Primitive camping sites around Gulliver, Michigan sit within the heavily forested eastern Upper Peninsula, where elevations rarely exceed 900 feet above sea level. Most tent camping spots near Gulliver are located within the Hiawatha National Forest's eastern section, where sandy soil conditions predominate and temperatures can drop below 50°F even during summer nights. Most campgrounds require Michigan Recreation Passports for vehicle entry, though enforcement varies throughout the camping season.
What to do
Hiking Bruno's Run Trail: Access this 9-mile loop trail from Ewing Point Rustic Campsite, which offers "two access points to Bruno's Run Hiking Trail near the parking area." The trail connects to several small lakes and provides moderate terrain suitable for day hiking.
Lake fishing from shore: Fish directly from campgrounds along the shore. At South Gemini Lake State Forest Campground, campers note the "sites on the water are stunning" and describe it as a "super freaking beautiful" location with "hardly many people around."
Exploring Pictured Rocks: Use tent camping areas as a base for exploring this national lakeshore. One camper at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Sites recommends "you could also park at little beaver lake and hike around the lakes. The beach there is nice. Or go to twelve miles beach and hike to the lighthouse."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many primitive tent sites near Gulliver offer good separation. At Lake Superior State Forest Campground, campers appreciate that "The sites are mostly dirt" with many "having beach access." Another camper notes this campground is "right on the shores of the mighty Lake Superior. It is very basic and quite removed from society."
Lakefront access: Multiple campgrounds offer direct water access. At Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite, campers describe it as a "great site located between two lakes" with "multiple pull out spots for dispersed camping along the forest road."
Night sky viewing: The remote location provides exceptional stargazing. At Lake Superior State Forest Campground, one camper reports, "I have never seen so many stars at one time as I did along Lake Superior" and mentions "on clear nights, Star Gazing is Fantastic."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many tent camping areas require navigating dirt roads. At Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite, a camper advises "your best directions will come from locating the site on your GPS and dropping a pin. That took us straight to the location no problem."
Water availability: Water sources vary significantly between campgrounds. At South Gemini Lake State Forest Campground, one camper reports "the hand pump on site for water" while East Branch of Fox River State Forest Campground features "an artesian well" that provides "fantastic" water that's "one of the best we've found in a state campground."
Temperature fluctuations: Summer nights can be cold despite warm days. Near Pictured Rocks, campers should "bring warm clothes, even when visiting in mid-summer, as the wind blowing off shore has a chill to it."
Tips for camping with families
Choose established sites for amenities: For tent camping with children near Gulliver, established sites offer more reliability. At East Branch of Fox River State Forest Campground, campers find "large sites with plenty of flat ground for tenting" and each site includes "a picnic table and a fire pit."
Watch for wildlife viewing opportunities: The area supports diverse wildlife. Lake Superior State Forest Campground has "Bear, Deer, Porcupine, Raccoons and other wildlife are easy to come across."
Consider campground layout: Some campgrounds have distinct sections with different characteristics. At East Branch of Fox River State Forest Campground, the "campsite is split between an upper portion on top of the hill and the lower portion below the hill down by the river."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most tent camping spots near Gulliver have few or no RV amenities. Indian River Campground does accommodate RVs but lacks hookups. One camper describes it as a "nice clean place to camp."
Site selection for smaller rigs: Some campgrounds can accommodate smaller trailers or RVs. A camper at Lake Superior State Forest Campground notes they "got lucky and grabbed one of the last sites available" and mentions it was "very slow going with a camper" due to "at least 11 miles of corrugated dirt road to get to the campground from either way."
Early arrival recommended: First-come, first-served policies apply widely. As one camper at Lake Superior State Forest Campground advises: "All sites are first come first served so get there early if you want a spot."
