The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Dispersed Camping near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

9 Reviews

Several dispersed camping options exist near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on national forest land. Adams Trail Dirt Lot provides a large, flat area suitable for car camping and small RVs with no facilities or amenities. Hickey Marsh Dispersed Camping, located about 10 minutes from Munising, offers multiple pull-in sites with enough space for trailers up to 26 feet. Cell service with Verizon is generally reliable at this location.

Lake Superior Beachfront sites have conflicting information with recent reviews noting "No Camping" and "Day Use Only" signs posted throughout the area. Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite provides camping between two lakes but requires navigating forest roads. A review noted, "Long nice road with a few pull offs once you are close to the end there is one official site with a table and fire circle." Most dispersed sites lack amenities such as water, toilets, or trash service. Mosquitoes can be problematic, particularly at sites near water bodies.

Map showing campgrounds near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MichiganExplore the Map

Best Dispersed Sites Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (17)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 17 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

6 Photos of 17 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

9 Reviews of 17 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Campgrounds

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 3, 2020

    Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite

    My nightmare

    The site only gives you coordinates that are actually an hour away from the site. There is no real address to get there. We pulled in pretty late, had a rough long drive so we got to where we thought it was at around 11:30 pm. Then we can’t find the site, so we go to the website and it gives us strange directions to somewhere an hour away. As we drove out there, we lost all service, were on dirt roads and we were miles past any signs of civilization. We started to get a strange feeling but we trekked on. Suddenly it gets very foggy and spooky looking and we all debate turning back, but still we keep going. Finally, we turn onto the road that it is on, just a ways down, and the stop sign is filled with bullet holes however we haven’t seen a single sign of people out there. We keep going and finally decide this all seems like an elaborate ploy to lure campers in and kill them. We decide to turn around and end up in some weird abandoned summer camp, still around thirty minutes left on the road to get to the actual site.  We decide there are far too many creepy signs pointing towards this not being a good idea then as we leave and get service back, we look up the site and realize there are zero reviews at all. The site doesn’t exist on google except for these camping sites, with the same two photos only on every site and zero reviews. As we are driving away, we get an email at one am saying “hello your site is still empty, please enjoy your stay” as if there was someone waiting for us at the site even though it was a remote site with no formal check in. How did they know we were not at the site yet? And what are the chances they email us right as we turn around? I’m glad we didn’t end up staying, we all had a horrible gut feeling and I suggest no one else stay here either. Nothing about it seemed legit or safe.

  • Ben L.
    Aug. 24, 2020

    Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite

    Awesome Site

    Great site located between two lakes. In response to the previous review, your best directions will come from locating the site on your GPS (in our case Google Maps) and dropping a pin. That took us straight to the location no problem. Totally legit dispersed camp site. Will definely be going back. Because the access to both lakes is near the camp site, we did encounter vehicles driving by, maybe 2 a day. It is the end of the road though so no one was driving to fast and it didn't cause any issues.

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2025

    Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite

    Gorgeous Spot

    We were lucky, we went pre-season. We did have to clear a bunch of down trees to get down the road but we had the site and the lakes to ourselves. It was gorgeous. There is a permitted site (May-Sept) at the end but multiple pull out spots for dispersed camping along the forest road.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2025

    Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite

    Isolated

    Long nice road with a few pull offs once you are close to the end there is one official site with a table and fire circle. Is first come first serve but if you keep driving down there are two different boat launches with room to park/camp. We stayed in our car just in case. NOTE! the camp site is closed for updates until the end of October apparently. No service with mint

  • Nathan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2023

    Lake Superior Beachfront (US Forest Land)

    Small but mighty

    This place is tricky to find and I would suggest keeping a low profile. I didn’t have problems but others have said locals don’t like people camping here. You’ll have a a front row seat to the lake. My hammock was almost over the water. Great spot

  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2024

    Herman Lake Dispersed

    Beautiful, Buggy and hard to get to!

    We went down a very deeply rutted and muddy one lane road in for about 1.5-2 miles. We have a 21 ft travel trailer. Although we stayed one night and made it to and from unscathed, we do not recommend towing down this road. We were able to kayak and it was beautiful and very private. Rain was expected the following day so we only chanced it for one night afraid a tree would block the road and the mud would get worse.

Guide to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan, where nature lovers can enjoy serene landscapes and a sense of adventure without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

Top Activities While Free Camping Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

  • Enjoy a peaceful night under the stars at Hickey Marsh Dispersed Camping, where you can find a quiet spot with minimal traffic and beautiful surroundings.
  • Experience the thrill of kayaking or canoeing at Herman Lake Dispersed, which offers a stunning backdrop for water activities, though be prepared for some bugs.
  • Take advantage of the large, flat area at Adams Trail Dirt Lot, perfect for snowmobilers in winter and a great stopover for RVs and vans during the summer.

Scenic Attractions for Dispersed Campers

Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is Adams Trail Dirt Lot with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring

  2. View all Michigan cities for camping