Some reviewers have confused nearby State Parks with the actual State Forest, resulting in inaccurate information. Despite their proximity, Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace State Parks are NOT considered State Forest land, and have completely different amenities, availability, and regulations.

Michaux State Forest sites fall in to 4 categories:

1. Designated motorized sites, which require a free online permit and are open April 2 until the 3rd Sunday after Thanksgiving

2. Designated motorized parking lot sites, which require the same free online permit but are open year-round

3. Primitive backpacking sites, open year-round (no permit required, should be at least 1 mi from a trailhead, and only 1 night per site allowed)

4. Primitive Cabins, which are on State Forest land but are managed by and booked through the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.

None of the sites available in Michaux have:

-electric or water hookups. If you used/saw one, you were in a State Park, not Forest.

-drinking water available at sites (some have a creek or springhouse, which must be treated first)

-restrooms (a very small number of sites have outhouses within 1/4 mi or so, but don't count on it)

All designated sites have some sort of fire ring, whether stones or metal.

Some, but not all, designated sites have picnic tables.

Cell service varies greatly. Some sites will have none without a decent drive or hike, while others have 4 bars.

Fires are not permitted at all from March 1 to May 25, and are also banned when fire danger is deemed too high.

Alcohol is permitted, except in picnic areas.

Designated motorized parking lot sites also serve as equestrian sites, and horse camping is allowed here. Teaberry has a few hitching posts and a two step mounting block available.

Pets are allowed as long as they are under control at all times and are not disturbing others. If your dog's recall is anything but perfect, they haven't earned the privilege. Use a leash or long line; remember that if your out-of-control dog gets into a fight with an aggressive but leashed dog, the fault is yours. It's not worth two sets of vet bills.

This is my go-to local place for camping and hiking alike. Michaux sits on the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and though they are scarcely more than foothills here compared to their majesty in more well-known areas like TN, NC, and VA, it is a place of peace and beauty all the same. Like much of the state, it's a young mixed deciduous and coniferous forest, with some open and sparsely wooded prairie/meadow sections.

I wouldn't make a week's vacation of it but it's fine for a night or two. We were the only people there on the weekend we went, so it doesn't seem to get too crowded. Staff were extremely accommodating with helping us get a camping permit. The only downside was that the place was swarming with Canadian geese… We were worried if we left our site for too long we'd come back to find the tent deconstructed and the rest of our items thrown about, lol. It really would be nice if there were campsites further from the lake.

Where to start?! This is my favorite campground, public or private. The sites are large and many are somewhat private in terms of visual barriers. Some bathrooms are latrines, but they also have beautiful, fully updated showers and restrooms available. The camp store had good hours and is stocked to high heaven; you could come here with just the clothes on your back and buy everything you need for a very comfortable stay. To top it all off, the park itself is stunning. This is probably the largest, most well-kept public campground I have ever been to, and I'm dying to return.

We also saw a dung beetle, which was awesome.

This place needs some TLC. The roads were very poorly maintained, with washed out areas and pot holes everywhere. Bathhouses didn't have lights, and the one near us didn't have running water and looked like it hadn't in some time. Annoying, but not a big deal… The mystical hidden showers, however, were a real problem. There was no indication on the map as to where the showers were. We drove around to 3 different bathhouses, all of which were just toilets/port a pots with sinks. The website explicitly states that showers are available. They really need to be marked, either on signage, the map, or both.

Beautiful location, though the sites are fairly small and close together. We stayed on the F loop, which was non-electric but roomier with more privacy. Don't plan on being able to gather dry wood for an easy fire; it rains frequently on the mountain and things tend to stay damp for a while. Showers are coin operated and there's a change machine nearby. The camp store was pretty decent and staff members were extraordinarily friendly.