Best Tent Camping near Calumet, MI
Tent camping options near Calumet, Michigan include both established campgrounds and dispersed sites across the Keweenaw Peninsula. Lake Perrault offers dispersed tent camping with fire rings and lakeside sites, while Schoolcraft Township Rustic Campground provides five spacious tent sites directly on Lake Superior with vault toilets and a manual water pump. Emily Lake State Forest Campground, located near Toivola, offers secluded tent camping with basic amenities from May through November.
Access roads to many tent sites require careful navigation, particularly for dispersed camping areas. Lake Perrault has a rough access road with large potholes that requires slow driving, though several camping spots are available near the water. A visitor commented, "The road to the lake isn't paved and there are huge potholes so go slow." High Rock Bay in the Keweenaw Peninsula requires high-clearance vehicles on old logging roads. Most tent sites include fire rings, but amenities vary significantly between established and dispersed locations. Permits are required for some areas, with Schoolcraft Township requiring campers to obtain permits from an office in Lake Linden.
Tent campers at these locations experience varying levels of privacy and natural settings. According to one visitor, Lake Perrault offers "an idyllic camping spot" despite being a local hangout with vehicles coming and going. Sites at Emily Lake State Forest Campground provide "super secluded" tent camping with fishing opportunities. Most tent areas feature direct water access, whether to Lake Superior or smaller inland lakes. Cell service is available at some locations but not all. Mosquitoes and flies can be abundant, particularly at lakeside sites, so proper preparation is essential. Camping directly on Lake Superior shores provides spectacular views but may expose tent campers to strong winds and weather changes common to the region.
