Camping on North Manitou Island offers solitude and a wild beauty and nights listening to lapping waves.

The small Village Campground contains eight designated campsites, two fire rings and one outhouse. There is a limit of two tents and four people per site. Fires are permitted in the community fire rings at the Village Campground.

Camping is allowed in the wilderness area, but open fires are prohibited. Use gas or alcohol stoves i the wilderness.

Backcountry Camping Regulations are in effect on North Manitou Island. A backcountry permit and fee payment must be completed before camping. Permits are available on the island and on the mainland. Groups are limited to a maximum of 10 people.

North Manitou Island Backcountry Campsites

N. Manitou Island is part of the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore and is located in Lake Michigan and offers days of discovery to be had. To get to N. Manitou you will take a ferry in Leland, Michigan that will take you to the island. You can stay for a day trip, backcountry camp, or stay at the designated camp gound. You must take ALL needed supplies for your stay with you to the island, there are no stores there. Once on the island you can go many miles of hiking, where you will encounter beutiful forest, marsh, dunes, and the abandoned buildings, ruins, and orchards unused for over 100 years. If you pack your fishing pole to lake manitou, located in the center of the lake, you can experience amazing small mouth bass fishing. I spent my 3 days fishing, but plan on heading back to explore more.

Adventures to be had on North Manitou

This island is a hidden gem 12 miles off the coast of the Sleeping Bear Dunes national Lakeshore, accessible by ferry..

I gave the island 4 stars because some of the rules are a little too stringent in my opinion. Fires are only permitted in the Village Campsite at the island's entrance & you cannot camp within 300 ft of the beach. But if you're willing to forego the pyro effects & sleeping a stones throw away from the shore, then you're in for a camping experience unlike any other in MI. In the summer months, the island feels unquestionably tropical. The sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches make it feel like you're on an island at the equator, not halfway to the North Pole. The island is also sprinkled with uninhabited cottages that vacationers left behind at the end of a summer and never returned to. You can expect your stay here to include exploring historical ruins, marveling at beaches strewn with Petosky stones & reminding yourself that you're in Manitou, not Martinique. 


North Manitou Island: Tropical Michigan

After taking a ferry for a few hours across 12 miles of Lake Michigan, you finally arrive on North Manitou Island! The crossing helps to really remove you from the mainland you left behind.

Even better, in addition to the official campsites, with a backpacking permit you can camp almost anywhere on the island. Camping near the beach (300 ft) was my choice, and the sunsets and cool breeze did not disappoint. I even got to watch a small rainstorm roll in across the lake, and hurry up the dune to my tent when it got close.

Dispersed Camping on the Coast of Lake Michigan

Plenty of history and wilderness on this reclusive island of Sleeping Bear National Forest. NO ACCOMMODATIONS. NO FIRES PERMITTED. NO TRACE CAMPING. Do some research before hand. Rumor is there are iconic sites not on the maps provided. Great fishing on the inland lake. Southern portion near cemetery and cabin is desert like and debatable if it’s worth it. Island is 7 miles across but worth the truck. Ferry or boat required. 

Acres of pure wilderness 

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! Taking a ferry is definitely an experience but then they drop you off in an old abandon village. From there you take off in any direction and find a cool place to camp. There is a central lake, bluffs, cool weather in the summer and great trails.

How did I not know this place existed??

This place was truly amazing. Forests, hills, beaches, and dunes really help break up the terrain you encounter. The old village and scattered ruins and structures make for interesting stops. Visiting the cemetery was an ethereal experience as the sun began to set.

Once we disembarked, we made our way south on the primary trail until we got to the cemetery and Bournique's place. Some historical trails on the map were difficult to navigate. Having a compass made for an easier time bushwacking back to the trail but it was not easy. If you have difficulty navigating via compass and map, don't use the historical trails.

Once we got to the western shore, we hiked another mile or so to Donner Point, where we found excellent ground for our tents and it was completely isolated. Gorgeous views. 

Then we hiked all along the shoreline the 2nd day, not using the trail. The first half was quite leisurely. The 2nd half was very rocky, slippery, and several downed trees had to be climbed over or cut through. Then we camped on the beach just past Crescent.

The 3rd day, we climbed the dune and got back on trail following the old railway bed to the Eastern shore where we set up in the village campground for a more comfortable night before leaving the next day. 

All in all, it was a great experience and I look forward to returning. It is very rustic! Early June was comfortable at night and the bugs were at a minimum for the most part. There were many weekend visitors so I'm glad we went Sunday to Wednesday when there's typically fewer people on the island.