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Best Tent Camping near Hale, MI

435 Reviews

Tent camping opportunities near Hale, Michigan range from established sites to secluded wilderness areas within the surrounding forests. The Rifle River Recreation Area offers Spruce Rustic Campground with tent-friendly sites set in wooded terrain, while the Reid Lake Foot Travel Area provides a more primitive backcountry experience for tent campers seeking solitude. Hoist/Reid Lake Areas feature hiking-accessible tent sites with varying levels of seclusion within the Huron National Forest, providing alternatives to standard campgrounds.

Most tent campsites in the region feature basic amenities with natural settings. Fire rings are common at established sites like Spruce Rustic Campground, though some areas implement seasonal fire restrictions. Vault toilets are available at several locations, particularly in state-managed campgrounds, but backcountry sites typically have minimal facilities. Drinking water access varies significantly, with many primitive tent areas requiring campers to bring their own water or filter from nearby lakes and streams. Walk-in tent sites at Reid Lake and Hoist areas require hikers to pack in all supplies, as no vehicle access reaches these secluded camping locations.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Hale offers exceptional seclusion and natural surroundings. The Reid Lake Foot Travel Area features multiple backpacking shelters and designated tent sites along forested trails, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced backcountry campers. Many tent sites provide good shade coverage and proximity to water features. The Hoist/Reid Lake loop trail system connects numerous primitive tent camping spots with varying degrees of privacy. A review noted, "It is such a great weekend hike to some beautiful backcountry scenery. Not heavily trafficked, and most of the campsites have a pretty decent set up from past campers." Wildlife encounters are common, particularly in the less-developed areas, where campers might hear coyotes or observe other forest animals from their tent sites.

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Best Tent Sites Near Hale, Michigan (37)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Hale, MI

8 Photos of 37 Hale Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Hale, MI

435 Reviews of 37 Hale Campgrounds

  • Cam N.
    Oct. 22, 2018

    Negwegon State Park Campground

    Great place to start your backpacking obsession

    If you're looking at getting into backpacking or unsure if backpacking is for you, Negwegon is a great place to start. First of all, each of the sites are only a mile or two away from the parking lot of the park. This gives newbies the chance to take a small hike in for that backcountry feel. Second, each site has a fire ring and picnic table... and a vault toilet. This means you get a few of the comforts of car camping but with beautiful views of Lake Huron and limited interaction with humans. Staying at Blue Bell, site #1, we were treated with Lake Huron just about 100 feet away from our campsite. We had the chance to check out site #3– for those that love sand, that is the spot for you.

    As for the camping site overall, #1 is a great start. It is about 75 feet off of the trail, but in the fall, foot traffic was very limited. The wind provided us with plenty of fallen limbs and brush to start a fire. If you pack a hatchet, options are expanded to larger fallen branches. There are a few spots on the site to pitch your tent– with it being windy, we setup tucked in a flat area surrounded by thick evergreen trees that provided wind protection. Lake Huron is very clear and we filtered about 10 cups of water to drink throughout our stay.

    Going in mid-fall, be prepared for that breeze blowing off of the lake, we came prepared for the cold, if you don't, you'll be miserable. Upsides of camping in the fall, limited to no bugs. We didn't have any issue with bugs and in fact, we saw no wildlife at all– even including a hike up past site #4.

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2019

    Jones Lake State Forest Campground

    Peaceful spot, plenty of room

    Seems much larger than most state forest campgrounds in Michigan. There are 6 loops here with numerous sites on each loop. And yet, you don't feel crowded in and there's decent privacy in many of the sites. Jones Lake is peaceful and offers some great sunsets. Dirt road leading in is in decent shape and navigable by any size rig. Some of the sites may require some tight maneuvering for larger rigs but site size is good overall. Trees offer good shade cover at different times of the day depending on site location.

    Rustic campground, so no water or electric are available, but there are vault toilets, as well as trash and recycling receptacles.

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.

    We had a very pleasant stay.

    Deecnt cell coverage -- 2 bars LTE on Verizon, 2-3 bars LTE on Google Fi.

  • Lexi G.
    Jul. 30, 2020

    4-Mile Trail Camp DNR

    Cheap horse camp

    It’s never busy here. I don’t have horses but I’ve seen people stay with horse trailers with their tie outs to the poles that are designed for it. There’s trails in the surrounding areas. Also water pump and vault toilets. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided as well.

  • Margaret W.
    Jul. 9, 2019

    Negwegon State Park Campground

    Negwegon State Park site 3, Pewabic

    Sand, pine trees, vault toilet, fire ring, gorgeous views, serenity, bear pole - my family adores this place. It is possibly the nicest camping we've done in Michigan. Water filter is a MUST unless you want to walk to the parking lot every time you need potable water. None of us ever got sick drinking the filtered lake water. Kayaking and canoeing in is easy. We have walked in, too. Having a wheeled cart is nice for bringing in large family-sized tents and other heavier items.

  • Kate K.
    Sep. 3, 2019

    Avery Lake State Forest Campground

    Little Rustic Campground

    This place was really nice and not very busy. It’s on a beautiful lake that is great for swimming and boating. It has a few walk in sites that have beach access. All sites include picnic table and fire pit. Shared rustic vault toilets available. There is a nice boat launch located within the campground as well.

  • L
    Oct. 15, 2020

    Canoe Harbor State Forest Campground & Canoe Camp

    Spacious campsites, well-maintained campground.

    We spent three nights at Canoe Harbor in mid-September 2020 and thought it was wonderful. Campsites were spacious and had nice stands of trees in between to provide privacy. Fire rings had a great design. Vault toilets were kept clean and stocked. Paths from campsites connect to the Au Sable and to hiking trails. We loved this campground.

  • Mike B.
    Sep. 21, 2018

    Muskrat Lake State Forest Campground

    Easy to ride ORVs or dirt bikes from

    This rustic campground is right on the ORV route. This means you can camp here and even ride in you Jeep or side by side right from camp.

    I stayed here and rode dirt bikes from jere and swam in the lake afterwards. It was refreshing and there is a small sandy area to swim out of.

    The lake is very peaceful and quiet. Great for kayaking or canoeing! There are no houses on the small lake and it is typically calm water.

    The campground has vault toilets, camp fire rings, and picnic tables. The fee is $15 per night and is paid at the entrance.

    There is a water pump here so fresh water is available. There is also a dumpster for your trash.

    I will be coming back as it is easy to get to as well.

  • Nona A.
    Aug. 30, 2017

    Sleeper State Park Campground

    A nice campground for a weekend by the water

    Sleeper State Park Campground is located a few miles north of Caseville, MI. This is a modern campground, and has 226 camp sites, and 1 mini cabin. The campground sits right off of M25, so I recommend getting a site towards the back. We unfortunately were only able to get sites at the front and the road noise was obnoxious, 3 a.m. cars and trucks flying by. Campground, bathrooms, and showers were all kept very clean. Most sites are set up for trailers, and RV’s, and tents. There are a few sites that are tent only sites. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit and electric hook up. There is firewood available at the park office for $5 a bundle, they also rent kayaks $10 for 2 hours or $40 for the day. The campgrounds host site has coffee, tea, and hot chocolate available in the mornings. They also offer activities in the afternoon. Across M25 and part of Sleeper State Park is the beach, and picnic area. There is a walkway overpass that goes over M25 making for a safe walk from camp to the beach. The beach area has a bathroom and drinking water. There are charcoal grills, and picnic tables in the picnic area around the parking lot. The beach is a lovely stretch of shoreline along the Saginaw bay.

  • D G.
    Jul. 5, 2020

    Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground

    Hidden Inland Lake Gem

    Rustic first come first serve sites. Well water pump and vault toilets. No shower. We started on spot 8 but moved to 21 after one night - 8 was near the toilets and you get the occasion whiff of poop while 21 is on lake and more secluded. All the spots are very large with picnic table and fire pit. No grate for cooking so be sure to pack. The lake is small but good for kayak & paddle boarding. Areas of sand but fairly murky. We swam and floated for a few hours in tubes. My friend did catch a handful of bluegill.

Guide to Hale

The region surrounding Hale, Michigan features a mix of hardwood forests, wetlands, and inland lakes within the Huron National Forest. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F while fall brings cooler camping conditions with nighttime temperatures dropping to 40-50°F. Many tent sites in this area require hiking to access, with distances ranging from under 1 mile to 4 miles from parking areas.

What to do

Fishing access points: Spruce Rustic Campground provides convenient river access for trout anglers. "There's an access point to Gamble Creek between sites 171 and 173," notes Jason N. about Spruce Rustic Campground.

Trail exploration: The Reid Lake area offers interconnected trails suitable for day hiking or backpacking loops. "The trail is easy to follow and the camping areas are simple to find," explains Kate K. about the Hoist/Reid Lake Areas. These trails range from 4-8 miles depending on your chosen route.

Water activities: Kayaking opportunities exist throughout the region's lakes and rivers. "We went kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and fishing. The wildlife is plentiful and the lake is full of fish," shares Lisa R. about her experience at Arrowhead Lake Camp.

What campers like

Spacious, private sites: Pine River Campground offers well-separated tent sites. "Great sites where you don't feel like you are on top of other campers," mentions John H. about Pine River Campground.

Quieter camping options: Several campgrounds in the Hale area provide peaceful settings away from crowds. "It's quiet and just peaceful!" writes Willow W. about Pine River Campground. Similarly, Browns Landing offers tranquil settings with "sun rises here are my favorite," according to camper Tammy.

Established campsites: Many backcountry sites come with previously established amenities. Jacob S. notes about Reid Lake Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area: "Some campsites and campfire pits" are available, though some may become overgrown over time.

What you should know

Water considerations: Lake water requires proper filtration before drinking. "Bring good filtration, mosquito eggs coat all of the shorelines for the lakes," advises Jacob S. about Reid Lake Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area.

Wildlife awareness: This is active wildlife habitat requiring proper food storage. "The wildlife will get curious if you leave something out so hang your garbage-this is bear country. Neighboring campers brought coyotes last year because they didn't pack up their food," warns Krystal N. about Cathedral Pines Campground.

Seasonal access: Most campgrounds have limited seasonal availability. Pine River Campground operates from "May 15 to September 13," while Browns Landing RV Park runs "May 1 to Oct 31," making fall camping options more limited.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly backpacking: Reid Lake offers accessible sites for introducing children to backpacking. "This is not a drive-up campground. There are many backpacking shelters (and pit toilets) scattered throughout the easy forested trails here, so it's the perfect place to take a first-time backpacker or a group of scouts," recommends Dan N.

Kid-friendly water areas: Some locations offer shallow water access appropriate for children. "The river is shallow by the steps so its great for the kids," notes Krystal N. about Cathedral Pines Campground.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to observe local wildlife. Browns Landing provides access to a "bike path that goes all the way into Tawas. About 9 miles. It goes thru the woods and is just lovely with jasmine and lilac bushes and views of Lake Huron," according to Tammy.

Tips from RVers

RV accessibility limitations: Most tent camping areas around Hale have restricted RV access. Jason N. notes about Spruce Rustic Campground: "I got my 20' trailer back there no problem," indicating smaller trailers can access some rustic sites, but larger RVs should seek alternative campgrounds.

Remote location planning: The isolated nature of many campgrounds requires bringing all supplies. "Trail is easy enough and there are so many different spots to camp along the way. It is foot travel only and most sites are a decent hike to get to," explains Hayden about Hoist/Reid Lake Areas, highlighting the need for proper packing for remote sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Hale, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hale, MI is Spruce Rustic Campground — Rifle River Recreation Area with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Hale, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Hale, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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