Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Higgins Lake? Find the best information on tent camping near Higgins Lake, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Higgins Lake, Michigan's most popular destinations.
White Pines Campground is a backcountry campground, with a restroom and a fire ring. This 60 acre greenspace is mostly undeveloped, offering only parking at the main entrance and a single trail through the forest. When the original 20 acres of the park were acquired in 1927, they contained one of the few remaining pure stands of white pines in the county. The park has since been managed with the goal of preserving this stand and enhancing it with plantings of new white pine seedlings.
Wakeley Lake Campground is a part of the Wakeley Lake semi-primitive non-motorized area .__The campground is made up of 5 walk-in sites near the east shore of Wakeley Lake.__
Trail System: The trail system within the Wakeley Lake semi-primitive non-motorized area is 8.5 miles in total. Several loops provide hikers the ability to take a hike that suits their skill level. Trails are also open to bicycles. In the winter, the Wakeley Lake area is groomed for cross country skiing and snowshoing. Water Activities: Non-motorized boating is allowed, however, visitors must hike in with their equiptment. Wakeley Lake is also a peaceful location for other water activites such as swimming and fishing.__
Trail System: The trail system within the Wakeley Lake semi-primitive non-motorized area is 8.5 miles in total. Several loops provide hikers the ability to take a hike that suits their skill level. Trails are also open to bicycles. In the winter, the Wakeley Lake area is groomed for cross country skiing and snowshoing. Water Activities: Non-motorized boating is allowed, however, visitors must hike in with their equiptment. Wakeley Lake is also a peaceful location for other water activites such as swimming and fishing.__
Visitors to the area will be treated to a forested setting that varies from tag alder and conifer swamps to upland jack and white pine mixed with oak. Wakeley Lake Campground and the Lake itself are set relatively close to the parking location in the semi-primitive nonmotorized area. The lake tapers out into a swampy marsh area along the shoreline in some areas. The 2,100 acres area is habitat for loons and eagles and visitors may view loons nesting from March 1 to July 15. Please respect wildlife and view from a distance.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (989) 826-3252.
All reservation changes, cancellations, and refunds are managed through Recreation.gov.
$10 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
This rustic campground sits along the picturesque shore of the Au Sable River. The campground offers excellent opportunities for trout fishing. Paddlers can easily access the river and use a group camping area. There are 7 sites for tent and small trailer use. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities include vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 15 miles east of Grayling via M-72, McMasters Bridge and Conners Flat. Sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations.
Recreation areas near the Wakeley Lake Area. This is the section of the Huron National Forest furthest west, and most sites are located along or north of M-72.
Scout
This campground is centrally located to everything that’s going on, on the west side of the state. Whether it’s trail riding, Traverse City Cherry festival or hanging in the town of Manton. There is always something going on. Spacious, super clean bath house and on Saturday nights listen to live music right at your campsite!
Scout
Very nice park, walkway to the public beach, paved path behind the grounds. Modern, clean bathhouse. Not a lot of privacy between spots, big mature trees all through the grounds. Right by municipal airport with lots of flight activity.
Guide
Camp staff very friendly and park is well maintained. Nice hiking trails nearby and a 20 minute drive to a whole lot of entertainment!
Scout
David and Gail were so friendly and welcoming, especially for the inconvenience of a last minute stay on Labor Day weekend! I had questions during the booking process and messaged them- I had a response in minutes. We had a quiet spot and were able to get some uninterrupted sleep after a long afternoon at the beach.
There are several places nearby with beach access (the turquoise water of Lake Michigan is beautiful), and lakes under 5 minutes away for fishing. For rockhounding, check out the beaches near Old Mission Lighthouse. Should we find ourselves back on the road to the UP, we'll be sure stop back in. Thanks again for being so accommodating!
Guide
Nice state park big sites on the lake
Traveler
Full hookup sites, cabins were nice. Many recent upgrades to the campground
Guide
nice campground with plenty of woods and water. rustic sites could be a little more leveled off but not awfully bad. they have full, semi and rustic sites. camped here 4 times and enjoyed my time. PRO'S- great fishing, playgrounds for kids, great for riding bikes, sites are clean and many have good space for larger campers, staff is friendly and reliable. CONS- showers need more pressure, roads can get extremely dusty when it's dry, "beach" is small and rocky and on a slop which is difficult to walk on due to too many rocks in what little sand there is however the whole lakeshore is rocks so wear water shoes, while it didn't bother me, it can get a little loud at nite, after 10pm "quite time" but nothing really serious, some rustic sites could use some dirt to level them up but manageable, rustic sites, IMO, are a little expensive at $20 a night but I've camped at others that were $40! summing my review up, I enjoyed every time I camped here! caught lots of fish from walleye to crappie, even a 6.3lb small mouth bass!! very nice campground that I will continue to camp at and recommend!!
Traveler
This place was fantastic. We stayed in the Lakeside cabins. Amazing views! We went kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and fishing. The wildlife is plentiful and the lake is full of fish. The staff are fantastic. If we needed anything, they were there in minutes. Always courteous and friendly. Will definitely be back
ScoutThe campground is a small, family friendly campground that has a lot of activities for both adults and kids. It is clean, has level sites and well maintained facilities.
TravelerOur time at this campground has been exceptional. The grounds are kept very clean and tidy, the camp store had what we needed, and the atmosphere is very quiet and calming. Everything on our full hookup site worked good and our site itself was level.
Our weather wasn’t very good, 66 and rainy, but we made the best of our time by going downtown Bellaire and visiting Shorts Brewing. The little town has some cute shops and is only 8 minutes from the campground.
We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to book again next year.
Scout
A great place for dispersed camping. Don't forget the bug spray! Only 20 minutes from town if you did! Great two weeks here!
ScoutQuiet, large sites, like new bath house, 7th nite free, rate$35, good location for northwestern Michigan sites Water on all outside sites. interior sites share water hookups
ScoutGreat campground. Booked two nights and had to request a third it was so perfect. We went up because it advertised orv access right from campsite. It’s really handy to not have to trailer over to the trsilheads. Quiet, bug spaces, huge bathhouse. We will be going back!
Scout
To many people and yelling kids but breath taking for sure
Guide
Most campgrounds we have been to had lots of road noise but not this one! We stayed for 2 nights/3days and this campground was quite.
The vault toilets were well stocked with toilet paper, although one had a hornets nest inside and the other was extremely smelly.
Access to the river was good and the sites were a decent size with privacy in between.
We enjoyed walking some of the nearby trails
Scout
Very nice and well maintained campground. Bath house facilities were very clean, and campsites were fairly spaced, giving decent privacy. There are some activities in the area related to the park. All in all a very nice State Park campground.
GuideFirst time camping here. Site 72 had a nice view if the make. Very nice park. Bathrooms s d dhowers ckean for really need to be upgraded. They have a ni. ce dog beach bit no real wslking trails as it is only 64 acres. Very nice beach! Already booked our next trip there.
Guide
Green Lake Rustic- clean campground. Some sites are small, and you are on top of your "neighbors." Vault style toilets that get quite smelly. The boat ramp to Green Lake is well maintained. The parking lot is a bit small but doable. Good pan and bass fishing. The local grocery store is close, as well as a dollar store, mini golf, ice cream, and restaurants (if that's your thing).
LegendThe park has a small sandy beach the swim area is sandy. The playground needs some updating. A lot of the sites back up to the busy road and you can hear road traffic noise all day and night.
Legend
Campground across the road from Otsego Lake. The campground has lots to do for kids but the sites are small and the trees are small.
Legend
This is so great koa with no road noise. The trees are mature and beautiful. This is a great laid back, family campground. The sites are bigger than other campgrounds in the area.
Guide
Good campground on a nice fishing lake. Large wooded sites but none that have lake access unfortunately
GuideThis area is separate from the big bear lake campground and is busier due to the boat launch. Sites are close together without much privacy
ScoutTed and Jen have been doing improvements to maple grove camp ground, they have gotten new fire rings last year and got the road grated, this year there in the process of getting better internet out there which will be great for the whole camp ground and they leveled the camp sites out the best they could , the city of lake is always on top of mowing the field and play area, they always try to help their campers as much as they can. very quiet camp ground will always come back they are doing a better job then Ron and Deb ever did!
Traveler
I was disappointed in the campground after having high expectations from previous reviews. Sites were fine, good size and maybe could have been some planting between sites. My concern was that there was only one bathroom, for the entire campground. They were filthy, cleaned once daily which was considerably less than other campgrounds. There was a sanitary pad discarded behind a toilet for over 24 hours. Possibly this is the norm, and guests were more disgusting than usual. The scenic overlook deck was littered with toilet paper where someone had taken to using this area as their own restroom. The grass and trails weren't mowed and the park attendant said they were changing mowing services, I understand that. The water hose used to clean tanks had been cut off or fallen off, and when this was showed to a worker, they said they'd tell the manager. What day, no one knows because he got in his car and left for the night. The next day it was not fixed.
Which brings me to the point that while there were three people in the guard house, no one was really doing much. No one drove around checking on things, no one walked a common path to see discarded trash, etc. The on duty person left at 8PM. This is all a management issue, not the campground itself.
I have camped at local/municipally owned campgrounds in Michigan before and was very happy, and gladly went with this campground but was disappointed.
Scout
They have a really nice area whether it’s fishing or swimming, playground or just plain camping, etc. the only negative thing is the tent camping spots DO NOT have PLUGS which was really irritating because tent camping you’re definitely gonna need an outlet.
Legend
The ONLY issue I had with this campground was that it's on a busy road. The campground is beautiful and very clean with a great swim area, cute playground, and newer shower houses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Higgins Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Higgins Lake, MI is White Pine Canoe SF Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Higgins Lake, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 46 tent camping locations near Higgins Lake, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
