Best Cabin Camping near Eben Junction, MI

Great cabin. I would highly encourage anyone who likes the outdoors to go there. I'm reluctant to post a good review because I don't want everyone booking up all the dates, but like any other government program, if you don't show a need they won't give funding to build more cabins like this.

The cabin is great for a family. We brought our kids and they loved it. Having no electricity was great and no running water added to the "camping" experience. The outhouse was only about 25 yards from the cabin and there was a wood shed in back too so you don't have to worry about that, which is nice. We had the lake to ourselves and couldn't see or hear any other people. Why you'd chose a campground instead of a place like this is beyond me. The water was about 75 yards from the cabin with the fire pit that way as well. The lake had some muck the first few feet but was sandy after that.

Inside the cabin were two tables and eight chairs. There was a small counter top as well. The wood stove was free standing so be careful about burns if you use it. The storage room was also nice to double as a changing room. There was plenty of space in the bunk room, enough beds for 8. The cabin is usually pretty dark, even in the middle of the day so make sure you bring lights and lanterns. There are hooks hanging from the ceiling in 4 or 5 spots throughout the cabin for light.

The bugs weren't bad but the horseflies and mosquitoes could make a showing. You're not far from Munising and we took trips up that way. The Camel Riders restaurant is only 2 minutes down the road and is decent, but small. They have a couple televisions for the kids. The prices are what you'd expect from a resort restaurant and the food does take a while, but it's pretty good.

If you're coming from the south I would recommend stopping at Van Cleve Park in Gladstone on your way up. The beach is really nice and they have a big playground. Worth the stop.

This place is a gem. 50 minutes from Munising, makes the perfect camping spot for a pictures rocks trip.

Beautiful beach with all the privacy in the world. The best part about camping here was the Beach!

Another really nice amenity was the lantern posts next to the picnic table and the grill grate attached to the fire pit. Can’t recommend this place enough.

Some tips: DO NOT take 721 trail off Adams trail. Apple maps told us to take this route. It’s really only meant for atv’s and specialized off road vehicles. It would have saved 3 minutes off our total drive time. The local tow truck told us he comes here 3 times a week while he towed us out. And there’s no signal. It was pretty scary.

No running water in restroom, so pack some Clorox wipes.

Bugs are pretty bad on the non-lake side so try to get a site near the water.

Along our travels in Michigan's Upper Peninsula from the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore west to the Porcupine Mountains, we stayed at Van Riper State Park campground.  We found this campground located along U.S. Hwy 41 about 40 minutes west of Marquette MI. The Park sits on the west shores of Lake Michigamme.   Van Riper State park has both a Modern and Rustic campgrounds along, with hiking, biking and ATV trails.  There is a fine sandy beach, and playground.  At the beach there is a concession stand.  The park offers areas for boating, kayaking, and jet skiing, and fishing.  To book or check into either campground you must stop at the park office.  A Resident Recreational Passport is required or a charge of $11 will apply for each vehicle without one.  The park office also has firewood, ice and even ice cream for sale. I recommend to get your firewood from another local area, the bundles are $5 but are very small bundles like 3 or 4 pieces.  They also offer kayak rentals the price on those was decent.  $10 for a 2 hour kayak rental.

We stayed in the Modern campground.  There are 147 sites and 2 Mini Cabins.  Sites are equipped for tents, trailers and RV’s up to 50’.  There are free wifi by the restrooms, flush toilets, showers, drinking water, sanitation station, electric hookups at each site along with a fire pit and picnic table.  The daily price of sites is $22 - $24 and $49 for a Mini Cabin.  We stayed in site 92 that is located right next to the restroom/showers. Which was great having young children with us who seem to need to visit the restroom numerous times. This site is more for a trailer or a RV being the ground is hard and full of rocks.  We all used air mattresses so that wasn’t much of an issue.  We did take the time to remove any sharp rocks from where our tent was being placed to make sure no holes were made in the tent or mattresses.  Sites are very open and non private.  There is a host site that has information on activities around the park and neighboring areas.  They also offer activities for children to do.  

A short distance from the modern campground is the rustic campground.  There are 40 sites and a Camper's Cabin available. This campground offers vault toilets, and drinking water.  I did find out that for $2 per person for a day you can have access to the showers at the modern campground.  The daily price of these sites is $13, and $86 for the Camper’s Cabin.  These sites are equipped for tents, trailers and RV’s up to 30’.  There is no electric hook ups.  

During your visit to the park there are lot’s of scenic, historic, and recreational sites to visit.  A few miles from the park is the location of where Iron ore was first found in the Lake Superior region.  There is a Iron Industry Museum.  Lake Michigamme offers lot’s of activities for those visiting.  If you are really looking for a awesome adventure not too far from camp, you can drive an ½ hour west on Hwy 41 to the “Grand Canyon” of Michigan, this gorge and waterfalls are located along the Sturgeon River.  There is access to the North Country Trail here as well.  The Canyon Waterfall and Gorge are just breathtaking.  It is a 10 minute hike along the river from the parking area to the Canyon falls and gorge.  You can hike further in if you wish and discover the rapids area along the river.  We did not venture this far having small children with us.  Can’t wait to return on a adult trip to hike further along the river.  

I give this Campground a 5 star review, it is a great place to take the family on vacation.

We 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

This was an awesome rustic cabin. We went to Tom's Lake Cabin a couple weeks prior to this and had a really good experience. I was able to book this one just a few weeks out.

It's not on Google Maps so I had to plug the coordinates from Recreation.gov into the Maps program, then the route came up. I took this trip with my wife and 4 kids who were 1, 4, 8, and 9. I read there was a 1000 foot walk in and was fine with that but the trail was not as conducive for the wheeled wagon and bags, but they worked. It took several trips because we brought a ton of stuff for activities. I would recommend packing as much as you can in packs you can carry. There were a few bugs along the way so make sure you bring enough bug spray.

When we got to the cabin, there were very few bugs and the cabin was nice and clean. The twin beds were just fine and there was enough room on the deck to keep supplies so you didn't have to crowd up the cabin. The cabin is at the top of a hill which offered a great view and discouraged the little ones from wandering. The pit toilet was clean without a bunch of bugs roaming around. There was plenty of wood in the shed. The Park Service advised that the wood should be used for just the stove inside the cabin. The fire ring and a picnic table is located right next to the cabin which made it convenient for fires. The water pump is located about 50 yards down hill toward the lake so make sure you bring something to carry water.

The lake was nice and there was a very small sandy area near the shore. It got a little mucky as we ventured out. It was far enough from the cabin that I didn't have to worry as much about little kids drowning, which is good. Once you get out into the lake a little bit, the water is about 15-20 feet deep.

Make sure you set aside some time to check out the trails around the cabin. They go in a loop and make for a fun hike.

I would go back there again and I recommend this trip for anyone who is willing to put in a moderate amount of effort to get to the cabin. Once you're there the solitude is so much better than a crowded campground.

Oh, and there's no cell service. Also, if you're coming from the south, don't forget to stop at Van Cleve Park in Gladstone. Totally worth it.

This rustic national lakeshore campground is tucked in the trees along the south shore of Lake Superior. Next to the campground, there is literally a 12-mile long beach of beautiful white sand along the crystal clear waters of this great lake.

Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring with water spigots scattered throughout the campground. There is no electricity available and only pit toilets (which are clean, but rather stinky). Sites are smallish, a bit close together, and can accommodate tents and only small RV’s. RV’s over 25 feet will only fit in a few of the sites near the entrance to the campground.

We visited this campground in third week of September and hit the fall color spot on! The surrounding area provides great opportunities for water sports of all kinds, cycling, hiking, and dune climbing. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Visitor’s Center is about 35 miles west of this campground in the town of Munising where you will find grocery stores, gasoline, a laundromat, and restaurants.