Escape into nature and disconnect from daily life with glamping near Mercer. Glamping near Mercer is a great way to travel off the beaten path. Find the right glamping site for you with our user-submitted photos, reviews, and tips. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Wisconsin glamping spot for you.
The Porcupine Mountains Presque Isle Campground offers 50 rustic campsites near the scenic Presque Isle River. There are vault toilets and hand pumps for water. In addition to drive-up sites, there are also 6 walk-in sites. The campground is split into two loops. The east loop is a generator friendly side, while the west loop is generator free. There is access trails to the nearby Presque Isle River and or to the Lake Superior shoreline. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground office. At roughly 60,000 acres, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan’s largest state park. It is home to 35,000 acre old-growth forest, roaring waterfalls, miles of rivers and streams, more than 90 miles of hiking trails, the Lake Superior shoreline and vistas unrivaled anywhere in the Midwest.
$4 - $20 / night
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/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
$20 - $40 / night
Crystal Lake Campground is located in the central portion of the forest and is one of the most popular. The entire shoreline is a designated beach with picnic areas on the west side, and is only a small walk or bike ride to this area from the campground. This lake is perfect for canoers and kayakers who can launch at the small craft landing within the campground – no motors allowed. A fishing pier offers a chance to practice your casting skills. Stop in and check out the Nature Center or use the reservable picnic shelter for large gatherings. The Tom Roberts ADA accessible trail is also located near this campground.
Crystal Lake Campground (sites 401-501) is located in the central portion of the forest. All sites in the campground are reservable. The entire Crystal Lake shoreline is a designated beach so there are no pets allowed anywhere on the shoreline. There are also no motorized boats allowed on the lake. The campground surrounds most of the lake with access to Muskie Lake Campground. There are five vault toilet buildings, three hand pumps for drinking water, one flush toilet building with showers, a sanitary dump station and separate trash and recycling dumpsters. There is a small craft boat landing within the campground. Sites 463 and 438 are designated ADA accessible.
Near the campground, there is a large marked swimming beach, picnic area and enclosed reservable shelter. The facility also features access to a paved bike trail which goes to Firefly Lake Campground and on to Boulder Junction in one direction, and past St. Germain in the other. There is also a nature center and a hard-surfaced nature trail for the mobility impaired.
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Backcountry sites: An unlimited number of permits can be issued but only 63 spots have a metal fire ring. Fires are restricted to metal fire rings. Cost $14- for 1-6 people. Maximum number per site is 6.
Guide
Great location, and has the basics for the camping. I was in site 44, and most of the sites in the "middle" were more of an open field with a couple of trees. There were no real clear boundary lines . If you are looking for a little more shade or tree cover, book a perimeter site. This is also the first campsite I've been to where the fire pit didn't have a grill grate on part of it. There is water on site, but it is the hand pump style, so it would help to have a large open container to capture the water.
Cell service was really spot (can be a good thing when camping), and I wasn't able to pick up a lot of radio stations either. Still nice to enjoy the quite dark skies. Short walk down stairs to Lake Superior which offered some great sunset views.
Lots of great hiking trails, and close to a lot of other fun attractions. I would plan on coming back up here another time, and possible pick a different site after being here.
Guide
We stayed for 3 nights. Lovely old and second growth trees. Bear and Wolf precautions, please. Hiking was good, fishing was good.
Guide
We stayed here the 2nd week of October. They were actually turning the water off for the year when we left. We had the park mostly to ourselves. They water access is nice and it is right off a main highway, although it was not too noisy. There are some state park hiking trails access from campground, also. Facilities were pretty standard state park fair. Sites seem to have plenty of room.
Traveler
Came to this campground for 3 days to hang out at the fireman’s picnic in arborvitae. The campground is old as dirt, had a nice lake for swimming and fishing but that’s it. Tiny game room with Pac-Man . 2 wash machines and couple dryers. The sites are very small. Electricity has no breakers to shut the juice off before hook up which is very dangerous . Water is good pressure. All in all the campground works if you don’t want to do anything and just sleep.
Traveler
Lake Cunard campground was designated a "Quiet" campground several years ago - one of only two in the 18 different Northern Highlands American Legion state forest campgrounds. That means no "noise producing devices", including generators, radios, TV's, video games, guitars, etc. No means none. Prohibited. It's good to know this before booking a reservation!
Also note that the posted rules for ALL campgrounds read, "At no time may a person engage in.. boisterous, unreasonably loud..or conduct that tends to cause a disturbance" - defined as " interfering with another person's enjoyment of the forest".
This transition in 2019 was perhaps difficult for long time visitors at Cunard to adjust to. However, the quieter experience there has become a favorite of many who appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. 👍 It is an older, more rustic property - and could use some updates (ie new toilets), but if you're looking for that serene Northwoods experience - Go!!
Traveler
Beautiful spots, friendly staff, clean toilet and trash canat each site. Will definitely return.
Traveler
I have been camping at Crystal Lake every year for 20+ years. It is by far our favorite in the area. The showers and toilets are clean. The pit toilets can get pretty ripe by the end of the season, but if people would learn to keep the lids closed, it wouldn’t be so bad. The bike trails are endless! What fun. The water and beach is clean. The staff is friendly and helpful. I cannot say enough good things about this area and the campsites. Worth the trip for sure.
Traveler
About 5 miles in on a dirt road, but the sites are pretty nice and secluded.
Guide2 day stay in mid august was absolutely lovely (bring bug spray). -> gorgeous hikes nearby (hiking around Clark lake is an 8-10 mile trek that’s gorgeous the whole way -> bathrooms kept clean -> nice and quiet -> beautiful views of the forest from every campground (not just staring at other campers), very private.
GuideBeautiful sites, some very private and right on the lake. Boat launch nearby. Sites are spacious and privacy depends in the site. Some are isolated, others are mean to camp with friends. All have fire pit and table. First come, first served. We got there on a Thursday and lots of sites, but was full by the weekend. You have to drive around and pick an open site and caretaker comes around about 11am to check you in. Pit toilets, some ADA accessible.
GuideSecond time staying here and it was great. I didn’t get a lakeside spot like the previous stay but it was still great. Clean facilités. Wood and ice available onsite. Beach, boat ramp, dump station, and a great view.
Legend
This is a beautiful campground right next to the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in the U P of Michigan. After reading the reviews of the Union Bay Campground in the park, I'm glad I could get a reservation here!
This is a well established campground. There's 50 sites with water & electricity, but no sewer. There is a dump station.
Some sites have more room than others. We had site 16, which was roomy. Site 20 is also roomy & shady.
The best sites over look the Union River. Sites 27/28 are nice & site 29 is outstanding. There are a few pull throughs.
Any of the perimeter sites would be good. These have a woods view in the back.
Avoid sites 24A/45&46. these sites are very near the dump station, with 45 right by it. There's a tall fence separating you from it.
The bathrooms are beautiful! Clean with hot showers. Decorated nicely, with music also. There's a community fire pit on the front lawn with swings & chairs. A nice view of Lake Superior. The sunsets are outstanding. There's a free beach across the street. You need to take the stairs down to it. Don't try climbing down the rocks!
I didn't have much luck looking for Yooper Stones.
The gift shop is small, but has some nice things.
Out of the 3 campgrounds we stayed at this trip, this was our favorite!
Guide
Nice big camp ground with boat ramp. Nice big site we had. 90% ish are full-time camp sites nice out door pool. Some of the full-time campers are not so nice.
ScoutLove this campground had water site beautiful lake quiet was by road but not lot traffic bathrooms nice site were good staff was great camp host was very nice friendly Great beach lot mosquitoes but your in woods,will come back we loved it
Scout07/02 We pulled up to the office with our RV and a trailer attached with a sxs on. The girl was nice gave me a map with directions to our campsite and sent us on our way. At our campsite we disconnected the trailer took off the sxs and set up camp. We then decided to take a ride because we had forgotten a few things and we were meeting up with my son for the 4th so we thought we would look for trails. We stopped at the office to see if they had trail maps, when I walked in the girl (Chelsey) slammed the window shut and told me she hated those things. I asked if she had a trail map and all she said was "we have no trails around here." Chelsey needs to take a class in customer service she was very rude. As we left we saw several other sxs going down the road so we knew there were tails. We stopped at the Gogebic Lodge and saw they were serving a lobster boil so we decided to go back to get money from the camper as we pulled in there was the camp ranger waiting for us and signaled for us to pull over. He then told us that sxs were not permitted in State parks. I told him we go camping in our local state park all the time and they are all over the campground. His name was Eli and took the time to talk to us and explain and did a great job but that meant we had no means of transportation at all. I also asked why when we registered or stopped for a trail map were we not told of that rule, he couldn't answer that but agreed we should have been told. He also stated it was on the website. Well it is on the state website we booked on the Gogebic State park website. I feel if state parks are going to have different rules it should be stated on the website you book your stay. He also said we could park our sxs out by the road and walk to use it but we are both handicapped and we couldn't walk that far. We felt like prisoners at our campsite we couldn't go and get wood for a fire or the extra supplies at the store down the road. Finally on the morning of the 4th i decided I could maybe walk to the office and carry 1 bundle of wood so we could have a fire on the 4th. Our original plan was to meet my son and his family and go to all the different 4th events in the area but we could no longer do that. When I got to the office the girl there took my money and told me where to grab the wood, she then asked if I was walking and I explained the situation, and she said oh your the one. But offered to drive the bundle of wood to our site which I thought was very kind. When I got back to our site we decided to call and see if she could bring a couple more bundles. I called she asked if I could hold, she put the phone down and I could hear her switching sites for someone then she asked if they needed wood or ice and they took wood and she told them it was last of the wood. So when she came back to me she said they were out of wood and I told her I had already paid for my wood and that last bundle should have been mine. I was told to try the store up the road, and that she would be dropping off my money to me. The store up the road even if she knew I couldn't. My experience at this campground was very disappointing. I felt the they did not communicate with us and when they tried to they were rude. I will never camp here again in fact I will think twice about camping at any state park again.
GuideThis is a great campground. The best sites are lake sites (obviously), but there are some better than others. Look along the east side of the lake for a sandy beach off of your site. Those on the south side don't have a sandy shore, but still have a sandy bottom.
Roughly 1.5mi trail around the lake and you can walk from the campground to Fallison Lake to do a hike there.
Great to camp anytime of year. Though there aren't really electric sites, having showers and flush toilets is a huge plus.
We have Verizon service and it is spotty in areas, though given that you can see a cell tower towards Sayner it should be a lot better than it is. I think it is the heavy tree cover that impacts the reception. Even when we had 3 bars, it wasn't much better than the 1 bar at our site.
GuideI stayed one night at the end of May and it was stunning (from inside my van). Unfortunately, the mosquitoes came in clouds but that’s expected. Was able to make it in my van and would be back a different, less ferocious time of the year. Just stunning.
Guide
This is a perfect small sized campground with trail access to UTV /Atv trails. If you are coming here to ride I would recommend going west on the trail. North a lot of the trails were closed. The coin operated atv wash is $1 for a minute. Bathrooms were extremely clean and well kept. Sites have electric no water hookups at the site . Fill of station is across from site 1.
LegendThis is a great campground in a group of the campgrounds in the area. Lots of water sites so I would highly suggesting getting one so the you can paddle right from the shoreline. Good fishing as well. No the rules when you come onto the lake as motors are not allowed which is why I chose it as it made paddling much easier. Lots of sites on the water and have some privacy. Really a nice campground in the busy area.
LegendWe would return here again and again. On the Presque Isle River, numerous hiking opportunities by the water, in the woods with mega views. Campground was quiet and in the woods, the perfect retreat for those looking to relax and get back in touch with nature. Truly extra ordinary, quieter than Union Bay, close to Lake of the Clouds. Recommended!
Legend
Decided on a last minute get away here and it was perfect. Super quiet and the views were great for the weekend. Yes there are flies and yes there are mosquitos, but get on the water and it is not so bad. I was able to grab a site near the water so I could get in and out with the kayak, but also the location lended itself to other lakes to fish nearby as well. Sites are fairly private because of the lower vegetation so you don't feel as though you are right on top of your neighbors. The sites in the back are super private and easy to get away from noise of other people, but they do have more flies bc it is less breezy. I did go down to the swimming beach and watch some turtles laying eggs. I will certainly come back again. I love this area!
If you get the chance to get a walk in site...do it. They are very much in a perfect location!
RangerThis state park has a beach and many sites are on the lake. We've stayed here several times over the years. Our favorite spots are along the lake - we'd drop our canoe in and paddle out for sunset views. Fishing is decent on this big lake. Showers work, most sites have electric (water and dump station are available).
Guide
We visited with our dog the first week of October to catch the fall colors. After driving up from Chicago, checking in, and then driving to Little Carp River Road, finally ready to hike at 4pm. Parking lot isn't huge and all sites were booked that weekend but we were able to snag a spot. We took the Little Carp River trail all the way to the site, which was easy to follow, a good bit of up and down but nothing too difficult. Reservation site says 2.3 miles, we did closer to 3.5 by the time we arrived. LC-7 and LC-6 are close to each other but far enough away that you have some privacy, couldn't hear the other party chatting. Fire wood in the area was sparse, everything was damp. Bear pole was tough to find, follow the trail past the site, then a stump, at the second huge tree on your left, turn to your right and climb the hill.
Site has a fire pit, logs to sit on and plenty of level space to pitch tents. It is right on the trail, so you may see some traffic. Good coverage from old growth trees, enough hills in the area to find privacy for squatting, and the river is easy to access. If I had to choose between LC-6 and LC-7, would pick 6, it's up higher and further from the trail.
We hiked back the next morning, went to Lake in the Clouds and then Ontonagon for lunch. Visited Squeeze on Main for food and beer, place is brand new, looks nice, price reasonable, food was ok. Then the bar a few doors down for more beer, they had a good selection.
Then we drove to the Pinkerton Trail head, limited parking on the side of the road, but room enough on the end for a few cars when we arrived. Pinkerton was a pleasant stroll through the woods, lots of boards, dead falls, and mud, and it's a gradual descent. Met up with the Superior Trail 3 miles in, then went left to LS-3.
LS-3 is everything we came for - right on the lake, plenty of firewood, ultimate in privacy since no other sites are within at least a half mile, perfectly level spot for the tent and a built-out fire pit area. Highly recommend.
RangerThis place was a great one night stop with beautiful camp spots on the lake. Beautiful waterfall.
TravelerLike the title, clean and quiet campground. Same price as state park with more evenly spaced sites. Very friendly and helpful staff. Great view of lake! Stopped for one night but would stay again if in area.
Guide8/26-9/1/22- Free camping! There are vault toilets and hand-pump well drinking water in several places, and picnic tables and fire pits at each camp site. The sites are well maintained, clean, and reasonably flat. I tried self registering, but there was nowhere to sign-in. About 11Am the next morning, someone came by to register us. 2-bars Verizon 5G, and 2-bars AT&T 4G.
We rolled in about 10pm and drove through the western loop sites 1-22, pulled into the first pull-through site(W5) that we could easily get our 34’ fifth wheel into and went to sleep. In the morning, I walked the loop and found several others that we could fit(now that it was light out), and we moved over one site to W6. Site W21 has a lake view and a large loop in front of this back-in site that would be super easy to navigate for a big rig. Sites 11 and 12 were really close together but had a good views of the lake as well. Later, we drove over to the east camp site that all seemed to have lake views, and sites E12 and E13 are surrounded on 3 sides by water, a turn-around loop, and more sunlight for solar powered rigs. I didn’t think to check cell signal while there.
The towns of Watersmeet and Conover had the cheapest diesel fuel. The Wild Turkey Bar& Grill in Conover, WI had fabulous smoked meats, and there is a great little hardware store in Conover as well.
Guidenice primitive campground with large sites near great hiking. showers are available at the electric campground down the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Mercer, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Mercer, WI is Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 36 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 27 glamping camping locations near Mercer, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
