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Several primitive tent campsites exist in the forests surrounding Covington, Michigan, primarily within state forest lands and designated wilderness areas. Big Lake State Forest Campground offers tent camping with sites situated along the shoreline, while Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness provides more remote walk-in tent sites. These areas are located within the Ottawa National Forest region, with most campsites situated between 15-30 miles from Covington proper.
Tent campsites in this region typically feature basic amenities suited for primitive camping. Big Lake State Forest Campground provides vault toilets and hand-pump water sources, but many other areas offer no facilities whatsoever. Access roads to several campgrounds, including Big Lake, require high-clearance vehicles due to substantial potholes and rough terrain. Most tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though Sturgeon River Gorge and other wilderness areas require campers to practice leave-no-trace principles with no designated facilities. Seasonal closures affect many campgrounds, with several only open from May through November due to heavy winter snowfall.
Tent camping near Covington delivers exceptional solitude and privacy, with sites at Big Lake State Forest Campground described as "HUGE" with significant space between campsites. The surrounding area features pine meadows, wetlands, and access to the North Country Trail for backpacking opportunities. Wildlife viewing includes sandhill cranes, deer, and various bird species. Emily Lake State Forest Campground, though somewhat distant from Covington, offers additional tent camping with lakeside views and fishing opportunities. As one camper noted, "Way off the beaten path but the sites are huge! Quiet setting right on Big Lake. Probably my most beautiful site in the UP so far."
"Way off the beaten path but the sites are HUGE! Quiet setting right on Big Lake. Probably my most beautiful site in the UP so far. Vault toilets and no shower. Very clean. Boat launch."
"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."
"Hike in camping"
"The hike in was one of the most beautiful switch back type hikes, with breathtaking views of the gorge on the way down, a quick hike to the top of gorge once you’re down, then look down and see the waterfalls"
"The hike-in/paddle in camping spots are equipped with a picnic table and a firepit, everything else is up to you. I have been going here yearly for the last 10ys and absolutely love it! "
"Access is from 41 turn on the gravel road outside Michigamme coming from the East."
from $20 - $108 / night
Check Availability"Campground close to casino and lake Baraga. This is the best campground in the area."
"Several great sites to tent camp. Caught some blue gills. Good times"
"You will be able to hear your neighbors."
"Nice small lake, easy access from the main road. Road to the lake isn’t paved and there are huge potholes so go slow."
"We stumbled upon this location through this app."
GuideNice campground, well maintained, next to a lake with a boat ramp. Ever site has a picnic table, fire ring, asphalt pad and drying stand. Vault toilets, very limited trash collection trash cans (2). No water or waste. Only a few pull through most are back in.
LegendTwin 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
TravelerGreat find. Sunday night beginning of June. Only camper in the tent section. Quiet spot with good hosts. Close to the lake. Grass and gravel. Restroom share with the park/boat launch area. I would definitely stay here again. If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake. Being only one there I found flat spot to tent but if busy choice might be limited. No control over weather but woke up and had to pack up in the rain. Definitely check it out! Thanks to the Hosts!
TravelerStayed one night on a Sunday. Mostly empty but you can see it is heavily booked for the Fourth of July weekend. They just added electric hook up to some sites in the South End. Right now the price is the same for electric or non-electric sites.
Sites are large and decent spacing between sites. Heavy tree cover with mostly shade.
The site was mostly gravel with nice fire ring and picnic table.
GuideNo reservations, that’s on us. Looked at several after driving around all day sight-seeing. We called the number on the listing; got a pre-recorded message from the township. Decided to check it out in person. First, camping is divided up; two loops on beach side of the road, two loops on the non-beach side. We nabbed the last place on the beach side and could see Lake Superior from the site. Camp hosts were very accommodating considering we roll in just as they’re locking up shop around 8:00pm. Got us checked in and sold us firewood. We quickly set up and were on the beach in minutes. The water felt so good, we ran back up and got into trunks to swim. Brisk but totally swimmable. The beach was sandy, the lake-bottom sandy/small pebbles (no aqua-socks needed). The beach wasn’t AS pretty as other places we’d been but still had spectacular views. The trash was nearby, showers and flushing toilets a quick minute walk to other loop. Fire rings in each site and power/water posts (no generators, yay!). It’s worth driving over to see if they have a spot!
TravelerThis campground is located just off the Sturgeon River in the Ottawa National Forest and is first come first serve with no reservations. From speaking with a local who frequents the campground, it is usually quiet with few sites actually in use at a time; it seems this year (2020) there have been more people out camping, though, so getting there earlier is better to ensure finding a site.
It is rustic -- there is no water pump, but there are pit toilets in the center of the site. If you don't bring enough water the river next to most sites can provide drinking water with the proper filtration. The national park website says there are 9 sites, but only 7 are actually available. My best guess is the MIA sites existed in the central part at one time.
Two sites can fit a camper, but they also happen to be the sites with the best view of the river. The remaining sites are tent-only due to a set of rocks blocking off the sites so vehicles do not drive in. From what I could tell with observations, 4 or 5 sites are either right on the river or have a short trail to get to the river.
The locations are sparse enough that the only thing really heard from other campers is the occasional shutting of a car door. The soft sound of the river drowns most noises out. Each site has a fire ring, most have a grate on the ring, a lantern hook, and a picnic table.
GuideA lovely area with a good balance of open space and tree cover. Nearby Clark Lake is very pretty, good for swimming, and serves as the primary water source. The area is covered in soft pine duff but finding a truly flat spot free of any small mounds of moss or decayed nurse logs can be a challenge.
LegendThe Sturgeon River is wide and beautiful. Just imagine sitting next to the rippling water. The road there is down some dirt roads with some bumps but it’s drivable.
The small rustic campground doesn’t have all the frills so this is for the rustic campers. The sites vary but there is shade to be found. We enjoyed the seclusion of this forest campground.
On the way to camp you pass a trailhead. Head back for a hike. This is in the Sturgeon River wilderness so take care to leave no trace that you were here.
GuideWe stayed at Van Riper State Park three times during June and July. The park is always clean and well-maintained. The bathrooms and showers and generally always nicely maintained as well, and there are plenty of both. The bathrooms do tend to run out of soap and toilet paper at busy times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but also cannot be left unattended in your site. The rules are heavily enforced in this park. Park staff will ask you to move vehicles if you have more than two, and you will be asked to turn music completely off upon quiet hours. This is not the place to go if you want to party.
Sites 15 and 17, as well as several other sites along that side of that loop, now have a wooden fence at the back of them, so they are not as large as they appear in the photos online.
We have stayed in sites 14, 90 and 93. We travel with a 34’ trailer.
Site 14 is narrow but manageable. It is well-shaded by large pine trees on the site. Site is entirely dirt. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines in.
Site 90 is on a corner by the propane tanks. It is a large site. It does have some roots and low spots. It is partial grass. It has nice shade and is adjacent to the bathrooms. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines.
Site 93 is a large site that backs up to a small grass/tree buffer. It is across the road from the bathrooms. It has nice shade. There is a place to hang a clothesline but not hammocks.
Pros: Clean, well-maintained park
Quiet
Lots of playground equipment
Bike/scooter pump track
Excellent beach area
Lots of green space
Hiking trails
Wood and ice available for purchase at the entrance
Laundry is available; one washer and two dryers
Very kid and pet friendly
Cons: Park website has out of date information, specifically that there is no longer a store on the beach, nor are there kayaks/SUPs to rent
The Water Warrior Island is no longer in the lake
There are very few sites with buffers between
It is sort of far to the beach and laundry from the modern campsites
No non-reservable sites available
Tent camping near Covington, Michigan centers primarily on rustic sites within the Ottawa National Forest. Winter conditions arrive early in the Upper Peninsula, with first snowfall often occurring by mid-October. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through November, closing during the harsh winter months when temperatures frequently drop below freezing.
Kayaking on Craig Lake: Visit Craig Lake State Park Campground where non-motorized watercraft dominate the lake. "The lake has fantastic fishing for smallmouth, northern pike, crappie, walleye, and the occasional musky," notes Jeff P. who considers this his "absolute favorite place to camp, hike, kayak, fish, and just get away from it all."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer prime opportunities to spot native species. At Emily Lake, campers report catching bluegills right from shore. "Several great sites to tent camp. Caught some blue gills. Good times," states Adam about Emily Lake State Forest Campground.
Waterfall exploration: The Ontonagon River and nearby falls create ambient background noise at some campsites. "Beautiful, quiet, free campgrounds right next to the Ontonagon River and Mex-i-mine Falls (you can hear the rushing water)," reports Kyle K. about Burned Dam Campground. He adds that it has "in-ground firepits, picnic table, and a hanging post for trash on each site."
Remote locations: For campers seeking solitude, the Covington area delivers genuine isolation. "This is my absolute favorite place to camp, hike, kayak, fish, and just get away from it all. If you want seclusion, you can find it here with many remote campsites that are only accessible through the water or overland by hiking the trails in the park," explains Jeff P. about Craig Lake State Park.
Unique landscapes: The terrain differs significantly from typical Midwest settings. "This patch of wilderness within the Ottawa National Forest is unmatched. I didn't think I was in the Midwest. Remote and not well traveled," reports Will H. about Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness.
Waterside campsites: Many sites offer direct water access. Connor H. appreciates Emily Lake State Forest Campground for its "great view down a small hill at the back of the site," though notes "you will be able to hear your neighbors." Art S. describes Burned Dam Campground as "right on rapids at river" where you can "follow the trail 20 yards and you can find a variety of boulders or logs to perch upon."
Access challenges: Many campgrounds require high-clearance vehicles or significant hiking. "Most isolated camp site I've been to. Requires driving down a dirt road the branches off another dirt road. It's 8 miles down the road with major washouts," warns Clint B. about Blockhouse Campground.
Insect populations: Biting insects can be relentless in this region. "BUGS. This campground was FULL of mosquitos and biting flies. Even with bug spray, the assault was nonstop. Bring a screen-printing popup shelter with you or you will suffer," cautions Kyle K. about Burned Dam Campground.
Recent forestry activity: Some campgrounds have undergone logging operations. "This area is being logged so many trees are gone. This makes it less pleasant now but that will change over time," notes Art S., who recommends reflecting "on the logging before heading over."
Look for established sites: For families, state forest campgrounds provide more amenities than wilderness areas. "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," shares Shari G. about Big Lake State Forest Campground.
Consider structure rentals: Craig Lake State Park offers alternatives to tent camping. "The park has 2 rustic cabins and 2 yurts for rent that are a fantastic getaway and a great place to take your spouse," recommends Jeff P.
Check for swimming safety: Lakes may have water quality concerns. "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," mentions Rebecca W. about Craig Lake State Park.
Watch for clearance issues: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. "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," warns Shari G. about Paint River Forks NF Campground.
Prepare for weather changes: Temperature swings occur rapidly, especially in fall. "In mid-October, we woke up to full on winter one morning, so be prepared for anything in the shoulder season," cautions Shari G. about Big Lake State Forest Campground.
Limited services: Most campgrounds lack typical RV amenities. "No outhouses, no picnic tables, no fire rings. No cell service," reports Clint B. about Blockhouse Campground, suggesting this area primarily serves those seeking primitive camping experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Covington, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Covington, MI is Big Lake State Forest Campground with a 4-star rating from 4 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Covington, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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