Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Paradise, MI

This was our first campground experience with our RV. Not being sure what to expect but we really enjoyed our stay. We had a back in site, very close to the bathhouse which was nice and clean. Cleaned daily &closed for cleaning between 9-10am. Our site was right across from Lake Superior with beautiful sunset and sunrise views. There was a dog park for dogs to enjoy. Location is in the town of Grand Marais so you are a 10 minute walk into town for stores & dining. Very quiet campground, perfect for relaxing. Long staircase leading down to the beach. We will definitely be back.

Rustic campground along the shores of Lake Michigan. 23 sites. Hand pump for water available. Beautiful spot on Lake Michigan with no signs of life for miles down the beach. Pets are welcome. Fire pits are available. Seven sights are along the lake. Six mile drive down a dirt road to access the campground. The road is usually in good condition. It is well worth it. An extremely peaceful and beautiful place.

Stayed here last weekend and was extremely happy! The sites are very large and spacious and there are trees that allow lots of privacy between sites. If I had to point out a negative, it would be the bugs (which you’re camping so it comes with it!) but the mosquitoes were ruthless in the morning and though the horsefly’s didn’t land on us or bite, it’s hard to say how it would be for pets! My dog is a hot target for them in the past with other campgrounds I’ve stayed. I 100% plan to stay here again, the price was reasonable, offered sites on the water or inland and there is even a boat launch in the river! I’ve already planned another trip with my friend in a few weekends! :)

Rustic campground with 46 sites for tents or RVs up to 40ft. Vault toilets, two well hand pumps with potable water. Waterfront and non-water front sites available on a first come, first serve basis. No reservations. Beach area and water access. Open year round. Pet friendly.

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. Snow shoeing in the woods and alone the lake beach. Fantastic!

We camped here for a couple days in mid July. They had sites big, small, on the lake, and off so something for everyone. Only thing is that it fills up fast. The first night we drove through late and every site was full, while we were there we found most were full not long after checkout (2pm). Our site was nice, not right on the lake but a short walk. When we went the mosquitos were insane as the sun went down. If you went by the water they would instantly swarm you. If you had a smoky fire going early you might be safe, but there's no guarantee. They seemed immune to bug spray and everything citronella. We could have sworn we even saw one fly straight out of the fire itself, so we wish you luck. There are blueberries everywhere if you come at the right time, in the campground and much of the area around it. We were told there's actually a blueberry festival in early August in the town closest to it (Paradise, MI). It's not all that far from the falls and whitefish point also. It has vault toilets and a water pump, no electricity and very little to no cell reception. You must also have a recreation passport to camp here, regardless of where you're from. If you don't have one you will have to pay an additional fee to purchase one at the time of your registration. For in state residents it was $17 (+ nightly fee) and they would mail it to your house, can't remember the out of state cost unfortunately. Quiet hours from 11pm-8am, $15 a night, no reservations, pet friendly (we found this out by hearing the dogs barking at every passing stranger, as they do). There's a campground host as well, we found that most campgrounds in the UP have them. In the middle there's a public beach and picnic area, we didn't use it but it looked nice. We went fishing once for a few hours and caught 5 bass between the two of us all about 12in, so if you're looking for some good fishing you might be out of luck with this lake. Also, you have to take a dirt road to get there as you do with many places in the UP, so heads up on that. I was worried about scavengers, but we didn't end up having any problems with them. We were careful to throw out any food packages before bed, but we kept our food in a small tent and that didn't draw anything in.

Stayed here for 4 nights early July 2020. Social distancing had some sinks and urinals turned off. Seemed super clean. 4-6 tent only spots are in pretty good shade. All sites had at least water and electricity. Swingset and covered sandbox for kids. Volleyball net. I saw dogs and cats; we brought 1 dog. 

Cell coverage (AT&T for my family, Verizon for my friends) was pretty hit or miss at 0-2 bars at any given time. I could sometimes stream audio for an hour or two. Other times, it wouldn't do anything. Wifi was available, but it wasn't any more reliable than cell service down in the tent area. Service wasn't normal until hitting either of the east-west roads at the north and south sides of the UP that run along Superior and Michigan, ~8-10 miles north or south of the campground. We like limited to no signal, but realize some count on it, so try to always include it in reviews. 

Campground was pretty busy and the internal noise levels were fine, but you could hear vehicles (possibly cars as well as ATVs) racing off grounds in the night. I'm a very deep sleeper, so this didn't bother me, but I did hear it when I was awake for my nightly jaunt to the potty. My buddy mentioned it kept him awake for a while.

Went tubing with a launch from the grounds and got picked up by staff about half to 3/4s of a mile down river. My guests paid, so not sure how much, but perfectly nice little break from the heat for an hour. 

~20-5 minutes to closest spots to hit the beach, both of which were about 10 degrees cooler than the campground.

Just a short drive from Mackinac lies a beautiful campground to sink into the quietness of a river setting. I stayed in the rustic portion with campsites right along the river. River access is available for small boats along with a fishing deck. Vault toilets and water merge with large campsites to create a quiet ambiance. Showers and a modern toilet are available in the modern portion of the campground which is a short walk through a playground and separating trees.

My site meant waking up to fog drifting down the river, birds chirping and quiet forest behind me. Walking my dog through the forest was nice as the fallen pine needles created a soft path. My site had plenty of room for the tent as well as tress to hang my hammock on. My dog couldn't wait to jump into the hammock and relax in the cool Michigan air. The campground hosts came through and we had a nice chat (which added to the homey feeling).

This campground is not by the Tahquamenon Falls area so I would make sure to get the correct location. It sits south of Paradise, MI. It was a 20 or so mile drive to get to the falls area with beautiful hiking trails. The remote location of the campground adds to the perfect Northwoods feel. The North Country Trail goes past the campground on the other side of the river. You can hike all the way to the falls area if you are up to it.

This beautiful state park is a stunner during the fall colors! Located just outside of the town of Paradise on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It has all the amenities of a state park such as: spacious camp sites with plenty of room for larger RV’s, fire rings, picnic tables, super clean bathrooms and showers, nature programs, a playground, and a camp store. The campsites vary from rustic to those equipped with electricity to camper cabins, depending on your needs.

There are miles of hiking trails, gorgeous waterfalls, fishing boat rentals, paddling/canoeing opportunities, large picnic areas for groups and more. In the winter, they offer snowmobiling and cross country skiing.

Camp site fees vary, but keep in mind that non-residents pay an additional $9 per day for use of Michigan State Parks.

Close to the falls, local bar open in summer minimal winter hours.

Beautiful look outs, site seeing, hikes, snowshoeing and good snow mobile trails in the area.

Local store- minimal supplies (essentials) In paradise

Rustic lots

We stayed at the Hemlock campground near the Lower Falls.  The campsites are so close to one another, with absolutely no privacy/buffer.  I am used to camping at parks in Wisconsin, where there is generally more brush and understory plants and sites are better spaced out.  We were there on Saturday and Sunday nights, and the campsite was packed with people; an army of kids riding bikes and scooters, and some teenagers driving an RC car all over.  Lots of dogs, but thankfully they all seemed well-behaved.  I was shocked with how quiet it was after sundown.  I was expecting there to be some loud and obnoxious people, but everyone seemed to be respectful volume-wise.  

Aside from the awkwardness of being so close to other campers, the site itself was nice; flat, pine needle/dirt base.

The bathrooms were alright.  Showers were limited to 3 and always busy.  Water fluctuated between warm and mostly cold.  I did read that the bathroom/shower building is going to be replaced next year, which will be wonderful for future campers.

We bought firewood from the park's dispenser near the entry building.  It seemed wet and did not burn very well.  The second night we purchased our firewood from Gene's Tahquamenon General Store, just down the road, and it seemed to be better quality.   The general store looked nice inside, with all kinds of useful items for sale.

While we stayed at Tahquamenon Falls SP, we visited both waterfalls, which were beautiful and easy to get to.  Bathrooms at both falls were large and clean.

We also made a day trip to Whitefish Bay to see the Shipwreck Museum and hang out at the beach.

We wanted to get dinner in Paradise our second night, but the two food trucks that we originally wanted to check out were closed.  (Sub shop in town was also closed when we tried to stop by at lunch time)  We considered eating at one of the two sit-down restaurants in Paradise or driving to the brewery by the Upper Falls, but we didn't want to wait very long or spend that much money.  We ended up going to Eddy's food truck across from the Wheelhouse.  Food was alright, prices were fair for a food truck, owner was super friendly, and there was a nice little seating area off to the side.

Overall our camping experience at this VERY popular park was good.  If I were to camp there in the future, I would be sure to make my reservations much further in advance in order to get a site on the outer edge (or try out the rustic campsites).

I was camping with my disabled husband and small dog. Checkin was a pain and the DNR was aggressive and rude. My husband who has ALS and therefore no use of his hands or legs, was walking our dog while I set up camp. He can’t hold a leash but our support dog obeys his verbal commands. Not good enough for the DNR and they harassed him even though we complied with leashing her to his wheelchair as soon as we were told to do so. They could have approached things with less aggression and gotten the same result. It ruined my time. I packed us up early and headed for friendlier grounds.

This is a great place to camp for a night or two if you are looking to do some peaceful fishing or explore the whitefish point area. 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. There is no cell service in most of the area.

Mouth of the Two Hearted River Campground is a quiet, secluded campground on the shores of Lake Superior. Even with rain the first day, the beauty of Lake Superior doesn’t disappoint, but it was nice with sun on the second day. My son and I had a great time! Great spot for rock hunting. Not too far of a drive from Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise, MI or Whitefish Point, the lighthouse and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Echo what previous folks have said about getting a county road map as it can be easy to get lost. For reference, if you’re coming in on US 123 and turn onto County Road 500 then you will be on that for about 6ish miles before turning left onto County Road 414. You’ll be on that about 5ish miles before turning right onto County Road 423 and on that for about 4ish miles before it basically dead ends into the campground. Make sure someone knows where you’re headed because there isn’t service for at least 15 miles surrounding the site.

Also, look to buy firewood when you’re closer to Newberry, MI or Paradise, MI. They have one rack (like 10 “cubbies”) of wood at the corner of Co. Rd. 414 and Co. Rd. 423, but it goes fast.

We have stayed here many times, but on the rustic side (same entrance as modern). Beautiful campground, clean, with incredible views. Vault style outhouse, you may also use the showers at the modern campground via a trail that connects the 2. Kayak rentals on site. Friendly staff. Quiet get away.

Near: Paradise, MI with gas, groceries and souvenirs. Whitefish Point Museum. Whitefish Point Senic Byway- nice drive with awesome indigenous history. ~1hr from Sue St Marie. 25mins from the actual Tahquamenon falls.

This park is great if the Lower falls Portage and Hemlock are full, which they usually are. This campground is small, but modern. The physical address is 32130 W. South River Road, Paradise, MI 49768, put that in the GPS in order to get there properly! Please be mindful that the town of Paradise closes up pretty early and if you are looking for a late night snack, you should be sure to stock up before camping! My husband and I wanted a late dinner and drove into town around 7:45pm (Sunday night) and everything was closed. We did make our way to the Tahquamenon Brewery at the Upper Falls before they closed at 8:30 pm. They had very good chicken wings and fries! We went there earlier in the day and there was an hour wait, but later in the evening we were able to get right in. The sites here are great and there is a modern bathroom along with pit toilets. I was surprised at the modern bathroom as this campground has an old style feel. This campground was laid back and not as busy as the lower falls portage or hemlock. There are mature trees and grassy sites. Our television did not come in for any service and phones did not work well here.

We love wintering camping here, I wanted to share some of the amazing sites to see during the winter.

We snow shoe the upper and lower falls, it’s absolute breath taking to see the falls freezing.

Not a lot is open in paradise so bring what you need. We pay at the booth every year. Fill out a slip and leave money. No bathroom or showers are open They do have a few out houses unlocked.

The hike to the falls is maybe a mile, it’s so beautiful.

Summer camping: has a lot more open and near by lighthouse.

Reviews can be so subjective, an employees bad day, the crowed at the campground etc.....

Let's start with the campground on its own merits removing all people involved. 

Bathrooms - Centrally located and exceptionally clean and modern with very nice individual shower stalls.

Campground sites - Sites ranged from normal size to no chance for privacy whatsoever. We stayed in site 3, it seemed to be one of the sites with a bit more room.

Ok we arrived at what turned out to be a few minutes before the office closed. The guy working the office seemed to be in a hurry to leave and did not really give us much info on the campground, he just highlighted the available sites and sent me on my way. When we got back to the office, less than ten minutes later, he was gone and it was locked up. So I used the phone service and called my site in. 

As I was doing this another state park employee walks up to the office, I inquire about wood, he says it is not available any longer because the cash drawer is closed out already. I was like can you put $5 on the counter and do it in the morning? No He tells me I need to drive to town and find wood, but does not tell me where to get it from.

I was a bit surprised because we had been camping at state parks in Michigan for a week and had nothing but amazing and super helpful park employees at every park. 

So we drove to town and finally found someone who had wood in stock.

When we got back to the campground we set up camp, settled in and took the dog for a walk. Headed back to our campsite to get a fire going and relaxed for a bit enjoying the fire. After we settled in for the nite, things got loud, people yelling, dogs barking, it was one of the noisiest campgrounds I have ever been in. I am not sure how late into the night it went but it seemed like there were a lot of campsites that got together to party. 

So other then the time around the campfire the stay here really was not our cup of tea so we moved on the next day and most likely will not return to this campground.

We brought our two kids and dog camping and had a great experience. Camp sites were decent sizes, and we had great access to the water. Restrooms were clean and well-maintained, and our kids loved riding bikes all around the campground. We stayed in the Hemlock part, but they could easily travel between the two. Just a note, the mosquitoes were bad in September, so take bug spray!

Blind Sucker Campground deserves a visit just for the funny name alone. This campground is located in Lake Superior State Forest off County Road 407 about 13 miles east of Grand Marais. The gravel road leading here has some pretty bad washboard sections that will rattle your teeth and some potholes that would swallow your car, but hey, this is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a little off the beaten path. 

Nothing fancy here. This is a great little rustic campground with 32 non-reserveable sites (all on a first come, first served basis) buried under trees set on a lake. The shady sites are suitable for tents and small RVs and makes for a nice place to rest and relax. When we visited, there was only one other camper as this campground is not as popular as Blind Sucker #1 and the nearby Lake Muskallonge State Park. There is potable water from a hand pump and vault toilets which much to our delight were clean, stocked with toilet paper and didn’t smell even on warm days.

The lake has a pathway going down the lake for a short hike or for bank fishing.  We were set to go for a walk and cast a line until the bothersome black flies changed our plans. There is also a 6-7 mile trail that passes through the campground for a longer hike and connects to the   There is a boat launch but other than that, there are no amenities. If you are looking for a place to swim where you don’t have to worry about leeches, just across the road a short distance away is Lake Superior. The lake is perfectly refreshing and the beach was completely empty of people which made for a great place to hang out during the afternoon.

Other camping options in the area are Blind Sucker #1 and Lake Muskellunge State Park (where you can pay for a shower and purchase firewood). Grand Marais has a small market, gas station, hardware store, and some restaurants. Grand Marais is also the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and a great place to explore. Dog owners – be warned that Pictured Rocks NL is not very dog-friendly and they are allowed in very few places and just a couple of short trails.

All the sites are pull through so your front door faces another front door. Roomy sites with designated fire pits. There is a playground with lots of things for the kids to do. There is a nature trail you can take your dogs on. Great location to get to most of everything you want to do in the UP. There is a dump station, but we had full hook up.

This 217-acre state park is located right on Lake Muskallonge and a short walk from Lake Superior. We chose this park because it was close enough to travel to the eastern of the 40 - mile long Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (NL), Tahquamenon Falls and the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point. The plan made sense – stay at a nice place and explore a beautiful area in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But, things did not work out as planned. We quickly learned that to get to any of these places you would have to travel on gravel washboard roads which can make for slow travel and long days. The other problem we had was that hiking in Pictured Rocks with our dog was not going to happen. Turns out dogs are only allowed on a couple of short trails and in developed areas like campgrounds and parking lots.   

We camped here in mid-July and the campground was packed. Campers and tents were scattered about and it was hard to distinguish some sites from others. Our site was a long pull-thru which was gravel with a large gravel patio with a picnic table and fire pit and had a partial view of the lake. It gave us a little bit of space on our patio but campers on the other side were right next to us.  Not all sites are created equal in this park. Our site was one that they recently upgraded to 50 amp and the gravel but some are just grass. We did not get cell or internet service with our Verizon phone and don’t even think about getting over the air antenna television channels – not happening. There is a WiFi hotspot at the office/camp store but we did not use it.

Next to the playground is a swim beach (where boats are excluded) that was extremely popular especially since it was so hot. A concrete boat launch with short dock is a short distance from the campground and is suitable for launching motorboats and paddle craft. Many people who launched their boats left them tied up in the campground for easy access.  

We really enjoyed the state park and found it very relaxing but it was not as close to attractions as we originally thought. There is a portion of the North Country Scenic Trail that runs through the park but that portion of it had recently washed out and was closed when we were there. The closest towns are a good 30 minutes away so make sure you bring groceries and whatever supplies you need.

We stayed in the Lower Falls modern campground for 3 nights. The Lower falls were a short hike away, and there was a nice hike to the Upper falls 4 miles away. Unfortunately our campsite backed up to one that was full of noisy, ill-behaved children and a very loud dog. The bathrooms and showers were not cleaned very often and were covered in mud. If I went to Tahquamenon again I'd probably choose the Rivermouth campground in the hopes that it would be more peaceful.

We stayed here a few times in summer of 2020. AT&T was too spotty for internet use (around 2 bars, 3 at best). Great State Forest campground with multiple sites; vault toilets, hand pump water, was $15/night then (likely $20 now), no reservations. Pretty Lake is connected to other lakes and is excellent for kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. We also enjoyed the hiking trail several times with our dogs. Don't come here if you hate gorgeous views and outdoor recreation!