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Best Dispersed Camping near Skandia, MI

14 Reviews

Dispersed camping options near Skandia, Michigan include several primitive sites on national forest land. Lake Superior Beachfront appears on maps but should be avoided as recent visitors consistently report "no camping" and "day use only" signs posted throughout the area. Hickey Marsh Dispersed Camping offers a better alternative with easy access off M-28. Campers describe it as "quiet and remote" with space for small trailers at established pull-ins. The area has good cell service but limited amenities.

Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road provides lakeside dispersed camping with stunning sunset views. A forest ranger confirmed only two official sites exist, both on the left side of the road heading toward the lighthouse with a 14-day stay limit. Herman Lake Dispersed requires navigating "deeply rutted and muddy one lane road" for 1.5-2 miles, making it challenging for vehicles without high clearance. Ironjaw Lake offers camping between two lakes but requires careful navigation as directions can be confusing. As one visitor notes, "There is a permitted site at the end but multiple pull out spots for dispersed camping along the forest road."

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Skandia, Michigan (17)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Skandia, MI

12 Photos of 17 Skandia Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Skandia, MI

14 Reviews of 17 Skandia Campgrounds

  • evi L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2021

    Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road - Dispersed

    Beautiful but very limited camping sites

    This area is gorgeous, it's surrounded by lake superior, and there is a really neat old lighthouse with pit toilets at the end of the road.. It's a one lane road btw, with multiple cutouts in the road for passing. I stayed here 2 nights in what appears to be an established campsite (with a fire ring, on the right side of the road heading towards the lighthouse) before meeting a local ranger this morning, who informed me that there are only 2 dispersed campsites available here, and both are on the left side of the road (heading towards the lighthouse.) But she did say that you are allowed to stay up to 14 days at either of those sites, before asking me to promptly gtfo. I would have rated 5 stars if there were more sites available, but if you manage to snag one of the permitted ones, lucky you!

  • 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.

  • Jacob B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2023

    Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road - Dispersed

    A beautiful location when I went!

    Stayed for 6 nights and loved all of it. I was in the camp more south on the left. I can confirm that there is a trailhead, national campground, private campgrounds, and boat launches down this road. Another review mentioned a site, that now has a no camping sign on it. I believe that was the site, but there is 2 sites. Some very light traffic as there is a lighthouse/ restrooms down the road from both of these. Not really walking distance for most, but manageable in any form. Caught northern lights, Milky Way, and glorious sights every day.

  • W
    Apr. 28, 2025

    Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road - Dispersed

    Beautiful Lake View

    We camped one night at the first dispersed site and had a great view of the lake from the site. The sunset was incredible. There are two sites, both on the left side while headed south.

  • W
    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.

  • S
    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

Guide to Skandia

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Skandia, Michigan, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations to choose from, each offers a unique experience for those looking to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Skandia, Michigan

  • Always check for signs indicating camping restrictions, as some areas like Lake Superior Beachfront (US Forest Land have posted notices that may limit overnight stays.
  • Bring your own water and firewood, as many spots, including Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite, do not provide these amenities.
  • Keep a low profile and respect the local environment; some campers have reported that locals may not appreciate visitors in certain areas.

Dispersed campers should check out Hovey Lake

  • The Dispersed Camping Hovey Lake Equine Trailhead offers a peaceful setting with access to trails for hiking and horseback riding.
  • This area allows campfires, making it perfect for cozy evenings under the stars, although be sure to bring your own firewood.
  • With no permit required, it’s an excellent choice for spontaneous trips into nature.

Enjoy kayaking and fishing while free camping near Skandia

  • Herman Lake Dispersed is a fantastic spot for kayaking, providing a beautiful and private setting for water activities.
  • The area around Hickey Marsh Dispersed Camping is known for its tranquility, making it ideal for fishing enthusiasts looking to catch some local species.
  • Be prepared for a bit of a trek to reach some of these spots, as the roads can be challenging, but the rewards of nature’s beauty are well worth the effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Skandia, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Skandia, MI is Lake Superior Beachfront (US Forest Land) with a 2.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Skandia, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Skandia, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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