Group Camping

The Least You Need to Know About Camping

You do not need a permit to camp on the National Forests or in designated campgrounds
If your campfire will be on National Forest System lands you will not need a wood permit to cut firewood.
Dispersed and Primitive tent camping within the Forests is allowed almost anywhere, unless otherwise posted closed and/or "No Camping".
No RV hook-ups are available for water, sewage or electric at any campground.

Winter Camping is available at:

Au Sable River Primitive Camps
Meadows Campground
McKinley and River Road Campgrounds on the Shore to Shore Trail

Fee Sites:

* - Reservation needed or recommended. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov.

Huron Campgrounds

These campgrounds are on the east side of the state/east side of US-127

Au Sable River Sites:
- Monument
Shore to Shore Trail
- South Branch*
- River Road*
M-72/M-65
- Wagner Lake

Manistee Campgrounds

These campgrounds are on the west side of the state/west side of US-127

Lake Michigan Recreation Area*
Little Manistee River:
- Bear Track
M-55 - Cadillac to Manistee
- Sand Lake*
Manistee River
- Seaton Creek
Pere Marquette River
- Bowman Bridge*
- Gleason's Landing*
White River
- Pines Point

Group Camping Areas

Au Sable River
From Mio Pond to Lake Huron, the Au Sable is primarily managed by the HMNF. The river is managed in two sections, one from Mio Pond to Alcona Dam Pond, the second from Alcona Dam to Lake Huron.

Au Sable National Wild and Scenic River

The Au Sable National Scenic River stretches 23-miles, from Mio to Alcona Pond. For additional information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Au Sable River - Alcona Dam to Lake Huron

This section provides motorboat opportunities with a lake fishing atmosphere.

Highbanks River Trail

A short, 7-mile hike along the bluffs of the Au Sable River will provide day hikers with some of the best, and most dramatic, views of the Au Sable River, where hikers or skiers will be able to look over the river valley, with clear views almost to Lake Huron in some spots.

Lubmerman's Monument Visitor Center and Forest Discovery Trial

Lumberman’s Monument Visitor Center interprets the area’s colorful lumbering past. The 14-foot Lumberman’s Monument stands on a high bank with the Au Sable River providing a scenic backdrop.

River Road National Scenic Byway

The twenty-two mile River Road National Scenic Byway extends westward from Lake Huron into the Huron National Forest. It parallels the historic Riviere aux Sable (River of Sand). Lumbermen’s Monument Visitor Center sits at the center of the byway.

Brochures and Maps:
- Au Sable National Scenic River (pdf)
- River Road National Scenic Byway (pdf) - this brochure shows River Road, the Au Sable River and Lumberman's Monument
Flickr Photo Albums:
- Au Sable River - Alcona Dam to Lake Huron
- Au Sable National Scenic River
Lumberman's Monument Visitor Center
Lumberman’s Monument Visitor Center interprets the area’s colorful lumbering past. The 14-foot Lumberman’s Monument stands on a high bank with the Au Sable River providing a scenic backdrop.

Learn about the industry that helped develop northern Michigan and the men who cut the timber that helped build a nation. Climb through a log jam, use a peavey, cut a wooden cookie with a cross-cut saw, and learn about the life of a lumberjack through video and displays. Hike the stairway down to the wanigan, a loggers floating kitchen, or take the short trail to the dune observation deck. Enjoy a Kid’s Day program or take a guided nature hike.

Brochure with map:
- River Road National Scenic Byway (pdf) - this brochure shows River Road, the Au Sable River and Lumberman's Monument
- Highbanks River Trail Map (coming soon)
- Eagle Run Trail Map (coming soon)
The brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller. The trail maps are set to printon 8.5x11 paper.

Flickr Photo Albums:
Monument Campground
Hungerford Recreation Area
Lake Michigan Beach Acess
The recreation sites in this area are all located on the Lake Michigan shoreline or within driving distance of the lake.

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is the only designated wilderness on the Huron-Manistee National Forests.  Adjacent to the wilderness area is the popular Lake Michigan Recreation Area.  Further inland visitors can go to Hoags Lake and enjoy a day of swimming, picnicking or fishing.
Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Little Manistee River, National Scenic Study River

The Little Manistee River offers many opportunities for steelhead and trout fishing. The river banks are covered with lowland brush, swamp conifers, white pine and a variety of oak. The river has many bends and large logs. Water levels can become fairly shallow during dry summer months. There are a number of dispersed fishing access sites along the river, some of which allow camping.

Map: This brochure is set to print on 8.5x11 paper, landscape (wide) orientation.
Bear Track Campground
M-55: Manistee to Cadillac
This section includes all recreation areas along M-55 or a short distance from M-55 located between Cadillac and Manistee, except the Pine and Manistee Rivers.
Sand Lake Recreation Area
Manistee River
The Manistee River, from Tippy Dam to the M-55 Bridge, is a designated National Recreation River. There are several river access sites, day use areas and campgrounds located along this section of river. During the summer the river is popular with canoers and kayakers, while during the fall salmon season, sites such as Suicide Bend and Sawdust Hole are popular with anglers.

The section north of Tippy Dam, up to Hodenpyl Dam Pond, is bordered on either side by the Manistee River Trail and the North Country National Scenic Trail. This area is also within the Manistee River Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area, a 7,900 acre area of the Forest.

Brochure with map:
This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.

Flickr Photo Albums
- Manistee River
- Manistee River Trail
Manistee River Trail
The Manistee River Trail follows the east shore of the Manistee River for 8.8 miles through rolling hills. The trail traverses past several wetlands and there are bridges crossing two creeks. A waterfall near the northern end of the trail is very popular with many hikers. The Manistee River Trail/North Country National Scenic Trail connector is also the site of the largest wooden suspension bridge in Lower Michigan. Several observation sites along the trail provide hikers with vista views of the Manistee River and surrounding area. There are several dispersed campsites along the trail.

A 23-mile loop trail is formed with the Manistee River Trail along the Manistee River. The loop trail can be accessed from the Marilla and Upper River Road Trailheads for the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Red Bridge and Seaton Creek accesses for the Manistee River Trail.

Brochure with map:
This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.

Flickr Photo Albums
- Manistee River
- Manistee River Trail
Seaton Creek Campground
Pere Marquette River
The Pere Marquette National Scenic River is a sixty-six mile stretch from the junction of the Middle and Little South Branches east of Baldwin to the Old Highway 31 Bridge.

The Bowman Lake Special Area is 1,100 acres and has both the Pere Marquette and North Country National Scenic Trail going through it.

Whelan Lake Special Area is a 2,800 acre area located near the south branch of the Pere Marquette River.
Pere Marquette National Scenic River
In July 1978 the Pere Marquette River and its major tributaries were designated a Michigan Natural River by the State of Michigan. This same year the river was added as a National Wild and Scenic River, the first in Michigan. The scenic portion of the river is a sixty-six mile stretch from the junction of the Middle and Little South Branches east of Baldwin to the Old Highway 31 Bridge. The Natural River designation includes the main stem and major tributaries.

Brochure with Map: This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.

Flickr Photo Album

Click here for additional information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Bowman Bridge Campground and River Access
Gleason's Landing Campground and River Access
Shore-to-Shore State Horse Trail

The trail begins in Empire near Lake Michigan, on the west side of the state and ends at Lake Huron on the eastern side of the state. The trail passes under I-75, north of Grayling, and then continues eastward to follow the historic Au Sable River to its end in Au Sable, just south of Oscoda. 112 miles of trail run through the Huron portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forests.
Luzerne Horse Trail Campground and Trailhead
McKinley Horse Trail Campground
River Road Trail Camp and Trailhead
South Branch Trail Campground and Trailhead
Wagner Lake Area
This section contains information on the sites located in the southern section of the Huron National Forest.
Wagner Lake Campground
White River

Three sections of the White River are currently being study for inclusion as a National Scenic River. Currently the White River is designated Scenic by the State of Michigan.

The White River is characterized by a primarily sand bottom with deep pockets of water and small sections of gravel bottom. Paddlers find the river to be a steady and moderate float, with a meandering course.

The forest on either side of the river is primarily stands of oak, maple and aspen hardwoods mixed with red and white pine.

Wildlife abounds and fishing is a popular activity. A large portion of the river flows through the White River Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area.
Pines Point