Best Tent Camping near Cedar, MI
The tent camping landscape surrounding Cedar, Michigan features secluded island experiences with primitive sites on South and North Manitou Islands within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. These islands offer genuine backcountry tent camping with no vehicle access, as both require boat transportation from the mainland. The Weather Station Campground and Bay Campground on South Manitou Island provide designated tent sites with minimal amenities, while North Manitou Island features both village camping and dispersed backcountry options.
Most primitive tent sites require campers to filter water from Lake Michigan or carry supplies from central water stations. Sand Lakes Quiet Area offers free dispersed tent camping with vault toilets but no drinking water. According to one visitor, "If you do this, early morning! Past 2pm forget about it... we kayaked with all our gear." Sites throughout the region typically include fire rings, though North Manitou Island prohibits fires entirely. Power Island County Park features primitive tent-only campsites accessible only by boat, with each site containing a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. Backcountry permits costing $10 per night are required for camping within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Areas farther from mainland access points offer deeper seclusion and fewer fellow campers. The tent campgrounds on South Manitou Island are positioned at varying distances from the dock - Bay Campground is closest at approximately half a mile walk, while Popple Campground requires a more strenuous 3.7-mile hike but rewards with greater isolation. A camper noted that "the sites are secluded and each has a fire pit. The lighthouse and giant cedars are all within easy walking distance." The primitive tent camping experience throughout the region demands preparation, including water filtration equipment, insect repellent, and extra food in case weather delays ferry transportation back to the mainland. Walk-in tent sites at Weather Station Campground offer scenic bluff views overlooking Lake Michigan with some sites featuring direct trails to beaches below.
