Dispersed camping near Eckerman, Michigan centers on the eastern Upper Peninsula where the Hiawatha National Forest meets the shores of both Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Winter temperatures can drop below zero degrees, while summers remain relatively mild with average July temperatures around 75°F. The area features predominantly sandy soil which affects both vegetation patterns and vehicle access requirements.
What to do
Water recreation: Lake Huron access at Search Bay Dispersed provides swimming and paddling opportunities. "The bay is calm and beach nice," notes one camper. "Beautiful large dispersed camping area on the shores of lake Huron. Note camping on the beach is not permitted, but there are plenty of beautiful campsites overlooking the lake," reports another visitor.
Stargazing: Northern Lights viewing is possible during fall months from lakeside locations. "We even seen the Northern lights," shares a camper at Search Bay Dispersed. "Ended up with a flat tire from what we assume was leftover trash metal from the campsites but despite that it was beautiful and we got to see the northern lights."
Wildlife observation: Monarch butterflies can be spotted at Mackinac Trail Spur Site during summer months. "It is a beautiful area that has flowers blooming. The monarch butterflies are dancing on them," writes a visitor. The campsite is "next to a campground and 15 minutes from the lighthouse and ferry to Macimac Island."
What campers like
Waterfront proximity: Campers consistently value sites with direct water access. "Beautiful large dispersed camping area on the shores of lake Huron," notes a camper at Search Bay Dispersed. At Carp River Boat Launch, visitors appreciate the "beautiful view of lake Huron. Labor Day weekend and no one else is here except the ubiquitous mosquitoes. Easy and easy out on a good gravel road. Access to Lake Huron."
Winter camping opportunities: Some sites remain accessible during winter months. "Visited the site in a winter storm. A little worried before getting on the wild cat road. Turned out no issue at all. Road is covered with heavy snow, no issue with an AWD camper van. Snow shoeing in the woods and alone the lake beach. Fantastic!" reports a visitor to Lake Superior North Shore.
Ease of access: Several sites offer relatively straightforward entry for standard vehicles. At Castle Rock Ponds, campers note it's "easy to get to camping spot with multiple camping sites overlooking ponds. A couple miles down a nice gravel road that any kind of car could make it down." Another reports it's "just minutes off of 75 down a well maintained gravel road."
What you should know
Seasonal bug populations: Insect presence varies dramatically by season. "Stopped for the night. Easy to get to from the Hwy. I must have had a good night as the bugs were at a minimum," reports a Castle Rock Ponds visitor. At Lake Superior North Shore, one camper was "literally driven back by a wall of mosquitoes." Another notes, "The site was really cool. There's a gravel drive for car camping and smaller rigs. If you've got 4WD you can manage to get through the sand to the other sites which are pretty much all on the lake. Bring a bug hat and plenty of bug spray unfortunately it's a hotbed for black flies and skeeters."
Wildlife encounters: Bears have been documented near campsites. "I think close to the camp we ran across some bear scat," reports a Lake Superior North Shore visitor.
Navigation challenges: Coordinates and directions sometimes lead campers astray. "Coordinates took us off to the left of the first junction, where there was a gate that said closed so we didn't go to this site unfortunately! Continue straight instead," advises a visitor to Lake Superior North Shore. Another notes, "We love this spot! It's super secluded and right on the beach. We've had one other tent camper out with us. We are in a small travel trailer, 22', and there was room for our rig."
Tips for camping with families
Trash management: Pack out all waste materials. "Some campers are pigs and leave their trash around so we had to tidy our site up a little," reports a Lake Superior North Shore visitor. At Search Bay, a camper "ended up with a flat tire from what we assume was leftover trash metal from the campsites."
Campsite selection strategy: Arrive early to secure optimal sites. "When we came, there were other cars parked in the spots big enough for a camper, so we had to wait until they left. With cars parked in the bigger spaces, it was difficult to get out of the way or get turned around so we were just kind of stuck waiting," explains a Lake Superior North Shore visitor.
Day visitors impact: Some sites become busy with day-users. At Wide Waters Dispersed Camping, "A lot of truck traffic and ATVs during the day. We were there with two or three other campers Labor Day weekend." At Search Bay, "there were only four or five other overnight campers, although during the day several groups came to use the beach and to ride ATVs, but very quiet by late afternoon."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller rigs only. "I had an 18' Thor Scope B class pulling a kayak trailer. I wouldn't try driving anything much bigger to this end of the trail. I did see a vehicle pull one of those boxy 20' camping trailers into a campsite up the road," advises a Search Bay visitor.
Sand management: Sandy terrain requires attention to vehicle capabilities. At Castle Rock Ponds, "a couple people were here with moderate sized RVs." Another camper notes Wide Waters Dispersed Camping is "fairly large area of sandy meadow, interspersed with copses of trees to give a greater sense of privacy... Fairly good gravel road access, but once you're there, be careful not to get stuck in the sand."
Site selection for connectivity: Cell service varies dramatically. "I don't know if it's just that I came at the right time but didn't see a single mosquito in three days, nor was I bothered by any other bug. There was a 1-3 bar Verizon signal," reports a Search Bay visitor. At other sites, "no T-Mobile, no bugs or mosquitoes when we were there."
