Best Glamping near Hiawatha National Forest, MI

City run campground on lake superior. Beautiful views, sandy shore. Most sites have water and electricity, some have sewer hookup. Some walk in sites on the shoreline. We camped on site 5. Pros:

1. Huge, wide open site, no trees.
2. lakefront site, great view.
3. great spot to base camp, near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Island National Recreation Area, and the Hiawatha National Forest.
   Cons:
4. water and electric are far apart,meaning I had to run 55' of electric cord and 75' of water hose in opposite directions to hook up.
5. no buffer for strong winds off lake superior
6. highway is very close to the campground, noise is constant
7. some sites are low and flood after rains

The U.P. has so much to offer if you're into the great outdoors. Jack Pine is a small campground in the Hiawatha National Forest. It's a big attraction for Quads and dirt bikes during the summer and I'm told snowmobiles, during the winter. Being that in the summer, it doesn't get dark until 10 pm, you can spend all day and most of the evening riding the trails. This year, the gnats were just about unbearable, but no fault of the campground (welcome to the UP). Camp Hosts Fred and Nancy, were extremely nice and helpful. The bar/restaurant on site, is a plus if you're wanting a quick bite or cocktail. They do have decent wifi throughout the campground, which is good because there was no Verizon signal. The cabins had Satellite, but they were in an open field, the campsites are in the pines, which may cause poor reception. They sell firewood for $5 a bundle. There's a small camp store, with a few necessities & ice. Bathrooms were clean, and showers were enclosed with a locking door. I would definitely stay here again, but I will bring my netted gazebo, to keep the gnats and flies at bay.

The main attraction in Munising is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. If you can’t get into the campgrounds in Pictured Rocks this site is a good alternative due to its proximity (three miles) the downtown and the entrance to the park. The campground is located right on Lake Superior so some of the sites have great water views and you have access to the lake for swimming and boating. Waterfront sites are great but when we were there it was really windy as the north winds were blowing hard off the lake.

This is one of those parks that really fills up in the summer, so book early (which you can do online). The park has 127 sites that are a mix of tent, water/electric, and water/electric/sewer and it seems like sites are placed haphazardly and are close to your neighbor. In some ways, the quality of your stay depends on your site. When we were there it had rained the day prior and some sites were really wet and muddy making it hard to go from your car to camper. The park is on M-28 so it is easy to get in and out of but means that sites along the road are noisy as this is a heavily traveled road. 

There is a little store in office that sells wood for $7 but we found it cheaper down the street. They advertise free WiFi but we were never able to get a good connection so we gave up and used our Verizon hotspot (which worked well).

Our intention was to put our kayaks in the lake and paddle around Pictured Rocks NL but upon learning how dangerous that can be in our recreational kayaks we opted for a sunset boat cruise instead. This was a good option and we loved the narrated 2 ½ - hour cruise. Unfortunately, it was completely overcast and the cliffs were not as colorful as they would be if the sun had been out. There are lots of waterfalls in the area and since there had been lots of rain prior to our visit they were pretty spectacular. Definitely plan on spending time hiking in Pictured Rocks NL but beware there are lots of restrictions on where dogs can go (basically just developed areas like parking lots and campgrounds). The nearby Hiawatha National Forest is a great place for hiking and paddling. Another paddling option is the Au Train Canoe Trail which is close to the campground and has a public boat launch.

Campground Review: Indian Lake State Park, South Shore, has become my favorite State Park in Michigan! This was my first visit, and I'm in love. Great location, well maintained. 5 minutes from Kitchitikipi, or the Big Springs, 5 minutes from Lake Michigan. Lovely lakeside spacious sites.

Gear Review: La Siesta Travel Hammock- very cool, compact hammock! My first ever hammock/hammock experience, and it was a huge success! Easy up, easy down, the rigging was easy and simple to figure out. Tips and hints about where to locate your hammock, hammock angling, etc. would be appreciated in the instructions. Overal a great product though.

unable to find a site at Pictured Rocks we were directed to this state forest campground. it was our first stay at a SF campground in Michigan and since we have sought them out and stayed in many. gorgeous lake surrounded by dense forest. sites are secluded, some are on the lake. perfect place if you’re looking to get away from it all. we were there in September after labor day only one other site was occupied.

Super popular first come, first served campground. We checked out all the sites online (there are even pictures of each site!) and had planned which ones were favorites. Sites are all near the beach or amongst the dunes. Sites were large and some shaded but not super secluded, but the views and ambiance made it a favorite camping trip. The drawback, as in many Upper Michigan campgrounds and parks, were black (biting) flies :( So try to plan your trip before they are too bad!

This is one of my favorite campsites in Michigan. We happen to stumble upon it after endlessly searching for a spot at Pictured Rocks. There is a beautiful sand bottomed lake for swimming on many sites are right on the lake. The lake also connects to several other small lakes in the area. You can kayak or canoe to each lake during the day. The sites are large and from what I remember they have vault toilets. No showers. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table and some firendly chipmunks.

Set up your tent on the sands of Lake Superior and take in the view. That makes this the most amazing campground in Michigan. Period. The views are magnificent. We were able to cook dinner over the fire while watching some of the finest sunsets in Pictured Rocks. The vault toilets are surprisingly clean and there is drinking water available. There are also bear proof bins available for hikers who might not have a vehicle.

The downside is the secret about this place has gotten out and the 36 sites pretty much stay filled all year round. It's a first come, first serve campground.

We stayed here on the very last night they were open this season. The staff was very friendly and they actually had campsites that were more private then almost all the Michigan state parks we have stayed at. It was a bit pricey for camping $40 for a pop up truck camper with only electric and water. 

They have hot showers that were clean and looked taken care of. They have a  playground, playroom and a pool. None of this was open during our visit but I imagine in the summer it is all going strong and the kids have a blast. My one complaint was it is pretty close to the road and during a heavy tourist season it could probably be pretty loud.

Twelvemile Beach sits along a foredune of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an intensely remote stretch of shoreline with Grand Marais to the east and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to the west.

As you pull in, you find the entrance road winds through a white birch forest. I've been to Twelvemile in the spring, summer and autumn and find the forest enchanting with every season. The road takes an abrupt left turn and runs parallel to the Lake, unseen until now. This begins the loop that is Twelvemile Beach Campground.

There are pros and cons to both lakeside sites ($16/night) and the wooded sites ($14/night) across the road. Bugs, wind, and the freshwater gales ol' Gitche Gumee likes to toss up should all be taken into account when choosing a site, but it's safe to say that a lakeside site is always preferred in my book. They run along the dune ridge with sweeping views of Lake Superior and the constant breeze helps keeps bugs at bay (usually).

Sites are generous in size and quite private, especially if you visit in spring and autumn. Access to the beach is plentiful and the North Country Trail actually cuts straight through the campground. Poison ivy has never been an issue for me here. Sites are first come, first served.

If you're visiting during the summer season, get there early and catch sites in the morning as people leave. It sounds extreme but it's well worth the effort (you'll thank me when you're swinging in your hammock as the poor souls who arrive in the afternoon drive through, again and again, hoping for an opening.) I can't recommend Twelvemile Beach enough. Getting there is a journey, but the destination will become one of your favorite places on earth.

The lodge has exceptional food and the camp store carries a little bit of everything

Jack's Pine Lodge was an amazing neat little campground. They only have about two or three dozen sites but all are full hook ups and the location is amazing too. In the middle of the National Forest, smack in the middle of the UP. Everything is about 45 minutes away, but you'll get an amazing night sky and great camping hosts.

I have absolutely nothing but positive things to say. I am more one to frequent rustic and secluded campgrounds. I found this place on a whim years ago... and now JackPine has a special place in my heart.

When I need to truly rest my bones, this is my go to in this neck of the woods.

Clean and warm cabins, modern and rustic campsites, bathhouse, a super cool bar, cold beer, great food and nothing but exceptional and friendly staff. Not to mention... WIFI throughout the property. When you go to the bar- be sure to grab a JackPine Burger and fries.

I have traveled almost every corner of The Yoop. I have not found a campground (of the modern and resort nature) that nearly compares to this place. Not in quality of stay or the constant desire to return.

Great campground!

Book early to get a spot. It’s clean, quiet and caters to riders. It has a shower building, 2 washers and 2 dryers, restaurant, store (only open certain hours), ice, dump station and 91 octane fuel on site. There is direct trail access from the property, and they provide a free ORV hand washing station and air for tires. There is free WIFI for guests and you can also purchase a faster internet speed. I love that the campsites are not on top of each other and there are trees between the neighboring campsite. They cut tress branches to clean open spots for RVs. Most sites have water/sewage and 30 or 50amp service. There is a dog run in the back of the property for small dogs.

Overall a very nice campground. Small beach area on the lake, playground, and boats available to rent. We’ve stayed in the water/electric sites and they are all very nice, but a bit of a walk from the bath house.

An awesome campground tucked away in the U.P. Big rig access(46’ 5th wheel). Nice concrete pads, full hook up and cable. The staff is great and helpful. Secluded and quiet.

I am rarely harsh with my reviews unless it is deserved, and this is deserved. What a dump! The bathhouse needs to be demolished! It’s disgusting. I would think an establishment like this would be concerned about ensuring a return customer base, but based on the customer service and the attitude of “getting paid”, I can’t see how this business has had this much longevity. You are better off boondocking then staying here! I read a yelp review that said there was a aggressive exchange between mgmt and a camper. They felt threatened watching.

The firewood bundle includes 8 pieces of 4 inch wood at a premium $. They are clearly desperate for cash flow, if they would treat their guests fairly it wouldn’t be an issue. They want your cash. They need a lesson in BASIC customer service.

STAY AWAY from this business! Enjoy your vacation stress free. Don’t bother supporting a business with a philosophy of “what’s in it for ME?”. We left early to get out of there...without a refund.