Bishop Lake Campground accommodates pets at all 25 sites within Brighton Recreation Area, offering a variety of accommodation options including tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and pet-friendly cabins. Leashed pets are welcome throughout the campground with dedicated waste stations positioned near the bathhouse facilities. The large, wooded sites provide ample space for campers with dogs to set up comfortably. Spacious sites with walls of greenery separating campsites make Murray Lake Campground another excellent option for pet owners seeking more privacy. This rustic campground features vault toilets and pump water with no electrical hookups, creating a peaceful environment for nature-loving dogs and their owners. Both campgrounds maintain standard pet policies requiring dogs to be leashed at all times outside vehicles or camping units.
The extensive trail system throughout Brighton Recreation Area provides numerous opportunities for dog walking, with several miles of pet-friendly hiking paths connecting the campgrounds. Dogs can access the shorelines of both Murray Lake and Appleton Lake for swimming, though they must remain on leash even during water activities. Sites at Murray Lake are particularly well-suited for pets with natural boundaries creating semi-private spaces. During summer months, early morning or evening walks are recommended to avoid hot temperatures on paw pads. The campground's mountain bike and hiking trails run directly through the camping area, offering convenient exercise options without needing to drive elsewhere. Brighton Recreation Area maintains strict quiet hours starting at 10pm, which helps manage barking and noise concerns in the camping areas. The nearest veterinary services are available in Brighton, approximately 15 minutes from the campgrounds.
$17 - $90 / night
"Nice lakes for swimming and can take your pet as well! Big playground and nice bathrooms"
"Great family place with paved and dirt biking/hiking trails. Very nice beach with grass and sand. There are 2 areas of inflatables, one of them is for the little kids 48 in. and under."
"Nice lake view across the road. This location has 4 lakes. There is plenty of nature. Lots of trees along a nature trail. Cranes and ducks in the water . The first night was super quiet!"
"I highly recommend Hass Lake campgrounds. It is a very clean, quite, Beautiful campgrounds."
$17 / night
"Nice place to camp right on the lake. It's a 7 mile hike in(can also be accessed via boat), part of the Potowatomi loop trail(~18 miles) located in Waterloo-Pinckney recreation area."
"Camp ground is located along the Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney Recreation area. Bikers head the opposite direction from hikers. The route I followed was about 8 miles in to Blind Lake."
$3 / night
"They offer campsites full hookups pet friendly They offer electric only no pets they offer campsites no pets.
They have a tent only section."
"Booked a two week stay at Pontiac Lake Rec. area in Whitelak, MI. Huge sites not stacked on top of one another. They have electric hookups, but only 30 amp."
$27 - $46 / night
"There is a new large playground structure and nice but short paved path for kids to bike or scooter around."
"On Crooked Lake, it has 25 sites, two of which are right on the water; #7 is full sun, larger, and 20 is sun/shade and tucked away in the back of the campground."
"First time out with the camper and we wanted to stay close to home so we found a campground right outside the city. You couldn't tell how close we were because there were so many trees in the area."
"First, I'd like to say that I was born and raised in Northern Michigan. That's where I'm used to camping and hiking. I moved to the metro Detroit area a few years ago."
"Close by but up north feel."
"Picnic table pit ring outside toilets best site was 24 17$ dollars a night 3 parks Brighton recreational is for Rv and electric sites indoor plumbing hot showers Murry is only for weekend visits Appleton"
$20 - $35 / night
"Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably."
"Wow.. what a nice little getaway in Hell, Michigan area! Camp host, “Lightening” is a friendly and helpful guy who NEVER stopped working (except to chat with campers here and there)."
"This often overlooked campground is part of Brighton Recreation area in lower Michigan. Only 25 sites, with no electricity and vault toilets. Pump water available."
"Small fishing lake for paddling. Mountain bike and hiking trails run through the campground. Bishop lake beach and jump island are a 5 min drive away."
"Island Lake Recreation Area is home to two Huron River Canoe Camps. The sites are boat-in only (!) meaning you must haul any and all gear in a kayak or canoe for your stay."
"Island lake really does feel like you’re up north with the hours spent on I-75. There are great hiking trails that give novice and Intermediate hikers a chance to sharpen their skills."
GuideA mostly seasonal campground that can be had to find. Super amenities with huge pool and large field with dog park, baseball field, bags, basketball and sand volleyball. Many trails to walk.
ScoutWe really enjoyed our stay. The hosts were very welcoming and helpful. Delivered our firewood right to our site. Lots of shade trees, beautiful well groomed trails for walking. Even a dog park, which our Golden Retriever really enjoyed.
GuideVery private sites. I was surprised at how well each site was hidden from the others. Restrooms can be a bit far from some sites. Nice little dog park by the beach too.
ScoutI come down to Detroit from Windsor every year to camp in Michigan with friends and this year we went to this very nice campsite in Orion Twp and I loved it. This was the first year we started our trip in Toronto, thanks to a solar company at https://www.solarpowertoronto.com/ who installed solar panels on our RV. We were able to camp from Toronto to Orion Twp and had a great time. Will be doing the same next year.
GuideNice Park Nice park for full timers. Large spots to accommodate big rigs and kids. Full hook ups. Cell service great with Verizon hotspot(22u, 20d, 38ms and AT&T cell(27d, 20u, 27ms). Playgrounds everywhere for the kids. Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud. Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up.
GuideNice park for full timers. Large spots to accommodate big rigs and kids. Full hook ups. Cell service great with Verizon hotspot (22u, 20d, 38ms and AT&T cell(27d, 20u, 27ms). Playgrounds everywhere for the kids. Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud.
Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up.
TravelerGreat opportunities for winter sports. Pools, lakes, mini golf. Designed for young families. Pet friendly but has restrictions on the type of dog.
ScoutThis is a quiet, friendly and family campground. The staff is very willing to help any way they can. The sites are level and spacious.
A great place for the kids! With a beach, playground and paved roads is nice but the frosting in this cake is the petting zoo. Animals from bunnies, peacocks & cats to horses, goats and of course Milton the burro, get it? Milton Burro, LOL
The store has stuff for the kids at very reasonable prices and the ice cream shop across the street is a nice walk after dinner. There's a light there for safe crossing, too.
Try this place, you'll add this to your good memories.
No credit or debit cards. Cash and checks only.
RangerThey offer campsites full hookups pet friendly
They offer electric only no pets they offer campsites no pets.
They have a tent only section.
They have a beach, tennis courts, children's playground,rustic cabins, they have a recreation field Kids Activities arts and crafts!!! They have 16 resort cabins, this place is HUGH
Bathrooms were dated and we arrived Monday after Labor Day so I can't judge them. They had a FULL HOUSE on Labor Day per the front gate. I was very impressed there was no garbage at campsites and picked up very well.
GREAT biking trails you can catch on premise and bike over to Kensington and to the charming town of Milford
Brighton Recreation Area offers multiple options for pet-friendly camping near Whitmore Lake, Michigan. The area spans over 4,947 acres of woodlands surrounding a series of small lakes. Hiking trails vary from easy to moderate with some segments featuring elevation changes of up to 200 feet through oak and pine forests.
Water activities: Both Bishop Lake and Haas Lake Park RV Campground offer multiple options for lake recreation. "The lake was nice but you have to walk a trail to get to it from the campground or drive. Nice walking trails. Our favorite was the lake for kayaking," notes Debra B. about Bishop Lake. Haas Lake features "4 lakes. There is plenty of nature. Lots of trees along a nature trail. Cranes and ducks in the water," according to Karen C.
Hiking trails: The extensive Pinckney Recreation Area trail system includes options for every skill level. "There are multiple camping opportunities with a variety of camping styles. A 35 mile hiking trail runs through the entire area with small day trails branching off to points of interest, all with corresponding camp sites," reports Greg F. Shorter options include the Silver Lake Trail (1.9 miles) and Crooked Lake Trail (5.1 miles).
Mountain biking: Trails throughout the recreation area provide excellent biking opportunities. "We loved the trails for Mountain Bikes that are close to the Campsite! They are super fun!!" says Maria G. about Bruin Lake Campground. The Potawatomi Trail is particularly popular with mountain bikers of all skill levels.
Privacy at rustic sites: Murray Lake Campground offers secluded campsites in a quieter setting. "This often overlooked campground is part of Brighton Recreation area in lower Michigan. Only 25 sites, with no electricity and vault toilets. Extremely spacious and private wooded sites and so peaceful," writes Jackie C. The rustic experience appeals to those seeking a more natural setting.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent bathrooms and showers. At Proud Lake Recreation Area, "The bathhouse is new and very nice," according to Stephanie C. Laura M. adds, "You need to know that this place is so so clean! The grounds, the sites, the bathrooms and the showers are all impeccable."
Swimming options: The recreation areas feature both beaches and pools. At Camp Dearborn, "Lots of beach area and water to fish or swim. Activities almost every night. Paddle boats, mini golf, golf, and more," says Ryan S. Bishop Lake offers "Jump Island! It's connected but costs money. $15 for a 45 minute jump session. Follow on Facebook for coupons," according to Beth G.
Site selection matters: At Blind Lake Rustic Campground, "All of the sites at Blind Lake campground have lots of shade and are large enough for a couple of tents on each site." Michael S. suggests, "Site #3 looked to be the best with swimming access." At Bishop Lake, some campsites "had a view of the lake, but no shade."
Seasonal scheduling: Murray Lake Campground is only open on weekends throughout the summer. Most campgrounds in the area operate from April through October, with Haas Lake open April 1-October 31 and Bishop Lake from April 15-November 3. Some sites fill quickly during summer months and holiday weekends.
Noise levels vary: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. At Bishop Lake, "The campground is nice with good access to bikes, trails, water, beach. Unfortunately the sites are on top of each other and very loud," notes John K. Murray Lake offers a more peaceful alternative with "walls of greenery separating the campsites."
Kid-friendly amenities: Camp Dearborn offers numerous activities for children. "Camp Dearborn has a lot for the kids, outdoor fun, night dance parties, cement for bike rides or rollerblading," shares Melissa M. Teresa B. adds, "They have activities for both children and adults, two beautiful beaches, a pool, tennis courts, and now a zip line."
Halloween events: Several campgrounds host special Halloween activities. Justin G. mentions, "We've been going to halloween camping for the past 2 years, decorate your site and the kids get dressed up an go trick or treating in camp, theres a costume contest and hay rides, fun family atmosphere" at Proud Lake Recreation Area.
Swimming options: Bishop Lake features Jump Island, a floating water park. Jillian E. notes, "Such a cool place to enjoy with the kids, we had a blast at Jump Island!" Brighton Recreation Area also includes designated swimming beaches with shaded areas and concessions available during summer months.
Site access: At Haas Lake Park, you'll find "very reasonable weekly and monthly rates. It seems as though most campers are seasonal residents making it difficult to get a decent spot for weekend campers," according to Josh B. Karen C. reports, "We have a pull thru that was very spacious with a long driveway."
Hookup options: Bishop Lake offers full hookup sites. "This is a larger state park with full size sites for RVs. There is electric on each site along with fire rings and picnic tables," notes Mike B. For those requiring 50-amp service, Haas Lake Park provides this option while Bishop Lake offers 30-amp hookups.
Dump station access: For RVers at Murray Lake (which lacks hookups), the nearby Bishop Lake campground provides dump station access. Ryan S. notes about Camp Dearborn, "There is a dump station on site," making it convenient for longer stays. Most modern campgrounds in the area provide sanitary dump services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Whitmore Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Whitmore Lake, MI is Bishop Lake Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Whitmore Lake, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 83 dog-friendly camping locations near Whitmore Lake, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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