15 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Pet-friendly camping near Lupton spans from rustic wooded sites to campgrounds with electric hookups, showers, and thirty-amp service, giving dog owners practical options across multiple campgrounds. Devoe Lake Rustic Campground offers spacious, private sites surrounded by trees where pets can join their owners in tent, RV, or cabin camping. Grousehaven Campground provides modern amenities with electric hookups, showers, and thirty-amp service for campers with pets. Both campgrounds feature fire pits, picnic tables, drinking water, and access to toilet facilities. The Recreation Area maintains clean facilities and offers ample space between sites, providing visual privacy for pet owners while keeping voices from carrying between campsites. Dogs must be leashed when outside the immediate campsite area to respect wildlife and other campers.
The Rifle River Recreation Area includes five lakes (Devoe, Grebe, Jewitt, Grousehaven, and Lodge) with excellent pet-friendly hiking trails connecting them. Dogs can accompany owners along these trails, with some sites offering direct trail access behind the campsite. The crystal clear waters and sand or rock bottoms make for safe pet swimming areas, particularly at Grousehaven Lake which features a small beach and shallow swimming area ideal for pets and children. Wildlife is abundant throughout the park, so campers should keep dogs secured to avoid encounters with the area's raccoons, beaver, mink, and other animals. Several campgrounds report raccoons becoming active at night, requiring proper food and waste containment for pet safety. Multiple sites provide direct river access for owners who enjoy paddling with pets, with kayak and canoe launches available.
"This here is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The facilities are clean and kept up. All access to trails, lakes and the river are close and easy to get to."
"Rifle River Recreation Area is located directly east of Houghton Lake within the AuSable State Forest, near the city of Lupton. The RRRA offers several camping areas within its borders."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"Right on Grousehaven lake with a small beach and playground and a large open grassy area for kids and dogs to to run."
"But the beach was nice as were the trails. Once in the camp itself, we loved how much better it was than Tawas. It's more spread out and I didn't feel like people were staring at me."
Available this weekend
from $35 - $40 / night
"There are a few sites on the lake and a boat launch. Sites have tables, pits and trees. They are also well separated with trees. Pretty easy access to the campground and the place was clean."
"Nice rustic campground located just north of west branch. No showers, privy is is decent shape. Not the worst not the best. Several lake front sites to choose from with excellent views."
"I wish I would have picked a different spot as I was right next to the bathroom but it was fine. Plenty of fire wood around the collect with access to trials and the river."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"Trails run back into woods to potential cat hole locations. For water, you can head up the road a few miles to the lumberman monument park, and they have a fauset by the parking lot."
"The absolute BEST campsite I have ever camped at in Michigan! The perfect morning and evening view of the river. Directly across from the best fishing spot and shoreline to soak up the summer sun."
Available this weekend
from $10 / night
"The dunes along the river seem out of place, and wonderfully so. you could spend so much tIme here, climbing around, swimming, kayaking, and enjoying the views."
"It was amazing, my husband, myself and our two dogs had a wonderful time. We hiked al through the forest, tried lots of cool gear and discovered a new love for camping and nature."
from $10 - $14 / night
"I had cabin #3, very beautiful on the lake. Wish they had a grate to cook some things, however I failed to bring my own. It made do with what I had."
"This is a great campground and very close to canoe rentals. They pick up trash right at your site! Also, buy the wood from the people driving around."
from $16 - $30 / night
"There was a larger group by the lake that had a 'really good time' into the night, but zero issues with all the laughter."
"Rustic camping is the best when you want to escape and unplug, and this small, unpopulated lake is the best place to do it. It is beautiful."
from $15 / night
"This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The sites are big, most are well shaded."
"We brought our own kayaks and spent the day at on loud lake which was about a 15 min drive away. There were plenty of vault toilets which were very clean and water stations."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
"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."
from $50 - $300 / night
TravelerFriendly, helpful campground owners.
Clean bathrooms and showers.
Family-friendly atmosphere.
Fishing pond and paddleboat activities.
Playground and petting animals.
Community activities, bingo and themed weekends.
Affordable compared with larger RV resorts.
ScoutGreat campsite. Nice spot with solid fire ring. There was also connection so we could watch football
LegendStayed in cabin 186. Cabin clean. In fall is fairly private but very near dump station and firewood vending. I can imagine in summer there is little privacy as other camp sites surround the cabin. Does have a designated dog beach which I like. Beautiful sunrises over Lake Huron. Newly built shower house. Several sites right on Lake Huron that book up fast. Campground has bags game, volleyball and basketball hoop and several horseshoe pits. Short walk to day use area that has swings, picnic area and nice beach area.
TravelerBeautiful campground. Quiet and peaceful. Large sites provide privacy. Beautiful sunsets .
ScoutWe went during off season, could only imagine how much fun it would be in the peak season. enjoyed the pool and hot tub. All staff was helpful and courteous! Will be our go to!
TravelerThe 2 good things about this campground was the full hook up & the large site size. However, my site & a few surrounding sites smelled like sewage from the moment I stepped out of my truck. I couldn't sit outside to enjoy the "fresh" air or open my windows. The picnic table was backed against utility boxes, & the fire pit was within a few feet of the camper behind me. Supposedly there are 3 dog beaches. I found 1 that was a tiny spot with a little bit of sand. I walked over a mile to the park's edge following signs for another dog beach. It didn't exist. Dog beaches are not marked on the map.
LegendStayed for one night on a Saturday in mid-September and managed to snag one of the very few lake-view sites in the North Unit section of the campground. We stayed in Site 15, which has the added distinction of being next to a memorial and grave dating back to the late 1800s--an unexpected bit of history right at the campsite. There are only a handful of sites that offer a true view of the lake, with a few additional sites that may have lake access. The sites in the North Unit are fairly close together and very open, with little to no privacy between most sites. The South Unit is much more wooded and swampy, and while I’m not sure if any of those sites have lake access, they do offer more privacy between campsites. Mosquitoes were still buzzing around in mid-September, so I’d imagine they’re even more prevalent in the South Unit. The vault toilets are definitely old, but they were very clean and clearly well maintained by the camp host. Overall, a nice campground if you can snag one of the coveted lake-view sites!
GuideThe campground was very well maintained in the restrooms were large and spotless! The logging museum & old forest trail were beautiful. We loved it!
TravelerWe love this campground. Many of the sites are somewhat secluded from each other by trees, its shady and clean. The restroom building is very nice, but can be a pretty good hike from many of the outer sites. Nice breeze, and no bugs in August!
The Rifle River Recreation Area covers 4,450 acres of woodland terrain within Ogemaw County. Campers can access multiple wilderness trails connecting five distinct lakes at elevations between 950-1,100 feet. Winter camping options remain available with reduced services during snow months when temperatures can drop below 10°F, requiring additional preparation for campers with pets.
Biking trails for all skill levels: Devoe Lake Rustic Campground offers excellent biking opportunities with varied terrain. "Amazing views and great riding for all ages!" notes Dawn C. The trails accommodate both casual family riders and more experienced cyclists seeking challenging routes.
Kayaking on multiple waterways: Paddlers can choose between river and lake experiences in the Lupton area. Jason N. from Spruce Rustic Campground notes it's "Ideal for trout anglers. There's an access point to Gamble Creek between sites 171 and 173." Most watercraft rentals cost $30-45 per day depending on vessel type.
Wildlife observation: The diverse ecosystems support abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. "I've woken up to families of deer feeding in the sites next to me more than once," shares Zack L. about Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground. Early morning and dusk provide optimal viewing times for various species throughout the area.
Quiet, secluded camping spots: Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground receives high marks for its privacy. Kelly G. notes "We love the spacious lot sizes and the ones right on the lake are perfect." Sites are typically separated by natural buffers of trees and underbrush, creating visual barriers between neighboring campsites.
Lake swimming areas: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated swimming areas suitable for pets. Dennis B. describes Grousehaven Campground: "The lake is absolutely gorgeous and is paddle only, no motors of any kind. The water was warmish and crystal clear, my 2.5 y/o daughter loved playing at the beach and the shallow swimming area."
Hiking accessibility: Trail systems connect throughout the region with varying difficulty levels. "Great location and our site had a nice shortcut through the woods that exited by the lake and bathrooms. The overlook tower is definitely worth the hike," recommends Tasha T. from Devoe Lake Rustic Campground.
Seasonal crowd variations: Holiday weekends bring significant increases in visitors. According to Ashleigh M., "I camped in one of the rustic campgrounds over a holiday weekend and it got a little too rowdy for my tastes." Weekday camping provides a more tranquil experience, especially in spring and fall shoulder seasons.
Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds require advance planning. Erin S. notes about Devoe Lake: "Sites require a reservation either at the office or Online. Not somewhere you can just pay for on spot because it's in the rifle river recreation area."
Bathroom facilities vary: Campground amenities differ significantly between locations. RJ W. mentions about Spruce Rustic Campground: "The vault toilets do need some attention." Modern facilities with showers are limited to specific campgrounds within the recreation area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lupton, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lupton, MI is Devoe Lake Rustic Campround — Rifle River Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lupton, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 149 dog-friendly camping locations near Lupton, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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