Primitive camping near Kinross, Michigan offers varying terrain from sandy shorelines to cedar forests. Most dispersed sites in this area sit on sandy soil requiring careful navigation, particularly after rain when rutted roads become challenging for standard vehicles. Winter accessibility varies by location with some sites remaining open year-round despite heavy Upper Peninsula snowfall.
What to do
Beach access: Carp River Boat Launch provides direct access to Lake Huron. "Beautiful view of lake Huron. Labor Day weekend and no one else is here except the ubiquitous mosquitoes. Easy and easy out on a good gravel road."
Wildlife watching: Butterflies are abundant at Mackinac Trail Spur Site during summer months. "It is a beautiful area that has flowers blooming. The monarch butterflies are dancing on them. You travel down a sand road but then turn left in a grassy area."
ATV riding: Many dispersed sites serve as staging areas for off-road vehicles. At Wide Waters Dispersed Camping, one camper noted "Looks like its an ATV staging area. No starlink, no Cell service. Bring your bug spray!"
Snowshoeing: Winter camping opens opportunities for snow activities. "Snow shoeing in the woods and alone the lake beach. Fantastic!" reported one winter visitor at Lake Superior North Shore.
What campers like
Seasonal variations: Different seasons offer distinct experiences in the Kinross area. At Castle Rock Ponds, visitors appreciate the accessibility and seasonal conditions. "Easy to get to camping spot with multiple camping sites overlooking ponds. A couple miles down a nice gravel road that any kind of car could make it down."
Northern lights viewing: Clear nights with appropriate solar activity provide opportunities for aurora watching. A camper at Lake Superior North Shore shared, "You truly can't beat this place, we even seen the Northern lights."
Solitude: Many sites offer secluded camping even during holiday weekends. "Labor Day weekend and no one else is here except the ubiquitous mosquitoes," noted one camper at Carp River Boat Launch.
Wildlife encounters: Bear activity has been documented throughout the region. At Lake Superior North Shore, a camper reported, "I think close to the camp we ran across some bear scat."
What you should know
Bug conditions: Insect density varies significantly by location and season. At USFS 3536 Dispersed Site, visitors have experienced different conditions than other locations. "Very quiet and serene. Zero cell service with Verizon but ATT had good service, mostly. It would randomly drop now and then but it would come back."
Shifting regulations: Management policies change periodically affecting camping permissions. At Search Bay Dispersed, campers noted recent changes: "The road to the sign is easy-peasy, but the USFS is not allowing beach camping anymore. On our second day, we were asked to move."
Variable terrain: Sandy soil conditions affect vehicle movement. "The road is sandy and some parts pretty rutted so keep the vehicle moving," advised a camper at Lake Superior North Shore.
Inconsistent coordinates: Some sites report navigation challenges. "Coordinates took us off to the left of the first junction, where there was a gate that said closed so we didn't go to this site unfortunately! Continue straight instead," warned a visitor to Lake Superior North Shore.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose sites with adequate space between established campsites. Search Bay Dispersed offers multiple options: "Great sites here(so many to choose from all across the water. Each have their own fire pits. We are here in late April so with the chilly weather there isn't a soul in site."
Safety precautions: Watch for potential hazards at primitive sites. "Ended up with a flat tire from what we assume was leftover trash metal from the campsites but despite that it was beautiful," reported one family at Search Bay Dispersed.
Established sites: Look for sites with existing improvements. "There's a good road that leads to the shore road that isn't terrible. My 2wd Tacoma had no issue. People have cleared sites and set up fire rings down the shore road."
Trash management: Pack out all waste and be prepared to clean up after previous visitors. "Some campers are pigs and leave their trash around so we had to tidy our site up a little," noted a camper at Lake Superior North Shore.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Wide Waters Dispersed Camping accommodates larger rigs but requires caution. "Ended up coming back down to this spot which is just a little parking round-about. It's not private but no one drove by until morning and it's flat and spacious for bigger rigs."
Turn-around space: Consider parking logistics before fully committing to a site. "With cars parked in the bigger spaces, it was difficult to get out of the way or get turned around so we were just kind of stuck waiting," reported an RVer at Lake Superior North Shore.
Seasonal access: Winter camping remains possible with appropriate vehicles. "Visited the site in a winter storm. A little worried before getting on the wild cat road. Turned out no issue at all. Road is covered with heavy snow, no issue with an AWD camper van."
Length restrictions: Many sites have limitations on RV size. "I had an 18' Thor Scope B class pulling a kayak trailer. I wouldn't try driving anything much bigger to this end of the trail," advised a camper at Search Bay Dispersed.
