Camping in Michigan. Where can we legally pitch our tent? South West Michigan Camping.?

Edward M

We are looking for some woods and water in SouthWest Michigan where we can legally camp. We definitely don't want a packed campsite with showers and electricity. We want the full blown nature experience. Where are we allowed to camp? Does anyone know how that works? Any good websites? Any suggestions or advice? We want a place where we can park the car, hike into the deep woods and pitch our tent next to a lake or river. I don't know the laws for camping. What do I need to look for?

Thank you very much for your help.

Ed

Answer
What you're describing is called "backpacking." It is the best way to camp, explore, and enjoy the outdoors, because you're entirely on your own, carrying everything your need to survive (at least for a few days) on your back.

Michigan Hiking Guide

Wide Awake on Lake Michigan - Sleeping Bear Dunes has lush forests, level trails, 400-foot bluffs, vast sandy beaches - and you thought the midwest was just cornfields. http://www.nps.gov/slbe/

Across Isle Royale by Foot - The Greenstone Ridge runs along the spine of Michigan's Isle Royale National Park. Located in Lake Superior and accessible only by ferry or seaplane, Isle Royale is beyond the reach of the auto.
http://www.nps.gov/isro

Michigan's Ottawa National Forest - Great northern forest of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/

Hiawatha National Forest - Old Indian and trading trails and a significant portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/hiawatha/

Pictured Rocks SP:
http://www.nps.gov/piro/

Any remote or hike-in camping sites in Ohio?

KSJ

Hello, does anyone know of very primitive camp sites in Ohio? Preferably on the east side but it's not that important. I was really interested in Hocking Hills but I want a camp site that is away from people and very secluded, not your typical camping where your car is right there next to you at the site. Something where I could hike in would be great. Does this exist in Ohio?! Or if you know of any places in southern Michigan or western Pennsylvania that would be great too. Thanks!

Answer
Both southern Michigan (where I used to live) and the entire state of Ohio are just too densely populated to have any "deep" wilderness area. Flat land like that all was sold off, settled and farmed in the first couple of centuries of the European immigration to North America. However, due to there being more mountainous areas in Pennsylvania, you can find some hike-in wilderness camping areas, particularly in the Allegheny National Forest in northwest to central PA. A few I have backpacked into are Minister Creek and the North Country Trail. Check out the Pennsylvania DCNR website for detailed information on trails and wilderness areas throughout the state.

Also, eastern West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest has some terrific backcountry areas like Otter Creek, Spruce Knob, Dolly Sods and Cranberry Backcountry. I've done multi-day backpack trips in all those areas. It really is some amazing country there, some of it reminds me of Switzerland.

Basically, if you want deep wilderness it has to be in areas that are not easy to set up farms or cities, in other words, steep terrain or deserts or areas with harsh weather.

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Should I go to Michigan or Minnesota for vacation?

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Evan

I've always wanted to go to either state, and in late August I now have a chance to take a week vacation, but I'm not sure which one would be better. I love nature, and would like to explore trails (nothing too crazy like overnight backpacking though). I've heard bugs are a problem in both states, but would I be alright in the late summer? I also like the city for a day or two, and was thinking about Ann Arbor/Minneapolis. What would you recommend.

Answer
i would say michigan, and to be more precise, Manistique. there are a ton of state parks and if you want to go to the city Mackinaw Island is BEAUTIFUL and it is about 1-2 hours away. there are no cars allowed on the island so you either ride your bike or take a horse drawn carriage. One of the main state parks in Manistique is kitchitikipi or the big spring. I have personally been there and it is amazing. It has trails and stuff. i am not sure that you can backpack there but its amazing to spend the day there. There is also the ghost city state park. and two national state parks. I two have been to michigan and minnesota and the bugs are a problem but i went camping in michigan in the middle of july and they werent bad as long as you wore bug spray. there are a lot of cabins that you can stay in. and they are amazing but there are also a lot of hotels if you chose to take that route.

The cabins that we stayed in were beautiful and it really gave you that michigan feeling. the name of the cabin company is Four Seasons and the phone number is (906)-452-6569. the address is
Four Seasons Cabins
N5466 County Road H15
Shingleton, MI 49884-9600

lake michigan is right there and it is so beautiful in august. and it is pretty warm that time of year too. since i went at the beginning of july the lake was still pretty cold. but it is so clear and there are awesome waves if you get the wind blowing in. and the sand is amazing on the beaches.

some good camping grounds in michigan and surrounding states?

BelieveBel

Well just a novice camper me and my uncle are going camping in a week and wanted to know some spots. Want some place more wilderness not like those spots where they have spots made for u and everything more like a backbacking spot where u hike and camp down somewhere.

Also is yellow stone a designated area for camping or can u backpack anywhere?

Answer
You are asking for "dispersed camping" areas in a very broad region. The best opportunities you will find are on National Forest lands. Most of the places of the Upper Midwest are in the northern areas of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Contact the District Ranger Office in the area where you have an interest after you study the forest web-sites and look under: Recreation > Camping and Cabins > Dispersed Camping.

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some good camping grounds in michigan and surrounding states?

backpack camping michigan image

BelieveBel

Well just a novice camper me and my uncle are going camping in a week and wanted to know some spots. Want some place more wilderness not like those spots where they have spots made for u and everything more like a backbacking spot where u hike and camp down somewhere.

Also is yellow stone a designated area for camping or can u backpack anywhere?

Answer
You are asking for "dispersed camping" areas in a very broad region. The best opportunities you will find are on National Forest lands. Most of the places of the Upper Midwest are in the northern areas of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Contact the District Ranger Office in the area where you have an interest after you study the forest web-sites and look under: Recreation > Camping and Cabins > Dispersed Camping.

Great places for a 3 day backpacking trip in Northern Michigan?

Kyle

A few friends and I are looking to set up a backpacking trip for this late spring/summer time.
We want to be able to tent out (without public camp sites.) Also would like it to be a few days trip.
Any ideas on where some good places are?
Northern Mchigan/UP but not too far west in the UP please.

Answer
Porcupine Mountains State Park. Hiawatha National Forest.

North Country National Scenic Trail, 83 miles.

From its point of entry near Ironwood, the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) soon enters Ottawa National Forest and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Rivers, waterfalls, forested hills and ridges characterize the trail. Laughing Whitefish Falls and Rock River Falls and Canyon provide outstanding scenery as the trail continues eastward to Munising and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The 40-mile Lakeshore Trail along the rock bluffs and sandy shore of Lake Superior provides outstanding vistas as well as primitive camping and hiking experiences. The trail continues eastward along the lake to Muskallonge State Park before turning south to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, where the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River and many smaller falls await the hiker. South of the park, the trail passes through Hiawatha National Forest on its way to Father Marquette National Memorial at the Straits of Mackinac. Trail users will find a side trip to Mackinac Island enjoyable.

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What are some cheap campsites in the lower peninsula of Michigan?

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Paige

My family and I have camped on North and South Manitou Island; Sleeping Bear Dunes, and loved both islands. When i say camping i mean rough, carrying everything on your back, hiking camping. NOT CAMPER CAMPING.. we have only been to those 2 islands and want something different.. please help!

Answer
Backpacking ~ real camping.

You should look at the National Forests: Huron-Manistee National Forest, 1 million acres.

Manistee River Trail, 22 miles, overnighter.

How old do I have to be to backpack in States Parks without an adult?

Brandon

I'm 16 and turning 17 in May. I have a 17 year old friend and a 16 year old friend and we wanted to go backpacking alone. Is it legal to backpack alone or is there a law against it until you are 18 or if you are with a parent? THANKS!!!
I live in Michigan and Plan to do backpacking here! Sorry for confusion.

Answer
Backpacking in a Michigan State Park is nonsense. I can only suspect that you mean Michigan National Forests. Dispersed camping regulations are extremely minimal and no one is going to bother you over your age.

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do i need a CCW to carry a knife when hiking?

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Luke

i was looking to do some hiking/backpacking/camping and one of the must have items is a good knife. I would use this knife for cutting wood mostly. so would i need a CCW? I was looking at a ka-bar knife that has a 8" blade. i live in michigan, so would i need a CCW to carry this while hiking/camping?

Answer
No, you would not need a permit to carry the knife... but police don't like it when you have in on you in public, so don't wear it until you get to the area you'll be hiking in.

I have a few questions about bears in Michagain ?

Amy

I'm going backpacking threw the woods and camping right on lake michigan. Is it likely that I will see a bear. If so what kind and what would I do? And I also heard something about cougars or mountain loins or something that live up there.

Answer
If you see a bear it will be a black bear, most likely around a public campground with poor garbage discipline. Don't bring food into your tent, dispose of garbage properly, if you see a bear take pictures from 50 yards or so away. Don't mess with any wildlife babies.

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