Best Dispersed Camping near Coopersville, MI

Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping offers free dispersed camping with challenging access conditions. The site lives up to its name with sandy terrain requiring all-wheel drive and good ground clearance for vehicles. Campers can access the area via drive-in, hike-in, or walk-in routes. Fires are permitted and firewood is available on site. A permit is required, and pets are allowed.

Multiple reviews mention navigation difficulties, with some coordinates leading to incorrect locations. According to one visitor, "If you do not have AWD and good ground clearance, don't even try to get there." The area features large, open wooded spaces with some riverside camping options. Wildlife encounters, including coyotes, have been reported. Despite access challenges, the area accommodates both solo campers and larger groups.

Sawkaw Lake, another dispersed camping option near Bitely (roughly 50 miles from Coopersville), provides more amenities including vault toilets. Sites are positioned around the lake with boat access and established fire rings. While the sites are large, they offer limited privacy between campers. A camper noted, "There are signs on the sites saying permit required, but no info for that purpose." The location provides easy access to the North Country Trail.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Coopersville, Michigan (2)

    1. Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping

    8 Reviews
    Whitehall, MI
    32 miles

    "Coordinates took me to a parking area that was blocked off and marked private property. I parked a ways down from this spot and just hiked in and camped."

    "There looks like there are trails off of the parking lot. No signs that say no overnight parking. I'm in a van and this worked great for me. Quiet area and right off the lake."

    2. Sawkaw Lake

    6 Reviews
    Bitely, MI
    48 miles
    Website

    "It was a great little dispersed camping spot. Brand new vaulted toilet, lake view and deep forest all around. Easy access to North Country Trail. Loved it!"

    "Found several spots around Sawkaw Lake, to include Little Half Moon Lake which is right next to it. Nice and quite."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Coopersville, MI

11 Photos of 2 Coopersville Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Coopersville, MI

14 Reviews of 2 Coopersville Campgrounds


  • Degen G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 13, 2025

    Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping

    Great area to explore

    Coordinates took me to a parking area that was blocked off and marked private property. I parked a ways down from this spot and just hiked in and camped. Very good area for those interested in back country camping and primitive camping, lots of forest to explore. There are also quite a few drive in sites as well for car camping. There was running water in a creek south of Sand Road.

  • J
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping

    Wrong Location

    The coordinates lead you to a state that park if it is off sand road or Russell road it’s 30 minutes out for where coordinates are. Struggled to find any primitive camping anywhere nearby.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping

    Nice spot for van camping

    The directions take you to a parking lot. There looks like there are trails off of the parking lot. No signs that say no overnight parking. I'm in a van and this worked great for me. Quiet area and right off the lake.

  • J
    May. 24, 2025

    Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping

    Great Campsite, but couldn’t stay overnight.

    Arrived to the campsite around 5pm, everything was fantastic. Fire pit, and large open, wooded area all to ourselves. We loved it. However, once we got a fire lit, and the sunlight started to leave for the night we heard a pack of coyotes nearby. Deciding to press on, we shrugged it off hoping this was just a one off. 3 hours later, we hear them again. Only, this time we could tell they were even closer. We decided to head to the car and reevaluate our plan, but decided to stay a little longer before calling it quits. Not 30 mins later, the coyotes were back again, but even closer. They were less than 100 yards away from us, and we had no choice but to stay in our tent, and wait for them to pass while holding our protection in hand. We decided it was time to pack up and leave this time.

    Please be aware, when camping here you may be in coyote territory, and they don’t seem to like it. So, maybe not a great spot for kids, or smaller pets.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2021

    Sawkaw Lake

    It's quite deep in the forest

    Was planning on staying at Highbank Campground but it was closed. Thankfully had the Dyrt App to see this spot.

    It was a great little dispersed camping spot. Brand new vaulted toilet, lake view and deep forest all around. Easy access to North Country Trail.

    Loved it!

  • L
    May. 26, 2025

    Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping

    If you can get there, fantastic

    This spot is wonderful, but boy howdy does it live up to its name. If you do not have AWD and good ground clearance, don’t even try to get there.

  • Jay D.
    Jun. 10, 2022

    Sawkaw Lake

    Little Half Moon Lake

    Found several spots around Sawkaw Lake, to include Little Half Moon Lake which is right next to it. Nice and quite. Depending on the spot, there could be some people around, but most the most part, it was pretty tranquil. There are even some hike paths around the area.

  • Ileene R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Sawkaw Lake

    Peaceful

    There are signs on the sites saying permit required, but no info for that purpose. No one else had them so I stayed. May be ramping up to making it a paid site, toilet is nice. Lake has boat access. There are fire rings and lots of wood to collect. Not tons of trash but I cleaned up some left in fire pit.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Sawkaw Lake

    Doesn't exist and says "no camping"

    We went down the path and it says to make it right when there's no road that goes to the right. We drove three and a half hours to get here and now we've got to figure out where we're going to stay for the night. And the only spot that looked like a campable spot says no camping. There's a stake in the ground that says it.


Guide to Coopersville

Dispersed camping near Coopersville, Michigan provides rustic outdoor experiences in the surrounding woodlands and lakeshores. Located in the western Michigan region, these primitive camping areas typically receive 35-40 inches of annual precipitation, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months. Most sites lack established facilities and require self-sufficiency in water and waste management.

What to do

Explore nearby trails: The North Country Trail runs through portions of the Manistee National Forest, accessible from several dispersed camping areas. At Sawkaw Lake, campers find "easy access to North Country Trail" according to reviewer Fiona, making it convenient for day hikes from camp.

Fishing opportunities: Little Half Moon Lake and surrounding waterways provide fishing options for campers. Jay D. notes, "Found several spots around Sawkaw Lake, to include Little Half Moon Lake which is right next to it. Nice and quite."

Collect firewood: Many dispersed sites allow campers to gather their own firewood from surrounding areas. At Sawkaw Lake, one camper mentioned there are "fire rings and lots of wood to collect," making it easier to maintain evening campfires without bringing your own supply.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Many dispersed camping areas feature generously sized sites that accommodate various camping setups. Tony N. describes Sawkaw Lake sites as "very large so you don't feel on top of another and having the lake right there was nice."

Solitude on weekdays: Mid-week camping offers significantly more privacy and quiet. Lori T. reports about Sawkaw Lake: "Beautiful spot overlooking the lake. Sites are large and a bit closer than I like, but on a Tuesday, not a person around. Might change by Friday."

Van camping options: Some dispersed areas provide accessible parking for van campers. Noah E. found Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping suitable: "The directions take you to a parking lot. There looks like there are trails off of the parking lot. No signs that say no overnight parking. I'm in a van and this worked great for me."

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Spring conditions can create challenging terrain. At Sand Road, the sandy conditions worsen during wet weather, and many areas become impassable for standard vehicles.

Permit confusion: Some areas have inconsistent signage about permits. Ileene R. reported at Sawkaw Lake: "There are signs on the sites saying permit required, but no info for that purpose. No one else had them so I stayed. May be ramping up to making it a paid site."

Navigation challenges: GPS coordinates for some sites may be inaccurate. One Sand Road visitor noted, "The coordinates lead you to a state park if it is off sand road or Russell road it's 30 minutes out for where coordinates are. Struggled to find any primitive camping anywhere nearby."

Tips for camping with families

Wildlife awareness: Be prepared for potential wildlife encounters in remote camping areas. Joseph C. from Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping warns: "Please be aware, when camping here you may be in coyote territory, and they don't seem to like it. So, maybe not a great spot for kids, or smaller pets."

Toilet access: For families with young children, prioritize sites with basic facilities. Sawkaw Lake provides a "brand new vaulted toilet, lake view and deep forest all around," making it more suitable for families than completely undeveloped areas.

Group-friendly sites: Some dispersed camping areas accommodate larger family gatherings. Ashley H. recommends Sand Road: "Camp here every year! Perfect for big families or even solo camp! Spots big and small plenty to choose from."

Tips from RVers

Vehicle clearance requirements: Standard RVs struggle to access many dispersed camping areas near Coopersville. Dennis N. advises about Sand Road: "Free rusty camping. You can get RVs in there but will need 4x4. Hits the name. Sand Rd."

Alternative parking strategies: When designated sites are inaccessible, consider legal parking alternatives. Degen G. shares their experience: "Coordinates took me to a parking area that was blocked off and marked private property. I parked a ways down from this spot and just hiked in and camped."

Water access points: No potable water exists at these sites, requiring self-sufficiency. One camper noted at Sand Road there was "running water in a creek south of Sand Road," which could be useful for non-drinking purposes if properly filtered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Coopersville, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Coopersville, MI is Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping with a 3.9-star rating from 8 reviews.