22 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Bergland, Michigan area offers several tent camping options within the Ottawa National Forest and surrounding wilderness areas. Union River Rustic Outpost Camp in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park provides secluded tent sites with only three campsites total, offering privacy and direct access to hiking trails. Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping near Watersmeet provides tent-only sites accessible by canoe, kayak, or hiking trails. Lake Perrault offers free dispersed tent camping with lakeside sites approximately 30 miles northeast of Bergland.
Most primitive tent sites feature basic amenities like fire rings, but campers should bring their own water or filtration systems. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds like Burned Dam and Emily Lake State Forest Campground, but dispersed areas require campers to follow Leave No Trace principles. Road access varies significantly, with some areas requiring high-clearance vehicles to navigate rough, potholed forest roads. According to one visitor at Lake Perrault, "The road in is AWFUL. But slow driving is the cure for that." Bug protection is essential during summer months, as multiple campers report significant mosquito and biting fly activity.
"A lovely area with a good balance of open space and tree cover," noted one camper about Sylvania Wilderness. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for hiking, paddling, and fishing activities. The Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area offers boat-in tent camping on islands with minimal facilities but maximum privacy. Sites at Union River Outpost are described as "wooded and quiet" with good separation between campsites. Many tent areas provide direct access to water features, from Lake Superior beaches to smaller inland lakes and rivers. Fall camping offers fewer insects and vibrant foliage, though temperatures can drop significantly at night. Winter arrives early in the Upper Peninsula, with some campers reporting snow as early as mid-October.
"We had more than enough room to set up and could even have fit additional tents."
"If you were tent camping, you would likely be sleeping on a slope of some kind. Bugs were bad in late May."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"A lovely area with a good balance of open space and tree cover. Nearby Clark Lake is very pretty, good for swimming, and serves as the primary water source."
"We did it the easy way, loaded our canoe, crossed the lake to our campsite and set up camp. No portaging with our gear."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"We did look around and it’s a decent place. A couple sites are large enough for a small camper and screen room. Others will only fit a tent. There is a vault toilet but no water or garbage."
"Beautiful, quiet, free campgrounds right next to the Ontonagon River and Mex-i-mine Falls (you can hear the rushing water)."
"The site had a fire ring, latrine and nice tent pad. This site is considered "rustic" because it lacks a picnic table and bench around the fire. We didn't mind though."
"It is a larger site with the addition of a picnic table"
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Several great sites to tent camp. Caught some blue gills. Good times"
"You will be able to hear your neighbors."
"Hike in camping"
"The hike in was one of the most beautiful switch back type hikes, with breathtaking views of the gorge on the way down, a quick hike to the top of gorge once you’re down, then look down and see the waterfalls"
"Nice small lake, easy access from the main road. Road to the lake isn’t paved and there are huge potholes so go slow."
"We stumbled upon this location through this app."
"Way off the beaten path but the sites are HUGE! Quiet setting right on Big Lake. Probably my most beautiful site in the UP so far. Vault toilets and no shower. Very clean. Boat launch."
"The Michigan State Forest Campgrounds continue to delight us. For $15 a night you can experience camping like I did as a child – simple, unelectrified, and in beautiful outdoor locations."
GuideNice campground, well maintained, next to a lake with a boat ramp. Ever site has a picnic table, fire ring, asphalt pad and drying stand. Vault toilets, very limited trash collection trash cans (2). No water or waste. Only a few pull through most are back in.
TravelerWe arrived on a Thursday and were able to snag one of the much-coveted lakeside sites for a private view of the sunset. Sites were level and clean and it never got busy for the weekend, which is just the way I like it. Although there are tons of other state campgrounds nearby with more amenities, I would gladly trade all of that for the no-electric, vault toilet, water pump solitude of North Trout Lake. The campground has a nature trail and is also located on a paved bike path that runs between nearby towns and connects to the other camping areas.
Amenities: nice/clean vault toilets, water from pump tastes fantastic, swimming beach, firewood for sale onsite, no electric, no showers.
RangerIf you're a person who loves waterfalls, then I recommend you don’t miss this campground. Presque Isle Campground is located at the southern edge of the Porcupine Mountains State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This campground has bluff overlooking Lake Superior, there is a walkway and stairs that take you down the bluff to the shore. Walking distance from the campground is the Presque River you can hike along and see all the beautiful waterfalls this river has to offer. This is a Rustic campground that has vault toilets, and hand pump drinking water. The campground, restrooms and surrounding area’s were kept very clean. There are 50 campsites that are equipped for tents, trailers, and RV’s. Each site has a fire pit, and picnic table. There is no electrical hook up, and part of the campground is generator free. Six of the sites are walk in sites, there are parking spots for these sites, you park and walk in a little ways to your site. I recommend a site that is located on the outer sides of the campground loop. They are larger sites and more privacy from your neighbors. Inner loop sites are closer together and open. Be prepared for mosquitoes and blackflies. Blackflies bite, and bug spray does not affect them. I found keeping a hand towel or fly swatter moving around me helped keep them away. They are more active when it is humid, and down by the water. These flies seem to be common up here along the shore.
There are many things to do around the campground close to your site and others are a little bit of a drive from your site in the Porcupine Mountains State Park. If you like to stay close to your camp, you can hang out on the beach, hike along the Presque Isle River and discover the Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls, and the Nawadaha Falls. Also the Lake Superior Trail and North Country Trail are right by the campground. These trails will connect you with other trails in the Porcupine Mountains. The Porcupine Mountains have lot’s to offer anyone stopping to visit. We took and day and seen The Lake of the Clouds, and Summit Peak. They both are gorgeous areas to explore.
RangerWe camped at Presque Isle in the Porkies for a long weekend in October. The color change was amazing! This campground is rustic with only vault toilets and no hookups. There is a section that allows generators during certain hours of the day, a non-generator area and a few walk-in sites. There are a few sites which are along the cliff side looking down to Lake Superior, we were lucky enough to reserve one of those, site 2. It was a very large site, equipped with the standard picnic table and fire ring. Many of the sites back up to the woods, which were smaller and a little soggy while we were there. This campground is one of two in the park, Union Bay is the other more modern campground located right on the lake. The sites there are much smaller and crowded. I prefer the more remote Presque Isle campground by far. Less amenities but far less people. The hiking throughout this park is unparalleled in its beauty. The campground is close to the Presque Isle river trail which is waterfall after waterfall. The park has a ski lift we rode to check out the views from the top of the mountain, as well as an 18 hole disc course. It’s the hiking and rugged beauty of the area that is the main attraction, especially catching the fall colors surrounding Lake Superior.
ScoutWe stayed at Black River Harbor Campground last week, in a year that the water supply was never turned on due to Covid. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time. We stayed in one of the many first-come-first-served campsites (which seemed to be available late into the afternoon, but filled most nights) and enjoyed a large site, separated by a pretty dense forest in between our neighbors. We had easy access to nicely maintained vault toilets, and had there been water available this year there were plenty of spigots—no hand pumps here. The fire rings were solid and had cooking greats on each one, and the picnic tables in many cases were new. If you are heading here during the wetter season, know that the ground will likely be soft, but every site we looked at had some effort taken to make sure it stayed dry.
The real gem of this place is the location. The Black River Falls are an astounding bit of Michigan scenery just minutes away by car. We decided to take a 7 mile out-and-back hike that brought us past five of the falls—each one far exceeding the expectations of this downstater. Next door to the Black River Falls are the Presque Isle Falls (though next door still means about an hour drive due to following the valley roads). The Presque Isle Falls are part of the Porcupine Wilderness State Park, and are gorgeous and even more accessible than the Black River Falls.
Beyond hiking we had a great time hunting for agates on the beach and enjoying the marvelous spectacle of Lake Superior, including its unpredictable weather!
LegendTwin Lakes MI SP: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 2-3 (A very clean campground, but old facilities, currently. A huge facelift in 2024 is being touted. New paving, new bath/shower rooms,and pavilion are coming. Shutdown during some of 2024 is anticipated. ) Price 2023: Usage during visit: 30% mid week Site Privacy: Poor Site Spacing: Poor Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Seems quiet Road Noise: Right along Hwy 26. Some sites back up to the Hwy. Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Not needed Bathroom: Flush and pit Showers: Yes Pull Throughs: Some. Most are back in. Cell Service (AT&T): Very good Setting: Some tree cover in between the highway and Lake Roland Weather: High is I low 80s Host: Real nice young and helpful men manning entry booth Rig size: Large rigs Sites: Lakeside sites are the premium here and the only sites that would seduce me to visit. Good stop over place while
GuideI did a 3 day/2 night hike during peak color, starting at the Lake Superior Trailhead. I was warned the Lake Superior trail was muddy when I checked in, and the ranger was not joking - I was grateful to have trekking poles to help balance on logs, branches, roots and rocks to try to keep my boots as dry as possible in the parts of the trail that were submerged.
Campsite LS-14 had a lovely location on the lake, but was very muddy/previously submerged with water. It immediately abuts site LS-13. There was a wooden platform to put my tent on, but I had to bolster the corners so that it was big enough for my tent poles to have something to rest on. If I had gotten in before dark, I might have seen the small area near the trail side of the site that had higher, dryer ground. There is supposed to be a bear pole for these sites, but the group at the other site said there wasn't one. In hindsight, I think there probably was, away from the campsites, but since I had a canister, I didn't go looking for it after dark. The Lake Superior trail continued to be muddy until you got close to the Big Carp River mouth.
Campsite BC-8 was a big upgrade - very large site, a little patch of open sky over the fire pit, easy access to the river for water. The big trees provided good shelter from a minor storm and high winds overnight. This site is right alongside the trail, but separated from the cabin and next site by a good distance. The hike out from here up the Big Carp River trail to Lake of the Clouds is a somewhat longer trek with a bit of elevation gain, but nothing too intense in my opinion.
GuideNo reservations, that’s on us. Looked at several after driving around all day sight-seeing. We called the number on the listing; got a pre-recorded message from the township. Decided to check it out in person. First, camping is divided up; two loops on beach side of the road, two loops on the non-beach side. We nabbed the last place on the beach side and could see Lake Superior from the site. Camp hosts were very accommodating considering we roll in just as they’re locking up shop around 8:00pm. Got us checked in and sold us firewood. We quickly set up and were on the beach in minutes. The water felt so good, we ran back up and got into trunks to swim. Brisk but totally swimmable. The beach was sandy, the lake-bottom sandy/small pebbles (no aqua-socks needed). The beach wasn’t AS pretty as other places we’d been but still had spectacular views. The trash was nearby, showers and flushing toilets a quick minute walk to other loop. Fire rings in each site and power/water posts (no generators, yay!). It’s worth driving over to see if they have a spot!
GuideA lovely area with a good balance of open space and tree cover. Nearby Clark Lake is very pretty, good for swimming, and serves as the primary water source. The area is covered in soft pine duff but finding a truly flat spot free of any small mounds of moss or decayed nurse logs can be a challenge.
Tent camping near Bergland, Michigan offers excellent access to the western Upper Peninsula wilderness. The area sits at approximately 1,400 feet elevation in the Ottawa National Forest with over 100 lakes within a 30-mile radius. Winter arrives early with measurable snowfall often beginning in October, making late summer and early fall the prime seasons for primitive camping in this region.
Waterfall exploration: 2 miles from Burned Dam Campground provides access to Mex-i-mine Falls. "Beautiful, quiet, free campgrounds right next to the Ontonagon River and Mex-i-mine Falls (you can hear the rushing water)," notes camper Kyle K.
Mine trail hiking: The Union River Rustic Outpost Camp connects directly to historical paths. "Keep walking past campsites and over the bridge. Take the right trail and it connects with the Union River mine trail. It's 1 mile long and perfect for relaxing after dinner," shares Art S.
Island camping adventures: For paddlers seeking solitude, the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area offers boat-in camping across numerous islands. "The Turtle Flambeau Flowage is dubbed the 'Boundary Waters of Wisconsin'... There are 60 camp sites spread throughout the flowage," explains Kim.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness provides habitat for diverse wildlife. "This patch of wilderness within the Ottawa National Forest is unmatched. I didn't think I was in the Midwest. Remote and not well traveled," reports Will H.
Secluded sites: Many campers appreciate the privacy at Emily Lake State Forest Campground. "Super secluded. Several great sites to tent camping. Caught some blue gills. Good times," writes Adam.
Unique camping experiences: At Robbins Pond Campground, visitors can witness unusual phenomena. "This campground is located at the end of Robin's Pond road where the Paulding Light is seen... This setting is PERFECT for telling ghost stories and watching the light!!" reports Carrie C.
Multi-activity options: The Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry area offers diverse recreation. "Loved my first experience at canoe camping. We did it the easy way, loaded our canoe, crossed the lake to our campsite and set up camp. No portaging with our gear," shares Ann M.
Fishing access: Several lakes provide good fishing opportunities. "Several great sites to tent camp. Caught some blue gills. Good times," notes a camper at Emily Lake State Forest Campground.
Road conditions: Many forest roads require careful navigation. At Lake Perrault, "The road isn't paved and there are huge potholes so go slow. A couple of the campers looked like they're long-termers, but there was still plenty of room," advises Laura M.
Insects are abundant: Bug protection is essential. At Burned Dam Campground, one camper warns: "BUGS. this campground was FULL of mosquitos and biting flies. Even with bug spray, the assault was nonstop. Bring a screen-printing popup shelter with you or you will suffer."
Water sources: Most primitive sites require water planning. "Nearby Clark Lake is very pretty, good for swimming, and serves as the primary water source," notes Danielle A. about Sylvania Wilderness.
Winter preparation: Snow can arrive unexpectedly early. "In mid-October, we woke up to full on winter one morning, so be prepared for anything in the shoulder season," cautions a camper at Big Lake State Forest Campground.
Site selection: Choose larger sites for family camping. At Big Lake State Forest Campground, "the sites are HUGE! Quiet setting right on Big Lake. Probably my most beautiful site in the UP so far," shares Tracy W.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning wildlife watching engages children. "Enjoyed listening to the sandhill cranes every morning," notes Amy K. at Big Lake State Forest Campground.
Beach access: Several campgrounds offer swimming opportunities. At Lake Perrault, "A couple of the spots are right down at the water," and Big Lake State Forest Campground has "a small beach" according to campers.
Noise considerations: Some areas experience unexpected traffic. At Lake Perrault, "this is definitely a local hangout, with trucks coming in and out almost all day and late into the night, everyone was respectful and quiet, and it was really nice and peaceful overnight," reports Laura M.
Site leveling challenges: Many primitive sites require adjustment for RVs. At Union River Outpost, one camper notes, "Site was not that level. If you were tent camping, you would likely be sleeping on a slope of some kind."
Access road assessment: Forest service roads vary greatly in condition. For Big Lake State Forest Campground, a reviewer cautions, "the entrance to this campground is not for low clearance vehicles...it is full of HUGE flooded potholes (small ponds really). Not recommended for 2 wheel drive, low clearance vehicles."
Limited RV amenities: Most sites lack hookups. "Vault toilets and no shower. Very clean. Boat launch," summarizes the facilities at Big Lake State Forest Campground.
Seasonal timing: Fall colors attract visitors but temperatures drop rapidly. "Fall camping offers fewer insects and vibrant foliage, though temperatures can drop significantly at night," with one camper noting that "winter comes early to the UP."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bergland, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bergland, MI is Union River Rustic Outpost Camp — Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Bergland, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Bergland, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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