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Huron-Manistee National Forest permits dispersed camping with pets throughout its extensive wilderness near Curran, Michigan. Campers find multiple tent and RV-friendly campgrounds where dogs are welcome on leashes, including Horseshoe Lake Campground with spacious wooded sites offering lake access for $10 per night. Alcona Park accommodates pets at tent sites, RV spots and cabins along the AuSable River, though they enforce a rule against tents on RV sites. Hoist/Reid Lake Areas provides pet-friendly backcountry camping along well-maintained trails, with most sites containing established fire pits from previous campers. The trails are not heavily trafficked, offering peaceful pet experiences in a natural setting.
Gabions Campground offers riverside camping with pets in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, providing access to the Shore to Shore trail that runs through some campsites. The 8-mile Reid Lake loop trail accommodates hikers with dogs in both summer and winter conditions, with primitive campsites scattered throughout. Dispersed campers report the forest trails are always well maintained and sites are easy to find and clearly marked. During backpacking trips, pet owners should carry sufficient water and filtration systems, as mosquito eggs can coat shorelines near some lakes. Campers note the dramatic elevation changes uncommon in Michigan's lower peninsula, providing diverse terrain for pet-friendly hiking adventures.
"The dunes along the river seem out of place, and wonderfully so. you could spend so much tIme here, climbing around, swimming, kayaking, and enjoying the views."
"It was amazing, my husband, myself and our two dogs had a wonderful time. We hiked al through the forest, tried lots of cool gear and discovered a new love for camping and nature."
from $10 - $14 / night
Check Availability"I had cabin #3, very beautiful on the lake. Wish they had a grate to cook some things, however I failed to bring my own. It made do with what I had."
"This is a great campground and very close to canoe rentals. They pick up trash right at your site! Also, buy the wood from the people driving around."
from $16 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Trails run back into woods to potential cat hole locations. For water, you can head up the road a few miles to the lumberman monument park, and they have a fauset by the parking lot."
"The absolute BEST campsite I have ever camped at in Michigan! The perfect morning and evening view of the river. Directly across from the best fishing spot and shoreline to soak up the summer sun."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"The trail is only about 8 miles but it would be easy to spend a day next to the water or a little inland."
"Trail is easy enough and there are so many different spots to camp along the way. It is foot travel only and most sites are a decent hike to get to."
"Did have my dog with me. I would definitely go back."
"Gorgeous area right on Jewell lake. Walking distance from Barton City. Sites have nice privacy between them. Utilized the grill on the fire ring alot Privy was well kept."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Though a few have the Shore to Shore trail going right through them. But there is access to the river. While I was there, it was peaceful, clean and easily accessible."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"We rented their pet-friendly cabin. "
"Tons and tons of paved hiking trails. Pet friendly. Best part was checkout was at 1pm instead of 10am."
from $35 - $100 / night
Check Availability"This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to."
"It's about 9- 10 miles East of Mio, Michigan. On Google Maps they refer to as a horse camp."
"Walk down lake access at our site. Rustic toilets and shared water pump. No houses on the lake other than one that is being built. National forest campground means only $10.00 per night."
"Great beginner length trails of medium difficulty trails."
TravelerThe owners were constantly driving around and correcting people. Rules are okay but they were over the top. They would even stop and just stare at our site while we sat outside.. it was very odd. Also not kept up at all. The playground was old and my 30 lb dog slipped out from under the “dog park” fence because it was so high off the ground where they were allowed to be unleashed, luckily we got her and she’s ok.
GuideThis here is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The facilities are clean and kept up. All access to trails, lakes and the river are close and easy to get to. Great location to bring family and pets.
ScoutI think jewel lake is pretty good because they have good campsites. I like the dog, they have an island, you can go on can't sleep on there, but you can go on it. They have a beach, they have a bridge, so you can fish on good water to go swimming, you can drive a boat, you can go on a kayaking on a jet ski, any type of water boats the camp site it's pet friendly perfect for campers or pull behinds tense, they're ok, for motorhome\ RV's but it's pretty good.
TravelerWe rented their pet-friendly cabin. It consists of a single room, two bunk beds, a table mounted to the wall, two chairs, a mini fridge, a microwave, coffee pot, a wall heater and a wall-mounted fan. Nothing fancy, but serviceable. There's a site with a picnic table, grill, and fire pit, connected to the cabin, as well as a decent sized front porch. Also nearby the dumping station, but this isn't as bad as it could be, at least during our midweek stays ((We've done two weekday stays.) There's a patch of grass across the drive, where puppy potty bags are dispensed, for easy bathroom breaks with the dogs, and it is also close to the campground host site and firewood vending machine. The firewood is really decent quality, and the machine accepts cards, which is nice, compared to other parks. The bathrooms/showers are a short walk away, and are really a lot nicer than most state park facilities. Several accessible/family restrooms are available, offering shower seats, benches, a dual height showerhead, sink, and toilet with grab bars, all in one lockable room. Several campsites are one the waterfront. As other's have mentioned, the beach is seeing some significant changes, due to historically high lake levels, which has forced several campsites to close, and the designated dog beach to be inaccessible. They have alleviated this by shifting the pet-friendly beach area to the site of the closed campsites. It is still an amazingly beautiful place to just sit in awe of the beauty of Lake Huron. There is a two mile nature trail that winds through the outer part of the park, and it supplied a great hike with our dogs. The park itself is within a reasonable walk to the local grocery store, utilizing a paved path that leads from the campground to the town. We just love it there. The only thing holding back from a five star is the beach area's struggles. But that doesn't even feel fair, because there's little that humans can do at this point, to change that.
Guidebut we were blown away! The dunes along the river seem out of place, and wonderfully so. you could spend so much tIme here, climbing around, swimming, kayaking, and enjoying the views. We keep our Jeep ready for camping at any moment and places like this are why we do it. We just had to stay, and I am so excited to go back in the fall. I know this says no pets but we were able to bring our dog and saw many other dogs enjoying the park as well!
TravelerIt is very nice and extremely clean. However it is kind of cramped. Sites feel close and everyone was very nosey. Pet beach is nice. Water is beautiful. Convenient location. People didn't listen to rules such as quiet hour and let their badly behaved dogs run loose. Bath house is extremely nice! All in all, I would camp here on an off day/season.
TravelerThe park is very clean. Some sites are small, some are larger. Have visited many times. Fun interpretive programs for adults and kids. Beautiful beach to spend the day on. Located close to town. Lots of areas to walk as well. Not pet friendly though, they are allowed at the sites, but not on the beach.
GuideThis is a beautiful and picturesque park. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained.
Sites are large in general with plenty of room for activities.
The pet friendly beach is fantastic for dogs as the water is very shallow and let's them be active.
The access roads on the loop are narrow, so you may need to take some care of if you have a large vehicle.
There's also a kids playground and volleyball court.
ScoutSuper clean. Lots of activities.Themed weekends. Kids have a blast. Pet friendly.
The Huron-Manistee National Forest encompasses over 978,000 acres of public land with varied terrain including wetlands, forests, and river systems. Winter temperatures in the area average 20-30°F, while summer months range from 70-85°F with moderate humidity. The region features unusual elevation changes for Michigan's Lower Peninsula, with some trails rising over 200 feet between valleys and ridges.
Hiking the Reid Lake Loop Trail: This 8-mile loop offers varied terrain for day hikes or overnight backpacking trips. "We walked this trail for 5 days and 4 nights. Cell service was spotty, which was the goal. Lots of wildlife and great views. You need to carry everything out that you carry in," reports Megan C. at Huron-Manistee National Forest.
Kayaking in Alcona Park: Paddle the AuSable River system from shoreline access points. "This is a beautiful place to camp. I've only been to the boat-in only sites and I love it. You are surrounded by forest and dunes and the sites themselves provide ample space for a group of 5 or more," notes Don H. from Au Sable River Primitive Camping.
Winter adventures: The area maintains trails for cold weather activities including snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. "Hiked five days, four nights. Connects to NCT. Bring toilet paper. Water is stream is probably safe but bring a filter or enough water to last," advises Megan C. about winter readiness in the national forest.
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded spots with natural buffers. "Gorgeous sites, nicely spaced, right on the water. Ranger stopped in to say hey each day. I plan on going back before it gets too busy," writes Rob G. about his experience at Au Sable River Camping.
Beach access: Several sites provide direct water access for swimming and fishing. "Nice sites with nice privacy between them. Utilized the grill on the fire ring alot. Privy was well kept. The lake had a beach area to swim," shares Corey O. about Jewell Lake Campground.
Off-grid experience: For those seeking seclusion, the area offers true backcountry camping. "This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to," says Juan A. about McKinley Horse Trail Campground.
Limited facilities: Many sites operate without modern amenities. "Serene isolated camping. Becomes a bit overgrown at points. Great beginner length trails of medium difficulty trails. I'd recommend this spot to try out different gear before longer treks," notes Jacob S. about Huron National Forest Reid Lake Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area.
Water filtration requirements: Surface water needs treatment before consumption. "Also bring good filtration, mosquito eggs coat all of the shorelines for the lakes," warns Jacob S. about the Reid Lake area.
Seasonal insect activity: Prepare for mosquitoes, particularly near water. "The one thing I don't like are the powered boats. In the 'lower AuSable' areas like Cooke Dam Pond, you will see and hear pontoon boats, speed boats and the occasional jet ski, which kind of takes away from the dispersed camping/backcountry feel," mentions Don H. about seasonal activity at Au Sable River.
Multiple loops for group camping: Some campgrounds offer clustered sites for families. "Quiet, spacious sites spaced far apart in a wooded area. Four different loops divided the whole camp into regions. Signage got us to the beach easily," explains Rachael M. about the dog friendly campgrounds near Curran.
Kid-friendly water activities: Several pet-friendly campgrounds offer shoreline access for children. "The campground itself was very nice...it was our starting point for our family hiking/backpacking/camping trip this year. We had 11 Grandkids with us, and we had 9 backpacking tents," shares Brenda M. about her family experience in Huron-Manistee.
Learning opportunities: Introduce children to wildlife identification and forest ecology. "Not heavily trafficked, and most of the campsites have a pretty decent set up from past campers. Depending on your route, you can make this hike long or short. It's perfect for an overnight or a weekend getaway," suggests Kate K. about Hoist/Reid Lake Areas.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Choose pet-friendly campgrounds with appropriate clearance. "The lake has an island in the middle and is great to explore by boat. Not sure how much there is to do without watercraft, as there's just a really short trail," notes Amber A. about Jewell Lake Campground's accessibility.
Seasonal road conditions: Some access roads require 4-wheel drive during winter months. "Access is 4x4 only winter months," cautions Juan A. about McKinley Horse Trail Campground, one of several dog-friendly camping options near Curran.
Limited hookups: Most forest service campgrounds lack full RV amenities. "Nice open area big enough to put our 8 person tent. Picnic table and power! The Lake Huron is a stones throw to the East. Great place, we will be back soon!!" mentions Arron P. about Harrisville State Park Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Curran, MI is Huron-Manistee National Forest with a 5-star rating from 9 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 131 dog-friendly camping locations near Curran, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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