Lake Superior's northern shore near Paradise, Michigan experiences temperature ranges from the low 60s in summer to below freezing in winter. The region contains more than 200 miles of shoreline, including sandy beaches and rocky outcroppings. Camping in this Upper Peninsula location requires preparation for rapid weather changes, with sites ranging from developed state parks to remote dispersed camping areas.
What to Do
Winter recreation at Lower Falls: "Snowmobiled, snowshoed, hiked, cross countries, oh and nice waterfalls," shares Michael T. about Tahquamenon Falls State Park, showcasing the park's four-season appeal beyond summer months.
Rock hunting along beaches: Near Bay View Campground, Lake Superior offers excellent rock collecting. "Searching for fun stones on the shore & relaxing by the fire was bliss," notes Valerie D. The nearby shoreline contains agates, granite, basalt, and sometimes even special Yooperlite rocks visible under UV light.
Fishing at inland lakes: Several campgrounds feature lake access ideal for fishing. "We tried a little fishing and did catch a small mouth and a few small perch," reports Robert S. about Monocle Lake, which offers both swimming and fishing opportunities within walking distance of campsites.
What Campers Like
Access to both inland lakes and Lake Superior: At Muskallonge Lake State Park, campers appreciate the dual water access. "This 217-acre state park is located right on Lake Muskallonge and a short walk from Lake Superior," explains Nancy W., noting the concrete boat launch with short dock for easy water access.
Late-season camping: Fall camping provides a different experience from summer visits. "We were there late in the season and had a lovely, quiet campsite near the River where we fished for our dinner and later built a romantic campfire," shares Becky K. about Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
Spacious sites with privacy: Many campers value the room to spread out. "Our campsite was huge, plenty of room for our 10X17 tent. We also had a 10X10 screen tent for our kitchen and 3X5 bathroom tent and still had plenty of room," mentions Pat H. about Soldier Lake Campground.
What You Should Know
Mosquitoes can be overwhelming: At Wide Waters Dispersed Camping, a dog friendly campground near Paradise, insect pressure is significant. "Mosquito capital of the north, open truck door and 5 fly in immediately," warns Jon S., while another camper notes, "The bugs will kill you in August."
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have little to no connectivity. "No starlink, no Cell service," reports Tony C. about Wide Waters. Monocle Lake offers "pretty good AT&T service (3 bars) for the UP," according to Pegeen S., but this is uncommon for the area.
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to some of the more remote dog friendly campsites near Paradise requires careful planning. "Beware that the route to get here is on a dirt road, heavily washboarded and took us about 30-40 minutes from the main highway," notes Nicole V. about Bodi Lake State Forest Campground.
Tips for Camping with Families
Check out the community games box: Some campgrounds provide shared resources. "He had a community box of games that we could use during our stay. We used sand buckets and shovels to play with during our stay," shares Melissa A. about Bay View Campground.
Plan for no shower facilities at rustic sites: Many state forest campgrounds have vault toilets only. "There are no facilities at this campground and only a pump well for water. The closest town is Paradise which is very limited and only has a small general store," explains Sydney H. about Andrus Lake State Forest Campground.
Stock up on supplies beforehand: The remote location means limited access to stores. "The closest towns are a good 30 minutes away so make sure you bring groceries and whatever supplies you need," advises Nancy W. about Muskallonge Lake State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters for shade and privacy: At Muskallonge Lake State Park, consider which loop best suits your needs. "I would definitely avoid the first loop as it's very open. The second and third loop are more tree covered and more traditional to what most state parks are in Michigan," recommends Christopher L.
Be prepared for tight turns at some campgrounds: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs. "There are many trees too close to roadways for turning corners, and many branches are hanging low overhead. We did manage after many attempts, to gently get our 42 foot fifth wheel toy hauler into a spot," shares Kris W. about Monocle Lake.
Watch for sandy areas when dispersed camping: Some remote dog friendly camping areas near Paradise Michigan present challenges. "Sites are closer than the pin shows and the furthest 2-3 are in deep sand/can't be driven to on most vehicles," cautions Kevin D. about Lake Superior North Shore camping areas.
