South Manitou Island Group

Stayed at site 3. It was a relatively easy hike until you hit a hilly spot towards the campground. Mid July was very buggy.

Site 3 has easy access to an overlook which we made use of for photos of a storm that rolled in over North Manitou Island, our original destination. There was one vault toilet at the opposite end of the campground.

Like at Weatherstation, it was easy enough to get down to the beach for swimming and refilling our Grayls but to get back up was a bit of a challenge that grew old after a few trips.

Our last night, we stayed at the Bay campground which was nice. Fire rings are available and getting to and from the water was much easier. I'd recommend the Bay for people who want a more leisurely experience and one of the other campgrounds if you want to get some miles and get more rustic.

This was such a great trip. We were able to come over on a ferry, which took about an hour and then hike in after a trailer dropped us off. Water is about a mile out so that is a hike. After I bought water pills, so I will be more prepared next time. Friends had filter bags so that was ok. Great island for the warmer months. First night we we didn’t have neighbors second night we did, site was about 40 yards from ours. There was pit toilet right by our site I was surprised it was even there and it was nice.

Sailed tonSouth Manitou from Glen Arbor. Some group camping.

Don’t forget the bug spray

The only way to reach South Manitou Island is to take a ferry over to the island. You must pack in anything you will need and pack out all of your trash. I love to go camping for extended periods of time. My four year old son and I took the ferry to South Manitou Island and had planned to stay for a few days. We had numerous people gift us food they had packed over to the island and did not want to pack out. We ended up extending our trip by a couple days. There are numerous fun day hikes to do on the island. You can hike to see the wreck of the Corazon, the cedar forest or the old homestead farms. We ate sweet plums that were ripe from one of the old trees on one of the farms. We camped at the Weather Station Campground and swam daily.

I stayed at the campsite nearest to where the ferry drops you off. There were several sites to choose from, and we were able to snag a spot with a small trail to Lake Michigan. There was a fire pit with a grill, and an out house style bathroom a short walk away. We hung our food to keep the chipmunks out of it- they did chew on my sunglasses case that I left out!

Hiking trails on the island are well marked, and fairly easy. I would recommend staying 2 nights if you want to see the whole island, though. With the ferry schedule, you wouldn't have time to see everything. I'd also recommend bringing more food than you think you need, in case the weather turns and the ferry can't pick you up on the day planned.

South Manitou island is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake shore. The island does have drinking water but you have to hike from your sites ot get it our you can get water from Lake Michigan and make it drinkable. There is no electricity at any of the camp sites, there is a charger station at the docks you can use. There is a Ranger station and a small museum along with old houses that the staff use who stay on the island. The Island has a Light house that has daily tours, a ship wreck and old growth ceder trees you can hike to along with the dunes. There are three campgrounds on the island all sites are first come first pick. Bay Campground is located the closest to the docks about a 1/2 mile walk with your gear, we did not camp here during our trip but we did stop to check out the sites available. These's sites are located along the cove of the island so they are on soft sand felt good to site or lay on without mats. These sites have awesome views of the sun rise in the morning. Popple Campground is the furthest away from the dock, and has the more sever hiking terrain, but is well worth the 7.4 mile round trip hike to get to it. Very secluded, all sites are close to the water's edge. Our site had it's own access trail to the beach, some area's on this side are sandy beach and some is rocky. On the other side of the island and only a 2.7 mile round trip hike from the dock is Weather Station Campground which seems to be the most popular. It is on the South side of the island and has sites on the cliff side and other sites scattered into the forest in the Campground. We were lucky enough to get a site on the cliff over the water and we could watch the waves from inside our tent. Some water side sites have their own trail down to the beach below. There are other trails along the beaches that lead back up to the camp sites. The island has plenty of hiking trails and attractions to see. The only bathroom is located by the docs. Most hiking trails are full shade. There are lots of mosquitoes so be prepared. We can't wait for our next trip to the island.

There are three campgrounds on South Manitou Island. I have stayed at the Weather Station Campground. The sites are back country camping with little to no amenities. A few sites are secluded while others are close together. A few sites offer amazing views of Lake Michigan atop some small bluffs which make this campground amazing. The area has a pit toilet or you can use nature and bury your waste (follow LNT principles!). The solar driven well is no longer operating so grab your water from Lake Michigan and treat it accordingly. This is a fun back country campground.