Camping near Posen, Michigan offers access to the only publicly accessible waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula at Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground. The northeastern Michigan region provides campgrounds on Lake Huron's shores with turquoise waters and sandy beaches. Winter camping options are limited, with Clear Lake State Park Campground being one of the few open year-round.
What to do
Paddle the Thunder Bay River: Emerick Park Campground offers direct river access. "Very nice park, the side to the river is just spectacular. Restaurants close by and supermarkets," notes Edwin V. The campground connects to a park with a playground and pickleball courts, making it an excellent base for water activities.
Search for fossils: Hoeft State Park Campground provides Lake Huron shoreline access where rock collectors can hunt for unique finds. "Rock hounds will delight in the fossil, Petoskeys and puddings along the shoreline," shares Rose M. The shallow waters near shore allow for snorkeling to find pudding stones.
Hike through diverse ecosystems: Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground features a 7-mile trail system with various loop options. "It's not a difficult trail, and circles altogether about 7 miles or so with various loops for shorter hikes. It's cool because you get a mix of little ecosystems and different terrain and flora on various parts of the trail as it meanders and follows the river downstream," explains Maria L.
What campers like
Spacious waterfront sites: Ossineke State Forest Campground offers large sites along Lake Huron. "The sites are large, and some humongous. The campground is quiet, and the lake is right behind the campground. A nice sandy shoreline and shallow water makes for a relaxing day," writes DonW. Many sites have direct lake access or paths to reach the water.
Clear, turquoise waters: Clear Lake State Park Campground is known for its pristine spring-fed lake. "The lake is crystal clear and has beautiful turquoise waters. We were able to take the canoe out and were the only ones on the water that afternoon," reports Bill W. The water clarity allows visibility to depths of 30 feet.
Beach access: Campers appreciate the natural beaches at several campgrounds. At Hoeft State Park, "The playscape, the dunes, the lake, all are easily accessible and centrally located," shares Emily S. The park features a combination of Great Lakes shoreline and wooded areas.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Campground layouts vary significantly throughout the region. At Clear Lake State Park, "There is an upper and lower area, the upper is for larger units and has more space per site," explains D B. At Hoeft State Park, "Campsite # above [50] tend to be set closer to noisy local highway and more open, grassy sites," advises RA S.
Varying amenities: Long Lake County Park has more developed facilities while others are rustic. "It's a great (albeit crowded) spot if you have an RV and a boat to launch. But if it's a quiet weekend in nature you are seeking, this is not your spot," notes Sarah B. Research facilities beforehand as some campgrounds have vault toilets only.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds operate from May to October, with few winter options. At Clear Lake State Park, "The water spigots were turned off for winter (someone told us that there was a hose available back by the office somewhere) and shower house was closed (but vault toilets still open and pretty clean)," reports Bill W.
Tips for camping with families
Look for organized activities: Many campgrounds offer children's programming. "The park itself is clean and park personnel very upbeat and helpful," explains Mary S. about Hoeft State Park. Staff often organize nature-focused events during summer months.
Seek out playgrounds: Campers Cove RV Park offers numerous family amenities. "Some great things include: putt putt, most sites are on water, there is a fishing pond, a camp store, nice workers, they pick up trash at the camp sites," shares Alexandra M. The park also features an indoor pool.
Consider site privacy: More remote sites offer better seclusion for families. "We had a rustic spot right on the lake. It was next to the boat launch which made it quite busy, but overall a great site. Boaters were very respectful & was decently quiet for all of the activity at the site," notes Rachel G. about Long Lake County Park.
Tips from RVers
Check RV-friendly options: Thunder Bay Golf and RV Resort offers full hookups on cement pads. "Our RV GPS brought us right to the golf course where you check in both for the campground(CG) and resort lodging. Check-in was easy and we were escorted to pull through site 7," shares MickandKarla W. Sites are decently spaced in this small campground.
Consider hookup availability: Electric service varies across campgrounds. At Hoeft State Park, sites have "Electric hook up availability 20/30 amp," according to April P. Clear Lake offers electric but no water hookups, with water spigots available throughout the campground.
Cell service varies: Connectivity can be challenging in some areas. At Ocqueoc Falls, "Cell service is iffy... a bar or two on a good day if you have Verizon, likely not with any of the other providers," warns Maria L. Thunder Bay Golf and RV Resort reports "exceptional" WiFi and good satellite signal.
