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Au Sable River Primitive Camping

Ausable River Primitive Camping is not a physical campground located at one location. A series of 102 individually designated single-family campsites are located on a 55-mile stretch of the Ausable River shoreline and bluffs within Alcona and Iosco Counties, from 4001 Bridge to Oscoda.

Maps are available on recreation.gov that show where each campsite is located.

Flickr Photo Albums:

Active Alerts

'Do Not Eat' Advisory for Deer

'Do Not Eat' Advisory for Fish

General Information

Location - Lower Au Sable River

Nearby Recreation Areas -

River Road National Scenic Byway
Whirlpool Angler Access

County - Oscoda

Seasonal and Other Information -

Camping is allowed outside of the permitted season at designated sites. However:
- Sites are not maintained in the winter.
- Access and/or parking lots are not plowed.

April 15 - November 30

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless otherwise posted. Forest quiet hours apply.

Camping -

No permit or reservation is required outside of the permitted season.
Camping Permit required at primitive campsites from May 15 to September 10.

Special Use Permit -

No special use permit is required for individuals or small groups (74 people or less).
Permits are required for commercial, event or large groups (75 people or more).

Visit the Passes and Permits section for more information on obtaining a special use permit.

As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. Applicable Orders -

Au Sable River and Cooke Pond Semi-primitive Motorized Areas, shorelines of Alcona Pond and the Eable Run Trail System; R904-14-21
Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas; R904-14-02
Occupancy and Use; R904-14-03

Highlights - Camping is prohibited, except at designated campgrounds or campsites.

Overnight Use:
Single Site: $10 per night

Canoe Rentals -

Glennie:
- Alcona Canoe Rental
Hale:
- Rollways Resort
Mio:
- Gotts Landing
- Hinchman's Acres Resort
Oscoda:
- Au Sable River Kayaking Company LLC; B & B LLC (Hunts)
- Oscoda Canoe Rental

A Forest Service office with gray siding with snow on the ground.

Address: 5761 N. Skeel Road Oscoda, MI 48750
Phone: (989) 739-0728
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (Closed on federal holidays)

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 44.43444444

Longitude: -83.62222222

Directions

Alcona Pond - located approximately 6 miles west of Glennie and 10 miles southeast of McKinley.

Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area - Between Alcona Dam and Loud Pond, access is at Alcona Dam, Thompson's Landing or Loud Dam.

Loud Pond - located 20 miles west of Oscoda/Au Sable and 18 miles northwest of Tawas/East Tawas. The access is located at Loud Dam.

Five Channels - located approximately 19-miles west of Oscoda/Au Sable and 16-miles northwest of Tawas/East Tawas between Bissonette Road and River Road. The access is at Five Channels Dam.

Cooke Pond - located 15 miles west of Oscoda/Au Sable and 14 miles northwest of Tawas/East Tawas between Bissonette Road and River Road. Access is at Pine Acres, Sawmill Point and Cooke Dam.

Sawmill Point - Located 15 miles west of Oscoda on River Rod. Turn north on Cooke Dam Rd.

Foote Pond - located approximately 7 miles west of Oscoda/Au Sable and 14 miles northwest of Tawas/East Tawas between Bissonette and River Roads. Access at Cooke Dam, Foote Site Park.

Lower Au Sable Primitive Camping - located on the east stretch of the Au Sable River, west of Oscoda/Au Sable. Access is at Foote Dam or Whirlpool Angler Access.