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Sawkaw Lake Campground offers dispersed camping with pet-friendly policies throughout its grounds near Bitely. Dogs are welcome at all sites, with standard leash requirements in common areas. Several nearby campgrounds including Highbank Lake, Benton Lake, and Walkup Lake also permit pets with varying amenities. Highbank Lake Campground provides drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings at pet-friendly sites, while maintaining clean toilet facilities. Benton Lake Campground features firewood availability and accommodates both tent and RV campers with pets. The campgrounds maintain natural settings with minimal development, allowing pets and their owners to enjoy the outdoor experience without excessive restrictions. Most campers report minimal issues with wildlife encounters when camping with pets in the area.
Trails surrounding these pet-friendly campgrounds connect to the broader Manistee National Forest system, providing extensive hiking opportunities where leashed dogs can accompany their owners. Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground, located north of Bitely, offers additional pet-friendly camping with access to both forest trails and lake activities suitable for dogs. Campers should be aware of seasonal wildlife activity, particularly coyotes in some areas as noted by visitors to Sand Road primitive camping area. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness area, within driving distance, permits dogs throughout its trail system and dispersed camping areas. Water access for pets varies by location, with some campgrounds offering direct lake access where dogs can swim while others maintain restrictions on pet beach access. Most campgrounds require pets to remain on leash except within individual campsites.
"We found ourselves down a dead end dirt road and had to drive back out around town. Once here we discovered a wonderful campground. "
"Women routinely take their dogs with them into the restroom. We’re not talking about outhouses but flush toilet bathroom with shower."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"The beach is sandy, lots of frogs and some sites right on the lake. Other wooded sites on a little hill with views of lake. Nearby NCT connector is great for dogs and walking/running in general."
"Got in late around 9:30 at night, but was able to find the last camp site. The sites are small but are all equipped with several spots for tents. "
from $30 / night
Check Availability"The first loop was almost filled so we checked the second one and found a site away from others. It felt like we were alone until we took a walk around the campground."
"Make sure any and all food/garbage is picked up and thrown out each night to avoid unwanted visitors (we lost a bag of hot dog buns to some raccoons, our fault)."
"Found several spots around Sawkaw Lake, to include Little Half Moon Lake which is right next to it. Nice and quite."
"Brand new vaulted toilet, lake view and deep forest all around. Easy access to North Country Trail. Loved it!"
"Great campsite with trails nearby and amazing fishing opportunities! Close to Baldwin!"
"Short 5-10 min walk from the river where we were able to see a ton of spawning salmon. Just be careful walking on the road, locals fly down it."
"Our plan just to find an inexpensive and wild camp and road trip to explore northern Michigan ."
"We are accustomed to very rustic camping and prefer to be distanced from our neighbors. Walkup camp is a really sweet campground except for the noise from the very close by road."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"the big lake unit has large sites with lake views and 2 vault toilets. the little lake unit has small sites, 1 vault toilet, some lake views, some views of nearby houses (more mosquitos at the time too"
"On the lake with a boat launch. One hand pump water source at the entrance, no electric."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Couple hiking trails and ground to explore and relax after driving all day. Probably wouldn’t recommend any big rigs."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"trees surrounding the campsite was nice for 100% humidity weekend; pit toilets were cleaned regularly throughout the day, wish it had beach access for dogs"
"This was such a beautiful location!! And definitely a nice find!"
"Minutes outside Baldwin, Mi., Bowman Bridge is out in the middle of nowhere. Which, if you like that kind of camping, is awesome. It is a small campground without much shade on the sites."
"Add easy access to the Pere Marquette River to sling a streamer at some beasty browns and it's a great place to spend a weekend."
from $30 - $110 / night
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ScoutVery nice campground, Clean and well maintained and friendly office staff. Nice wooded trail (about 3/4 mile loop around the pond) for walking the pooches. There is a nice sized fenced dog park with potable water right there. Great little playground and bounce house for the kiddos.
TravelerWas a decent place to camp- lots are very close though! Luckily in the fall it wasn’t very busy. Nice little lake on property. Fire pits in odd spot near the road. No pets allowed-not even a cat that stays inside in your camper! Also- there is a $7 a day fee for out of the county. Even when you arrive late at night.
LegendThis park is a very nice RV park. All 257 sites are full hook-up (with cable), level, and have paved patios and for a $2 up charge you can get a paved site. Our site was super long (over 100’) and had a nice view of the large pond. There is pretty good separation between sites and on one side of us were large bushes that added privacy from our neighbors and the adjacent pathway. There are tent sites set off along one area of the park near the bathrooms. There are a few trees among the tent sites but they are not very private and located near the garbage dumpsters/recycle bins and on a main exit thoroughfare. There are also three “haciendas” for rent.
One of my favorite features of the campground was the fitness center. Poncho and his wife are triathletes so the facility is top notch with weight machines, free weights, cycles, treadmills, elliptical, medicine balls, and lots of bands. There are three heated pool on the property – two outdoor and one indoor with and two spas. Since we were there in mid-October the outdoor pools were closed but the indoor hot tub and pool were open (albeit, super crowded on the weekend with kids). There are two laundry rooms and three bathrooms that are very modern and clean. One of the cable television stations displays security camera footage around the property which was nice because I could see how full the laundry was before carrying all my stuff there. There is a game room for kids, playground, shuffleboard, and a clubhouse. There is a stocked pond on the property but it is only for kids (17 and under) to fish in. Cable television yielded 55 channels and WiFi was available at our site with a decent signal. The campground is very well-maintained with nicely mowed grass. The grounds crew was always working but they were not annoying with constant loud machines. There is a railroad track that runs behind the park but it does not get a lot of use so the noise was not too bad. If you don’t want to be near the tracks, ask for a site away from the south side of the park. There is an off-leash dog park but it really is too small and narrow for big dogs.
The campground is very convenient to lots of shopping and restaurants and within walking distance of a McDonalds, fruit market, drug store and grocery. Downtown Ludington is only about five minutes away which has a cute downtown with shopping, galleries, and restaurants. Ludington State Park is about 15 minutes away and has miles and miles of hiking trails and beach access. There is also a city park downtown which is along Lake Michigan with beach access and lots of room for a nice walk (but dogs are not allowed). The office staff was super helpful pointed out places to hike and things to do for the weekend. Also loved that they gave us a choice of sites and let us drive around the campground (in their golf cart) and pick out the one we wanted.
We camped here in an RV and really couldn’t find anything we didn’t like about it. New customers get a 10% discount and during our stay we fell into low season and nightly rates were discounted 50%. So for $28/night we got a really nice site with lots of amenities in a great location. If you are looking for a nice RV park at a great price near a nice coastal Michigan town, give this place a try.
GuideThis place is FUN!!!
The campground in itself is a blast. The waterpark, playground, hammock area, swings, biggest sand box ever, all the activities, and can’t forget the ice cream shop!!!
Then add in ATV access from the campground, waterfront sites to park your jet skis, and horse rides onsite!!
We never really wanted to leave! The staff were awesome! The grounds are well maintained and they have the best grass. Lol
My only suggestion would be to put in a fenced in dog park, but other than that, this is a must stop if ever in the Silver Lake area.
ScoutThe Layout of the campground is great. Perfect to bring your pets. Nice pools and close enough to the state park to go tubing or a beach day at Lake Michigan. Everything is close so you are not missing anything.
GuideGreat little campground just on the outskirts of Cadillac. Great rates especially for full hookups. This was our first time at this park, we originally had a site next to the pool, but quickly realized our TT would not fit due to the trees. The front desk quickly changed our site and we were good to go. All sites were well maintained, they had a petting zoo (goats) and a store with a little game room in it. I would definitely come back.
LegendSilver lake is one of the most beautiful areas you can go in all of Michigan. With dunes of it's own, & a perfect, calm crystal lake - it's great for swimming, kayaking and photography. Holiday Park campground was on the south shore of the lake, had a swim area, boat launch, and was immaculate. Pets were allowed and sites were very level for trailers. All sites had electric hook ups and they are sectioned out by environment, like woods, lakeside, up on the ridge line, and there's even island sites. I prefer the lake and island sites if you can get them. There's something about waking up to that lake that is dreamy!
TravelerThis is a great little camp ground right on Lake Michigan. Pretty open so not a ton of privacy but a nice set up to meet new friends. The campground sits above the lake so be ready to trek up and and down a large set of stairs but the beach and views are worth it! Water, outhouses, ice and firewood available. No showers. Pet and family friendly.
TravelerAwesome beach and/or forest locations for camping! Spots near the parking are but also some spots you can hike to. Beautiful all around. And pet friendly!
Dispersed camping options near Bitely, Michigan provide access to the Huron-Manistee National Forest ecosystem at elevations ranging from 800-1,000 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below 10°F while summer highs typically reach 80-85°F. Most campgrounds in this area require campers to pack out trash and observe quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM.
Fishing opportunities: Nichols Lake South Campground offers accessible fishing from a pier. "Nice beach with a shallow weed free swimming area. The sites are large and semi-private, quite a bit of space between the sites," notes Bret J., who appreciates the unusual amenities for a rustic setting.
Hiking trails: Sulak Campground connects directly to the North Country Trail system. As Cristina S. confirms, "Was amazing to connect from the site directly to the North Country Trail and fishing access could not have been better."
Water recreation: The Pere Marquette River provides opportunities for paddling near Bowman Bridge Campground. One camper recommends, "Baldwin Canoe Rental as they were able to pick us up at the campsite (on time too!) and take us straight to the canoe launch. We paddled for about 4 hours before beaching at the access at Bowman Bridge."
Spacious campsites: Benton Lake Campground offers well-separated sites. Ashlee D. shares, "We've stayed here twice this summer. The toilets are well maintained and the camp manager was super nice. We stayed Sunday-Tuesday both times and it wasn't busy and we felt alone in the forest which is perfect."
Affordable pricing: Walkup Lake Campground maintains low fees for basic amenities. A visitor mentions, "$5 per night with a pass. $10 without pass," making it an economical option for pet-friendly camping near Bitely.
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Benton Lake, Eileen T. shares, "You can hear the coyotes and raccoons, but the coyotes were never spotted. Make sure any and all food/garbage is picked up and thrown out each night to avoid unwanted visitors."
Navigation challenges: GPS systems often provide incorrect directions to campgrounds. For Nichols Lake South Campground, Bret J. warns, "Just be careful with navigation, all the systems have this road that does not exist, very strange. Approach for the south off 11 mile road. If your nav system is directing you north override it."
Seasonal availability: Most rustic campgrounds near Bitely operate from May through September, with some closing in mid-October. Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground typically operates "April to October," according to state forest service information.
Payment systems: Many campgrounds use self-pay systems. At Leverentz Lake, Ari A. advises, "The campsites cost $15 per night; they are not reservable. Also, there is no DNR staff on site so bring cash or check to drop into the payment pipe."
Family-friendly activities: Nichols Lake South offers structured recreation options. As Art S. observed, "It was clear that families camp here - bikes and children abound. There is even a basketball hoop by the host's campsite."
Swimming areas: Many lakes have designated swimming zones for safer water play. At Highbank Lake Campground, Shawn Z. notes, "A great lake view for most of the sites; ours we could see through the trees from afar."
Site selection: Choose sites based on your family's specific needs. R.B. observes about Shelley Lake, "The best sites seem to be the walk-in sites on the lake," which might appeal to families seeking more separation from other campers.
Solar considerations: Some campgrounds offer better solar charging opportunities. At Bowman Bridge, Steve H. appreciated the "16 Sites in an fairly open field, which was great for us as we need to use our solar panels to top off our batteries!"
Limited hookups: No campgrounds in the immediate Bitely area offer electrical hookups. At Nichols Lake South, Jeff F. confirms, "No hookups. Getaway. Some spots have openings good for solar."
Dump station access: Plan for waste management before arrival. Jeff F. notes about Nichols Lake South, "No dump station nearest one 10 miles away," requiring RVers to plan accordingly when bringing pets to this dog-friendly camping location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bitely, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bitely, MI is Nichols Lake South Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bitely, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 198 dog-friendly camping locations near Bitely, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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