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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hugs the Lake Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles along Michigan's northern coast. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, and most pristine of all the Great Lakes. In addition to boating and kayaking on the lake, the park's backcountry offers nearly 100 miles of walking and hiking trails and opportunities for solitude, inspiration, physical challenge, renewal, and camping. Access to Pictured Rocks' backcountry is primarily along the 'Lakeshore Trail', a part of the 42-mile long North Country National Scenic Trail where you can experience forests, dunes, beaches, waterfalls and wonderful panoramic views. Please download the Backcountry Camping Planner form the park website for complete details. The backcountry campgrounds are accessed by hiking or kayaking only. A backcountry camping permit is required year-round for all overnight trips into the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore backcountry. Permits are not required for day hiking. To assist in planning an overnight backcountry trip into Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, take time to carefully plan and prepare for your adventure. Pictured Rocks offers fourteen backcountry campgrounds, that are located at two to five mile intervals along the Lakeshore Trail. Private shuttle services are available. The permit holder must print and retain one copy of the permit when hiking to the campground; permit must be visibly secured to tent at campsite. You will be assigned a campsite number at every backcountry campground. Permit holder may have only one permit reserved at one time. Camp only in designated sites and follow permit itinerary. You must camp within 15 feet (4.5 m) of the numbered post at your chosen campsite. Individual campsites are available for groups of 1-6 people (2 tents or hammocks maximum, or 1 tent and 1 hammock). Groups of 7-20 people and up to a 10 tent max. must camp in designated group sites. Each campground has a specific capacity; campsites within each backcountry campground are identified by a numbered post.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers 100 miles (161 km) of hiking trails leading to waterfalls, beaches, forest wilderness, cultural sites, and breathtaking cliff-top views of Lake Superior. Whether you have only a few minutes, hours, or days to see a portion of the lakeshore, one of these hikes may be for you. Lake Superior's rugged shoreline invites individuals to explore the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with its miles of colorful sandstone cliffs and long stretches of sandy beaches. Watch the weather carefully while on the lake. The weather can change suddenly and unexpectedly. Just because it's calm in Munising Bay or Grand Marais Harbor does not mean it is calm along the more distant shores. The Pictured Rocks cliffs rise 50 to 200 feet (15 to 61 m) directly from the lake, offering precious few protected places if the wind and waves increase.
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound!
Cancellation Policy: Prior to printing your permit, you may cancel any time before your reservation date and receive a 50% refund of all backcountry camping permit fees ($5 per person, per night). The $15 reservation fee is non-refundable. If you have printed your permit, there are no refunds. Change Policy:Prior to printing your permit, you may make changes to your permit before your reservation date. Changes may be made to the group size, campground, and the duration of your trip. An additional $15 non-refundable fee will be charged for changes.Changes may be made to the group size through your Recreation.gov account or through the Call Center and may incur additional backcountry camping permit fees or be refunded these fees depending on whether you increase or decrease your group size. If decreasing your numbers, you will receive a full refund of the backcountry camping permit fees for the numbers you are decreasing only. A change to the duration of the trip or campground may only be made through the Call Center. For changes to the duration of the trip, you may incur additional backcountry camping permit fees or be refunded these fees depending on whether you increase or decrease your number of nights. If decreasing your numbers, you will receive a full refund of the backcountry camping permit fees for the numbers you are decreasing only.To change your entry date, you must cancel your permit and reserve a new permit. All fees apply. No Show Policy: If you do not print your permit by 11:59 p.m. on the first day of your scheduled trip, your entire backcountry camping permit will be canceled. No refunds. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to use it to open space for others.
This rustic campground sits on the coast of Lake Superior. Located six miles west of Muskallonge Lake State Park and 12 miles east of Grand Marais, this campground is in a great location for a weekend of adventure. Explore the sandy beach of Lake Superior or take a hike on the 7.3-mile Blind Sucker Pathway which runs alongside the campground. The Blind Sucker No. 1 state forest campground is one mile southeast of the campground and is located on the Blind Sucker Flooding, which offers opportunities for fishing and paddlesports.
There are 18 sites for tent and small trailer use. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities include vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 34 miles northwest of Newberry via M-123 and County Road 407. Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations.
$10 - $20 / night
This rustic campground is located on Lake Superior at the mouth of the Two Hearted River. The campground offers excellent opportunities for fishing, paddlesports and hiking on the national North Country Trail. There is a day-use area on the banks of the river that has picnic tables and a charcoal grill. A developed boat launch and skid pier are adjacent to the day-use area. Visitors can cross the Two Hearted River via a suspension bridge on the west side of the campground to reach the shores of Lake Superior.
There are 36 sites for tent and small trailer use. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities include vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 31.5 miles northeast of Newberry via M-123 and County Roads 500, 414, 412 and 423. Sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations.
$20 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
$15 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Guide
Blind Sucker campground made our August of 2017 camping trip enjoyable and unforgettable. Our rustic camp site was located right on the North Country Trail which was ideal for morning hiking and adventuring. Also, there is access to Blind Sucker flooding where you fish and kayak. This campground was approximately a 35 min drive from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and only 25 min from Grand Marais (an awesome little town right on Lake Superior).
ScoutBusy weekend in the area, but this little gem had some openings. My wife and I grabbed a site next to the water. We were camping in a tent, but their would have been plenty of room for a sizeable RV. Decent shore fishing near the campground. Short hike or drive to Lake Superior beaches. Easy drive to Grand Marias if you needed something. No hesitation to stay here again.
Scout
It was a very good site, limited facilities but good for tent camping. Some sites have view of the lake. There were 5 sites left when we got there around 9 at night.
Traveler
Went on a week long trip through the U.P. This was our first stop coming from Detroit. We had a tent site. Showers and bathrooms were clean. Was about 5 minutes outside Munising. Great place to stay if your planning on visiting pictured rocks. It’s right on the lake too with boat rentals if you just want to hang around your campsite. Friendly staff. Laundry facilities. Only thing we didn’t care for was tent sites were kinda right on top of each other. But had larger sites for RVs and electric hook ups. Again just stayed for the one night to jump to the porcupine mountains.
GuideThis campground is more for families. There are RV sites and tent sites. Laundry is available as well as as all store. The management is wonderful, friendly, and the showers always have hot water.
Scout
My wife and I have tent camped here multiple times and love it. We typically go mid to late September and there are very few other campers. We love the quite peacefulness. The lake is great for a relaxing canoe or kayak. We talk about going back every time we go camping.
Ranger
Friendly staff, gorgeous sunsets from Lake Superior's shore, water + electric sites, dump station, hot showers. There are some tent sites along the shore that look amazing. Next time we'll be paddling to Grand Island. We stayed at the end of September.
Traveler
it’s very lovely here, my favourite part is that lake superior is a walk away. If you are an adventurous person as well there is a trail that goes through the woods that leads to sable falls! People are kind and respectful for the most part. It can be hard tent camping in a campground because any outside noise is rough on sleep. But the campground in her real is lovely all around.
TravelerNice RV park but just not our cup of tea. Sites are really open to one another although the lakefront sites have great beach access to Lake Superior. Even at the “rustic tent sites”, you will see your neighbor clearly. Bathrooms and showers were clean, friendly staff. Just wish there were more trees or sites were spread out more
Traveler
Bay Furnace Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest is what you expect from a NF campground. Sites are very secluded in a well wooded area with a few sites right on the Lake Superior shore with a view of Grand Island. Most sites are very level and good for tent camping. Non-electric sites gives the campground a rustic feel. The shoreline is excellent for walking the beach and looking at the beautiful washed stones, but there are no sanding areas to swim (if you could even brave the cold water).
Legend
We did some hiking here and were pleased with the park and campground. I think tent camping would be ideal here, but we did see one small trailer. It is a small campground which meant it was very quiet mid-week. There were a couple boats that launched while we were there, but not a whole lot of other activity. We always appreciate shaded, water front sites and these were great. About a 45 minute drive to Munising. We took the cruise to check out pictured rocks and it was amazing- recommend that as well as the campground :)
Guide
Arrived here late after finding no sites at Mouth of the Two Hearted. Found an excellent tent site that comfortably accommodated 2 tents and a sleeping hammock. Site also had beach access so our kayaks could launch easily. There seemed to be to be a decent number of fishermen in the morning, but our own fishing attempts were unsuccessful.
Bodi Lake trail looked interesting, but my feet were killing me from hiking Taquamenon earlier that day, and we were eager to get back to 2 Heart. Looking forward to coming back at a future date to try it out.
ScoutI stayed at Bodi Lake on 9/23/21 in site 11. It was a nice secluded site not far from the vault toilets and quiet which is always a plus. The only downside to my stay and a warning to those who may be planning to visit is that it rained heavily and the site flooded very quickly. I've camped other places in the rain but this was the worse I've experienced in terms of flooding. Not knocking the campground in any way, just saying that if you are tent camping and rain is in the forecast, maybe don't pick site 11. I can see why they don't, but it would be nice if the SFC's had raised tent pads like some other campgrounds.
Ranger
We only stayed here one night but the kids had a lot of fun, they have a lot of outdoor toys. There were kids everywhere.
Outhouse and showers were clean
Electric hook up
Filled water at dump station We stayed in site 10 it was quiet and away from the core of the noise
Friendly staff Seasonals were a little wild and loud, I like to have fun so it didn’t bother me much but they didn’t always watch the kids, only complaint.
6 minutes back into the town near the River is a little gas station / general store —- best Pasties!
Cabins available Rustic tent sites available
$48 after tax site 10 electric travel trailer site.
Guide
Spent one night here with my dog. I was looking for a place to unplug and I sure got what I was looking for. Have to admit I was a bit out of my element for tent camping at this location. There were others camping at this site with RVs, a boat and off road vehicles. They were more prepared for the wilderness! They told me about a pack of wolves roaming around and how they would snatch up my pup if given the opportunity and my girl had a growl off with something in the woods that night. Might have been a wolf! Mosquitos were crazy and there were some giant turtles that seemed to be taking over the whole area. Beautiful view of the big lake.
Scout
Rustic, well pump water, vaulted toilets. There are 23 campsite all within close walking distance to the water, bug spray is a must.
We have camped here for 7 years and look forward to coming back each year. We do camp on non-holiday weekends to avoid crowds. This camp ground is always fairly empty. In seven years we have seen maybe a total of 9 other sites occupied.
There are hiking trails that have some beautiful scenery (bring bug spray) and a beach front that is just amazing. Depending on the water level there is plenty of beach and great for a day in the water.
Perfect place for tent camping but it can also accommodated small to medium RV/campers.
This place is great for relaxation and getting in touch with nature.
RangerI unexpectedly ended up staying here, and I'm so glad the circumstances led me to it. I had my heart set on stay at Twelve Mile Beach Campground but that and Hurricane River were both full. I drove back to Grand Marias and stayed here. Overall a wonderful experienc. Tons of spots. For a township park rates were reasonable. A little better signage for the tent only area would have been nice, i ended up setting up on a full hookup site and payed significantly more than a tent site would have costed. Restrooms were clean and nice, awesome hot showered, BUT they are all closed for an hour in the morning for cleaning. I'm all for a good clean bathroom, but 9 to 10 a.m. is prime bathroom time in my experience. So semi inconvenient.
Scout
There are only a handuful of sites on this lake and the sites are all one right next to each other. NO hookups, large handicap accessible privy, large and well maintained fire rings. There is a hand water pump but since this is such a rustic setup, I wouldn't trust it to be potable without treating or filtering it first. Sites were very pretty, pull in sites. Small camper or trailer could probably fit. I tent camped so it was no problem. Sites are right on the water so you can swim right from your campsite. The couple next to me launched their canoe for an evening paddle. Didn't see much wildlife except for a pair of pigeons and assorted chipmunks and squirrels. Very special falling asleep to the loons on the lake. I would have given it 5 stars if the sites had been further apart. However, the other campers were very quiet and respectful of each other.
Traveler
Muskallonge Lake is a little bit off the beaten path of the typical UP camping trip but if you can make it, it's an amazing stop. Facilities are fine but the main draw is the combination of the small inland lake (Muskallonge) and big lake right across the street. We stayed at a tent site right near Muskallonge Lake and caught the sunset on the big lake and stargazed out by the small dock they have on Muskallonge. Staff was more than helpful in accommodating us to park our car near the entrance (this stay was the beginning of a week long bikepacking trip). Overall a great stay
Other things to note: Very minimal cell service, as is most of the Upper Peninsula. There is a store just down the road that has all the necessities asl. Photo is of the sunset on the big lake.
Guide
Abundant beauty in the UP. Hike a little or a lot. Ride on a boat or paddle a kayak. So many ways to enjoy the beauty. There are several short (less than a mile) walks to gorgeous waterfalls. If you are more ambitious and able hike the Chapel Falls Loop. Feeling lazy, sit on the beach at Grand Marais and walk the little town and grab ice cream. The NTC runs 42 miles through the National Lakeshore if you are up for a multi day backpack. Lodging in Munising and Grand Marais, primitive camping in between.
Guide
Right on Lake Superior and the North Country Trail! Also, it is just moments from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Grand Marais. Our pup loved running on the beach.
Legend
Blind Sucker Campground deserves a visit just for the funny name alone. This campground is located in Lake Superior State Forest off County Road 407 about 13 miles east of Grand Marais. The gravel road leading here has some pretty bad washboard sections that will rattle your teeth and some potholes that would swallow your car, but hey, this is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a little off the beaten path.
Nothing fancy here. This is a great little rustic campground with 32 non-reserveable sites (all on a first come, first served basis) buried under trees set on a lake. The shady sites are suitable for tents and small RVs and makes for a nice place to rest and relax. When we visited, there was only one other camper as this campground is not as popular as Blind Sucker #1 and the nearby Lake Muskallonge State Park. There is potable water from a hand pump and vault toilets which much to our delight were clean, stocked with toilet paper and didn’t smell even on warm days.
The lake has a pathway going down the lake for a short hike or for bank fishing. We were set to go for a walk and cast a line until the bothersome black flies changed our plans. There is also a 6-7 mile trail that passes through the campground for a longer hike and connects to the There is a boat launch but other than that, there are no amenities. If you are looking for a place to swim where you don’t have to worry about leeches, just across the road a short distance away is Lake Superior. The lake is perfectly refreshing and the beach was completely empty of people which made for a great place to hang out during the afternoon.
Other camping options in the area are Blind Sucker #1 and Lake Muskellunge State Park (where you can pay for a shower and purchase firewood). Grand Marais has a small market, gas station, hardware store, and some restaurants. Grand Marais is also the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and a great place to explore. Dog owners – be warned that Pictured Rocks NL is not very dog-friendly and they are allowed in very few places and just a couple of short trails.
GuidePositioned at a good distance from the town of Munising, meaning far enough so you feel disconnected, but still close enough to were you can quickly reach the town, this campground is easily one of the best in the area and one of my favorites. Complete with entities such as showers, this campground overlooks Grand Island and various other smaller islands, resting in Lake Superior, it really makes you feel like you are in a movie. One of the hidden gems of this campground is the rustic tent sites, which allow you to camp on the beach, have fires on the beach under the stars, and wake up to the sound of gently crashing waves. It also is a good size campground, creating the family neighborhood atmosphere and with the way it is designed and the view it gives, it helps make connect with nature and fellow campers in a cool way. If you want to explore Pictured Rocks, and camping is your thing, this is the place to go.
GuideGorgeous primitive sites in Pictured Rocks. No cell service for many miles. We stayed at site 19 lake side. A large private site with many trees. A short walk behind our site lead to a gorgeous overlook of Lake Superior. Great location near all of the beauty of Pictured Rocks. Campground had pit toilets, water, and lots of bear safe trash cans. There is no shower so bring your camp soap and shower or wash up in the lake. We picked up wood near Grand Marais, but you can find it for sale coming in from Munising too. Summer south winds may bring the stable flies. We had real problems when hiking and they were annoying at our site as well. If you have a screened in pop up, bring it. Be sure to check out the natural wonders but also the adorable town of Grand Marais. We hope to be back in fall when the flies may leave us alone.
Legend
This park is a KOA property and just did not work for us. It is a typical KOA meaning it is packed with campsites, kids screaming at the pool, and where you get a “nothing special” overpriced campsite. The campground has rental cabins, tent sites, and sites perfectly suitable for RVs of any size. Some of the roads are a little narrow and there are some low hanging branches but nothing to prevent large RVs from staying here. A number of sites have full hookups with cable, some have electric and water, and some have no hook-ups. Tent sites set off to one side of the park which is not very close to the bathroom or you can pitch a tent on RV sites.
As for amenities, they are typical of a standard private park being heated swimming pool, horseshoe pits, playground, laundry and camp store. They advertise 440 aces with hiking trails but I never found hiking trails. There is one section on the east side that has old roads you can walk but I would not call it a trail.
Let me explain some of the things we didn’t like about this park. The bathroom situation was bad. They just did not have large enough facilities for volume of people in the park using the facilities. Even though they cleaned it daily, it got wrecked in no time because of the sheer number of users and discourteous campers. The laundry room was nice and clean but only had three washers and three dryers so you either had to wait or wash at odd times. The roads, as well as your site and patio, were dust and sand which made for a constant mess. Our site (#15) was not level and we just gave up after a while. I’m not sure if they limit the number of campers on an individual site (or police it) because the two spots across from us were always loaded with people. There is a dump station but only one RV can dump at a time and it is located near the entrance/exit which caused some traffic issues at peak use times.
The location of this park is good – you are only three miles from downtown Munising and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Just south of the park is the Hiawatha National Forest which is nearly 900,000 acres of beautiful woods, rivers, and lakes with plenty of recreational opportunities. Pictured Rocks Pizza made one of the best Pizzas we have ever had. A narrated boat tour to see the Pictures Rocks coastline is definitely worth the price.
Overall, we did not have a good camping experience and would not return. Alternative campgrounds are thirteen miles south in the Hiawatha National Forest or at the Munising Tourist Park three miles east of town on Lake Superior.
TravelerReally nice park, views of Lake Superior, stairs down to Lake Superior beach, Electric hookups, cable TV hookups, sites big enough to park your RV & boat, firewood is available. In Grand Marais, so stores & gasoline are available near by, don’t take reservations. First come, first served, fills up pretty fast, especially during July. Fish cleaning station, dump stations, Laundry, nice shower house.
GuideExtremely rustic campground. Only 10 sites available on first come first served basis. Set a few miles off the beaten path, a great spot for fishing, kayaking, canoeing & swimming. No cell service available. Ross Lake is beautiful. There is pump water & toilets available. My favorite thing about this campground was listening to the haunting loon songs over the lake at night. I will definitely go back. The lake is set right between Munising & Grand Marais.
Tent camping near Grand Marais, Michigan offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grand Marais, MI is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Sites — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with a 4.8-star rating from 21 reviews.
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