Camping near Hiawatha National Forest puts visitors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an area characterized by mixed hardwood forests, wetlands, and numerous small lakes. The forest covers nearly 880,000 acres across two separate units, with elevations ranging from 580 to 1,971 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures often drop below 0°F, while summer days typically reach 70-85°F with cool evenings in the 50s.
What to do
Kayaking on the Manistique River: Take a guided trip from Northland Outfitters where you can paddle back to camp. "We decided to come here last minute after seeing it pop up on a Google search. Since we have our own kayaks, he suggested we go upstream in our own vehicle and then kayak down to the outfitters, then they would take us back to get our car. It worked out great. The river was up and it was a beautiful ten mile trip which took about 2 hours," notes Jill B.
Fishing from riverside sites: Cast your line right from camp at several locations throughout the forest. Tim J. shared his experience at Northland Outfitters: "We saw ducks, hawks, fish getting caught from 2 sites away. Fun to watch the excitement!"
Visit Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring: Located just 5 minutes from Indian Lake State Park West Campground, this 40-foot deep natural spring offers crystal-clear views to the bottom. "After having dinner at Clyde's in Manistique we visited the Big Spring. It was almost dusk and the park was still relatively busy. I'm glad we went at that time of day; I can imagine how crowded it must get during mid-day. The spring was awesome, and riding the raft out and back was fun," reports Alyssa M.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many pet-friendly campgrounds near Hiawatha National Forest maintain excellent facilities. At Manistique Lakeshore Campground, Tori K. noticed, "Bathroom facility was clean," while Lora H. elaborated: "Bathrooms and Laundry room are super clean. You also get cable."
Private sites with water views: Waterfront access remains a highlight for campers with pets. According to Sally H. at Indian Lake West Campground, "We took the trip to the west campground and it was perfect! 70+ sites in mid summer and most were empty." Amie L. shared about Northland Outfitters: "Our site (#6) was located right on the Manistique River."
Proximity to trails: Sites with direct access to hiking and ORV paths make pet exercise convenient. At Jack Pine Lodge and Campground, Erika P. found, "There is direct trail access from the property, and they provide a free ORV hand washing station and air for tires. I love that the campsites are not on top of each other and there are trees between the neighboring campsite."
What you should know
Seasonal bug issues: Black flies can be severe in late spring through early summer. Tim J. from Northland Outfitters advises: "Only problem we had at all was the black flies. We were using the wrong repellent which was not effective at all. Camp owners gave us pointers which were very effective towards end of trip."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout the region. Michael L. reported about his Northland Outfitters stay: "Cell coverage (AT&T for my family, Verizon for my friends) was pretty hit or miss at 0-2 bars at any given time. I could sometimes stream audio for an hour or two. Other times, it wouldn't do anything."
Waterfront conditions vary: Some lakefront sites may have unexpected conditions. At Manistique Lakeshore Campground, Marsha noted: "The beach is way too polluted to use. There must be a paper mill or some other wood processing plant near by because the beach and the water filled with ground up wood shavings piled in every direction. We brought our kayaks but there was no way you could go in the water."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several family-friendly, pet-welcoming campgrounds offer play areas. At Colwell Lake Campground, Kinni P. observed: "There are paths off the loop so that campers on the other side can access the lake path and the beach. There are also a handful of walk in sites that I think are free, those have private lake access walks too!"
Beach quality: Look for campgrounds with sandy swimming areas safe for children and pets. Ally H. shared about Manistique Lakeshore: "This was such a surprise and such a great experience. Very clean campground, clean showers, great playground, beautiful beach and view of a lighthouse. Memorable experience for the whole family."
Spacious sites: For families camping with pets, roomier sites offer better comfort. Marc W. mentioned about Manistique Lakeshore: "You can fit just about any size rig as the sites are huge. I wish we found it sooner so that we could have reserved a lake front site over looking the lighthouse."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For RVs traveling with pets, site size and privacy matter. At Seney Township Campground, Nikki P. advised: "Small township campground with vault toilets, artesian well, 20/30 amp hook-ups, and Fox River access, $20/night (no reservations). Sites are easy to access and off of a main road."
Hook-up availability: Full-service sites for RVers with pets vary across the region. Christian F. noted about Manistique Lakeshore: "Fantastic little campground right on Lake Michigan. Well kept clean level sites with plenty of space between sites. Book early because sites go fast in the summer."
Central water access: Many rustic campgrounds require filling tanks upon arrival. Jill B. explained at Northland Outfitters: "There is electric, but no water at individual campsites, which is typical of the U.P. There is a convenient spigot to fill the fresh water tank on our travel trailer on the way in."
Ranger
