The nice thing about Michigan State Parks is that you can make a reservation, which is nice reassurance if you’re traveling on a busy summer weekend. The downside is that they can feel really crowded. Even though the sites are close together, there is a lot of greenery to give you a valuable sense of privacy, and electrical outlets are a nice luxury. One drawback to all that green, this campground is pretty damp. Bring a few extra towels and bug repellent. Lots of cool frogs to see, though, and a lovely accessible beach right in the campground. Oh, and racks on the beach for your padddleboards and kayaks! Bring an extra padlock to take advantage.

What’s not to love? Only a few sites, but this campground has it all. Lots of space and wooded areas around you, good spots for hanging out in the hammocks, a private swimming hole in the river. I could have used this as a base of operations for a week. Short drive to other attractions in the area, with swimming and hiking in your backyard.

I made a reservation here as back up in case we couldn’t get into the State Forest campground we had planned on. When we turned up we found what amounted to a parking lot. While the camp hostess was lovely, it simply didn’t feel anything like camping to me. It’s a great (albeit crowded) spot if you have an RV and a boat to launch. But if it’s a quiet weekend in nature you are seeking, this is not your spot. Facilities were a little crowded and schmutzy