Best Tent Camping near Ewen, MI
Tent campsites in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula near Ewen include rustic options scattered throughout national forests and state parks. Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping offers tent-specific sites accessible by hiking, paddling, or walking in, while Union River Rustic Outpost Camp in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park provides secluded tent camping with just three sites. Burned Dam Campground features tent areas situated along the Ontonagon River with access to Mex-i-mine Falls.
Most tent campgrounds in this region have minimal facilities but varied terrain. At Union River Outpost, sites are situated on forested, sometimes sloping ground that may challenge tent placement. Vault toilets are available at Burned Dam and Emily Lake State Forest Campground, but many areas require campers to pack out all waste. Water access varies considerably—campers should bring sufficient supplies as drinking water is limited to hand pumps at select locations. Michigan Department of Natural Resources requires permits for backcountry camping at locations like Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness, where visitors access tent sites only by hiking in. During spring and fall, expect considerable temperature fluctuations and prepare for early winter conditions in October.
The dense forest cover throughout much of the region provides natural privacy between tent sites. According to one visitor, "Union River Outpost felt like nobody else was out here. We had more than enough room to set up and could even have fit additional tents." Walking paths often connect directly to hiking trails, allowing tent campers to explore without relocating camp. At Big Lake State Forest Campground, sites are described as "HUGE" with a "quiet setting right on Big Lake," though recent logging has altered some of the forest canopy. Bug protection is essential, especially at Burned Dam where a camper noted the site was "beautiful, quiet, free campgrounds right next to the Ontonagon River," but warned that "even with bug spray, the assault [from mosquitos and biting flies] was nonstop."