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Several tent camping options surround Watton, Michigan, located within the Ottawa National Forest and nearby state parks. Big Lake State Forest Campground offers tent sites on the lake with vault toilets and hand-pumped water. Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness provides more remote, hike-in tent camping experiences with pristine views and trail access. Craig Lake State Park features walk-in tent sites accessible via the North Country Trail, with most sites reachable only by boat or hiking.
Sites throughout the region vary in development level and terrain. Big Lake's tent sites sit on natural forest ground with minimal grading but include picnic tables and fire rings. According to one visitor, "The sites are HUGE with good privacy between them." Many campgrounds in the area require high-clearance vehicles, as roads leading to sites often contain deep potholes and washouts. Tent campers should prepare for primitive conditions, particularly at Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness, which lacks developed facilities and requires self-sufficient camping skills. Most forest campgrounds operate seasonally from May through November, though some areas permit winter camping with proper equipment.
The remote nature of tent camping in this region creates opportunities for wildlife viewing and outdoor solitude. Lake Perrault offers dispersed tent sites with fire pits but no bathrooms, making it suitable for campers seeking privacy. Biting insects can be significant during summer months, particularly at riverside sites like Burned Dam Campground where one camper noted the area was "beautiful, quiet, free campgrounds right next to the Ontonagon River and Mex-i-mine Falls, but FULL of mosquitos and biting flies." Tent campers frequently find the seclusion worth the effort, with multiple sites providing direct water access for fishing. The North Country Trail passes through several campgrounds, creating options for backpackers to connect multiple tent camping locations on longer trips.
"Way off the beaten path but the sites are HUGE! Quiet setting right on Big Lake. Probably my most beautiful site in the UP so far. Vault toilets and no shower. Very clean. Boat launch."
"The Michigan State Forest Campgrounds continue to delight us. For $15 a night you can experience camping like I did as a child – simple, unelectrified, and in beautiful outdoor locations."
"Hike in camping"
"The hike in was one of the most beautiful switch back type hikes, with breathtaking views of the gorge on the way down, a quick hike to the top of gorge once you’re down, then look down and see the waterfalls"
"The hike-in/paddle in camping spots are equipped with a picnic table and a firepit, everything else is up to you. I have been going here yearly for the last 10ys and absolutely love it! "
"Access is from 41 turn on the gravel road outside Michigamme coming from the East."
from $20 - $108 / night
Check Availability"Campground close to casino and lake Baraga. This is the best campground in the area."
"Several great sites to tent camp. Caught some blue gills. Good times"
"You will be able to hear your neighbors."
"Absolutely amazing spring fed lake! Free camping, not sure on the stay limit, a few locals park their campers here all summer."
"Nice small lake, easy access from the main road. Road to the lake isn’t paved and there are huge potholes so go slow."
GuideNice campground, well maintained, next to a lake with a boat ramp. Ever site has a picnic table, fire ring, asphalt pad and drying stand. Vault toilets, very limited trash collection trash cans (2). No water or waste. Only a few pull through most are back in.
LegendTwin Lakes MI SP: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 2-3 (A very clean campground, but old facilities, currently. A huge facelift in 2024 is being touted. New paving, new bath/shower rooms,and pavilion are coming. Shutdown during some of 2024 is anticipated. ) Price 2023: Usage during visit: 30% mid week Site Privacy: Poor Site Spacing: Poor Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Seems quiet Road Noise: Right along Hwy 26. Some sites back up to the Hwy. Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Not needed Bathroom: Flush and pit Showers: Yes Pull Throughs: Some. Most are back in. Cell Service (AT&T): Very good Setting: Some tree cover in between the highway and Lake Roland Weather: High is I low 80s Host: Real nice young and helpful men manning entry booth Rig size: Large rigs Sites: Lakeside sites are the premium here and the only sites that would seduce me to visit. Good stop over place while
TravelerGreat find. Sunday night beginning of June. Only camper in the tent section. Quiet spot with good hosts. Close to the lake. Grass and gravel. Restroom share with the park/boat launch area. I would definitely stay here again. If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake. Being only one there I found flat spot to tent but if busy choice might be limited. No control over weather but woke up and had to pack up in the rain. Definitely check it out! Thanks to the Hosts!
TravelerStayed one night on a Sunday. Mostly empty but you can see it is heavily booked for the Fourth of July weekend. They just added electric hook up to some sites in the South End. Right now the price is the same for electric or non-electric sites.
Sites are large and decent spacing between sites. Heavy tree cover with mostly shade.
The site was mostly gravel with nice fire ring and picnic table.
GuideNo reservations, that’s on us. Looked at several after driving around all day sight-seeing. We called the number on the listing; got a pre-recorded message from the township. Decided to check it out in person. First, camping is divided up; two loops on beach side of the road, two loops on the non-beach side. We nabbed the last place on the beach side and could see Lake Superior from the site. Camp hosts were very accommodating considering we roll in just as they’re locking up shop around 8:00pm. Got us checked in and sold us firewood. We quickly set up and were on the beach in minutes. The water felt so good, we ran back up and got into trunks to swim. Brisk but totally swimmable. The beach was sandy, the lake-bottom sandy/small pebbles (no aqua-socks needed). The beach wasn’t AS pretty as other places we’d been but still had spectacular views. The trash was nearby, showers and flushing toilets a quick minute walk to other loop. Fire rings in each site and power/water posts (no generators, yay!). It’s worth driving over to see if they have a spot!
TravelerThis campground is located just off the Sturgeon River in the Ottawa National Forest and is first come first serve with no reservations. From speaking with a local who frequents the campground, it is usually quiet with few sites actually in use at a time; it seems this year (2020) there have been more people out camping, though, so getting there earlier is better to ensure finding a site.
It is rustic -- there is no water pump, but there are pit toilets in the center of the site. If you don't bring enough water the river next to most sites can provide drinking water with the proper filtration. The national park website says there are 9 sites, but only 7 are actually available. My best guess is the MIA sites existed in the central part at one time.
Two sites can fit a camper, but they also happen to be the sites with the best view of the river. The remaining sites are tent-only due to a set of rocks blocking off the sites so vehicles do not drive in. From what I could tell with observations, 4 or 5 sites are either right on the river or have a short trail to get to the river.
The locations are sparse enough that the only thing really heard from other campers is the occasional shutting of a car door. The soft sound of the river drowns most noises out. Each site has a fire ring, most have a grate on the ring, a lantern hook, and a picnic table.
GuideA lovely area with a good balance of open space and tree cover. Nearby Clark Lake is very pretty, good for swimming, and serves as the primary water source. The area is covered in soft pine duff but finding a truly flat spot free of any small mounds of moss or decayed nurse logs can be a challenge.
LegendThe Sturgeon River is wide and beautiful. Just imagine sitting next to the rippling water. The road there is down some dirt roads with some bumps but it’s drivable.
The small rustic campground doesn’t have all the frills so this is for the rustic campers. The sites vary but there is shade to be found. We enjoyed the seclusion of this forest campground.
On the way to camp you pass a trailhead. Head back for a hike. This is in the Sturgeon River wilderness so take care to leave no trace that you were here.
GuideWe stayed at Van Riper State Park three times during June and July. The park is always clean and well-maintained. The bathrooms and showers and generally always nicely maintained as well, and there are plenty of both. The bathrooms do tend to run out of soap and toilet paper at busy times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but also cannot be left unattended in your site. The rules are heavily enforced in this park. Park staff will ask you to move vehicles if you have more than two, and you will be asked to turn music completely off upon quiet hours. This is not the place to go if you want to party.
Sites 15 and 17, as well as several other sites along that side of that loop, now have a wooden fence at the back of them, so they are not as large as they appear in the photos online.
We have stayed in sites 14, 90 and 93. We travel with a 34’ trailer.
Site 14 is narrow but manageable. It is well-shaded by large pine trees on the site. Site is entirely dirt. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines in.
Site 90 is on a corner by the propane tanks. It is a large site. It does have some roots and low spots. It is partial grass. It has nice shade and is adjacent to the bathrooms. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines.
Site 93 is a large site that backs up to a small grass/tree buffer. It is across the road from the bathrooms. It has nice shade. There is a place to hang a clothesline but not hammocks.
Pros: Clean, well-maintained park
Quiet
Lots of playground equipment
Bike/scooter pump track
Excellent beach area
Lots of green space
Hiking trails
Wood and ice available for purchase at the entrance
Laundry is available; one washer and two dryers
Very kid and pet friendly
Cons: Park website has out of date information, specifically that there is no longer a store on the beach, nor are there kayaks/SUPs to rent
The Water Warrior Island is no longer in the lake
There are very few sites with buffers between
It is sort of far to the beach and laundry from the modern campsites
No non-reservable sites available
Dispersed camping sites dot the landscape near Watton, Michigan, nestled in the western Upper Peninsula's Ottawa National Forest. This heavily forested region sits at elevations between 1,200-1,600 feet with cold winters and mild summers. Access roads to most camping areas deteriorate after spring thaw, with rutted surfaces requiring careful navigation through October.
Paddling access points: Big Lake State Forest Campground offers a small craft launch within the campground. One camper noted, "The lake was nice and there was a small beach. Enjoyed listening to the sandhill cranes every morning."
Hiking the North Country Trail: Multiple primitive campsites connect to this long-distance trail. According to a visitor at Big Lake, "The North Country Trail winds through this part of the UP, and the Big Lake campground would make a perfect starting or ending place for a section hike."
Waterfall viewing: The region features multiple accessible falls near camping areas. At Burned Dam Campground, one reviewer observed, "Camp is right on a river and the rapids will draw you in. Follow the trail 20 yards and you can find a variety of boulders or logs to perch upon."
Privacy between sites: Most dispersed tent camping near Watton offers significant spacing between campsites. At Lake Perrault, a camper described it as "a dispersed area with some sites with fire pits that are cleared and open for camping, maybe about 6 spots or so. A couple of the spots are right down at the water."
Pristine wilderness setting: The undeveloped nature of the area provides true wilderness experiences. A camper at Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness commented, "This patch of wilderness within the Ottawa National Forest is unmatched. I didn't think I was in the Midwest. Remote and not well traveled."
Wildlife viewing: The remoteness creates opportunities for animal sightings. One visitor to Lake Perrault mentioned, "There was some interesting animal calls overnight as well," while another at Big Lake reported seeing "browsing deer and pheasants."
Road conditions: Access roads to primitive sites require appropriate vehicles. One camper at Paint River Forks NF Campground warned, "5 or so campsites. Clean out house right on river. Just a mile or so down the dirt road."
Seasonal considerations: Winter arrives early in the UP. A visitor to Big Lake cautioned, "In mid-October, we woke up to full on winter one morning, so be prepared for anything in the shoulder season."
Insects: Biting insects present significant challenges at many sites during summer. A camper at Burned Dam Campground noted, "This campground was FULL of mosquitos and biting flies. Even with bug spray, the assault was nonstop. Bring a screen-printing popup shelter with you or you will suffer."
Choose developed sites with basic amenities: For camping with children, sites with toilets provide easier logistics. At Big Lake State Forest Campground, "Bathrooms are simple pit-toilets, and water is accessible year-round with the hand operated well pump."
Consider recent forestry operations: Some areas experience periodic logging. As one camper observed, "This area is being logged so many trees are gone. This makes it less pleasant now but that will change over time."
Look for swimming access: A few sites offer small beaches suitable for children. One visitor at Emily Lake State Forest Campground mentioned, "Great view down a small hill at the back of the site" with access to water where they "caught some blue gills."
Limited clearance on access roads: Most tent camping sites near Watton present challenges for RVs. A visitor to Big Lake warned, "The entrance to this campground is not for low clearance vehicles...it is full of HUGE flooded potholes (small ponds really). Not recommended for 2 wheel drive, low clearance vehicles."
Size restrictions at primitive sites: Few dispersed camping areas accommodate larger rigs. At Lake Perrault, a camper noted, "There are a few spots suitable for a small travel trailer, but most of them are better suited to tents."
Distance from supplies: Stock up before heading to camp. A visitor to Big Lake mentioned, "Within 10 miles back on the highway is a large gas station/convenience store and café where you could get a hot meal or stock up on a few essentials."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Watton, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Watton, MI is Big Lake State Forest Campground with a 4-star rating from 4 reviews.
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