Cabin camping near Gwinn, Michigan offers year-round access to the region's extensive trail networks and waterfronts. The area sits at approximately 1,150 feet above sea level, featuring dense northern hardwood forests that provide substantial shade during summer months. Winter temperatures often drop below 10°F, making winter-ready cabins essential for cold-weather trips to the Upper Peninsula.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Van Riper State Park Campground features connections to multiple hiking paths including the North Country Trail. "There is a fine sandy beach, and playground. The park offers areas for boating, kayaking, and jet skiing, and fishing," notes a visitor who found the park conveniently located "along U.S. Hwy 41 about 40 minutes west of Marquette."
Mountain biking adventures: Rippling Rivers RV Resort stands out for biking enthusiasts with direct trail access. According to one camper, "If you love mountain biking or hiking you stay here. Period. You are right on the trails." Another reviewer mentions the trail access, stating it's "located next to bike trails, orv trails, and the ski hill. Good location."
Water recreation: Several campgrounds offer lake access for swimming and boating. At Superior Times, visitors appreciate the lake activities: "The lake access was great! Warm water and good fishing." Another visitor noted they "enjoyed our time at Superior Times. Kids fished, rode Sea Doos - rented them for $60/hour, played basketball, and had a great time."
What campers like
Winter accessibility: Unlike many seasonal operations, some cabin rentals maintain winter availability. Perkins Park & Campground offers year-round options with varied amenities. A visitor shared, "We stayed in our tents at this site. The sites are reasonably sized and well described on the county website, even details about how level each site is."
Cabin construction quality: The woodwork in many cabins receives positive comments from visitors. The craftsmanship provides both aesthetic appeal and functional benefits. One camper described their cabin experience: "The cabins are very nice and wooded. You can walk across the street to the beach along Lake Superior and are drive distance to Black Rock and Pictured Rock. They even have a brewery in the campground."
On-site entertainment: Country Village RV Park offers amenities beyond basic accommodations. A visitor mentions, "Awesome park. Playground which they are expanding. Large sites as it is a big rig park. Very clean bathrooms. They are adding a large game area and they have a swimming pool and hot tub."
What you should know
Booking requirements: Most cabin facilities require advance payment. At Gitche Gumee RV Park & Campground, payment policies are strict. One reviewer warned about their experience: "Their policy as stated on their website is no refunds for any reason. I get that, if you can't rent it out to someone else."
Site privacy considerations: Spacing between cabins varies significantly between campgrounds. Many reviewers note the proximity to neighbors: "The sites are well layout, with a good amount a space between sites. Full hookups and everything worked well."
Seasonal insects: Upper Peninsula camping means dealing with insects during warmer months. One visitor noted, "There were a lot of bugs while we were there, so it was hard to stay outdoors for a long period of time during certain times of the day. But this is the Mid-west and it is just part of this region of the US."
Tips for camping with families
Water play structures: Several campgrounds feature specialized water equipment. A family visiting Michigamme Shores Campground reported: "There were several Large floating climbing structures in the swim area. Kids were having a blast. Great sandy beach with resort style lounge chairs. Large grassy area adjacent to the beach."
Kid-friendly amenities: Munising-Pictured Rocks KOA offers family-oriented facilities. One visitor notes, "Has a dog run, facilities including showers/bathrooms/laundry, along with a general store! Decent lot sizes for tents and cabins."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds maintain playgrounds for younger visitors. A camper at Van Riper State Park mentioned, "My kids made some of their best memories ever camping here. Lots of families, positive environment. Clean campground and park, helpful staff. Swam and paddled on Lake Michigamme for hours. Huge beach with volleyball net."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: At Pictured Rocks RV Park and Campground, specific sites offer advantages. A reviewer noted, "This is a very wide open center, or back in to Wooded sites. All site are very large and spacious. Picnic tables and site rings. Check in at noon, check out at noon."
Full hookup availability: Many cabins sit within campgrounds offering complete RV services. According to visitors, "Newer campground, not much shade but outer ring surrounded by trees. Site 50 has beautiful view. Hook ups are very nice quality."
Off-season advantages: Several visitors recommend booking cabins outside peak summer months. One camper noted, "We were there in the fall so not as packed in, but would imagine it would be tight during peak season."
