Newport State Park Campground
Reviewed May. 29, 2019

Close to the cycles of nature

We have been camping at this park for decades.  There are 16 sites scattered throughout the large park on Lake Michigan and Europe Lake.  The nature of the sites changes with the changes in the Lake... what once might have had a sandy beach might now be a mucky shoreline with scrubby growth.  Others, higher up are more stable in their feel but also lack some of the immediacy of the water.  Always there is solitude and wonderful hiking for miles.  However even the trails change as storms down swaths of the forest, low lake level of the last decades encouraged tree gowrth where there was once water but the water level is now high again and the trees are in the water and dying.  It might not be beautiful but it is a powerful reminder of the cycles in nature that we are privileged to walk amongst. We have very definite opinions of the sites as they are currently - #'s 7,8,16 are on the water with an experience of the water that has enough rock to allow you to be near the water without being in muck or brush.  3,4,5, used to have beautiful sandy beaches but now are mucky. 10 and 12 have a lot of brush on their pebble beaches, 11 is similar but it is also right on the trail (although not much traffic but...)  9 seems like it would be great being right on Varney Point but the water access is VERY limited.  13 is on the inland side of the trail so not on the water but not far from it either and there the shore is rocky ledges so that's kind of nice.  6 is totally landlocked so that's kind of odd - not a bad site but for a lake focussed park having no access to the lake is odd, 1&2 are also inland but there is lake access via a short trail, and 14 and 15 are on Europe Lake is a small lake experience is what you want.  All have outhouses or pit toilets.  There are no wagons to carry gear so it's on your back or on a bike or you can boat in if you like.   Star gazing is superb and the staff is very helpful.

Site7
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Newport State Park Campground by Shirwil L., May 29, 2019