Cabins near Roscommon, Michigan provide access to outdoor recreation in the Huron National Forest area at elevations ranging from 1,100 to 1,300 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months from June through August. Winter cabin rentals remain available at several locations when temperatures drop below freezing.
What to do
Hiking at Hartwick Pines: Explore old growth forest trails with educational elements. "There is a small lake for fishing, an old logging community with some programming in busier months," notes a visitor to Hartwick Pines State Park Campground.
River tubing: Float the AuSable River from access points near cabin rentals. A visitor who did the 4-hour tubing trip at Paddle Brave Canoe Livery & Campground reported "the river was beautiful and the whole experience was smooth and well-organized."
Winter activities: Several cabin rentals remain open year-round for cold-weather exploration. One camper mentioned Hartwick Pines is "open all year, nice park, big rig friendly, has full hookups. We enjoy hiking here."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many cabin areas offer wooded settings with adequate spacing. At North Higgins Lake State Park Campground, a reviewer who stayed in site 101 noted "Little more privacy than the rest. We stayed at site 101 which backed up to the woods which was lovely."
Water clarity: Higgins Lake is known for exceptional water quality. One camper at South Higgins Lake State Park Campground described "extremely clear water (see video) and very large, there are 2 sandbar areas which are very popular providing 3-4 feet water to hangout in."
Themed events: Several cabin rental locations host special weekends throughout the season. A camper at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park mentioned "We stayed here last fall for a Halloween weekend. There were a lot of kids, it was pretty full. It was nice of the staff to take us to our site and ask if we needed anything."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly throughout the region. At North Higgins Lake, a camper warned "Don't expect to make phone calls, the cell service (AT&T) was very spotty."
Site conditions: The soil composition can create challenges in wet weather. A visitor to Otsego Lake State Park Campground observed "The downside is the sites are all sand. This is a problem when it rains. No matter how hard you try to clean your shoes, you end up tracking in wet, dirty sand."
Reservation timing: Peak season fills quickly, particularly for premium cabins. South Higgins Lake sees high demand: "Getting a site here during the summer can be very difficult. You will want one of the sites closer to the lake. If you want one of these sites, you will need to be ready to book the site 6 months in advance."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Many cabin locations offer structured programming for children. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park & Resort at Grayling, one visitor highlighted that it's "Great for kids. Tons of activities all day long. It's modern camping - showers, toilets, electricity, water, sewage, dump station. The jumping pillow is another great feature."
Biking opportunities: Several cabin locations offer paved paths suitable for children. At Otsego Lake, a reviewer mentioned "Nice paved path through the campground, great for kids riding bikes around camp. They also have a playground with a cool old fashion slide."
Swimming areas: Shallow entry points at several lakes accommodate young swimmers. South Higgins Lake has "water less than waist deep for about 100 yards out and then drops off to about 90' deep. The water color is amazing when the sun is out."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Some cabin and RV sites require significant adjustments. A visitor to Otsego Lake cautioned "Site 52 and sites in immediate area was over 12" out of level from front to back. Looked like our camper was doing a wheelie."
Hookup placement: Utilities may not follow standard layouts at all locations. One camper at Higgins Lake-Roscommon KOA noted "most sites are bare dirt and our water hook up was on the opposite side of the site from the power and sewer hook up so we had to have a hose running across our site; glad we had an extra hose to use as an extension."
Winter RV options: Unlike many Michigan campgrounds, some cabin areas offer winter RV camping. A visitor to Hartwick Pines mentioned it's "a good stop for snowbirds" with "open all year, nice park, big rig friendly, has full hookups."
