Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html

Negwegon State Park Campground

If you're looking at getting into backpacking or unsure if backpacking is for you, Negwegon is a great place to start. First of all, each of the sites are only a mile or two away from the parking lot of the park. This gives newbies the chance to take a small hike in for that backcountry feel. Second, each site has a fire ring and picnic table... and a vault toilet. This means you get a few of the comforts of car camping but with beautiful views of Lake Huron and limited interaction with humans. Staying at Blue Bell, site #1, we were treated with Lake Huron just about 100 feet away from our campsite. We had the chance to check out site #3– for those that love sand, that is the spot for you.

As for the camping site overall, #1 is a great start. It is about 75 feet off of the trail, but in the fall, foot traffic was very limited. The wind provided us with plenty of fallen limbs and brush to start a fire. If you pack a hatchet, options are expanded to larger fallen branches. There are a few spots on the site to pitch your tent– with it being windy, we setup tucked in a flat area surrounded by thick evergreen trees that provided wind protection. Lake Huron is very clear and we filtered about 10 cups of water to drink throughout our stay.

Going in mid-fall, be prepared for that breeze blowing off of the lake, we came prepared for the cold, if you don't, you'll be miserable. Upsides of camping in the fall, limited to no bugs. We didn't have any issue with bugs and in fact, we saw no wildlife at all– even including a hike up past site #4\.

Great place to start your backpacking obsession

This campground you need a reservation for and there are four campsites right off the water. These campsites are hike-in and/or kayak in accessible which makes for wonderful views either way. The campsites are spaced enough so that even if they are all booked you wouldn’t know it. Each site is about a half mile from each other. Site number one is big, spacious and almost right off the trail in. It has a wonderful beach view and a rustic toilet. On the beachfront there is a bear hang for your overnight stay. This would be a great place to take your pup if you have one! 

Negwegon

Great spot to get kids out in the Backcountry. Also a dark sky preserve.

Hidden gem

There are only 4 primitive sites at Negwegon which is a dark sky preserve.   We had site #3. It is a little less than a 2 mile hike.   Water is available at parking lot. Pit toilet and picnic table at our site. If you prefer space and privacy, this is worth the minor effort. Reservations are made by contacting Harrisville State Park.

Backcountry site=no neighbors!

Beautiful little park, secluded and quiet. Every backcountry site has beach access which would be incredible in the summer. We went in early spring, I would recommend sites 1-3 for that time of year because they are protected from the wind. We stayed at site 4 which is the most secluded but also the most windy, but all the sites are absolutely gorgeous. We are already planning our return trip, so awesome that it is dog friendly as well!!