Best Dispersed Camping near White Cloud, MI
Sawkaw Lake offers primitive camping spots in the national forest near White Cloud, with sites overlooking the water. The area features a vault toilet and access to the North Country Trail. Campsites are large but positioned relatively close together. Fire rings are available with abundant wood to collect. Some visitors have noted permit requirement signs at sites, though information about obtaining permits is unclear.
Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping provides free dispersed sites but requires appropriate vehicles for access. As one camper noted, "If you do not have AWD and good ground clearance, don't even try to get there." The area offers spots suitable for both large groups and solo campers, with some riverside camping options available. Wildlife encounters are common, with coyotes reported in the vicinity. Coordinates may lead to incorrect locations, so careful navigation is recommended.
Additional dispersed camping can be found near Nordhouse Dunes along Green Road in Manistee National Forest. These sites offer privacy in wooded settings with stargazing opportunities and proximity to Lake Michigan beaches. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, there are "approximately 15 sites down this road, and each of them were gorgeous, some very large and very private." Most sites include fire pits, though no facilities or water sources are provided.
