Best Cabin Camping near Garden, 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 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.

Isolated, quiet park on Lake Michigan. Nicely spaced and shaded sites. Some level, many not so great. Big fire rings. Picnic tables. Electric hookups only. Bath and shower facilities very new and nice. Spotty phone service. Historic ghost town within walking distance of the campground. Many buildings open during the day with displays of what life was like when the town was occupied. Great history lesson and very interesting. Although town buildings were locked at night, you could still walk the streets. Spooky but fun! Sunsets on the lake are spectacular. Many hiking trails around the park. Not strenuous and fairly short. However, trails could use better markings.

Stayed for 5 nights. The third party computerized reservation system gave our site to someone else. Fortunately, we were put into a first-come first-served campsite right on the water which is a major upgrade. All of the sites (except for a few paved handicapped sites) are grass. Perimeter sites can be muddy. Interior sites can have enough slope that the trailer A-frame is on the ground in order to level. Electricity is reliable. Restrooms are immaculate. Showers are nice. Dump station with fresh water is clean and works well (2 bay). 

My main complaint is a common, almost universal complain - people are right on top of one another. We have a truck camper 6 feet from our screen room with its AC on high and a very "fun" family sitting right outside our trailer on the other side. The "infield" is much worse - seems like each site has multiple vehicles and space is so tight that they are stacking kayaks. Family groups with clustered sites. Seems like a kennel as well with dogs everywhere. On the plus side: very little music being played, people were respectful, dogs well behaved for the most part without unattended barking dogs, people stayed quiet in off hours. The park itself is small with no biking trails or significant hiking trails. Not a lot of birdlife. They do have a nice beach which is a draw for families. We enjoyed our stay overall. We would return only if we had a waterfront site for a max of 3-4 nights. Off season would be better than summer.