Subscribe To Michigan Camping
Posts
All Comments
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Brighton 9/9/06
I went camping for my birthday. This was the final GLPUC outing for the year. The campground was modern and right on Bishop Lake.. not sure if you can swim at the campground it was too cold to find out. There is a beach area a short drive away. There are also 2 rustic campgrounds at this park. We were in the lower campground.. I think the upper may be nicer.. more trees. This campground is pretty open.. and we had a chilly wind on Sat.. people were inside with the heaters on.
There are a number of hiking trails the trail head is a short drive away from the campground. They sell wood at the park with a vending machine.. put your money in and it drops the wood.. As I recall the bundles were on the small side.. or for $1 more they will deliver the wood to your site.
Seemed like a nice enough park.
This became our final trip of 2007
There are a number of hiking trails the trail head is a short drive away from the campground. They sell wood at the park with a vending machine.. put your money in and it drops the wood.. As I recall the bundles were on the small side.. or for $1 more they will deliver the wood to your site.
Seemed like a nice enough park.
This became our final trip of 2007
Deep Lake 9/1/06
Deep Lake
Labor Day weekend
Site 20 **
Made a reservation which is good because they filled up. Got over there late.. still had a bit of daylight.. but that disappeared while I waited in line to check in. So backed it up in the dark and didn't hit anything.
Had site #20 which is one of my favorites... trees on 3 sites makes for privacy. A nice relaxing weekend!
Labor Day weekend
Site 20 **
Made a reservation which is good because they filled up. Got over there late.. still had a bit of daylight.. but that disappeared while I waited in line to check in. So backed it up in the dark and didn't hit anything.
Had site #20 which is one of my favorites... trees on 3 sites makes for privacy. A nice relaxing weekend!
Wagner Lake 7/22/06
Wagner Lake
Huron National Forest
Swimming - near by
Hiking - near by
We had intended to stay at Island Lake, but it was filled so got a place at Wagner Lake (a few miles up the road). It is nice.. only a few sites here.. all quite private on a small lake. People we fishing on the lake, we tried swimming.. but the bottom is very mucky... so I don't recommend it.
The sites were great.. I would come here again.
This is a rustic campground.. outhouses and pump for water.
Huron National Forest
Swimming - near by
Hiking - near by
We had intended to stay at Island Lake, but it was filled so got a place at Wagner Lake (a few miles up the road). It is nice.. only a few sites here.. all quite private on a small lake. People we fishing on the lake, we tried swimming.. but the bottom is very mucky... so I don't recommend it.
The sites were great.. I would come here again.
This is a rustic campground.. outhouses and pump for water.
Deep Lake 7/8/06
Deep Lake
I finally bought a battery for the camper so now we are self sufficient. Deep Lake has no power and no water. There are outhouses and a hand pump for water. The sites are large spread out and private. The campground was quiet and pleasant.. I love it!! This is what camping is suppose to be like. Hiking trails link near the ranger station and there is firewood for sale across from the office (they refill it every evening).
You can fish Deep Lake.. you are not suppose to swim there, but people often do near the boat launch.. beware.. it gets deep in a hurry.. have a life jacket on!
Highest ratings for this park!
I finally bought a battery for the camper so now we are self sufficient. Deep Lake has no power and no water. There are outhouses and a hand pump for water. The sites are large spread out and private. The campground was quiet and pleasant.. I love it!! This is what camping is suppose to be like. Hiking trails link near the ranger station and there is firewood for sale across from the office (they refill it every evening).
You can fish Deep Lake.. you are not suppose to swim there, but people often do near the boat launch.. beware.. it gets deep in a hurry.. have a life jacket on!
Highest ratings for this park!
South Higgins Lake 6/16/07
South Higgins Lake
Hiking - yes
Swimming - yes
This was another camper club trip. This is a nice park, but BIG.. we were in the East campground. Swimming was nice, there is a modern playground for the kids, bathrooms were of the newest style. Lots of mature trees.. overall a good site.. it is expensive though.
There is hiking at nearby Marl Lake.
Hiking - yes
Swimming - yes
This was another camper club trip. This is a nice park, but BIG.. we were in the East campground. Swimming was nice, there is a modern playground for the kids, bathrooms were of the newest style. Lots of mature trees.. overall a good site.. it is expensive though.
There is hiking at nearby Marl Lake.
Gun Lake 5/19/06 - 5/27/06
Gun Lake (Yankee Springs Rec Area)
Hastings MI
Swimming - Yes!
Hiking - Yes!!
Return - Yes!!
This was our second outing with the GLPUC and what a find.. This is a great campground! I had a hard time backing in.. but finally got it in.. we were near the boat launch and across from the restrooms, which are the newest style.
The campground is full of mature trees and really has an 'up north' feel to the park. There are a ton of hiking and bike trails. The campground is right on the lake and there is a channel that comes up along the one side. Nice swimming area and beach along with fishing docks.
We also did some geocahcing at Deep Lake which is another campground in the Rec Area. This is rustic (no water or power
You can purchase firewood at the park.. decent bundles for decent price!
We liked this park so much we came back the following weekend (Memorial Day) and stayed again. It is only about 1 hour from us in Lansing a nice drive and a great park.
Hastings MI
Swimming - Yes!
Hiking - Yes!!
Return - Yes!!
This was our second outing with the GLPUC and what a find.. This is a great campground! I had a hard time backing in.. but finally got it in.. we were near the boat launch and across from the restrooms, which are the newest style.
The campground is full of mature trees and really has an 'up north' feel to the park. There are a ton of hiking and bike trails. The campground is right on the lake and there is a channel that comes up along the one side. Nice swimming area and beach along with fishing docks.
We also did some geocahcing at Deep Lake which is another campground in the Rec Area. This is rustic (no water or power
You can purchase firewood at the park.. decent bundles for decent price!
We liked this park so much we came back the following weekend (Memorial Day) and stayed again. It is only about 1 hour from us in Lansing a nice drive and a great park.
Mackinaw KOA 5/12/06
Mackinaw KOA
This was our first (and last?) experience with KOA. They have their 'free night' in May and this campground had a deal on the next night. So we drove the 200+ miles.. the idea was to go to Mackinac Island on Saturday.. It rained most of the night and it was maybe in the 50's... We changed the plans and went to the Falls on Sat instead.
This is the weekend that sold me on the camper... 50's and raining..we sat in the camper and played cards and enjoyed our time!
The campsite had a pool (not open). Fire rings was a truck rim. The sites were right next to each other with little shade and you are right near I-75 so you can hear the trucks going by. Most of the sites are pull throughs and they do have water & power at the sites. There were hiking trails in the back. Overall I was not impressed.
This was our first (and last?) experience with KOA. They have their 'free night' in May and this campground had a deal on the next night. So we drove the 200+ miles.. the idea was to go to Mackinac Island on Saturday.. It rained most of the night and it was maybe in the 50's... We changed the plans and went to the Falls on Sat instead.
This is the weekend that sold me on the camper... 50's and raining..we sat in the camper and played cards and enjoyed our time!
The campsite had a pool (not open). Fire rings was a truck rim. The sites were right next to each other with little shade and you are right near I-75 so you can hear the trucks going by. Most of the sites are pull throughs and they do have water & power at the sites. There were hiking trails in the back. Overall I was not impressed.
Metamora 4/29/06
Metamora Rec Area
Lapeer MI
When we were looking for a popup we came across the Great Lake PopUp Club GLPUC.org It is a group of people with popups who like to camp. They have get togethers in Michigan (and other GL states). It is free to join and attend.. and it is a nice group of people.
This was our first outing with them. Arrived in Lapeer in afternoon (I had to work in the morning). It was chilly but sunny, I set up a chair by the lake and read. In the evening we had a fire.. A nice outing!
There are hiking trails though this, and a lake.
Lapeer MI
When we were looking for a popup we came across the Great Lake PopUp Club GLPUC.org It is a group of people with popups who like to camp. They have get togethers in Michigan (and other GL states). It is free to join and attend.. and it is a nice group of people.
This was our first outing with them. Arrived in Lapeer in afternoon (I had to work in the morning). It was chilly but sunny, I set up a chair by the lake and read. In the evening we had a fire.. A nice outing!
There are hiking trails though this, and a lake.
Sleepy Hollow 4/14/06
Sleepy Hollow
Ok the big news for 2006 is we bought a Pop-up camper. We got a Fleetwood Tucson with heat and fridge :) We are *very* excited about it. For our first trip we stayed close to home and went to Sleepy Hollow about 30 miles North of home. First try backed it in without problems! This park is around a man made lake. It was early in the season.. so hard to tell about it.. There is an island you can hike around.. for firewood we just dragged some downed limbs out of the woods.
It was a fun trip and I would return to this park.
Ok the big news for 2006 is we bought a Pop-up camper. We got a Fleetwood Tucson with heat and fridge :) We are *very* excited about it. For our first trip we stayed close to home and went to Sleepy Hollow about 30 miles North of home. First try backed it in without problems! This park is around a man made lake. It was early in the season.. so hard to tell about it.. There is an island you can hike around.. for firewood we just dragged some downed limbs out of the woods.
It was a fun trip and I would return to this park.
Mitchell State Park 4/8/07
Mitchell State Park 4/8/07
Mini Cabin
Open all year
We decided to get a jump on the camping season.. we made the reservations a week or 2 before the trip when it was in the 60s.. on this date it was COLD... in the 30s - 40s. Had a really good time.. the mini cabin had a heater that was not putting out too much heat.. but we hung out in the evening and enjoyed spending time together.
There is a nature center right next to the park.. and there is a Lake there although it was much too cold for that. This looks like an OK park.. it is a crowded area, but I think it might be fun to return
Mini Cabin
Open all year
We decided to get a jump on the camping season.. we made the reservations a week or 2 before the trip when it was in the 60s.. on this date it was COLD... in the 30s - 40s. Had a really good time.. the mini cabin had a heater that was not putting out too much heat.. but we hung out in the evening and enjoyed spending time together.
There is a nature center right next to the park.. and there is a Lake there although it was much too cold for that. This looks like an OK park.. it is a crowded area, but I think it might be fun to return
Fort Custer State Park 8/19/07
Fort Custer Rec Area
Battle Creek
Swimming - yes must drive
Hiking - not that I recall
This is a nice park... some of the sites are nicely wooded.. although we were in an open area near a field. There is a nice swimming lake, however you have to drive a few miles over to it.
A nice park.. I would probably return to it.
As it turned out this was our last trip of 2005.. and it would be our last trip with the tent!
Battle Creek
Swimming - yes must drive
Hiking - not that I recall
This is a nice park... some of the sites are nicely wooded.. although we were in an open area near a field. There is a nice swimming lake, however you have to drive a few miles over to it.
A nice park.. I would probably return to it.
As it turned out this was our last trip of 2005.. and it would be our last trip with the tent!
Indian Lake State Park
Indian Lake State Park
Swimming - Yes.. walk from your site
Hiking - not that I remember
Other area activities - Yes!
Return to here - YES!
This was a great park. Indian Lake is just north of Manistique off US2 on the North shore of Lake Michigan. This is a great park. Best sites are the 70's and 80's along the Lake.. You can literally walk from your site a few feet and go swimming!
Near by they also have Big Spring and Fayette parks. Fayette is an ghost town which has been restored and is well work the (aprox 1 hour) trip to go to it. Also in this area is Portage Bay State Forest campground.. it is a long trip down an increasingly smaller road to get to this but it is a beautiful place!
This was a fabulous campground.. just wish it was not so far from home.
Swimming - Yes.. walk from your site
Hiking - not that I remember
Other area activities - Yes!
Return to here - YES!
This was a great park. Indian Lake is just north of Manistique off US2 on the North shore of Lake Michigan. This is a great park. Best sites are the 70's and 80's along the Lake.. You can literally walk from your site a few feet and go swimming!
Near by they also have Big Spring and Fayette parks. Fayette is an ghost town which has been restored and is well work the (aprox 1 hour) trip to go to it. Also in this area is Portage Bay State Forest campground.. it is a long trip down an increasingly smaller road to get to this but it is a beautiful place!
This was a fabulous campground.. just wish it was not so far from home.
Brimley State Park 8/3/05
Brimley State Park
**a favorite**
Our return to Brimley! This was the beginning of our week vacation. I could not get that many days at any of the parks I wanted to go to, so I broke it up. We arrived at Brimley in 90 degree weather and go the new tent set up. In the night we had thunder storms and POURING rain.. the tent stayed dry (except where I left the window open). The next day we went into Canada and went North of Soo a bit to a waterfall. When we came back the waves were up and we spent the afternoon in 3 foot waves in Lake Superior.. the kids had a ball!
Sat it is time to pack up and move down to Lake Michigan where DW will meet us.
**a favorite**
Our return to Brimley! This was the beginning of our week vacation. I could not get that many days at any of the parks I wanted to go to, so I broke it up. We arrived at Brimley in 90 degree weather and go the new tent set up. In the night we had thunder storms and POURING rain.. the tent stayed dry (except where I left the window open). The next day we went into Canada and went North of Soo a bit to a waterfall. When we came back the waves were up and we spent the afternoon in 3 foot waves in Lake Superior.. the kids had a ball!
Sat it is time to pack up and move down to Lake Michigan where DW will meet us.
Sleeper State Park 7/29/07
Sleeper State Park
Return - maybe?
Hiking - Yes
Swimming - Yes, must drive or cross Highway
After our trip to the Straits my wife decided the tent was too small for the 4 of us.. so we went to Sears on our lunch hour and left with the Alpine Lodge! Sounds large and it is! So this was the first trip with the new tent. Going to Caseville way up in the thumb... this was a l-o-n-g trip.. but a nice campground. Very crowded and we were next a large family (reunion?) the teens were playing their music loud at night... rangers were nowhere to be seen. The restrooms were the newest style... large and clean. The campground was thickly wooded and they had a nice playground and hiking trails.
They did have swimming in Saginaw Bay but you have to cross the Highway to get there... however one you are there it is a large and popular beach.
I did like this park.. but the long trip and the crowded conditions turned me off.. If it was closer it would be ok.. but if I am going to drive for 3 hours.. there are better places to go.
Return - maybe?
Hiking - Yes
Swimming - Yes, must drive or cross Highway
After our trip to the Straits my wife decided the tent was too small for the 4 of us.. so we went to Sears on our lunch hour and left with the Alpine Lodge! Sounds large and it is! So this was the first trip with the new tent. Going to Caseville way up in the thumb... this was a l-o-n-g trip.. but a nice campground. Very crowded and we were next a large family (reunion?) the teens were playing their music loud at night... rangers were nowhere to be seen. The restrooms were the newest style... large and clean. The campground was thickly wooded and they had a nice playground and hiking trails.
They did have swimming in Saginaw Bay but you have to cross the Highway to get there... however one you are there it is a large and popular beach.
I did like this park.. but the long trip and the crowded conditions turned me off.. If it was closer it would be ok.. but if I am going to drive for 3 hours.. there are better places to go.
Straits State Park 7/23/05
Straits State Park
Site 18
This was a spur of the moment trip. This is also the first trip that all 4 of us are in the tent. We get a spot near the lake and have nice weather. Sunday morning we wake up to rain.. but it was enjoyable.. I DO like this park!
Site 18
This was a spur of the moment trip. This is also the first trip that all 4 of us are in the tent. We get a spot near the lake and have nice weather. Sunday morning we wake up to rain.. but it was enjoyable.. I DO like this park!
Brimley State Park June 24,25, 2005
Brimley State Park
Swimming - Lake Superior... amazing beach
Hiking - No
Wood - Sold at campground
Best Place - sites along the Lake.. Trees shield you from the Lake, but you are right by the beach
This was our first REAL camping trip.. packed up the gear and the kids and drove 300 miles to the Soo. It was Engineers day when you can walk out into the locks.. So we did that.. and it started to rain... I am thinking.. what have I gotten myself into?
We drove out to the campground which is about 15 miles West of the Soo. The campground is nice... modern and compact but nice spots. The restrooms are old.. possibly CCC? but the showers are new and it was clean. The amazing thing is when we walked to the beach.. it is all sand.. and goes forever. This is right where Lake Superior goes into the St Marys river (and the locks). The water is warm in the bay and you can see Canada on the other side. Nearly every time we went to the beach we saw a freighter pass. This is a great place! There is also a nice playground near the day use area.
I fell in love with this campground.. Even though it rained on Friday we had a great time.. and our first trip was a sucess.
This is also near the Hiawatha National Forest just continue down the road.. you pass through the Bay Mills Indian reservation. They you will come to Iroquois Point Lighthouse which is free and open to the public.
Swimming - Lake Superior... amazing beach
Hiking - No
Wood - Sold at campground
Best Place - sites along the Lake.. Trees shield you from the Lake, but you are right by the beach
This was our first REAL camping trip.. packed up the gear and the kids and drove 300 miles to the Soo. It was Engineers day when you can walk out into the locks.. So we did that.. and it started to rain... I am thinking.. what have I gotten myself into?
We drove out to the campground which is about 15 miles West of the Soo. The campground is nice... modern and compact but nice spots. The restrooms are old.. possibly CCC? but the showers are new and it was clean. The amazing thing is when we walked to the beach.. it is all sand.. and goes forever. This is right where Lake Superior goes into the St Marys river (and the locks). The water is warm in the bay and you can see Canada on the other side. Nearly every time we went to the beach we saw a freighter pass. This is a great place! There is also a nice playground near the day use area.
I fell in love with this campground.. Even though it rained on Friday we had a great time.. and our first trip was a sucess.
This is also near the Hiawatha National Forest just continue down the road.. you pass through the Bay Mills Indian reservation. They you will come to Iroquois Point Lighthouse which is free and open to the public.
Straits State Park 6/18/05
Straits State Park
St Ignace, MI
Swimming - Yes (rocky but nice)
Hiking - Yes trails through campground
Rating 4/4 I like it and would return
We had a tent for over a year and still had not gone camping.. We had wanted to go to Sleepy Hollow which is near home.. that way I figured if everything went wrong.. we could still drive home. But I found out that you have to stay 2 nights to make reservations.. BUT this only applies to the Lower Peninsula. So I looked at Straits State Park.. I love the bridge and thought this would be a good place. Before I made the reservation I decided that we would do the mini cabin.. The weather forecast had a chance of rain and cool nights.. so I figured this would eliminate the weather as a problem. This was our first camping trip and I wanted it to be a positive one.
The cabin is 2 bunk beds with a dresser and small table.. nothing fancy but nice.
My wife was pleased with the cabin and restrooms.. cleaner than she had figured they would be. A short walk though the cedar trees and you are on the beach... and right THERE is the bridge.. very cool :)
I really liked the campground.. they have trails that lead to overlooks to see the bridge. Swimming is nice but the shore and water is rocky.
St Ignace, MI
Swimming - Yes (rocky but nice)
Hiking - Yes trails through campground
Rating 4/4 I like it and would return
We had a tent for over a year and still had not gone camping.. We had wanted to go to Sleepy Hollow which is near home.. that way I figured if everything went wrong.. we could still drive home. But I found out that you have to stay 2 nights to make reservations.. BUT this only applies to the Lower Peninsula. So I looked at Straits State Park.. I love the bridge and thought this would be a good place. Before I made the reservation I decided that we would do the mini cabin.. The weather forecast had a chance of rain and cool nights.. so I figured this would eliminate the weather as a problem. This was our first camping trip and I wanted it to be a positive one.
The cabin is 2 bunk beds with a dresser and small table.. nothing fancy but nice.
My wife was pleased with the cabin and restrooms.. cleaner than she had figured they would be. A short walk though the cedar trees and you are on the beach... and right THERE is the bridge.. very cool :)
I really liked the campground.. they have trails that lead to overlooks to see the bridge. Swimming is nice but the shore and water is rocky.
Welcome
I have decided to keep a blog of our camping experiences. It will be a journal and a record of our trips. Hopefully this may be useful to other people who camp in Michigan (and nearby areas). We are always looking for a new place to go.. and keep finding new favorites along the way.. and a few we don't want to return to.
We started camping in 2005 in a tent and moved up to a pop-up last year. I am going to start by back filling the previous trips that we have taken.. I may go back and fill in more detail later. I will try to give a brief review of the campground and what we liked and didn't like about it.
A good campsite is subjective.. I perfer sites that are wooded and shielded from the other campers. My ideal campsite is near water so we can go swimming and fishing and also has hiking trails... and a decent inexpensive supply of wood is a plus too!
Pack your gear we are off on an adventure!
We started camping in 2005 in a tent and moved up to a pop-up last year. I am going to start by back filling the previous trips that we have taken.. I may go back and fill in more detail later. I will try to give a brief review of the campground and what we liked and didn't like about it.
A good campsite is subjective.. I perfer sites that are wooded and shielded from the other campers. My ideal campsite is near water so we can go swimming and fishing and also has hiking trails... and a decent inexpensive supply of wood is a plus too!
Pack your gear we are off on an adventure!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)