One of the most underrated places for outdoor adventure and secluded camping spots is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Here are 4 top spots to go camping in Michigan and get the best of the UP.
Where to Camp in Michigans Upper Peninsula
1. Fort Wilkins Historical State Park
Image from Dyrt user Erik A.
Fort Wilkins Historical State Park is set on the tranquil lakeshore of Lake Fanny Hooe right outside the sleepy town of Copper Harbor. But don’t be fooled by its level of seclusion: this area boasts some of the best technical mountain biking and hiking trails in the entire USA. The campground itself offers cabins, group camping, and modern campsites; it also has day use facilities, a restored 1844 military outpost, and one of the first lighthouses on Lake Superior. Read more about this campground here.
2. Bond Falls Waterfalls
Image from Dyrt user Carrie C.
Bond Falls Waterfalls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the UP, for good reason. The falls are a short walk from the car, and there are hiking trails that extend into the surrounding Ottawa National Forest. Check out the visitor’s center at the entrance to the park for information on camping. There are campsites scattered around the lakeshore and even some sites on small islands in the middle of the lake if you want to go SUP or kayak camping. Read more about this campground here.
3. Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Campground
Photo credit: Aaron Landry
Want solitude? Check out the Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Campsites. These are not one concentrated campground, but 50 sites scattered around 8 lakes. Sites are primitive, but each one is equipped with a fire ring and a backcountry latrine. The Sylvania Wilderness is an old growth forest with 34 named lakes, which is a habitat for a wide range of plant and animal life. Read more about this campground here.
4. Murray Bay Group Campsite
For a unique experience, take the ferry over to Grand Island on the southeastern tip of Lake Superior and hike or bike over to the Murray Bay Group Campground. This is one large group site that sleeps up to 25 people and gives access to the Grand Island National Recreation Area. The island boasts massive 300-foot wave-cut sandstone cliffs, 13,500 acres of lush forest with miles of hiking and biking trails, beaches of fine sand, winter ice caves and historic buildings and artifacts dating back as far as 2000 B.C. Read more about this campground here.
Bonus: Win Gear for Camping
If you check out these or any other great campsites in the UP, give them a review on The Dyrt and earn points to win great prizes from High Hopes Hammocks and Showers Pass.
Related Campgrounds:
- Pictured Rocks Camping, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI
- Trout Lake Campground, Trout Lake, MI
- Dune Lake Campground, Coloma, MI
- Leisure Lake Campground, Sumner, MI
- Wilderness State Park, Carp Lake, MI
- Island Good Yurts, Bois Blanc Island, MI
