beach area
Lots of green space
Hiking trails
Wood and ice available for purchase at the entrance
Laundry is available; one washer and two dryers
Very kid and pet friendly
Cons: Park website has out of date information, specifically that there is no longer a store on the beach, nor are there kayaks/SUPs to rent
The Water Warrior Island is no longer in the lake
There are very few sites with buffers between
It is sort of far to the beach and laundry from the modern campsites
No non-reservable sites available
GuideOur dd was excited that she could see the McDonald’s golden arches from our site! The campground is clean & well maintained. It was easy for us to park our 35 ft trailer because the sites are large & level, but also because there weren’t any trees along the campground roads. Our kids loved that there is a pool, hot tub & bouncy pillow! This is our 2nd time staying & both were because of its convenience to ‘civilization’ not to get away from it. This time we took the opportunity to enjoy the afternoon shopping in Marquette before heading to the eastern UP the next day for a week’s stay there. It is located in town, near a Camping World & just behind some restaurants, shops, a brewpub & a hotel, but the other sides of the campground are surrounded by trees/forest because it is the UP. A great campground if you want to explore the area’s history or natural beauty, shop in Marquette or if you are checking out Northern Michigan University’s campus (about 20 minutes away). Most sites are full hookup, they also have rustic cabins & a dog play area. I’m sure we will stay here again, as it’s a short trip for us, the kids love the amenities & I’d like to explore the area for more than our usual day trips.
GuideAs of this writing, 2024, they have recently installed new showers and flush bathrooms. I live near this campground, so I have stayed at almost every site in the park. If you cant have or don't want a lake site, site #4 is the largest. It is almost 35 yards across the front. Trees are growing back, but not many mature trees on the East of the park. There is a really nice beach area adjacent to, but not in the campground. It is a nice short walk. Each site has electric hookup, and some sites have more than one box. Not much ambient light in this park, so it is great for viewing stars and Northern Lights. This park also is situated near the ATV trail, and has access to the 160 mile Blue Ox trail system.
GuideWe stayed at Bewabic State Park in a 34’ trailer. We stayed in site 61 which is a narrow site at the bottom of a small hill and on a corner, which made backing in tricky. The site was very nice and had buffers all around, with only a neighbor to one side. We chose 61 because on the map it appeared close to the bathrooms and park. It is close, but only if you walk through a fairly grown in path. The only park we saw consisted of a swing set and a slide. Loops A and B have some hills and tight corners, making them more convenient for tents or smaller trailers. Loop C would be best for larger units. The park has many C-shaped pull-through sites.
It is a fair distance to the beach from the campsites, and most people seemed to drive there, as the road is decently hilly. The beach was very small, with a large grassy hill behind it. The hill was unfortunately COVERED in goose poop, which was disgusting. You cannot have dogs on this beach, but the Canada gooses sure are allowed. The bottom of the lake was kind of slimy in places. We did not get cell service at our campsite. You could get sparse service at the bathrooms at the start of loops A and B, or at the entry.
Campgrounds near Alpha, Michigan provide access to the western Upper Peninsula's mixed hardwood forests and numerous lakes at elevations between 1,300-1,600 feet. Summer temperatures range from 70-85°F during day and 50-60°F at night, making this region a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Most campgrounds in the area maintain dog-friendly policies with specific guidelines regarding leash requirements and designated pet areas.
Swimming in Fortune Lake: Bewabic State Park Campground offers a swimming beach that campers consistently praise. "Amazing lake to swim in, beautiful quite hikes. Great showers and bathrooms. We go every year, and we always come back to Bewabic!" notes Natalie M.
Fishing opportunities: Lost Lake Campground provides excellent fishing access. "It is right off of lost lake which is a small lake that can swim in, small boating, fishing. A hiking trail backs up to the campground!" writes Rachel C. The Pine River area near Lost Lake is also noted for trout fishing.
Water activities: Pentoga Park Campground on Chicagoan Lake features multiple water recreation options. Kyle P. mentions, "Nice park with native american history, loads of activities: horseshoes, water rafts, store, tetherball." The park includes docks for swimming and diving.
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds offer hiking trails through the mature forests. At Bewabic State Park, Brandon B. shares, "loop a is nice and wooded and private. the bigger loop has sites pretty close together. nice beach and lake. hiking trails and playground."
Clean facilities: Bewabic State Park Campground maintains well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. "Very clean. Beach area is very nice," reports Pat H., while another camper notes, "Nice shaded and level lots. The B loop is close to hot showers and clean bathrooms."
Spacious campsites: Several campgrounds feature sites with ample room between neighbors. Carol and Pete L. state about Bewabic, "Sites are big and give plenty of room. Campground is clean and everyone is friendly." This sentiment is echoed by the "Broccoli Boss" who appreciates "Plenty of room between neighbor campers."
Artesian well access: Chipmunk Rapids offers a unique feature with its natural spring. "Cute campground with an artesian well. The toilet is clean," mentions Kay K. Another visitor notes, "The best feature is the artesian well right at the entrance. We filled up with water and the line started just as we finished."
Lake proximity: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Alpha provide easy lake access. Suzanne B. describes Bewabic: "The lake was beautiful and there people out boating on it... It was quiet at night and dark and you could see the stars!"
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. For Pentoga Park Campground, Heidi T. advises, "Make your reservations far in advance. Like January 1st for that spring, summer or fall."
Wildlife presence: The area is home to diverse wildlife including deer, turkey, and occasionally wolves and bears. Adam notes about Chipmunk Rapids, "On the water. Lots of deer and turkeys. Heard wolves at night. It was great!" Kirsty G. mentions bears at Perch Lake: "There is no bear box and there definitely are bears... so you'll want to hang your food."
Campsite differences: Loop selection matters at many campgrounds. At Bewabic State Park, Brandon B. notes, "loop a is nice and wooded and private. the bigger loop has sites pretty close together." Another camper mentions, "The B loop is close to hot showers and clean bathrooms."
Seasonal operation: Most pet-friendly camping options near Alpha operate from May through September or October. Specific opening and closing dates vary by location, with some campgrounds like Paint River Hills open from May 15 to November 30.
Playground access: Lake Emily Park Campground has recently upgraded its recreational facilities. Adam A. shares, "They have recently made improvements to the park area, which make it very kid friendly. The park also has a nice pavilion with picnic tables."
Beach activities: Several campgrounds offer beaches specifically designed for families. At Pentoga Park, Mike S. recalls, "I went to Pentoga many years as a kid, always a good time. They have a decent playground and camp store, the beach is great for swimming and the lake for fishing. They have a dock to jump off about 50' out, and another with a diving board about 200' out."
Rental equipment: Some campgrounds provide canoe and kayak rentals. A camper at Bewabic State Park mentions, "Very affordable kayak and canoe rentals. Friendly staff. Wood for sale on site, fishing pole rentals, tennis courts."
Loop selection for kids: When camping with children, certain loops provide better experiences. At Bewabic State Park, Pat H. notes, "There are a lot of sites to choose from, but it's a tight squeeze in some sites. There are pit toilets close to the sites and flush toilets with showers that are centrally located."
Full hookup options: Keyes Lake Campground provides complete services for RVs. Bill B. shares, "It is very clean in the campgrounds and the site we had was privet and large enough for our 5th wheel and truck and boat."
Pull-through availability: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Alpha Michigan offer pull-through sites. At Paint River Hills Campground, Erika P. notes, "They have 4 pull through sites with full hook-ups; $25 a night. 50/20 amps, high water pressure."
Campground accessibility: RV access varies between campgrounds. Jeffrey S. mentions about Paint River Hills, "Nice sized sites, right out of town but still in the woods." While some campgrounds accommodate large rigs, others like Lost Lake and Perch Lake are better suited for smaller units.
Water pressure considerations: Some campgrounds have notably high water pressure. Erika P. specifically mentions this at Paint River Hills, advising RVers to be prepared with pressure regulators if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Alpha, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Alpha, MI is Bewabic State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Alpha, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 113 dog-friendly camping locations near Alpha, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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