Best Tent Camping near Trout Creek, MI
Tent campsites near Trout Creek, Michigan offer several primitive camping options within the surrounding Ottawa National Forest and wilderness areas. The Burned Dam Campground provides free tent sites situated along the Ontonagon River with rushing water sounds from nearby Mex-i-mine Falls. Additionally, backcountry camping opportunities exist in the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness, which features hike-in and walk-in tent access to remote sites.
Most tent sites in the area feature simple amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. At Burned Dam Campground, each site includes in-ground fire pits, picnic tables, and hanging posts for trash, though no running water is available. Sites typically have natural, ungraded surfaces of forest duff or dirt. The Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness requires hikers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste, with no established facilities. A camper noted that "this patch of wilderness within the Ottawa National Forest is unmatched" and "remote and not well traveled." Vault toilets are available at some established campgrounds, but drinking water must be packed in or filtered from natural sources.
Tent camping experiences in this region vary seasonally, with summer months bringing both warmer temperatures and significant insect activity. Multiple reviewers mentioned the challenging bug presence, particularly at Burned Dam where one camper stated the "assault was nonstop" from mosquitos and biting flies despite using repellent. The area remains relatively uncrowded, offering peaceful settings along rivers and lakes. Many sites provide access to hiking opportunities, including connections to the North Country Trail which winds through the Upper Peninsula. Winter arrives early in this region, sometimes as soon as mid-October, requiring tent campers to prepare for rapidly changing conditions, especially during shoulder seasons.
