Best Glamping near Calumet, MI

This was a last-minute stop for us because we didn't want to stay at the campground we had originally intended. I found it here on The Dyrt, but bypassed it for another campground option. However, when we drove past the roadside sign, my husband said he wanted to check it out. And we're so glad we did!

When we pulled in, we were told to use the telephone to call the host and they would come and help us out. So when we did, somebody drove up and gave us our choice of spots. The campground was almost empty, so we had anything we wanted, and majority of the options were on the lake!

some of the spots are closer together so there's not a lot of privacy, but the side of the campground we were on had lots of buffers between the sites in the form of pine trees. each site had a gorgeous campfire ring made out of stones pulled off of the beach. It's a red Rock Beach! The bathroom was in a little house, but it had its own shower and looked like something from a log cabin. Not at all like a campground bathroom! there was another shower house at the opposite end of the campground which had similar decor. There was also dump station and fresh water easily available. not to mention the laundry house! Two washers, two dryers, and a sink for scrubbing plus all of the laundry soap and dryer sheets you needed. It was just payment on the honor system to use them. Very reasonable!

there was no electric hook-up at the site we were in, but we didn't need one. However, they were available.

Great little find in Michigan!

Overall, this is a good option for coming near Marquette, especially if you have a trailer, a family, or are looking to post up for a bit.

Pros: The campsite has a lot of amenities that are easily accessible. Each site has a table, a fire pit, potable water nearby and most have electric hookup. The beach area for swimming in Lake Independence is nice with a pavilion, volleyball, and ping pong nearby. You can launch your boat or fish from the dock. The views are beautiful.

Cons: It's a crowded location that doesn't offer a lot of privacy. At 2am we were woken up by a boat coming back in from the water blasting it's music while the whole crew was loud and obnoxious.

Vibe: Mix of retirees and families. 

Cleanliness: Above average. 

Facilities: Average. 

General spots: Varies from right up next to each other to odd shaped spaces that have extra room and trees. 

Our site: 40. One of the odd shaped spaces that had extra buffer room and big trees for shade. It was at an intersection at the camp and traffic was pretty steady during the day. 

Noise: Mostly quiet. Kids played well after dark in a parking lot across from us, but quiet hours didn’t start until 11 and they were never a problem. 

Cell signal(Verizon): Full bars. I streamed a movie (Anatomy of a Murder...see below). 

Other: You can swim at Independence Lake right at the camp. If you want to swim in Lake Superior, Squaw Beach is about 10 minutes away. Ate the Lumberjack Tavern and found out about“Anatomy of a Murder” and that it took place at the tavern. Turns out the couple involved had a trailer at the campground.

Twin 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

On the shores of Independence Lake, just south of Lake Superior, sits this gorgeous, sparkling clean county park with a well-managed campground. Wasn’t expecting much, so was blown away by the facilities for the low price. Lots of site options: non-electric, with electric only, with full hookups, walk-in or boat-in sites on the water, as well as a couple cabins. Sites are nicely spaced apart, but not much privacy between them. We chose the site right by the boat launch, which definitely has the most privacy when it’s not boating season. Lots of deciduous trees, making the fall truly glorious! 

The campground was about 10% full upon arrival, and everybody left before we did, so we had the place to ourselves. Did we mention how much we love fall camping?!? Bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained and spread out throughout the campground. 

Tons of hiking, mountain biking, and water sports of all kinds around. Nice boat launch facility, as well as special place to launch canoes/kayaks. A large picnic pavilion with stone fireplace sits right at the waterfront. This is a reservation only type of place (with a $3 nominal fee), but the website allows you to book for the same day, and there is decent cell service at the campground. Win win! 

Stock up in Marquette before heading out here as there is only a small gas station convenience store across the road from the campground, as well as a small café and laundromat.

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. Lots of space in between most sites gives you a good deal of privacy.  In mid-October, we woke up to full on winter one morning, so be prepared for anything in the shoulder season.  Also, 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.

Getting to Big Lake leads you through some marvelous pine meadows and wetlands with browsing deer and pheasants. The North Country Trail (long distance backpacking trail) winds through this part of the UP, and the Big Lake campground would make a perfect starting or ending place for a section hike. Within 10 miles back on the highway is a large gas station/convenience store and café where you could get a hot meal or stock up on a few essentials. 

Opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling or fishing abound in this area, so plan to bring your gear with you. There is a small craft launch right in the campground to access the lake, which as it turns out isn’t very big when you compare it to nearby Lake Superior. I imagine that this might be a popular deer hunting campground during rifle season. Bathrooms are simple pit-toilets, and water is accessible year-round with the hand operated well pump.

So amazing - I almost want to give this campground one star and discourage people because it is so amazing, and I'm selfish. For someone who GREATLY values hidden gems where you can get really out and remote, this place is a an absolute heavenly oasis.

Access is from 41 turn on the gravel road outside Michigamme coming from the East. Do not recommend coming or going from the access road on the west, can't remember the town/landmark...starts with an N - it's a VERY bumpy road, and my cockiness convinced myself I could do it in my truck, but didn't get very far before I gave in and had to back up aways to be able to turn around. Big boulders in road/trail.

What to expect:

• Park and walk/hike/canoe/kayak in. No motors on lake.
• First few sites near the boat launch are about 1/4 Mile Walk in and are close to each other. I stayed at Site 8 which is the next accessible site by trail. Follow North Country Trail and turn left at "Sandy Beach Sites" side trail to access the other hike in spots. Beautiful site, small, fire pit, tiny launch spot, so you can get there by boat from the launch. Next site was quite a ways further down. Was there for two nights and no one camped at the sites near me.
• Most sites are accessible ONLY by boat. Beautiful quiet lake. Some cabins available to rent. Guessing you need to reserve online.
• Here in late July and lake was quite warm, not sure I'd trust it to be swimmers itch free. I suspect it's a shallow lake. Lots of fish from what I hear.
• Late July, some mosquitoes. Had my thermacell running and it wasn't bad. I was able to relax in my hammock for a while without any bug spray or the ThermaCELL and was just fine.

North Country Trail skirts the lake and there are additional trails that branch on and off it, including trails that go all the way around.

Beautiful, peaceful, place.

On insta @roaming_rebecky

Perkins Park is a county-owned park situated on beautiful Lake Independence. The lake and beach are gorgeous. There is a boat launch near the beach and there’s ample room to park to watercraft there. The beach is easily walkable from any campsite, and there are nice walking trails around the park.

Visitors to the park must pay $2 per vehicle per day to enter the park, and this is payable at the entrance.

There is no store on site, but Cram’s General Store is right across 550 from the park. They do sell and deliver firewood at the park entrance.

The sites on the north side of the park were all fairly small. We travel with a 34’ trailer and managed to squeeze in to site number 5. If you have a large trailer, you’d be much happier on the south side.

There is a great mix of site types in this park. A lot of the sites are very small, on hills, or in tricky places, so be sure to carefully read site descriptions when reserving. They crammed too many sites in on the north side of the park. Sites number 1 and 24 flank the bathroom building (which I mention in the next paragraph) and people will be walking through your site to get to it.

There is a small bathroom building on the north end of the park which left a lot to be desired. The doors and walls were covered in mayflies and there were a lot of insects inside of the bathroom building. The toilets didn’t work very well and it wasn’t the cleanest. The large bathroom/shower building in the center of the park was the nicest. The beach bathroom/shower building was outdated but otherwise okay. One thing not well-advertised was that showers cost 25¢ per 6 minutes, so make sure to bring change; we did not note a change machine anywhere.

We managed to squeeze in to site 5, which was very narrow. We travel with a 34’ trailer. The site backs up to woods and a walking trail. There were tons of tree roots and a large tree in the site.

Pros: Beautiful lake and swimming

Full hookup sites

Great mix of site types

Walkable to amenities

Playground at the beach

Cons: Cell service is poor to so-so

Some of the sites are narrow, unleveled, or just plain small

Coin operated showers

Most sites have little to no privacy

Fill station is in a very weird place and you have to make a tight U-turn to use it.